Chapter 55: A Fated Union of Yin and Feng, Bound by Grace and Loyalty for a Lifetime

Xiaofeng's eyes sparkled with excitement, and all the way she chattered incessantly like a joyful bird.

Wildflowers bloomed wantonly along both sides of the road, their colorful petals gently swaying in the breeze as if dancing to Xiaofeng's joy.

Vividly and animatedly, she recounted her experiences with A-Du—the thrilling moments, the amusing adventures, and the warmth of supporting each other through hardships.

Li Chengyin walked quietly by her side, a doting smile playing on the corners of his lips as he patiently listened to her every word, as if nothing in the world mattered more than this.

Before long, they arrived at the county office. On the plaza in front of the office, a few paved bluestone slabs showed slight signs of wear, bearing the traces of time.

The magistrate had been waiting at the entrance for some time. The moment he caught sight of Li Chengyin, he hurried forward with a face full of smiles.

When his gaze inadvertently swept over the jade pendant at Li Chengyin's waist—a symbol of supreme status—his expression instantly turned even more respectful. He bowed deeply and said in a loud voice:

"Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

Li Chengyin gave a slight nod, his expression calm yet carrying a natural majesty, and said slowly:

"I am already aware of how thoughtfully you have taken care of the Crown Princess."

Hearing this, the magistrate was overjoyed, and the smile on his face became even more ingratiating. He hastily chimed in:

"It was merely my duty, Your Highness. Since the Crown Princess is of noble birth, it was only natural for your humble servant to spare no effort."

In truth, deep down in his heart, he was already plotting to claim the generous reward issued for finding the Crown Princess.

Li Chengyin glanced at him and said softly:

"I shall report your deeds to His Majesty, and you will be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold."

Beaming with joy, the magistrate expressed his gratitude repeatedly. Looking overwhelmed with thankfulness, he seemed to have already seen wealth and glory beckoning to him.

At that moment, as if suddenly remembering something important, Xiaofeng's eyes lit up. She turned to Li Chengyin and said:

"Li Chengyin, I want to go and thank that elderly man. His family's circumstances are so difficult, and I truly cannot bear it. If it weren't for him protecting my safety and informing you of my whereabouts, I honestly wouldn't know what I would have done."

Upon hearing this, Li Chengyin gently took Xiaofeng's hand and said tenderly:

"Since that is the case, we should reward him handsomely. We shall grant him ten thousand taels of gold, countless cattle and sheep, and ensure his family lives free from want for the rest of their days."

Hearing this, Xiaofeng's face flushed red with excitement, her eyes filled with joy and approval as she eagerly said:

"Okay!"

***

Shortly after, Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng walked hand in hand, accompanied by imperial guards, as they headed once more toward the old man's home.

The guards tightly clutched the promissory notes and property deeds as the grand procession marched forward.

At that moment, the warm sunshine bathed them in its glow. Weeping willows lined the road, their slender branches swaying gently in the wind as if guiding the way.

Before long, they arrived at the familiar little courtyard.

Green vines covered the wicker fence of the courtyard, and a few nameless little wildflowers poked their heads out from the gaps.

Xiaofeng immediately spotted the old man busy in the courtyard. He was bending over to weed the vegetable plot, his tattered clothes soaked with sweat.

Acting like a child, Xiaofeng dashed straight up to the old man and cried out cheerfully:

"Grandpa, my husband and I have come to see you!"

The old man raised his head, startled at first, and then a joyful smile bloomed across his face.

A guard stepped forward and respectfully presented the notes and property deeds to the old man.

Looking at the items in his hands, the old man was so overwhelmed with emotion for a moment that he did not know what to do, and abruptly dropped to his knees on the ground.

Seeing this, Xiaofeng hurriedly reached out to help him up, but she was a step too slow.

Filled with gratitude, the old man said:

"For such great benevolence, how could this old man possibly be worthy..."

Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng quickly spoke up:

"Grandpa, you needn't do this. You deserve this reward. If it weren't for you, the two of us might never have seen each other again."

After an exchange of sincere gratitude and polite refusals, Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng bid farewell to the old man.

They strolled slowly back along the path they had come. The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky an orange-red, magnificent beyond compare. The distant mountains loomed faintly in the twilight like a natural ink painting.

Xiaofeng's face radiated with a happy and contented smile. She tightly linked her arm through Li Chengyin's and said softly:

"Li Chengyin, I am truly happy today."

Li Chengyin turned his head to look at her, his gaze filled with deep affection:

"As long as you are happy, that is all that matters."

***

A gentle breeze swept by, bringing a touch of coolness mingled with the fragrance of earth and grass from the fields, as if offering the finest blessings to this pair of lovers who had weathered so many storms.

They walked quietly like this, savoring the hard-won tranquility and warmth, their hearts drawing even closer at that moment.

Upon returning to their quarters, Xiaofeng remained brimming with excitement. She paced back and forth in the room, muttering about the future prosperity of the old man's family.

Sitting to one side, Li Chengyin watched her adorable antics and couldn't help laughing out loud.

The candlelight in the room flickered, casting dancing shadows on the wall. Hearing the laughter, Xiaofeng stopped in her tracks and cast a reproachful glance at him:

"What are you laughing at?"

Li Chengyin stood up, walked over to her side, and gently pulled her into his arms:

"I am laughing at how kind-hearted my Crown Princess is, caring so deeply for the world."

Nuzzling into his embrace, a blush crept across Xiaofeng's cheeks. She raised her head and looked into his eyes. Their gazes locked, as if time itself had frozen in that instant. After a long moment, Xiaofeng whispered softly:

"Li Chengyin, let's never be separated again, okay?"

A stirring rose in Li Chengyin's heart, and he nodded solemnly:

"Okay. For the rest of our lives, I will stay by your side and never part."

As night gradually fell, moonlight like water poured into the room, spilling through the gaps in the window to form patches of silver light on the floor.

Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng lay in bed, neither of them feeling sleepy.

They talked in whispers, drifting from the trivial details of their initial meeting to the longing and yearning during their separation, and finally to their dreams and expectations for the future.

In that tranquil night, their voices resonated in the room like the most enchanting melody, recounting the deep and sincere love between them.

Early the next morning, sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon their faces. Li Chengyin and Xiaofeng slowly opened their eyes.

They exchanged a smile. A brand-new day had begun, and their love story would continue to unfold across the river of time. No matter how many storms lay ahead, they would forge ahead hand in hand, never to be parted.