Chapter Three: The Ordeal of Love—A Tragic Entanglement of Passion and Sorrow

(General’s Residence)

Zhao Sese’s heart burned with anxiety, her eyes reddened. With a sudden thud, she knelt on the ground, clutching tightly at General Zhao’s sleeve, her voice trembling with tears as she pleaded repeatedly, “Father, Sese truly loves His Highness Prince Yi. The remnants of the Dan Chi tribe harbor a deep hatred for him. This time he goes forth, he surely will not escape unscathed. Moreover, for reasons unknown, before even attacking Dan Chi, he has been plagued by a relentless fever and has fallen into unconsciousness. If he is forced to fight in such a condition, what will become of him? Please, you must petition His Majesty to save him, won’t you?”

General Zhao frowned deeply, his face clouded with helplessness as he scolded, “Have you lost your wits? Do you think this matter is so simple? This is all the Crown Prince’s scheme; he intends to make Prince Yi the scapegoat so no one will oppose him anymore. You should forget about him and seek a good family for yourself instead—it’s better than living in constant fear with him.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sese’s expression hardened with resolve. She drew a hairpin and pressed its sharp end against her delicate neck, tears streaming down as she cried, “If you won’t save him, then your daughter will not live on in misery!”

General Zhao stepped back in shock and collapsed into the chair behind him with a long sigh. “You... ah, a grown woman cannot be restrained! You’re bound to suffer a great fall because of him.”

With that, General Zhao was both furious and helpless, finally surrendering with a deep sigh, “Very well, tomorrow I will petition with several ministers to implore His Majesty to reconsider.”

Only then did Zhao Sese slowly withdraw the hairpin, hastening forward to support her father’s arm. The gloom lifted from her face, and a smile blossomed, as if her heart was envisioning some hopeful future.

Several days later...

(Prince Yi’s Residence)

“Your Highness, please wake up! How can Sese endure this?” Zhao Sese wept at the bedside, calling out.

Li Chengyin gradually regained consciousness, but all he saw was pitch darkness, as if cast into an endless abyss. He struggled to open his eyes, seeking to perceive his surroundings, desperate to catch a glimpse of the familiar figure and the unique aura that belonged to her.

He thought to himself, Where is this? Is it the dead of night? Why can I see nothing? No, this cannot be.

“Why... why can’t I see?” Li Chengyin’s voice was low and hoarse, his face etched with bitterness and fear.

The imperial physician trembled as he explained, “Your Highness, due to excessive shock and consecutive days of high fever bedridden, you have... temporarily lost your sight.” His voice grew faint, as if fearful of angering the prince.

“Your Highness, it’s alright. No matter what happens, Sese will never leave your side and will stay with you always...” Zhao Sese reached out to hold Li Chengyin’s hand, but before she could finish, he instinctively withdrew it and anxiously asked, “Where is Princess Jiu of Western Zhou? Where is she? Where is that person?!”

“No one knows who leaked the news, but Princess Jiu learned that it was you who wiped out the Dan Chi clan, and she also heard you went to quell the remaining rebels. Since then, her whereabouts have been unknown.”

Li Chengyin’s eyes widened with fury as he shouted, “Find her! Dig up the earth if you must, but bring Princess Jiu back! She is the princess of the union between two dynasties, her status is exceedingly noble. If you fail, bring me your heads!”

His heart was filled with worry. Was she safe? Had she been trapped in a plot? His mind was a chaotic storm, desperate to find her quickly.

One night, Li Chengyin sat alone by the pool in the estate, the faint calls of passing birds, the rustling of leaves falling into the water, and... the familiar, somewhat heavy footsteps slowly approaching.

“Your Highness, it’s cold tonight. General Pei has sent the maids to urge you to rest early,” a maid said.

“Let the maid closest to me stay; the others may leave,” Li Chengyin ordered.

After everyone else left, the footsteps drew nearer. Li Chengyin already knew it was her coming for revenge—but he was relieved she was still alive.

At that moment, a cold blade pressed against his neck. Li Chengyin reached out to touch it gently and was shocked to find it was the hairpin he had given her.

“Li Chengyin, does this look familiar?” Xiaofeng’s voice was icy to the bone, each word dripping with endless hatred.

(Continued on next pages...)

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“This was originally a gift from me to you. Now, do with it as you please,” Li Chengyin forced calm over himself, speaking lightly though his heart raced with fear she might see through his façade.

“Why, Li Chengyin? Why treat me like this? Why you? Why did you deliberately destroy my Dan Chi clan to gain merit? What wrong did they do? The calamity of Dan Chi began because of me. Yet now, you still refuse to let them be...” Xiaofeng’s voice grew more emotional, trembling on the verge of collapse, tinged with tears.

“Xiaofeng, no—it’s not like that. Please listen to me, alright?” Li Chengyin pleaded anxiously.

“What explanation could there possibly be? Haven’t your vile deeds been enough? Gu Xiaowu, why did you lie to me? Why? I will kill you to avenge them. Even if I die, I will seek justice for them! I hate you! I hate you!” Xiaofeng cried and shouted, her eyes burning with resolve and fury as if she wished to tear Li Chengyin apart.

“Then kill me, if that will avenge them. I am blind now, powerless as a newborn, so take my life if you must. I have no words left. This is my debt to you.”

Li Chengyin was filled with despair and helplessness, as Gu Jian had said—he would now live only in pain, guilt, and remorse, never to be forgiven. Perhaps only death could free him from this torment of body and soul.

“Your Highness! There’s... an assassin...” A guard, alerted by the noise, hurried over, shouting loudly.

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