Chapter Fifteen: The Tender Love of Yin Feng, Shattered by Turmoil
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After this battle, Li Chengyin’s courage and wisdom exposed the Crown Prince’s treasonous conspiracy, earning him widespread praise at court.
Seeing his composure, exceptional ability, and the loyalty and sense of responsibility he had shown toward the Li Dynasty throughout the crisis, the Emperor issued an edict appointing Li Chengyin as Crown Prince.
When the news spread, the entire imperial court was shaken. Everyone understood that, under Li Chengyin’s leadership, the future of the Li Dynasty would take an entirely new direction.
Standing in the resplendent yet faintly chilling court, Li Chengyin listened as his father proclaimed the investiture. There was little joy upon his face.
He lowered his head slightly and offered his thanks with due reverence. His figure remained straight as a pine, yet beneath his deep-set eyes lay an indescribable weariness and the marks of a lifetime.
At that moment, his position within the Li Dynasty was as firm as a rock, and he had become the heir whom all looked up to.
Yet the glory at the summit of power could not fill the emptiness in his heart, for the person he cared for most was the woman who burned like a flame and moved like a fresh breeze—Xiaofeng.
Once he had dealt with the affairs of court, he hurried to Xiaofeng’s quarters. Along the way, his steps were urgent yet tinged with hesitation, while his mind churned over how he should face her.
At last, he reached her door. Pushing it open gently, he saw Xiaofeng standing quietly by the window. Sunlight spilled over her, tracing the graceful lines of her figure, yet it could not conceal the trace of sorrow upon her face.
Li Chengyin slowly approached her. His heartbeat quickened against his will, and his throat felt as though something had lodged there. Only after a long while did he manage to speak.
“Xiaofeng, now that everything is over, would you be willing to give me another chance?”
His voice trembled faintly. His eyes were filled with hope and unease as he fixed his gaze upon her, as though a single look from her could decide whether he lived or died.
Xiaofeng turned to face him. Her heart was a tangled mass of thoughts, with the love, hatred, and grievances of the past twisting together within it. She knew that Li Chengyin had endured countless dangers for her during the palace struggle, and that he had also worked tirelessly for peace between their two countries.
She bit her lower lip and hesitated for a moment before saying, “I’ll try.”
Her voice was soft yet resolute, like a stone cast into the lake of Li Chengyin’s heart, sending ripples across its surface.
Hearing those words, Li Chengyin was overcome with joy. He stepped forward and clasped Xiaofeng’s hand tightly.
His hands trembled slightly, as though he were holding the most precious treasure in the world and feared that it would vanish the moment he let go.
“Xiaofeng, those words are enough. I will spend the rest of my life making amends for the wrongs I once committed.”
His eyes were filled with devotion and determination. The heat of his gaze seemed capable of melting her.
Silently, he vowed that from that moment onward, he would give Xiaofeng all the tenderness and affection in the world. He would spend his entire life protecting her and healing the wounds in her heart.
To offer Xiaofeng a grand and solemn promise, Li Chengyin decided to hold a magnificent wedding for her in the imperial palace of the Li Dynasty.
The entire palace became immersed in bustling preparations and celebration. Red silk streamed in the wind, lanterns hung high, and every corner overflowed with the joy of a wedding.
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Palace maids and eunuchs hurried back and forth, carefully decorating every corner and preparing all the articles required for the ceremony.
On the day of the wedding, the sun shone brightly beneath a cloudless sky.
Li Chengyin wore the splendid ceremonial robes of the Crown Prince and a golden crown. He stood tall and proud, exuding an imposing presence.
He waited before the main hall of the imperial palace, anxious yet exhilarated for Xiaofeng’s arrival.
Dressed in a phoenix crown and crimson wedding robes, Xiaofeng looked even more beautiful and radiant. Supported by A-Du, she slowly approached Li Chengyin.
A hint of shyness and nervousness showed in her eyes, but more than anything, they held anticipation for the future.
When Xiaofeng reached him, Li Chengyin gently took her hand, and together they entered the main hall. Amid the blessings of all present, they completed the wedding rites.
Afterward, Li Chengyin led Xiaofeng to their bridal chamber.
The room had been arranged with warmth and romance. Red curtains stirred in the breeze, while the candles in the dragon-and-phoenix stands burned with a gentle glow.
Although Xiaofeng had agreed to give Li Chengyin a chance to begin again, her heart remained full of contradictions. Often, in the stillness of late night, she would sit alone by the window and gaze at the stars, pondering their future.
She knew that her feelings for Li Chengyin had never truly disappeared, yet the hatred born of Danchi’s destruction remained like a thorn buried deep within her heart.
Sometimes, she would awaken from nightmares in the dead of night. In them, she saw the horrific destruction of Danchi and the look of despair in her grandfather’s eyes. Whenever that happened, Li Chengyin would hold her tightly, soothing her in a low voice and using the warmth of his body to give her comfort and security.
Within the palace, meanwhile, there was no shortage of gossip and hidden jealousy concerning their marriage.
Some consorts and ministers believed that Xiaofeng, as the princess of Western State, might influence the affairs of the Li Dynasty and threaten their own positions.
They therefore joined forces in secret, attempting to create trouble within the palace and drive a wedge between Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng.
Once, a consort deliberately brought up Danchi in Xiaofeng’s presence, her words filled with provocation and mockery. Furious, Xiaofeng quarreled with her. When Li Chengyin learned of it, he punished the consort severely in order to defend Xiaofeng’s dignity.
He knew that Xiaofeng had no family or allies within the imperial court of the Li Dynasty. He alone could give her shelter, and he would never allow anyone to harm her.
Besides the conflicts within the palace, there were occasional minor disturbances along the borders of the Li Dynasty.
As Crown Prince, Li Chengyin had no choice but to spend time and energy dealing with them.
Whenever news of a military campaign descended upon the palace like a dark cloud, and Li Chengyin was about to leave for the frontier, Xiaofeng’s heart would become ensnared in heavy mists of anxiety.
Unease and dread flickered in her eyes as all manner of terrible images rose unbidden in her mind:
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Li Chengyin fighting alone on the battlefield, surrounded on all sides by enemy forces as blood splashed across the yellow sands; or falling into peril in some desolate borderland after being ambushed by treacherous men, isolated and without aid.
More painful still was the thought that the love they had only just rebuilt through countless hardships might, like a fragile spider’s thread, slowly snap during their long separation, swept away without mercy by the river of time.
How could Li Chengyin not know what Xiaofeng feared? Before every expedition, he would enfold her tightly in his powerful arms, holding her like the strongest of harbors.
Resting his chin lightly against the crown of her head, he would comfort her with gentle certainty.
“Xiaofeng, trust me. I will return safely. Wherever I may be, my heart will always be with you. Even if we are separated by ten thousand miles, you will forever be the tenderest concern in my heart, the place to which my soul longs to return.”
His voice was deep and rich, carrying an unshakable resolve. Every word fell like a glowing stone into the cold, fearful soil of Xiaofeng’s heart, stirring faint warmth and solace.
During his days at the frontier, Li Chengyin worked tirelessly, dealing with a constant stream of complicated military affairs.
Yet no matter how busy he became, he always kept the warmest corner of his heart for Xiaofeng.
Whenever a crisis was resolved or a task completed, he would eagerly roam the markets and streets of the borderlands, carefully choosing gifts that bore the character of the region.
Sometimes it was a uniquely shaped, intricately carved jade pendant, its smooth warmth seemingly suited to reflect Xiaofeng’s purity and beauty. Sometimes it was a brightly colored, finely woven woolen shawl, its softness resembling the boundless tenderness and longing he felt for her. At other times, it was a box of local pastries fragrant with sweetness, which he hoped would bring her a delightful surprise for the palate.
He would lovingly wrap these regional treasures and small gifts, then entrust them to his most reliable messenger, ordering him to ride swiftly to the imperial palace so that Xiaofeng might feel at once the longing and concern that had crossed mountains and rivers to reach her.
And on a bright day when a gentle breeze stirred the air, Li Chengyin took Xiaofeng out hunting.
They mounted fine horses and raced like the wind toward the boundless grasslands. The steeds thundered onward, their hooves raising clouds of dust that formed a golden haze behind them.
The breeze moved like a mischievous spirit, brushing lightly against their faces and lifting their hair. Each fleeting touch felt like a tender caress from nature. The air was filled with the mingled fragrance of grass and earth—the scent of freedom and life.
Li Chengyin turned to look at Xiaofeng beside him. She was spirited and gallant, her eyes bright with excitement and liveliness.
In that instant, his heart, frozen for so long, seemed to be touched by the breath of spring, blooming into a brilliant smile he had almost forgotten.
Xiaofeng drew her bow and nocked an arrow, her gaze focused and resolute. With a sharp hiss, the arrow flew like lightning and struck a wild rabbit with perfect accuracy.
Her small face flushed with excitement. Raising her bow high, she cried out joyfully, “Li Chengyin, I hit it!”
Her clear, cheerful voice rang across the grassland like silver bells. Infectious laughter rose from Li Chengyin as well. Their laughter mingled and drifted across the open plains, as though passing through the river of time and carrying them back to those first carefree, innocent days.
At that moment, every worry and sorrow was cast aside. In their eyes and in their hearts, there was only each other, and only the freedom and happiness of the grasslands.
They had thought that peaceful days would follow, that they could walk hand in hand through the rest of their lives. But who could have known that beneath the calm surface of the lake, turbulent undercurrents were once again gathering…
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