Chapter One: The Warm Springs Begin to Bloom, the Imprisonment Grows Ever Deeper

That day, Li Chengyin was leisurely soaking in the warm spring within the palace pond, the soothing water enveloping him in a wave of comfort.

Just as he closed his eyes, savoring the moment of tranquility, suddenly, a pair of soft hands gently covered his eyes.

Instantly alert, Li Chengyin instinctively reached out and pulled. A sharp cry followed, and when he saw it was Xiao Feng before him, the surprise in his eyes swiftly melted into boundless affection.

He grasped Xiao Feng’s arm tightly, his gaze burning intensely upon her, as if afraid this was but an illusion, and that letting go would make her vanish.

Xiao Feng’s face flushed a deep red, like a ripe apple, her shyness and embarrassment unmistakable. She struggled to break free from Li Chengyin’s hold, reproaching him softly:

“Aren’t you going to leave? Mind your manners!”

Li Chengyin, however, was unconcerned, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile tugging at his lips, replying:

“You were the one who barged in recklessly. Why should I leave? That makes no sense.”

Watching Xiao Feng’s uneasy and flustered demeanor, a trace of pride stirred in Li Chengyin’s heart. He teased with a smile:

“If you don’t want me to leave, then I really don’t mind.” Saying this, he slowly loosened his grip.

Leaning lazily against the stone edge of the pond, Li Chengyin quietly gazed at Xiao Feng.

At that moment, images suddenly flashed through his mind without warning—shrouded in a thin veil, hazy yet faintly clear. In a daze, he seemed transported to another time and place, quietly watching Xiao Feng’s bashful face. The feeling was so familiar, yet elusive.

His mind felt as if gripped by a mysterious force; one vivid image surged after another like a tidal wave. A piercing headache overwhelmed him, and he clenched his teeth, clutching his head with both hands until the pain slowly subsided.

After Xiao Feng left, Li Chengyin sank into deep contemplation. He was filled with doubt: were these fleeting images buried memories, or hallucinations born of longing? This was not the first time such a thing had happened. This woman—he seemed to have crossed paths with her somewhere before...

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That night, Li Chengye invited Xiao Feng to a banquet. A faint sense of foreboding gnawed at Li Chengyin, yet he never expected the terrible turn of events that would follow.

When news came that Xiao Feng had been poisoned and was unconscious, Li Chengyin’s heart clenched sharply. He knew full well this was a carefully laid trap by Li Chengye to exact revenge, and he feared he would be unjustly framed. Yet he never imagined it would come so swiftly, so unexpectedly.

Upon hearing the news, the emperor’s face darkened with fury, and he ordered Li Chengyin to be taken to the Dali Temple prison for interrogation.

Anxious and desperate, Li Chengyin frantically tried to explain himself to the emperor from within the prison. His voice grew hoarse from urgency, eyes filled with earnestness and helplessness. Yet the emperor remained impassive, unmoved by his pleas, and without hesitation locked him away...

In that dark, sunless cell, Li Chengyin waited alone for the emperor’s final judgment.

He sat quietly on the cold floor, his heart heavy with worry.

His greatest concern was Xiao Feng. He wondered if she had awakened. Would she mistakenly believe he was the one who poisoned her? Would she trust him? Knowing even his own father had so resolutely turned against him, refusing to believe him in the slightest, how could he hope Xiao Feng would stand by his side?

Staring at the single faint beam of light filtering through the narrow window, a deep sense of loss washed over him. Slowly, he bowed his head, as if the entire world had abandoned him.

“Li Chengyin.”

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached his ears.

Startled, he initially thought it was a hallucination, but the voice was so vivid. He immediately lifted his head, eyes brimming with excitement and anxiety.

When he saw it was Xiao Feng standing before him, a flood of mixed emotions overwhelmed him. She was truly safe! She had come to see him! Did she really believe him?

“Why did you come? Are you feeling better?” Li Chengyin asked nervously, his voice trembling slightly.

“I’m a princess protected by heaven’s grace. A few days’ rest and I’m fine,” Xiao Feng smiled at him, her expression like a warm ray of sunshine piercing through the darkness of the prison.

“That’s a relief.”

Seeing Xiao Feng safe and sound, Li Chengyin’s unease and panic gradually melted away.

Xiao Feng reached into her sleeve and pulled out a small pouch, placing it before Li Chengyin. Upon opening it, he found the snacks he had brought her.

Looking at the pouch, a warm wave gently stirred in his heart, and it seemed an answer was dawning. Yet he lacked full confidence, cautiously probing:

“Do you believe I was wrongfully accused?”

Xiao Feng’s gaze was resolute as she answered without hesitation, “Of course I believe you. We just finished investigating the Crown Prince and Li Yan’s matters, and both of them ended up in trouble. It’s obvious there’s something fishy going on.”

Hearing this, Li Chengyin felt a bitter pang rise within. If she could see through the truth so clearly, why was his father so stubborn and unwilling to trust him? His spirits sank again, and he lowered his head in defeat.

Seemingly sensing his sorrow, Xiao Feng softly approached, crouched beside him, and gently comforted him. She urged him not to lose hope, promising that no matter what happened, she would choose and believe in him without hesitation. Listening to her words, a warm current flowed through Li Chengyin’s heart, yet concern for Xiao Feng’s future safety quickly followed. After all that had happened, he feared further harm might befall her. Clasping her hand tightly, his gaze was filled with care as he repeatedly urged her to take good care of herself.

Outside, the cold wind howled, and Xiao Feng’s clothes were thin. Yet before leaving, she did not hesitate to remove her cloak and drape it over Li Chengyin, afraid he might catch a chill. Watching her figure recede into the distance, growing faint and blurred, a seed of hope was planted deep in his heart. A hope for survival, a hope to protect her well in the days to come, and never let her suffer harm again.

Li Chengyin sat quietly in the prison, silently reflecting, unsure when he had come to love her so deeply...

This love, like a blazing flame, gave him the courage and strength to persevere through the darkest trials.