Set in the fictional Hongxi dynasty, A Deep and Devoted Love tells a legendary tale of passion forged amid struggles for power.
Liu Xiwu, an unloved prince, suffers bullying throughout his childhood. His only light is Lin Ziping, the youngest daughter of the Lin family, who is likewise neglected by her kin. They find comfort in each other through the cold winters of the palace, fall in love at thirteen, and marry at seventeen. After Liu Xiwu is made Prince of Wu, the new emperor and powerful ministers move to suppress him. He intends to surrender his military authority and back down, but when a provincial governor visiting on an inspection openly harasses his wife, he flies into a rage and raises his army, setting off the eight-year Rebellion of Fengtian.
Amid the flames of war, Lin Ziping stays behind and waits for him faithfully. On the battlefield, Liu Xiwu grows from a patient prince into a formidable ruler. Eight years later, he finally ascends the throne, and his very first decree is to make his beloved wife empress. But with the realm newly at peace, conflict stirs again at court. Can their love withstand the weight of the empire and the hardships of time? This is the story's central question.
Blending historical intrigue with tender devotion, the novel delicately portrays two souls saving one another amid a turbulent age. Swept along by the flood of fate, they take their love as their vessel and their steadfastness as their oars, weathering the trials of imperial power, war, and time together.
