Traveling through thousands of years, I only love you

Inside the imperial palace, the once prosperous scene was now shrouded in a gloomy haze. Li Lingyuan, clad in a phoenix robe, stood tall and straight, yet it was stained with the dust and fatigue of travel. The nation's decline was a nightmare, steadily eroding this once-prosperous land, and she, as empress, was powerless to reverse the situation quickly.

War had raged on the northern border for months, the enemy advancing relentlessly like a tide. Li Lingyuan spent night and day before the sand table in the imperial study, discussing strategy with her generals. Her brow furrowed as her gaze darted across the mountains and rivers depicted on the sand table, her mind a tangled mess. Every decision depended on the lives of countless soldiers and the fate of the nation. She knew the weight of the responsibility she bore, a weight weighing heavily on her shoulders. "Your Majesty, the enemy is advancing with great force and is well-equipped. Although our army is resisting vigorously, we are suffering severe losses in both manpower and supplies," a veteran general reported with a worried look on his face. Li Lingyuan bit her lower lip tightly. She was well aware of the country's predicament, but she still held a glimmer of hope in her heart: "Pass the order down, hold the city firmly and don't retreat a single step. I believe that as long as our army is united, we will be able to hold the city until the clouds clear and the moon appears." This decision seemed firm, but in fact it was her struggle in helplessness and despair. She was afraid of failure, and even more afraid of losing the land and people left by her ancestors.

However, the reality is so cruel. As the war continued, the domestic economy was on the verge of collapse. Farmland was abandoned, people were displaced, business stagnated, and the treasury was empty. The court had difficulty raising enough food and military pay to maintain the combat effectiveness of the army. Li Lingyuan looked at the reports one by one, her heart aching like a knife. She cried out in pain in her heart: "Why did it become like this? What did I do wrong?" She had to make a difficult decision, cut court expenses, and even use her own private treasury to support the front line, but this was just a drop in the bucket. Every time she took out jewelry and money, she felt distressed. These treasures were once symbols of national prosperity, but now they have become helpless bargaining chips to save the crisis. She asked herself in her heart: "Can this really change the status quo? Or will it only delay the time of national destruction?"

On the battlefield, the soldiers fought bravely, but faced with an enemy force several times their size, they gradually fell into a desperate situation. The city walls crumbled under the enemy's fierce attacks, and the ground was stained red with blood. Li Lingyuan personally ascended the city wall to boost morale. Her voice was clear and firm: "Soldiers, you are the backbone of this country and the protectors of the people. Although we face difficulties today, we have our homes and our loved ones behind us. Even if we fight to the last man, we will never surrender!" The soldiers looked at the queen on the city wall, their fighting spirit rekindled in their eyes. They shouted slogans, defending every inch of land with their lives. Meanwhile, Li Lingyuan, outwardly calm, was filled with guilt and self-reproach: "It is my incompetence that has led you into such danger. If I had a better strategy, I would not have let this happen."

But fate was not kind to this crumbling nation. After a brutal battle, the capital's gates were breached by the enemy. Chaos reigned within the palace, as maids and eunuchs fled in all directions, their cries and shouts mingling. Li Lingyuan stood before the palace, gazing at the devastating scene, tears welling in her eyes. She knew the situation was hopeless. Yet, a fierce resentment lingered within her: "Should I just give up like this? How can this land, passed down by our ancestors, fall so easily into enemy hands?" She tore between rage and resignation, her hatred for the enemy at its peak, yet a deep sorrow filled her with her own inability to change the situation.

The generals urged her to flee: "Your Majesty, as long as the mountains remain, there will be no fear of running out of firewood. If anything happens to you, the country will be completely destroyed." Li Lingyuan looked at them, a flicker of determination in her eyes: "If I leave, what will happen to the people? What will happen to this land?" However, she also knew that staying would only lead to her death. This dilemma tore her heart apart, between her responsibility and dignity as queen and her rational considerations of survival and the future restoration of the country.

On a stormy night, Li Lingyuan quietly left the palace, leading the remaining royal family members and trusted aides. She looked back, the magnificent palace looking desolate in the rain. Tears streamed down her cheeks: "I will definitely return. I will never abandon this land." Behind this vow was her loyalty to her country, her guilt towards her people, and her endless longing for Xiao Yi. She knew she could not give up. No matter how difficult the road ahead, she would strive to survive for the revival of her country and her reunion with Xiao Yi.

They embarked on the road of exile, heading south. The road was muddy and the wind and rain constantly assaulted them. Li Lingyuan rode on horseback, exhausted, but her eyes remained firm. She constantly encouraged those around her: "As long as we are alive, there is hope. Although the country has temporarily fallen, our faith cannot be extinguished." But deep down, she often felt lonely and helpless. Accustomed to the nobility and prosperity of the palace, now she had to survive in this desolate wilderness. She didn't know if she really had the ability to lead everyone out of the predicament, let alone what the future held for her. But every time she thought of the hatred for her country and her love for Xiao Yi, she clenched her fists and told herself that she must persevere.

During their exile, they encountered countless hardships and dangers. There was the threat of starvation, often going hungry; the plague of illness, with those around them falling one after another; and the constant battles against bandits. Li Lingyuan, from a noble queen, gradually transformed into a resilient survivor. She learned to forage for wild vegetables to satisfy her hunger, to care for the wounded and sick, and to remain calm and rational in difficult situations. With each hurdle she overcame, she would mentally reassure herself, "I cannot lose. There is so much I need to do." Despite this, her longing for Xiao Yi never ceased. Every night, as she lay in her simple tent, gazing at the stars, she would recall every moment they had spent together. "Xiao Yi, where are you? Do you know what I'm going through? I wish you were by my side, to give me strength," she whispered softly, tears once again soaking her pillow.

In modern times, Xiao Yi, battling amnesia and the pressures of the entertainment industry, still retains a lingering longing for Li Lingyuan and a deep obsession with time travel. He often sees Li Lingyuan in trances, a yearning that clings to him from the depths of his soul. His agent and friends, though helpless and concerned about his condition, continue to silently care for him, hoping for a speedy recovery.

Li Lingyuan wanders further and further into exile, unsure of what lies ahead. But the faith in her heart burns like a flame, never extinguished. She believes that as long as she perseveres, she will one day be able to reclaim her country and reunite with Xiao Yi.