Love and choices across time and space

Sunlight streamed down the streets and alleys of Chang'an City like golden threads, and a gentle breeze blew, bringing with it the freshness and warmth of spring. Li Yifeng, filled with trepidation and anticipation, stepped into the majestic imperial palace.

He wore a simple yet neat and clean cyan gown, the sleeves of which fluttered gently in the breeze. A plain belt cinched his waist, perfectly framing his slender figure. His hair was neatly tied up, secured with a wooden hairpin, revealing his broad, full forehead. His deep, bright eyes held a hint of nervous curiosity.

Li Yifeng's steps were slightly restrained as he followed the eunuch in front of him, who walked with steady steps, through the tall and majestic palace gates. Each palace gate seemed like a portal to a different time and space, leading him into a completely different world.

The palace walls towered into the sky, their vermilion walls gleaming in the sunlight like blazing flames. Glazed tiles covered the palace roof, reflecting a dazzling array of light, creating a dreamlike wonderland. The white marble-paved path was wide and smooth, like a river flowing with dignity and majesty. Along either side of the path, exotic flowers and plants competed for beauty, emitting a fragrance that seemed to descend from the heavens, enchanting the senses.

Li Yifeng couldn't help but raise his head slightly, his eyes quickly scanning the surrounding scene. The solemnity of the palace walls, the splendor of the palace, the beauty of the flowers and plants—all of it left him incomparably astounded. However, he didn't dare linger for too long, fearing that his actions would violate palace rules.

Finally, they arrived at a magnificent palace. The steps in front of the palace were paved with bluestone, each stone polished to a mirror-smooth finish, as if telling of the vicissitudes of time and the majesty of the palace. On both sides of the steps stood rows of majestic guards. They were clad in golden armor, wielding sharp spears. Their faces were solemn, their gazes piercing, like gods of war guarding the palace.

Li Yifeng took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, and followed the eunuch up the stairs. Each step seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight, and he could clearly hear his own heartbeat, as rapid and powerful as a drum.

As he entered the hall, a light scent of sandalwood filled his face, bringing a sense of peace and tranquility. The walls were covered with exquisite calligraphy and paintings, each a true masterpiece of art. The floor was covered with a thick velvet carpet, so soft to the touch that he almost forgot where he was.

Li Yifeng lowered his head, his eyes fixed on his toes until he heard the eunuch's shrill but loud voice: "Your Majesty, the person has been brought here."

His heart trembled suddenly, and he slowly raised his head, but he did not dare to look directly at the emperor on the dragon throne. He only glanced at the scene in the palace with the corner of his eye. At this moment, his eyes inadvertently fell on Princess Changle who was standing beside him.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and the whole world seemed to be left with only the beautiful figure of Princess Changle.

Princess Changle was clad in an exceptionally gorgeous palace dress, its sleeves flowing like clouds, embroidered with exquisite phoenix designs, lifelike and ready to take flight at any moment. Her hair was tied high in a bun, studded with pearls and jade, which sparkled in the sunlight like a cascade of stars. Her face was like peach blossoms in bloom on a spring day, delicate and alluring, her face radiant with spring. Her arched eyebrows were long and graceful, like distant black ink, and her eyes, like autumn water, were clear and bright, their gaze radiant, as if they could see through everything in the world. Her nose was straight, her lips were small and rosy like cherries, and the corners of her mouth were slightly raised, with a faint smile, like a spring breeze that could instantly captivate anyone.

Li Yifeng felt his heartbeat suddenly accelerate, as if it was about to burst out of his chest. His breathing became rapid, as if the air around him had become thinner. He had never seen such a beautiful woman before. She seemed like a fairy descended from the immortal realm, her beauty breathtaking.

Princess Changle also noticed Li Yifeng, her gaze tinged with curiosity and scrutiny. Seeing Li Yifeng's stunned expression, she couldn't help but chuckle. Her laughter was as clear and melodious as a silver bell, like a mountain spring flowing over rocks, or a gentle breeze rustling through wind chimes.

"How dare you! You don't even bow before the princess!" The eunuch's shout resounded like thunder in Li Yifeng's ears, instantly waking him from his trance. He quickly knelt on his knees, forehead touching the ground, and said in a trembling voice, "I, Li Yifeng, pay my respects to His Majesty and the princess."

The emperor frowned slightly, and said in a solemn and deep voice, "Stand up. I have heard that you have some talent, so I have summoned you to the palace today to show it off."

Li Yifeng stood up tremblingly, lowered his head, and said respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your appreciation. I will do my best."

The emperor waved his hand, signaling the maidservant nearby to present brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Li Yifeng took a deep breath, gathered his composure, and slowly walked to the table. His hands trembled slightly as he gently picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. His mind went blank for a moment. However, when his eyes inadvertently swept across Princess Changle's expectant gaze, an inexplicable surge of courage surged within him.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them again and began to write with his brush. His calligraphy was vigorous and powerful, each stroke seeming to contain boundless power. The characters resembled the majestic dance of dragons and phoenixes, yet also flowed naturally like clouds and water.

Princess Changle, standing nearby, couldn't help but step forward to observe. Her gaze fell on Li Yifeng's calligraphy, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. She leaned forward slightly, carefully examining the words, and softly exclaimed, "Excellent calligraphy! It's as majestic and imposing as a warrior drawing his sword, yet as graceful and moving as a gentle breeze rustling a willow tree."

Li Yifeng couldn't help but feel happy when he heard the princess' praise. He looked up at the princess. At that moment, he seemed to see the light in the princess' eyes, which was like twinkling stars, and he was unable to extricate himself from it.

The princess seemed a little embarrassed by his fiery gaze, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her head away gently.

Li Yifeng quickly lowered his head and continued to concentrate on writing. Soon, an article was complete. He put down his brush, his forehead covered with beads of sweat.

The emperor stepped forward to examine the work, a satisfied smile on his face. "Not bad, not bad. You are indeed quite talented. Not only is your handwriting excellent, but your writing is also profound and insightful. Enjoy!"

Li Yifeng quickly knelt down to express his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the reward. I feel so ashamed to receive it. It is truly my honor to be recognized by Your Majesty."

At this moment, Princess Changle said, "Your Majesty, I think this man is not only an outstanding calligrapher, but also writes articles with great originality. Why not let him stay in the palace and teach me so that I can learn more?"

The emperor thought for a moment, his eyes flicking back and forth between Li Yifeng and Princess Changle, and then he said, "Very well, then you may stay in the palace. But you must strictly abide by the rules and not overstep the bounds in any way."

Li Yifeng was overjoyed. He knew this was a rare opportunity. Not only could he stay in the palace, but he could also meet the princess frequently. He knelt again to express his gratitude, "I will faithfully follow your Majesty's orders and will not slack off in the slightest."

From then on, Li Yifeng stayed in the palace and often gave lectures to Princess Changle. Before each lecture, he would carefully prepare, read a lot of books, and strive to present the most exciting content to the princess.

The princess's study was spacious and bright, with bookshelves all around, piled high with all kinds of books. Sunlight streamed through the windows onto the floor, creating patches of golden light.

Princess Changle always sat at her desk early, waiting for Li Yifeng's arrival. She was dressed in simple palace clothes, her hair simply tied up, and her face, without any makeup, was still radiant.

Li Yifeng walked into the study and saw the princess's focused expression, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He cleared his throat and began to lecture.

The princess was intelligent and eager to learn, and was always interested in what Li Yifeng was saying. She would nod slightly, and sometimes offer some unique insights, which made Li Yifeng admire her intelligence.

As they spent time together, their feelings for each other gradually grew stronger. When their eyes met, they were no longer shy and evasive as they had been at the beginning, but were filled with tenderness and affection.

It was a sunny day, and the princess invited Li Yifeng to go to the imperial garden to appreciate the flowers.

In the Imperial Garden, a hundred flowers vie for glory, their vibrant colors radiating in all their glory. Peonies are regal and magnificent, their petals layered like delicate pagodas; roses are delicate and alluring, exuding an enchanting fragrance, a symbol of love; and peonies are charming and alluring, their blossoms large and full, like the smiling face of a young girl.

The princess was dressed in a pink palace dress, her skirt fluttering in the wind like a blooming peach blossom. She walked lightly among the flowers, her figure graceful, like a fairy among flowers.

Li Yifeng followed behind the princess, his eyes always fixed on her. His eyes were full of admiration and obsession, as if the princess was the only one in the world.

"Li Yifeng, look how beautiful this peony is," the princess said, pointing to a blossoming peony. Her voice was clear and melodious, like the sound of a yellow oriole singing in a valley.

Li Yifeng walked forward, gazed at the peony, and said, "The princess is as beautiful as this peony. Although this peony is beautiful, it is not even one ten-thousandth as beautiful as the princess."

The princess glanced at him coquettishly and said, "You're becoming more and more talkative. But I like to listen."

Li Yifeng smiled slightly, revealing his white, neat teeth: "What I said is all from the heart. In my heart, the princess is the most beautiful thing in the world."

The princess's face flushed, as gorgeous as the sunset glow in the sky. She lowered her head slightly, fiddling with the flowers in her hand, trying to hide her shyness.

Suddenly, a butterfly flew over and landed on the princess's shoulder. Li Yifeng gently stretched out his hand, trying to catch the butterfly. The princess looked up, seeing his focused expression, and a ripple of emotion appeared in her heart.

Just as Li Yifeng was about to catch the butterfly, he accidentally touched the princess's hand. Their hands instantly touched, and it felt like an electric shock. A warm current spread from his fingertips throughout his body. Li Yifeng quickly retracted his hand, and the princess shyly turned her head away.

"Princess, I'm sorry. I've offended you." Li Yifeng said nervously, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.

The princess said softly, "It's okay. It's just an accident." Her voice was as small as a mosquito, but it reached Li Yifeng's ears clearly.

At this moment, a breeze blew, and petals fell one after another, as if a flower rain had fallen. Li Yifeng and Princess Changle smiled at each other in this flower rain. At that moment, their hearts were filled with sweetness and happiness.

However, their love was not destined to be smooth sailing. The palace had many rules and strict hierarchy, and their feelings soon attracted the attention of some people.

When the Queen learned of this, she flew into a rage. She sat on the Phoenix Chair, her face as gloomy as the sky before a storm.

"Changle, do you know that as a princess with a noble status, how can you develop feelings with a commoner? This is simply a disgrace to the royal family!" The queen's voice was stern and cold, like a sharp sword, piercing Princess Changle's heart.

Princess Changle knelt on the ground, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mother, Li Yifeng and I truly love each other. Love should not be constrained by status or position."

The Queen snorted coldly, her eyes filled with anger and disdain. "True love? What can he give you? Wealth and glory? Or supreme power? He's just a commoner. How can he be worthy of your status as a princess?"

Princess Changle raised her head and looked at the Queen with a firm gaze: "I don't care about these things. I just want a sincere love. Mother, why can't you understand me?"

The Queen was so angry that her face turned pale and her body trembled slightly. "You are too naive! Royal marriage has never been a personal choice, but a matter of national interests and family honor. I absolutely will not agree to this. You'd better give up this idea as soon as possible."

Princess Changle burst into tears, her voice choked with sobs: "Mother... please, grant us your wish."

At the same time, Li Yifeng was also under tremendous pressure. Some ministers in the palace wrote to the emperor, asking him to expel Li Yifeng from the palace to avoid affecting the princess's reputation.

In the court, the ministers were filled with righteous indignation and spoke harshly.

"Your Majesty, Li Yifeng is just a commoner. How dare he seduce the princess? His crime is unforgivable!" A minister said with a bow, his face full of anger.

"Your Majesty, if this matter is not dealt with strictly, it will probably cause criticism from the people of the world and undermine the dignity of the royal family." Another minister echoed.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne with a gloomy face, lost in thought.

Li Yifeng knew that his love with the princess was facing a huge test, but he secretly swore in his heart that he would not give up no matter what.

On a quiet night, with the bright moon hanging high in the sky, casting its cool light, Li Yifeng secretly came to the princess's bedroom.

The flickering candlelight in the princess's bedroom revealed her delicate figure. Li Yifeng gently opened the door and walked into the room.

"Princess, I won't let you suffer any injustice. I will definitely find a way to get His Majesty and the Queen to agree to our marriage." Li Yifeng held the princess's hand and said affectionately. His eyes were firm and persistent, as if burning with an eternal flame.

The princess nodded, tears in her eyes. "I believe you. No matter what difficulties we encounter, we must face them together."

However, they didn't know that in the shadows not far away, a pair of eyes were staring at them closely. It was the palace maid sent by the queen to monitor the princess. She saw everything, turned around and hurried away, reporting to the queen.