Shadow Love (Yu Jin Chang An)

The fireworks in Lucheng exploded in a riot of colors across the sky, adding a touch of vibrancy and warmth to the cold, desolate night of the northern frontier.

Countless pedestrians on the streets looked up at the fireworks, laughing and reveling, yet in the very center of the street, two people stood facing each other.

Both wore masks, obscuring their faces from onlookers, though in this festival, the streets were filled with people clad in black faceplates, making them less conspicuous.

Li Shuang was pondering how to respond to the man before her when suddenly a group of children came running and playing wildly behind her. One of them bumped into her back. Normally, Li Shuang would never have let a child knock into her while walking alone, but today her mind was entirely focused on the person in front of her. She didn’t dodge in time, and as the child reached her, she suddenly felt her arm tighten—she had been pulled into someone’s embrace.

This was far from the first time this person had caught her off guard with an embrace. For a moment, Li Shuang didn’t even feel the urge to resist. Instead, she lingered in his arms until the hold abruptly loosened, and only then did she snap back to reality. Yet her first thought upon regaining her senses was…

Huh… why did he let go on his own?

She looked at Jin An, only to see that his other hand had already caught the child who had nearly collided with her.

"Watch where you're going," he said coldly, his voice sharp. The child he held froze, staring wide-eyed at the man in the black faceplate, his crimson eyes terrifying enough to bring the child to the brink of tears.

To go so far as to shield her from a child’s accidental bump—Li Shuang felt somewhat uneasy. She coughed lightly. "It’s fine. Let him go."

He obeyed, releasing the child. The moment his grip loosened, the child’s lips trembled, and he burst into loud, wailing sobs, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

Li Shuang wasn’t particularly adept at handling children, and she immediately felt awkward. A great general, making a child cry in the middle of the street—if she were recognized, it wouldn’t be a flattering reputation. She was just thinking of a way to comfort the child when the man in the black faceplate seized her wrist and wordlessly led her away from the noisy street.

"Wait…" Li Shuang called after him. "That child is crying… we should comfort him first…"

Jin An paused mid-step. "If he cries, you’ll comfort him? Then if I cry, will you comfort me?"

Logically, this should have been a sarcastic remark, but he said it with such seriousness that Li Shuang was momentarily speechless. It was as though if she said she would, he might actually burst into tears on the spot.

"Alright…" Li Shuang rubbed her forehead, realizing she truly wasn’t cut out for dealing with this man. She tried to free her wrist from his grasp—of course, to no avail. Resigned, she let him hold her as they walked, asking, "What are you here for this time?"

"To make you understand me."

Of course… Jin An must have tipped him off again. Li Shuang sighed. "Understanding takes time."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why does it have to take time?"

"Because…" Li Shuang looked up and realized that amid the earlier commotion, Jin An had led her into a quiet, secluded alley.

Outside, the fireworks on the main street continued to crackle and pop, their reflections flickering endlessly in his crimson eyes.Hmm, his eyes are truly beautiful. Li Shuang couldn't help but entertain this thought at an inopportune moment, quickly suppressing it with reason. She took a deep breath: "Distance tests a horse's strength, time reveals a person's heart. To understand someone, time is necessary."

"No need for time." Jin An turned swiftly, pressing close to Li Shuang in the narrow alley, easily backing her into a corner. He took her hand and placed it over his heart. "You can know now." He leaned in, the atmosphere thick with intimacy. "It's all you here."

For a moment... Li Shuang actually felt herself blush.

Amidst the swirling snowflakes, in this bustling corner of the marketplace, the warmth from his chest made her cheeks burn slightly.

As she stood dazed, Jin An guided her hand to the mask tied behind his ear: "If you wish, you can understand me."

He released her hand, and as if bewitched, Li Shuang tugged at the mask's cord.

The mask fell with the snowflakes, landing softly on the snow-covered ground—a quiet sound that also settled in Li Shuang's heart.

Before her stood a man with flame-like markings curling at the corners of his eyes, not making him fearsome but adding an exotic allure. His appearance was both as she'd imagined and yet different—his nose bridge higher, the angles of his eyes sharper. Yet combined, his features were breathtakingly beautiful.

Rarely had Li Shuang been stunned by someone's looks.

And in his eyes, she saw only her reflection.

"What else would you like to know about me?" he asked, his expression clearer without the mask, his bright eyes unwavering.

He slid her hand from his cheek down to his collar.

Li Shuang's fingers tensed. Surely he didn't mean for her to undress him here! Absurd! But... what absurd thing wouldn't he do?

Flustered, she quickly withdrew her hand: "N-no... no need to see more." At least not here! How improper!

Jin An seemed a little disappointed. "You don't want to know me anymore? Lost interest?"

This question... any answer would leave her in an awkward position!

Just then, fireworks burst rapidly outside the alley before fading into silence—the night's display had ended. Li Shuang coughed, seeking an excuse to leave. "The fireworks are over. I should return to camp."

Jin An's eyes dimmed slightly, like a puppy watching its owner depart, tugging at Li Shuang's heart. She told him, and herself: "I must go."

"...Alright," Jin An replied with difficulty.

As Li Shuang turned to leave, a sudden "whoosh" sounded—a lone firework streaking into the cold night sky. The crowd gasped, and in that instant, Jin An grabbed her wrist again.

"One last burst."

He pulled her into his embrace. Li Shuang barely had time to hear his quick murmur before warmth pressed against her lips—his own.The massive firework exploded in the sky, illuminating the northern frontier night with its brilliance. A deafening roar shook the earth, leaving one dizzy—and in this very dizziness, Li Shuang received his scorching kiss.

As the firework's radiance faded and darkness reclaimed the night, the man before her did exactly as Li Shuang had said earlier—he left when the fireworks ended.

Left alone in the narrow alley, Li Shuang stood dumbfounded, covering her slightly swollen lips in a daze.

This was a scoundrel, an emotional rogue, somewhat terrifying. Yet for some reason, Li Shuang found herself no longer as furious as she had been the first time he kissed her.

She even...

"Haah..." Li Shuang exhaled deeply, musing to herself—perhaps she should quickly write a letter home now, telling her father not to rush with the marriage arrangements. She might as well hold the wedding here in the frontier.

Her body was acting up, starting to stir with restless energy.

Finally calming down, Li Shuang turned to leave the alley, only to look up abruptly and spot a disheveled man across the street licking a candied hawthorn skewer while staring at her. But as a carriage passed between them, the man vanished without a trace.

Li Shuang frowned. That man... bore an uncanny resemblance to the strange "spy" they had captured near Lucheng's city walls earlier. Or was it... actually him?

But that couldn't be—wasn't that man locked up in Lucheng's prison?

Suspicion gnawed at her as she hurried back to Changfeng Camp. Yet before she could inquire whether the man was still in the dungeon, Qin Lan rushed over with urgent news: "General, the Crown Prince has set out for Lucheng."

Li Shuang froze, momentarily unable to process the information. "Who did you say?"

Qin Lan lowered his gaze slightly. "The Crown Prince is coming to Lucheng to oversee the frontier defenses."

Her thoughts scattered briefly before she quickly regained composure. "I see." She nodded. "Why would His Majesty send the heir apparent? His noble personage shouldn't endure the bitter cold of the frontier."

After a pause, Qin Lan explained, "When the Western Rong forces massed at our borders days ago, the urgent military report reached court. The Crown Prince personally requested to lead the defense. Seeing his determination, His Majesty granted permission."

"Mmm." Li Shuang understood—the Emperor likely wanted the Crown Prince to gain experience at the frontier. Military achievements would only benefit his future reign. But who could have predicted...

"None expected the Western Rong to withdraw so swiftly. His Highness has already reached Liangzhou—just two days' journey from Lucheng."

"Make proper arrangements," Li Shuang instructed. "We mustn't slight the heir apparent."

Qin Lan bowed in acknowledgment but hesitated before leaving. Finally looking up at Li Shuang, he ventured, "General... you've served at the frontier for years. Now that the Western Rong have retreated, perhaps this winter you might return to the capital..."

Li Shuang waved him off with a smile. "Don't worry about me, Qin Lan. When the Crown Prince arrives, your concern should be directed his way."

As Li Shuang turned away, Qin Lan swallowed his words, leaving them unspoken.

Returning to her tent, Li Shuang lit a candle and sat in quiet contemplation.

The Crown Prince...

Li Shuang sighed deeply.How many years has it been since we last met.