Crossing the River of Spring Longing

[The author is getting back into writing, so updates are irregular. We recommend waiting until it's complete to read.]

[Thanks to every little angel who supports reading legitimate editions on Jinjiang.]

Princess Yu Fu of the Jiang Kingdom is as radiant as the morning sun and as graceful as a spring breeze. Adored by all, she should have lived a carefree life, until her country lost a war and an envoy arrived to negotiate peace.

The enemy nation's tyrant, Shen Liji, is cursed with a lonely fate and suffers from a grave illness. Yu Fu, whose destiny brings good fortune, is the perfect bride to bring him luck.

In the wedding chamber, beneath the red bridal canopy, Yu Fu looked at the man with his sinister air and nervously curled up on the bed.

But the emperor lifted her jade-white foot and bent down to place a gentle kiss on it.

Yu Fu stared up at him in a daze, meeting his sincere, tender eyes.

Ever since they began sharing tender nights, Yu Fu fell into deep sleep and dreamed.

In her dream, she married the tyrant, lived out her days in melancholy and regret, and died. Afterward, her soul floated by his side as she watched him wage war across the nine regions and destroy fourteen kingdoms, sparing only the Jiang Kingdom.

Later, Shen Liji's illness worsened. His moods in court became unpredictable, and the officials trembled, afraid to speak.

He died on a snowy night. As rebels attacked the city, a fire broke out in Guanghan Tower, and the emperor laughed defiantly amid the flames.

Even as he closed his eyes, he clutched her hairpin tightly.

The last ruler of the Dayan dynasty had no empress or consort and left no heirs. He was a tyrant in life, and history reviled him after death.

Unaware in dreams that she was but a guest in this world, Yu Fu awoke from her nightmare.

She gazed at the man lying beside her and touched his features as if in a trance.

Shen Liji abruptly opened his dark eyes, caught her slender waist, and drew her into his arms.