Love and choices across time and space

Princess Changle's bedroom was like a lonely island shrouded in gloom. The sun struggled to penetrate the thick curtains, but only cast a few faint rays in the corners, adding a touch of sadness.

Princess Changle lay quietly on the spacious, carved bed, the intricately embroidered quilt covering her body unable to conceal her emaciated appearance. Her skin, once as white as cream, was now pale, almost translucent, the delicate veins visible. Her long, glossy black hair had lost its former luster and lay tangled on the pillow, like a lifeless thread.

Her eyes were tightly closed, her long lashes casting a faint shadow beneath them. Her once lively pupils were now deeply sunken, like two pearls that had lost their luster. Her lips were dry, bloodless, and trembling slightly, as if silently telling of her inner pain.

"Princess, please eat something, even just a small bite." Cui'er knelt beside the bed, holding a tray filled with carefully cooked delicacies. Her voice was choked with sobs and tears welled up in her eyes.

Cui Er was wearing a pale pink palace dress, and the flowers embroidered on the hem of her skirt seemed to be overshadowed at this moment. Her hair was a little messy, and a few strands of hair fell on both sides of her cheeks. Anxiety and worry made her face look very haggard.

Princess Changle slowly opened her eyes, their gaze hollow and lifeless, as if her soul had left her body. "Cui'er, I can't eat. My heart is dead. How can the food of this world fill the emptiness within me?" Her voice was as weak as a candle in the wind, as if every word drained her strength.

Cui'er put down the tray and took Princess Changle's hands, which were icy cold. "Princess, you can't give up like this. If anything happens to you, Cui'er won't be able to live."

Princess Changle sighed softly, looking past Cui'er into the distance. "Yifeng and I were truly in love, but we were torn apart by this cruel fate. What's the point of living?"

At the same time, Taizong was furious in the imperial study.

"A bunch of useless people! They can't even take care of a princess!" Taizong's eyes were wide open and he threw the memorial in his hand to the ground.

The eunuchs and palace maids in the imperial study were so frightened that they knelt on the ground and trembled.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. The princess is stubborn, really..." The eunuch said cautiously, but was interrupted by Taizong before he could finish his words.

"My daughter, how could I not understand her. But she doesn't care about her own body, is she really going to ruin herself for Li Yifeng?" Taizong paced back and forth in the study with his hands behind his back, his face looking terribly gloomy.

The imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau were gathered together at this time to discuss how to get the princess to eat.

"The princess's body is already delicate. Now she is on a hunger strike, which has seriously damaged her vitality. It is really worrying." An elderly doctor stroked his beard with a frown.

"But the princess doesn't listen to any advice. What should we do?" Another imperial physician shook his head and sighed.

Li Yifeng was imprisoned in a dark and damp cell, his clothes tattered and stained with blood and dirt. His messy hair covered his face, and his eyes revealed despair and helplessness.

"Princess, I'm the one who hurt you." He leaned against the cold wall, slowly slid down, and sat on the ground.

Outside the cell, the jailers laughed at him.

"Humph, you dare to covet the princess, you really overestimate your own abilities."

"Wait for your death, yet you still dream of being with the princess."

Li Yifeng raised his head and glared at them. "My love for the princess is genuine. What do you know?"

Elsewhere in the palace, the queen was also extremely anxious in her own bedroom.

"Go and find out about the princess's situation. What should we do?" the queen ordered the palace maid beside her.

The maid hurried away, and the queen clasped her hands together and prayed silently. "God bless you, princess, please don't let anything happen to you."

When the palace maid came back to report that the princess still refused to eat, the queen could no longer sit still and got up to go to the princess's bedroom.

When the queen entered the bedroom and saw Princess Changle's haggard appearance, tears welled up in her eyes.

"My child, why are you so stupid?" The queen sat beside the bed and gently stroked Princess Changle's cheek.

Princess Changle turned her head slightly and looked at the Queen. "Mother, my only wish in this life is to be with Yifeng. Now that this wish cannot be fulfilled, I feel worse than death."

The Queen hugged her lovingly. "My child, I know how hard you've been working, but the royal family has its own rules. There are some things we can't do as we please."

Princess Changle broke free from the Queen's embrace, her eyes firm and resolute. "Mother, if I can't be with Yifeng, I would rather starve to death than live in this world."

The queen shook her head helplessly, her clothes wet with tears.

As the days passed, Princess Changle became weaker and weaker, and she was on the verge of death.

Taizong finally came to the princess's bedroom again. Seeing his daughter in such a state, his heart was filled with pain and helplessness.

"Daughter, are you trying to force father to death?" Taizong's voice trembled slightly.

Princess Changle struggled to open her eyes and looked at Taizong. "Father, I'm unfilial, but my love for Yifeng will last until death."

Taizong sighed. "Forget it, I'll think of another way."

When the ministers in the palace learned that Taizong's attitude had softened, they all advised against it.

"Your Majesty, you must not break the royal rules for the princess."

"The princess and Li Yifeng have vastly different statuses. This matter cannot be compromised."

Taizong sat in the court, listening to the advice of his ministers, and felt very annoyed.

At this time, Li Yifeng was in the cell, his heart full of concern and worry for the princess.

"Princess, you must hold on. I will definitely find a way to save you." He swore secretly.

Cui'er still stayed by the princess' bed every day, begging her to eat.

"Princess, please eat a little, considering Cui'er has been serving you all the time."

Princess Changle's consciousness had begun to blur, and she kept calling Li Yifeng's name in her coma.

The atmosphere in the palace is becoming increasingly tense. Everyone is paying attention to the fate of the princess, and this love tragedy seems to be spreading...