The Last Embrace in the Forbidden Courtyard

The moon hung low in the ink-black sky, casting a silver glow over the Forbidden Courtyard of the ancient city. The air was thick with the scent of blooming jasmine and the distant sound of the city's watchmen calling out the hour. In the heart of the courtyard stood a grand pavilion, its wooden lattice windows glistening with dew.

Inside, two figures stood facing each other, their breath visible in the cold air. One was Li Feng, a young and handsome scholar, his eyes filled with a mixture of hope and dread. The other was his childhood friend, Xiao Zhi, whose gaze was sharp and calculating.

"Li Feng," Xiao Zhi began, his voice low and seductive, "you have always been the one who dreams of the stars, while I, I am the one who walks on the ground. We are not meant to be together."

Li Feng's heart sank. "Xiao Zhi, you know I love you. My heart has always been yours, even when you were just a child."

Xiao Zhi's lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Love, Li Feng, is a fragile thing. It can be broken by a single word, a single act of betrayal."

Li Feng's face paled. "What have I done to deserve this? I have never sought to harm you, only to love you."

Xiao Zhi's eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and passion. "You have been blind, Li Feng. Blind to the truth that we are from different worlds. You are a scholar destined for greatness, while I... I am a commoner, a pawn in the game of power."

Li Feng's hands balled into fists at his sides. "I will not let you destroy what we have. I will prove to everyone that our love is real."

Xiao Zhi's eyes softened for a moment, but then his face hardened again. "You are naive, Li Feng. The world is not as simple as you think. You must choose between love and your destiny."

Li Feng's heart raced. "I cannot choose. I will not choose. My love for you is my destiny."

As they stood there, the sound of footsteps echoed through the courtyard. A group of guards approached, their faces stern and unyielding. Li Feng's heart sank. He knew this was the end.

"Li Feng, I must go," Xiao Zhi said, his voice filled with urgency. "The time has come for me to fulfill my destiny. But remember, my love for you will always be with you."

Li Feng reached out, his fingers brushing against Xiao Zhi's. "I will never forget you, Xiao Zhi. Never."

Xiao Zhi turned and walked away, his silhouette fading into the darkness. Li Feng watched him go, his heart aching with loss.

The guards approached, their weapons drawn. Li Feng's eyes met theirs, and he knew his time was up. He had chosen love over his destiny, and now he would pay the price.

As the guards moved in, Li Feng's mind raced back to the days of their youth, when they had shared laughter and dreams. He remembered Xiao Zhi's gentle touch, his warm smile, and the love that had filled their hearts.

With a deep breath, Li Feng met the guards' gaze. "I am ready," he said, his voice steady and calm.

The guards moved in, their weapons striking with deadly precision. Li Feng fell to the ground, his final thoughts filled with the memory of Xiao Zhi's love.

In the Forbidden Courtyard, the moonlight continued to cast its silver glow, but the laughter and dreams of youth were gone. Only the memory of a love that had been forbidden, a love that had ended in tragedy, remained.