Love Locked Away by Longing

All right, here is the first chapter:

Love's Longing, A Dream of the Mortal World

In the bustling city of Chang'an, spring sunlight bathed the lively streets. Vendors' cries rose and fell along the roadside, while pedestrians streamed past like a woven tapestry.

Su Yao, a young woman born into a scholarly family, was strolling through the crowded streets. She wore a pale pink silk dress, tied at the waist with a white sash. Her figure was graceful, her features lovely, her brows like distant mountains and her eyes like stars. Intelligence and gentleness shone in her gaze, tinged with a faint, hidden sorrow.

Su Yao had not come out to enjoy herself. She was searching for a rare ancient book to help resolve her father's academic difficulties. In an old bookshop, she carefully browsed the volumes on the shelves, so absorbed that it seemed the whole world had shrunk to her and the books before her.

At that same moment, Lin Yu, a promising young general, had just returned victorious from the frontier. He rode a fine white horse and wore silver armor, his bearing dashing and his brows set with courage and resolve. As he passed through the street, his horse suddenly took fright and charged uncontrollably toward the crowd.

The crowd instantly fell into chaos. Su Yao was jostled by the panicked people and nearly fell. At this critical moment, Lin Yu used his superb horsemanship to bring the horse under control, while reaching out to pull Su Yao into his arms.

The sudden turn of events left Su Yao pale with fright. When she looked up and met Lin Yu's deep, concerned gaze, an unfamiliar feeling welled up inside her.