Love and choices across time and space

The setting sun stained the sky a crimson crimson, its mournful afterglow casting a mournful glow on the exhausted, bewildered faces of Li Yifeng and Princess Changle. Princess Changle's delicate frame trembled slightly, her eyes, once radiant as stars, now dimmed, filled with helplessness and fear. Tears streaked her delicate features, and her once-high bun was now disheveled, a few strands swaying in the wind, adding a touch of poignant beauty. Her ornate palace dress was already tattered, its hem ripped by thorns, its delicate embroidery stained with dust and blood.

Li Yifeng's condition was not optimistic either. His clothes were torn by branches, revealing scarred skin. His eyes, though resolute, could not conceal fatigue and worry. The mixture of dirt and sweat on his face made him look extremely disheveled. But he held Princess Changle's hand tightly, as if it was his only support in this endless darkness.

"Princess, don't be afraid. As long as I, Li Yifeng, am still alive, I will definitely protect you." Li Yifeng's voice was hoarse but full of power. He tried to give Princess Changle some comfort.

Princess Changle looked up at Li Yifeng, her eyes filled with dependence and confusion. "Yifeng, now that we've lost our maid, we really don't know where to go." Her voice trembled like a leaf drifting in the wind.

Li Yifeng took a deep breath, suppressed his inner fear and confusion, and said, "Princess, no matter how difficult the road ahead is, I will find a way out for you."

Night fell quietly, and inky darkness quickly engulfed the earth. Only a faint moonlight struggled to penetrate the clouds, illuminating the short distance ahead. The surrounding trees swayed in the wind like ghosts, making a rustling sound, as if whispering their misfortune. Princess Changle's body trembled more violently, and Li Yifeng hugged her in his arms with a look of heartache.

"Princess, are you cold?" Li Yifeng asked softly, his voice sounding particularly clear in the quiet night.

Princess Changle snuggled tightly in Li Yifeng's arms and nodded slightly. "Yifeng, this darkness makes me feel extremely scared."

Li Yifeng hugged her tightly, trying to warm her trembling body with his body temperature. "Don't be afraid, Princess. I will always be by your side."

They continued to grope their way forward on this rugged path, each step feeling heavy. Stones and branches under their feet often tripped them up. Li Yifeng carefully protected Princess Changle, fearing that she would be hurt.

Suddenly, Princess Changle slipped and fell forward. Li Yifeng was quick to grab her.

"Princess, be careful!" Li Yifeng's voice was full of tension and concern.

Princess Changle was still in shock and gasped as she said, "Yifeng, if it weren't for you, I'm afraid..."

Li Yifeng comforted her, "Princess, don't say such discouraging words. I will never let you get hurt in the slightest."

After walking for an unknown amount of time, they arrived at a three-way intersection. Three roads snaked through the darkness, like three unknown threads of fate. Li Yifeng stopped, his brow furrowed, his gaze darting back and forth between the three roads.

"Princess, how should we choose among these three paths?" Li Yifeng's voice was filled with hesitation.

Princess Changle looked at the three roads, feeling confused. "Yifeng, I don't know either. Everything depends on your judgment."

Li Yifeng pondered for a moment and finally chose the path on the left. "Princess, let's take this path. I hope this is where our chance of survival lies."

They walked slowly along the road, and the trees around them grew denser and denser, as if forming a natural barrier, isolating them from the outside world. Princess Changle's heartbeat became more and more rapid, and she clutched the corner of Li Yifeng's clothes tightly, as if it was her life's straw.

"Yifeng, I always feel that there is something in this woods watching us." Princess Changle's voice trembled and was full of fear.

Li Yifeng comforted her, "Don't be afraid, Princess. Maybe it's just your illusion." However, his own heart was also filled with uneasiness, and he unconsciously tightened his sword in his hand.

Suddenly, a nightingale flew over their heads, uttering a shrill cry. Princess Changle screamed in fright and threw herself into Li Yifeng's arms.

"Princess, don't be afraid, don't be afraid." Li Yifeng patted Princess Changle's back gently, praying silently in his heart that he could walk out of the woods safely.

After finally emerging from the woods, they saw a turbulent river, the water roaring and the waves crashing against the banks, making a deafening sound.

"The river is flowing so fast, how can we get across?" Princess Changle looked at the river, her eyes full of despair.

Li Yifeng looked around, trying to find a way to cross the river. Finally, he found a big tree that had fallen by the river. "Princess, we can use this tree to cross the river."

Li Yifeng struggled to push the tree into the river, then carefully pulled Princess Changle onto the trunk. The trunk swayed in the water, as if it would break at any moment.

"Princess, be careful where you step and hold on to me tight." Li Yifeng said as he slowly moved forward.

Princess Changle held Li Yifeng's hand tightly, her eyes tightly closed, not daring to look at the turbulent river below. Just as they were about to reach the other side of the river, the tree trunk was suddenly shaken violently by a strong current.

"Ah!" Princess Changle screamed in fright.

Li Yifeng tried his best to steady himself and shouted, "Princess, don't be afraid, I'm here!"

After a thrilling struggle, they finally succeeded in crossing the river, but they were all soaked and shivering in the cold wind.

"Princess, let's find a place to make a fire and dry the clothes." Li Yifeng said.

They found a cave nearby, and Li Yifeng picked up some branches and laboriously started a fire with a flint. The warm firelight illuminated their faces, temporarily dispelling the fear and coldness in their hearts.

"Yifeng, can we escape?" Princess Changle asked softly, looking at the dancing flames.

Li Yifeng held Princess Changle's hand and said with a firm look, "Princess, believe me, as long as we don't give up, we will definitely escape."

The next morning, sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the cave. Li Yifeng and Princess Changle walked out of the cave and continued on their journey. They were tired and hungry, but they didn't dare to stop.

Around noon, they arrived at a small village. The houses were neatly arranged, with smoke rising from the chimneys, creating a peaceful and tranquil scene. However, when the villagers saw their miserable state, they cast wary glances at them.

"Who are you?" An old man walked forward, his eyes full of confusion and vigilance.

Li Yifeng quickly explained, "Old man, we have encountered misfortune and have fled here. We hope to get your help."

The old man looked them up and down, hesitated for a moment and said, "You don't look like bad people. Come with me."

The old man took them to a dilapidated house and brought them some food and water.

"Thank you, old man." Li Yifeng and Princess Changle burst into tears of gratitude.

In this small village, they got a short rest and supplies, but they knew they couldn't stay there for long, as the pursuers could catch up at any time.

Night fell again. Li Yifeng and Princess Changle said goodbye to the villagers and continued on their escape. The moonlight was like water, casting long shadows on them.

"Yifeng, I'm really tired." Princess Changle's voice was full of fatigue.

Li Yifeng looked at her distressedly and said, "Princess, hold on a little longer. There may be hope ahead."

They climbed over mountain after mountain, crossed river after river, and Princess Changle's feet were covered with blisters, which hurt with every step, but she gritted her teeth and said nothing.

Finally, they saw a temple. The temple gate was closed and there was silence all around.

Li Yifeng went forward and knocked on the door. His voice was particularly clear in the quiet night. "Excuse me, is anyone there?"

After a while, the door opened and a monk came out.

"Donor, what's the matter?" The monk's voice was calm and gentle.

Li Yifeng quickly said, "Master, we have encountered misfortune. We beg you to take us in for one night."

The monk looked at them, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes, and he sighed and said, "Come in."

Li Yifeng and Princess Changle entered the temple and settled down under the arrangement of the monks. However, their hearts were still filled with anxiety and they could not fall asleep.

In the middle of the night, they were awakened by a loud noise.

"Oh no, they are pursuers!" Li Yifeng's face changed drastically, and he quickly pulled Princess Changle up and hid behind the Buddha statue.

The pursuers rushed into the temple and searched everywhere.

"Search carefully and find them!" the leader of the pursuers shouted.

Li Yifeng and Princess Changle's hearts were in their throats. They hugged each other tightly, not daring to breathe, praying not to be discovered.

Fortunately, the pursuers did not find them and left the temple cursing.

Li Yifeng and Princess Changle breathed a sigh of relief, but they knew that the danger was not over yet.

"Princess, we can't just sit here and wait for death. We must find a way to get rid of the pursuers." Li Yifeng said.

Princess Changle nodded, her eyes full of determination. "Yifeng, I will listen to you."

They decided to leave the temple and find another way out. Before leaving, the monk gave them some dry food and water and blessed them.

"Thank you, Master." Li Yifeng and Princess Changle said gratefully.

They continued to travel through the mountains and forests, sleeping in the open air and suffering all kinds of hardships.

One day, they came to the edge of a cliff. Below the cliff was a bottomless valley, shrouded in clouds and mist, like a huge mouth ready to swallow them up at any time.

"Yifeng, what should we do?" Princess Changle looked at the cliff, her heart filled with despair.

Li Yifeng looked into the distance, and suddenly his eyes lit up. "Princess, I see a cave on the opposite mountain. Maybe we can climb through here."

Princess Changle looked at the cliff, her heart filled with fear. "Yifeng, this is too dangerous."

Li Yifeng held Princess Changle's hand and said with a firm look, "Princess, believe me, we will definitely make it."

Li Yifeng found a thick vine, tied one end to a large tree, and threw the other end across the cliff. He first climbed over carefully, then signaled Princess Changle to follow.

Princess Changle gritted her teeth, mustered her courage and began to climb. When she was halfway up, the vine suddenly loosened.

"Princess!" Li Yifeng shouted loudly, his heart instantly rising to his throat.

Princess Changle was so frightened that she closed her eyes, tears welling up in her eyes. "Yifeng, save me!"

Li Yifeng desperately clung to the cane, the veins on his arms bulging. "Princess, don't be afraid, I won't let you fall!"

After some difficult efforts, Princess Changle finally climbed to the other side safely.

They found the cave and took shelter inside to rest.

"Princess, we will definitely escape." Li Yifeng comforted her, his breathing still unstable.

Princess Changle leaned in Li Yifeng's arms, her voice trembling with the feeling of having survived a disaster. "Yifeng, as long as you are here, I am not afraid of anything."

However, their fate seemed destined to be full of ups and downs. Not long after, the pursuers found their tracks again.

"You can't escape!" The pursuers' voices echoed in the valley, with endless arrogance and pride.

Li Yifeng and Princess Changle ran out of the cave and continued to escape.

They ran through forest after forest, and climbed mountain after mountain. Li Yifeng's strength gradually weakened, and his steps became heavy and slow, but he still held Princess Changle's hand tightly, refusing to let up even a little.

"Yifeng, please let me go and go by yourself." Princess Changle said crying, her heart full of pity.

Li Yifeng shook his head resolutely, his voice filled with undeniable determination. "Princess, I will not leave you alone. Even if we die, we will die together."

Just when they were almost in despair, they suddenly saw a small village in the valley.

"Princess, maybe there is hope for us there." Li Yifeng said, with a spark of hope rekindled in his eyes.

They walked into the village and asked the villagers for help. Seeing their pitiful appearance, the villagers were moved with sympathy and decided to help them.

The villagers hid them in a cellar. The pursuers searched the village but found no trace of them, so they left cursing.

Li Yifeng and Princess Changle came out of the cellar and expressed their gratitude to the villagers.

"Thank you, we will never forget your kindness." Li Yifeng said with sincerity in his eyes.

The villagers smiled and said, "Go quickly, and good luck to you."

Li Yifeng and Princess Changle set out on the road to escape again. This time, their hearts were filled with hope.

After a long journey, they finally arrived at a remote town, where they hid their identities and lived a peaceful life.

Although life is hard, they accompany each other and their hearts are filled with happiness.

However, they are always concerned about each other's identity and past.

"Yifeng, I really want to go back to the palace." Princess Changle said, with a hint of longing in her eyes.

Li Yifeng sighed and gently stroked Princess Changle's hair. "Princess, it's not the right time yet."

As the days passed, their feelings grew deeper and deeper.

Until one day, a mysterious man found them.

"Princess, His Majesty has forgiven you. You can return to the palace." The mysterious man said with a relieved smile on his face.

Li Yifeng and Princess Changle were surprised and delighted, tears welling up in their eyes.