Love and choices across time and space

A solemn silence reigned within the palace. Taizong sat in his imperial study, his large, dragon-shaped desk piled high with memorials, but he showed no interest in reviewing them. His brow furrowed, his eyes revealing a deep worry and confusion.

Outside the window, sunlight filtered through the carved lattices, scattering dappled lightly onto the ground, but it was unable to dispel the gloom in Taizong's heart. His fingers unconsciously tapped the tabletop, making a dull sound.

"Your Majesty, the princess still refuses to eat. This is already the fifth day. I'm afraid her body can't bear it anymore." The eunuch Xiao Shunzi bent over and reported carefully, his voice trembling with obvious anxiety.

Taizong suddenly raised his head, a trace of anger and heartache flashed in his eyes: "A bunch of useless people! They can't even take care of the princess!" He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the room.

"Go, ask the imperial kitchen to prepare some exquisite food and send it over, and tell them that if the princess doesn't eat it, I will make them suffer!" Taizong's voice was stern and urgent.

Xiao Shunzi quickly responded, "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go right away." After saying that, he hurriedly retreated.

Taizong paused and gazed out the window, his thoughts drifting back to Princess Changle's childhood. Back then, she had been as lively and lovely as a flower blooming in spring, her laughter as clear as a silver bell. But now, a relationship had tormented her beyond recognition.

"My daughter..." Taizong sighed, his heart full of helplessness and pity.

At this time, Taizong was wearing a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with a lifelike five-clawed golden dragon, demonstrating his supreme authority. But at this moment, this authority could not resolve the pain and entanglement in his heart.

A heavy atmosphere permeated the princess's chamber. Princess Changle lay in bed, her face pale as a sheet, her eyes closed, her lips chapped. Her hair lay disheveled on the pillow, her former beauty and vitality gone without a trace.

"Princess, please eat a little, even just a small bite." The maid Xiaoqing knelt beside the bed, tears in her eyes, begging bitterly.

Princess Changle moved her lips slightly, her voice so weak that it was almost inaudible: "Unless my father agrees to let Yifeng and I be together, I would rather die than eat."

Xiaoqing couldn't help sobbing, "Princess, please don't be like this. If anything happens to you, what will Xiaoqing do?"

On the other side, in the dark and damp cell, Li Yifeng huddled in a corner. His clothes were tattered and bloodstained, and his wounds were inflamed, emitting a foul odor.

His eyes were dull and he kept muttering: "Princess, Princess..."

Outside the cell, the jailers laughed at him, "Huh, you're still thinking about the princess. Do you think you still have a chance?"

Li Yifeng raised his head and glared at them: "You dogs and slaves, stop talking nonsense!"

The jailers burst into laughter: "Even after being reduced to this state, he's still stubborn."

Li Yifeng gritted his teeth and swore in his heart: "As long as the princess is fine, I am not afraid of anything."

Taizong paced around the imperial study for a long time before finally deciding to go see Princess Changle. He led a group of eunuchs and palace maids in a grand procession toward the princess's bedroom.

Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs kept their heads down and dared not even breathe.

Arriving at the bedroom, Taizong walked into the room quietly and sat down beside the bed. Seeing his daughter's haggard face, his heart was cut as if by a knife.

"Son, why are you doing this?" Taizong's voice was trembling and choked with sobs.

Princess Changle slowly opened her eyes. Seeing that it was Emperor Taizong, a hint of surprise flashed across her eyes, but it was immediately replaced by determination. "Father, I have made up my mind. I will not marry anyone other than Yifeng."

Taizong sighed and said, "You know, as a princess, your marriage is related to the dignity and interests of the royal family."

Princess Changle struggled to sit up and clutched Taizong's sleeve tightly: "Father, I don't care about dignity and interests, I only care about my true love for Yifeng."

Taizong was silent for a long time, then gently patted Princess Changle's hand and said, "Forget it, forget it, I'll think about it again." After that, he stood up and left, his back looking extremely heavy.

Returning to the imperial study, Taizong fell into deep thought, recalling his own youthful love and the reckless impulses he had once felt.

"Do I really have to be so cruel as to separate them?" Taizong said to himself.

At this time, several trusted ministers were summoned into the imperial study.

"Your Majesty, this matter must not be compromised," a minister said anxiously. "The princess's marriage is related to the stability of the court and the prestige of the royal family."

Taizong frowned and said, "But I really can't bear to see the princess in this state."

Another minister pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, perhaps we should first stabilize the princess and let her recover, and then make long-term plans."

Taizong nodded and said, "That's the only way."

Then, Taizong came to the princess's bedroom again and said to Princess Changle, "My daughter, as long as you eat and recover first, I will reconsider the matter between you and Li Yifeng."

A glimmer of hope flashed in Princess Changle's eyes, and she said weakly, "Father, are you serious?"

Taizong nodded and said, "My words are golden and I will never go back on them."

Princess Changle finally nodded, asked Xiaoqing to bring food, and reluctantly ate some.

As the princess began to eat, her health gradually improved. As Taizong watched his daughter getting better day by day, his hesitation grew deeper and deeper.

One day, Taizong was walking alone in the garden. There were hundreds of flowers blooming in all colors, but Taizong had no intention of appreciating them.

Princess Changle's face and her determined eyes kept appearing in his mind.

"What decision should I make?" Taizong murmured to himself.

At this moment, the queen came in. She was dressed in gorgeous palace clothes, dignified and beautiful.

"Your Majesty, I know you are worried about the princess." The queen said softly.

Taizong held the empress's hand and said, "My beloved, I really don't know what to do."

The Queen smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, we only have this one daughter. Isn't her happiness more important than anything else?"

Taizong sighed: "But the royal rules and dignity..."

The Queen shook her head gently. "Your Majesty, rules are life, but people are life. If the princess suffers for the sake of rules, wouldn't that be more harm than good?"

Taizong was silent for a long time, and finally said, "My beloved concubine, what you said makes sense. I will think about it carefully."

Li Yifeng, who was in the cell, knew nothing about what was happening outside. He was still in this dark corner, enduring the dual torture of body and mind.

He often saw Princess Changle in his dreams, but when he woke up he saw only cold walls and endless pain.

As the days passed, Taizong was constantly struggling and weighing things in his heart.

Finally, on a sunny day, Taizong made a decision.

He came to the princess's bedroom again. Princess Changle was sitting in front of the window, staring at the scenery outside in a daze.

When Taizong walked into the room, Princess Changle quickly stood up and saluted.

Taizong waved his hand, motioning her to sit down, and then slowly said, "Daughter, I have decided to give Li Yifeng a chance. But he must pass my test. If he does, I will no longer object to you being together."

After hearing this, Princess Changle's eyes suddenly lit up with surprise: "Thank you, father!"

Taizong continued, "I will arrange a competition. If he can demonstrate his ability in both civil and military affairs, proving that he is capable of bringing you happiness, I will grant you your happiness."

Princess Changle said firmly: "Don't worry, father, Yifeng will definitely not let you down."

However, how difficult and dangerous Taizong's test will be, and whether Li Yifeng can successfully pass it, everything is still unknown...