Shen Lingyi once thought she was the luckiest person in the world. She was named Princess Anle the moment she was born, the cherished jewel of her father the Emperor and her mother Consort, the beloved younger sister of the Crown Prince, and the cherished fiancee of her childhood sweetheart, who came from a princely household. Her life goal used to be to support her husband and raise their children, living a happy, peaceful life together. But things did not go as she wished. Her Crown Prince brother was gone, her mother passed away, her father the Emperor died, and her childhood sweetheart left his carefree days behind to go to war. From then on, her foremost goal in life was to help her younger brother, who was not yet a year old, secure the throne. Her secondary goal was to give the people a chance to recover and live in peace, and to see the Great Jing enjoy peace and prosperity.
Above love, there are even more things worth protecting.
What other cunning scheme could there be? Yin and yang cannot do harm.
I keep this steadfast heart, and gaze up at the white clouds.
My heart is filled with sorrow. Heavens, will this ever end?
The wise have long since departed, but their example remains from days of old.
I spread a book beneath the wind-swept eaves and read; the ancient way shines upon my face.
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From Wen Tianxiang's "Song of Righteousness"
