Traveling through thousands of years, I only love you

The night was cool and starry. Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan sat facing each other in a quiet corner of the palace garden. The flickering candlelight on the stone table illuminated their faces, soft and serene with the serenity of a lifetime.

Li Lingyuan opened her red lips and broke the silence. "Xiao Lang, you came from the modern era. That's a world thousands of years from now. Whenever I think of it, I'm filled with curiosity and confusion. What kind of world is that?"

Xiao Yi tilted his head slightly, his gaze seeming to pierce through the night, settling on a distant yet familiar modern space and time. "Lingyuan, the modern world must be unimaginably strange to you. Tall buildings stand side by side, soaring into the sky, their heights seemingly reaching to touch the stars. Glass curtain walls gleam dazzlingly in the sunlight, like countless gigantic crystals standing tall in the world. The roads crisscross, wide and flat, and vehicles rush by like a tide, moving at speeds as fast as lightning, the noise deafening, far beyond the reach of ancient carriages."

He paused, picked up the wine glass on the table, took a sip, and continued, "People's clothing styles are ever-changing, ranging from simple and casual to ornate and exquisite. The materials are also diverse, from light and breathable cotton to smooth and soft silk, and even some novel synthetic fabrics with various wonderful properties. In that world, people's pace of life is extremely fast, as if driven by an invisible whip, busy between work, study, and various social activities. Information can be transmitted instantly. No matter how far apart, with just a small communication device, they can speak freely as if face to face. Video calls can even make each other's faces and voices appear clear."

Li Lingyuan listened intently, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Such convenient communication is truly amazing. Are people's lives today smooth and happy?"

Xiao Yi shook his head slightly, a complex expression on his face. "Although there are many conveniences, modern people also have many troubles. The competitive pressure is enormous. People rush around day and night for fame and fortune, exhausting themselves physically and mentally. Relationships between people sometimes become complicated due to conflicts of interest, making sincerity and trust extremely precious. Environmental pollution is also a major problem. City skies are often shrouded in smog, and rivers are no longer clear. The lush mountains and clear waters of the past are becoming a luxury."

Li Lingyuan frowned slightly, as if he could sense the helplessness and loss in Xiao Yi's words. "It seems that although the modern world has its prosperity, it also has many worrying things. Xiao Lang, when you were in that world, did you ever miss everything in the ancient times?"

Xiao Yi put down his wine glass and reached out to hold Li Lingyuan's hand, his eyes gentle and affectionate. "In modern times, although I lived in a prosperous environment, I always felt empty inside, as if I was a lonely boat drifting in the vast ocean, unable to find a true home. It was not until I traveled through thousands of years and met you that I realized that what I was pursuing was the simple emotions of ancient times, the passion to fight side by side with you, to share life and death, and the feelings of family and country and the sense of responsibility for this land."

Li Lingyuan's cheeks flushed, and she shook Xiao Yi's hand. "Xiao Lang, your appearance is like a ray of light that illuminates me. In this ancient time, we have experienced wars together and worked hard together for the great cause of restoring our country. Every life-and-death test, every difficult decision, is because you are by my side, so I can be firm and fearless."

Xiao Yi leaned forward slightly, gently embraced Li Lingyuan in his arms, and rested his chin on the top of her head: "Lingyuan, now that the restoration of the country is gradually stabilizing, sometimes I also daydream. If there is an opportunity to return to the modern era, would you be willing to go with me?"

Li Lingyuan raised his head in Xiao Yi's arms, his gaze as firm as a rock. "Xiao Lang, in this ancient world, you are by my side. We have forged together the great cause of national restoration, and we have the hopes and love of millions of people. Every blade of grass and every tree, every brick and tile here carries our memories and dreams. Although the modern world is full of unknowns and novelties, to me, it is nothing more than a strange and distant illusion. I wish to stay with you in this ancient world, to watch the mountains and rivers bloom like a painting, and to protect the peace and tranquility of the people. In this life, I will never leave you."

Xiao Yi's heart was filled with warmth, a mixture of emotion and relief. "Lingyuan, I feel the same way. These ancient years have witnessed the rooting and growth of our love, and are engraved with the blood, sweat, and glory we have shed for our country. Every step we take here is solid and powerful, and of great significance. No matter how fierce the road ahead, we will walk hand in hand, with love as our boat and faith as our oars, sailing towards the other side of that prosperous era."

From then on, they devoted themselves to national development and governance. Leveraging modern knowledge and concepts, Xiao Yi vigorously promoted business innovation. He introduced modern business models, such as chain operations and branding, to encourage merchants to expand their businesses and promote the circulation and prosperity of trade. He also formulated comprehensive business regulations to regulate market order, protect the legitimate rights and interests of merchants, combat fraud and monopoly, and foster a fair, competitive, and vibrant business environment.

Li Lingyuan was dedicated to the revitalization of education and culture. She established numerous institutions, not only large-scale official schools in cities but also private schools in rural areas, striving to ensure that every child could be enriched with knowledge. She personally participated in the compilation of textbooks, integrating ancient classical culture with the modern knowledge imparted by Xiao Yi. For example, she included classic works and analysis of modern literature in literature textbooks, and supplemented history textbooks with modern historical perspectives and global perspectives, cultivating a generation of students who combined the wisdom of the past and the present. In the fields of culture and art, she encouraged both innovation and inheritance, established various cultural awards, encouraged scholars and artisans to create outstanding works, and promoted the vigorous development of art forms such as opera, painting, calligraphy, and music, making the country's culture flourish with a hundred flowers blooming and a hundred schools of thought contending.

In agricultural production, they worked together and actively explored new agronomic techniques. Xiao Yi incorporated modern agricultural technology to guide farmers in scientific planting and breeding practices. He promoted new irrigation techniques, such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, to improve water resource utilization efficiency. He introduced superior crop varieties, tested and improved them, and then promoted them nationwide. He also established agricultural demonstration bases, allowing farmers to learn advanced planting and breeding techniques on the ground. Li Lingyuan, on the other hand, focused on the lives and rights of farmers. She reduced agricultural taxes, provided agricultural subsidies, encouraged farmers to reclaim wasteland, built water conservancy projects, and improved rural infrastructure, thereby raising farmers' living standards and increasing their enthusiasm for production.

On the military front, Xiao Yi carried out comprehensive reforms and training for the army. Drawing on modern military training methods, he developed a systematic program of physical, skill, and tactical training, focusing on cultivating soldiers' teamwork and fighting spirit. He also strengthened the research and development and manufacturing of military equipment, introducing new weapon design concepts and manufacturing processes, such as improved bows and crossbows and armor, which enhanced the army's combat effectiveness and protective capabilities. Li Lingyuan was responsible for the army's logistics support and ideological and political work. She meticulously prepared food and supplies to ensure the army had adequate supplies during training and combat. She frequently visited the barracks to communicate with soldiers, understand their needs and concerns, boost morale, and strengthen the army's cohesion and unity.

Over time, under their meticulous governance, the nation flourished, embodying a scene of prosperity. The people lived and worked in peace and contentment, society enjoyed harmony and stability, culture flourished, and the military was strong and powerful. The love story of Xiao Yi and Li Lingyuan, like a brilliant star, shone eternally in this ancient sky. Their legendary story was recounted as a model of love and responsibility, inspiring future generations to bravely forge ahead in pursuit of their ideals and beliefs.