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The golden hues of the setting sun painted the horizon, casting a soft glow over the tranquil forest. Lu Jiexi lay on a straw mat, his breaths shallow but steady. The arrow wound on his back had left him at death's door, and yet, against all odds, he had survived.The sharp scent of herbs mingled with the warmth of evening air, though Jiexi was unaware of it in his unconscious state. Months passed, his life hanging by a thread, until one day, the haze of pain began to lift.When Lu Jiexi finally awoke, the world was still. Slowly, he opened his eyes, squinting at the unfamiliar wooden beams of a modest roof overhead. The faint smell of tea and wildflowers filled the air, stirring a thirst within him. He tried to sit up, wincing as sharp pain lanced through his back. His surroundings were unfamiliar, but the scent—the distinct blend of tea and something floral—triggered a memory.“Mei Mei!” he croaked, his voice hoarse and cracking.His heart sank as his mind returned to the betrayals he had endured. Yining, his once-beloved, had chosen, married, and betrayed him for Lu Sheyan. Her image flitted through his mind like a ghost, bringing with it a pang of anger and sorrow. Reluctantly, he forced himself to rise from the creaking bed. His body screamed in protest, but his will was iron.The house was small but tidy, nestled amidst the soothing embrace of nature. The serenity of the place struck him. Here, the air was pure, and the oppressive weight of ambition and betrayal seemed to fade. Whoever had brought him here had no intent to harm him.Yet questions gnawed at him. Did Duke Wei or Lu Sheyan know he was alive? Was the emperor aware of his survival?As he stood at the doorway, lost in thought, a figure emerged from the forest path ahead. Lu Jiexi’s heart tightened, but he felt no fear. He had given up on life and ambition; what harm could another bring to him now?The figure grew clearer—Ye Yan, his trusted companion. The man’s face broke into a wide smile, and he ran forward, his voice filled with relief.“Marquis!” Ye Yan exclaimed, his excitement overflowing.“Good to see you too, Ye Yan,” Jiexi replied, his voice calm but laced with weariness.“Marquis,” Ye Yan repeated, but Jiexi shook his head.“I am no longer a marquis,” he said quietly. “Call me brother.”“Brother…” Ye Yan whispered, the word sounding foreign on his lips.“How did we get here?” Jiexi asked, his voice now steady.A familiar voice cut through the stillness, sharp and resolute. “Lu Sheyan and Duke Wei brought you here with the emperor’s permission. You have been exiled from the capital.”Lu Jiexi turned, and his gaze fell upon Yining—or so he thought. Relief surged through him, mingled with disbelief. She had chosen him, after all. His near-death experience must have shaken something within her. But as he looked closer, her expression unsettled him. There was anger, even resentment, in her eyes—but also a kindness and love he had experienced when they first met.“Mei Mei,” he whispered, almost to himself.“I still hate you,” she replied, her voice cool but trembling.Without thinking, he rushed forward and pulled her into a fierce embrace, holding her as though she might disappear. She struggled against him, pushing with all her strength.“Stop it!” she snapped, shoving him away.“How?” Jiexi asked, his confusion plain.Mei Mei’s face hardened, though her eyes betrayed a well of emotion. “I made Yining swear to keep my existence a secret. To the world, I have been dead since birth—and I died again on that cliff. I had no reason to live. My beloved wanted me dead, so I remained dead.”Jiexi’s face contorted in disbelief. “You’re not Yining?”“No,” she said firmly. “Yining is my identical twin.”A flood of revelations poured forth as she spoke, her voice steady but tinged with bitterness. “I was frailer than Yining. Both of us were premature, and I wouldn’t have survived the harsh life of the main branch. Our mother sent me to live here with my wet nurse, hoping I would survive. I grew up in solitude, my existence a secret to all but a few.“When Yining visited this villa years ago, it was the first time I met her. She was broken, angry, and in pain, that was when I knew I had it better. And through that experience, I met you, fell for you and for the first time I knew pain, real pain, not the ones I thought I felt.”Lu Jiexi stared at her, struggling to process her words. This was not the woman who had left him for Lu Sheyan. This was someone else entirely—a shadow, a reflection of Yining, yet the person he really knew.Mei Mei crossed her arms, her eyes sharp. “Against my will, you are confined here as a prisoner. Yining spoke up for you, but I think you are the same ambitious and selfish person. I want nothing to do with you. But since you are under my care, you follow my rules.”Jiexi took a step closer, his voice barely a whisper. “And yet, you agreed to have me here, you must still feel for me the way we did then.”For the first time, Mei Mei’s composure cracked. Her gaze faltered, and she turned away, her voice soft. “Perhaps I did. But not for the reasons you think.”Jiexi glanced back at Ye Yan, who stood silently, a faint smile playing on his lips. The soldier’s expression was one of understanding, as though he already knew what Jiexi had only begun to grasp.“Mei Mei,” Jiexi said again, his voice steadier this time.She turned back to him, her eyes blazing. “Don’t misunderstand, Lu Jiexi. I may have saved you, but there is no reason for me to be with you.”Jiexi felt a flicker of something he hadn’t felt in a long time—hope with a shread of despair. As he looked into her defiant eyes, he knew he has a lot to make up for.