Peaches in Spring

Li Taozhi was beautiful as an immortal, delicate as jade and soft as a flower. She was the adopted daughter of the Empress Dowager.

At some point, Taozhi began to dream that she would lose her title as princess and be returned to her birth family.

In her dreams, she would make love with her imperial elder brother. He was as lofty as a snow-capped mountain, yet tender and affectionate.

On the day of her coming-of-age ceremony, the Empress Dowager promised her to the Crown Prince of Yuan. Rumor had it that the prince was cruel, violent, and vicious.

To beg the emperor, Taozhi waited in the snow all night. She hoped he would pity and protect her, just as he did in her dreams.

Amid the swirling snow, he arrived wearing a white fox-fur cloak. His beautiful face was full of cold detachment. Looking down at her from above, he said in an indifferent voice, "My heart is set on the realm. What makes you think I would abandon it to save you, Taozhi?"

Later, she fled while on her way to be married.

But the Empress Dowager sent people to capture her and lock her in the dungeon.

She lay on the ground, barely conscious, gazing at his black robe embroidered with dragons. Tears filled her eyes, and she looked like a timid little deer being bullied. "Imperial brother, save me!"

Song Yuanting crouched before her and gripped her delicate chin between his long fingers. His gaze was cold. "Imperial sister, you know I don't go easy on anyone."

From then on, Li Taozhi was stripped of her title as princess and became a caged bird kept in Song Yuanting's palace.

And her dreams grew clearer and clearer.

Later, he regretted his actions. He began respecting women, established schools, promoted women's entry into government, and declared that women could be brave and skilled soldiers, and could govern a realm just as well as an emperor.

He even promised her the position of empress. But Li Taozhi looked at him and smiled. "Imperial brother, Taozhi wants to roam the jianghu. I don't want to be confined to the palace."

The young emperor froze for a moment, then said, "All right. I respect your decision."

Theme: Love makes everything possible.