In the poetic era of the Tang Dynasty, Li Shimin, a general and prince, meticulously selected and prepared to present a formal betrothal gift to the woman he loved—Wu Zetian. To demonstrate his sincerity and determination, he requested his father, Emperor Li Yuan, to personally deliver the gift, thereby completing this most significant ceremony in the name of the royal family.
Fully aware that this was to be an event that would shake the royal household and even the court, Li Shimin chose the betrothal gifts with great care, each item a representation of his dedication and respect for Wu Zetian. Gold, silk, and other gifts of auspicious meaning, each one showcased the preciousness and wealth of royalty. As for the occasion of presenting the betrothal gifts, it was naturally to take place in the most magnificent palace within the imperial city, welcoming Wu Zetian into the royal fold.
The imperial edict was sent to the Wu family, just like last time, and Emperor Li Yuan requested that Father accompany me to the palace.
On that day, the palace was brilliantly illuminated, and it was filled with a multitude of guests, all in a festive spirit. Emperor Li Yuan, clad in his dragon robe, stood alongside Li Shimin, who was handsome and dashing, like a heroic prince from a myth. The orchestra played celebratory music, and songs of joy filled the air. All eyes were focused on Li Shimin, awaiting his poetic declaration and generous proposal.
Yet amidst this atmosphere brimming with joy and congratulation, I faced an inner turmoil like never before. My thoughts were in disarray—I had secretly pledged my life to Li Hao, a brave knight from the Western Regions. Although I come from the future and seemed to have adapted to the life of the Tang Dynasty, I never anticipated being ensnared by the love concepts of ancient and modern times.
Beneath the colorful splendor of the setting, my heart felt as if plunged into an icy abyss. Although I was grateful for Li Shimin's emotions and understood the significance of this for a prince of the nation, my own heart could not reject the lifelong vow I had privately made with Li Hao. The conflict within me brought about an unprecedented pain and unease—on one hand, there was the enviable position of a princess, and on the other, a true love incomparable in stature and recognition.
As the betrothal ceremony progressed, Li Shimin, filled with anticipation, opened the lavish box of betrothal gifts and extended his hand toward me, waiting for my response. However, amidst the expectant gazes of many, I felt the ruthlessness of fate, and I sensed the courage arising within me to follow my heart. I knew that no matter how difficult the path ahead, I would strive to pursue the life my heart yearned for.
Gold and silver treasures lost their luster in my eyes because something more precious lay within my heart—that love transcending the bounds of time and space, the profound affection between me and Li Hao. Although Emperor Li Yuan's gesture brought the atmosphere of the banquet to its peak, the impulse hidden deep within my heart had spurred my decision to bravely challenge the constraints of destiny and join hands with Li Hao to embrace our shared future.
In the Tang Dynasty, where rites and rituals abounded, marriage was not just about two individuals but a symbol of family and imperial glory. The secret marriage agreement I made with Li Hao undoubtedly struck a blow to this traditional concept. Should the family discover this emotional bond that crossed boundaries, they would not only be shocked but also feel the shame of losing face. The elders would go to great lengths to cover up the matter to maintain their distinguished family reputation and social status, and simultaneously, the scale of imperial law would be severely challenged.
Against the cultural backdrop of the era, a woman's marriage was dictated by the patriarchal family, while the court used marriage laws and regulations to ensure social stability. My choice was not only a defiance of the family arrangement but also a blatant violation of imperial decrees. This taboo challenge meant our love became an act of open defiance against tradition.
Forced by reality, I accepted the betrothal gifts on the spot because I knew that if I refused immediately, I would undoubtedly lose my personal freedom. If I agreed, there would be some time for me to manipulate between the engagement period and the wedding day. I was determined to flee with Li Hao, determined to break free from the shackles of marriage. That day, after returning home, I informed Li Hao, and we packed up all our money and belongings, escaping from the family mansion in the middle of the night and disappearing on the road to the Western Region.
Upon receipt of the news, the family and the court secretly initiated actions attempting to intercept us, the couple who were escaping from marriage, in an attempt to bring the course of our lives back into alignment with societal expectations. The warrants for our arrest were disseminated everywhere, undercover detectives and soldiers began deploying and searching at all crucial points. The description of our escape was framed as a threat to authority and a challenge to tradition, making their actions full of danger and uncertainty.
Li Hao, a warrior from the Western Region who had won battle honors for the court, had now become a target of pursuit. Me, a mere woman, was deemed a misled person tempted astray. Our expressions of love and ambition became "unstable factors" that the family and court wanted to suppress.
Although the development of our feelings was carried out in secret, and the pursuit carried out secretly to save face for the family and the royal family, it still caused a lot of debate and discussion. Some believed that our decision was an expression of the purest love and defended the right to personal choice. Others stressed that social rules must be maintained and any action against established morals and laws should be condemned.
For Li Hao and I, the road of escape holds both warmth and hope, but also shadows of loneliness and fear. Our night-time flight seems to be a microcosm of our adventurous journey of love. The threats did not make us back down. On the contrary, our feelings for each other became even stronger.
In the face of society's fervent response and the family's secret urgent search, Li Hao and I always remain low-key and cautious. Of course, we are impulsive and anxious, but what's more, is our steady vision for our future life together. We long to find our own world outside the turbulent world where we can truly love and live freely.
Regardless of how the family and court pursue us, we know in our hearts that the desire to flee is not only an escape from restrictions but also a declaration of the pursuit of freedom and true love. At every moment of escape, we are writing a modern chapter of the era with our actions, stating that ordinary people have the right to pursue happiness and choose love.
Under the dark starry sky, Li Hao and I shoulder to shoulder swiftly embarked on the road of escape. Our luggage was simple, containing a small amount of dry food and necessities. In front of us was the winding road, behind us the control of our relatives, and the secret manhunt of the court. The hardship of our escape began, marking the start of a journey full of unknowns and danger.
When we initially embarked on the path of running away, we hurried along at night, whispering with each other, planning every step to avoid the pursuit. Nature as our sanctuary, stars as our friends, we pressed on against the burdens, avoided the common routes, traversed the remote mountain paths and crossed the turbulent rivers. We fled south and hid in the north, always together like shadows, as if we were wanderers in the night looking for that single ray of light.
Life on the run not only physically and mentally challenged us to our limits but also tested our relationship. During the days of flight, we together confronted problems like food shortage, harsh weather, and constant fatigue. These real-life hardships exerted great pressure on our relationship. However, these external difficulties seemed to strengthen our emotional bond amid adversity. Each time we overcame a hurdle, our trust and reliance on each other deepened.
In the face of challenges, my resilience and Li Hao's bravery inspired each other. Despite our vastly different backgrounds, together through shared hardships, we found our future. Supporting one another, we solved every problem along the way, our tacit understanding growing deeper without the need for words. By the campfire at night, Li Hao would share stories of his past and beliefs, while I would speak of my dreams and desires, our heartbeats intertwining under the night sky into a song of life shared together.
Day after day, our escape not only honed our survival skills but also fortified and purified our love. Within the boundless wandering and the tension of our flight, loneliness and helplessness often visited us. Yet, we remain steadfast as ever; our love shining ever brighter through the storms. We understood that true love is mutual support, holding fast together, combining our futures at the edge of the unexpected world.
Amidst the ordeal of our flight, the bond between me and Li Hao deepened. Our reliance on each other stemmed not only from each other's presence but also from the unbreakable positions we hold in each other's hearts. Our path might be strewn with thorns, but every step we take is firm and strong, for we know that each other's company is all the courage and strength needed to endure it all. The future may be uncertain, but like the stars, our wishes remain ever by our side.
As the setting sun bathed Chang'an in golden hues, within the imperial palace, Li Shimin's heart was tinted with the melancholy of autumn leaves. Wu Zetian's elopement not only turned his carefully prepared betrothal gifts to naught but also brought him a sense of deep defeat and helplessness. Love seemed fragile in the face of reality, and the unfulfilled purpose of the betrothal gifts delivered an unprecedented impact on Li Shimin. However, his magnanimous spirit eventually turned to understanding and a smile. He had never imagined that the woman he admired would forsake everything for another man's betrothal gift, and he surprisingly felt no anger or humiliation. As these thoughts crossed his mind, he couldn't help but laugh, and he especially admired Wu Zetian's bravery and convictions.
Wu Zetian and Li Hao's departure was not just a personal choice of emotion; it caused ripples throughout the history of the Tang Dynasty. The family and the court found themselves facing an unprecedented situation, her flight not only casting doubt on the Wu family's prestige but also challenging the authority of the court's rule of law. This event plunged Li Shimin into deep contemplation; he began considering the relationship between power and emotion, the dialectics between the human heart and the law—perhaps these were outdated. If he were to rule in the future, he aspired to build a more open and free society.
In the clash between love and power, Li Shimin felt powerless yet also deeply reflective on the traditional concepts of marriage. He started to realize that the power of emotion cannot be ignored, and the governance of a country needs a balance of flexibility and strength. Understanding and tolerance might be another way to maintain social harmony.
For Li Hao and me, although the road ahead was filled with unknowns and hardships, our decision to escape opened up a new world. We dreamed of building a small house among fields, working shoulder to shoulder at dawn, and holding hands recounting our intimate thoughts under the night sky. In our vision, the future was no longer bound by strict rituals, but a meeting of two free souls.
Our escape not only forged a possible future for ourselves but also could bring some influence to the society of the time. Our actions implied that amidst the contradictions between personal rights and traditional constraints, everyone has the power to choose.
For the family, this event meant a loss of honor but also declared that the traditional structure of power needed change. The family should reflect on how to afford more autonomy to the younger generation while safeguarding family interests.
For the court, this was a test of its influence over the law. Although all pursuit actions were secretly conducted, as the event fermented, the leaked news became everyone's secret—something all knew but dared not to discuss openly. The court eventually had to consider, while sticking to tradition, how to timely adjust and flexibly apply laws to respond to the changing emotional needs and humane demands of the people
Through the tug-of-war between sentiment and power, Li Shimin experienced growth and transformation. He began to redefine his life values, as well as his understanding of love, kinship, and governance. Through this event, he learned to become a more compassionate leader and realized the importance of empathy with the people.
As for Li Hao and me, our love journey was just beginning. Although we had fled from the pursuit of family and court, our future was still full of uncertainties. Every step we took was a challenge to the traditional social structure, but even more a defense of the values of freedom and human rights. Our tale would inspire those longing for change and be deeply etched in the history of the Tang Dynasty and the long river of China's history.