Chapter 1

As usual, after work, Bai Min walked slowly along the roadside sidewalk to go home, her mood neither good nor bad.

At twenty-seven years old, she lived a very ordinary life, having gone through many blind dates. Her brother's son was already old enough to chase after her calling her "Auntie," and her sister across the ocean had already added a beautiful mixed-race niece to the family, looking like a cartoon doll with blonde hair and black eyes, yet Bai Min had still not married.

Fortunately, her parents were in the United States taking care of her sister; otherwise, she wouldn't have such peaceful days to live.

Her brother ran a business and was away from home year-round, so his wife spent most of her time at her own parents' house with their son. Bai Min walked into the small restaurant she frequented, sat in an empty spot, ordered a small dish she loved, a bowl of rice, and ate quietly.

The wind blew outside the window, kicking up a few leaves, as the autumn rain fell silently.

She packed up the unfinished food, opened her umbrella, and went outside. Walking fifty meters ahead, there was an elderly beggar who had barely moved from the same spot for over half a year.

Walking up to the beggar, she gently set down the food and gave a slight smile.

"This is for you." The old beggar was very old; his hair was gray and white, scattered across his shoulders, but he was relatively clean, not so terrible as to be repulsive. In his rough hands, he held a bracelet made of small black stones. The stones were not large, about the size of corn kernels, very irregular, clustered together on a thin, somewhat old red string.

Bai Min froze slightly, staring at the old beggar with wide eyes. After only a brief moment, she reached out to take the bracelet and said with a smile, "Thank you, it's very beautiful."

"It was very cheap." The old beggar's face was full of joy, his mouth splitting into a grin; he had lost several teeth, and his speech was somewhat airy. "I didn't pick it up, I bought it. Someone set up a stall here yesterday, and I bought it to give to you."

Bai Min smiled again and put it on her left wrist; perhaps it truly wasn't worth much. There were often street vendors here selling cheap goods bought in bulk from wholesale markets for one yuan, but the old beggar had no money, and the fact that he had this intention moved her deeply. She cherished this sincerity.

The autumn rain continued to fall silently, slightly cool, carrying a hint of loneliness.

Opening her eyes, a faint fragrance drifted toward her. The autumn rain was still making a soft sound, and the wind felt half-real and half-dreamlike; the gauze curtains swayed lightly, and her vision was hazy. This night's sleep felt very long—perhaps too long. Bai Min felt sore all over and her head was heavy and dizzy. Had she caught a cold from the autumn wind blowing through the window yesterday afternoon because she forgot to close it while sleeping?

"Miss, you're awake?" A soft, delicate voice sounded by her ear, her tone unable to hide her joy.

Miss?!

Bai Min looked toward the sound, and her mind instantly went blank.

Standing by the bed was a young girl about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a pale emerald green dress with her hair in two small buns. Her features were delicate and gentle, looking exactly like the image from a period drama.

Bai Min stared straight at the girl by the bed, not knowing what to say. Time seemed to freeze. After a long while, she asked word by word, "Who are you?"

The young girl looked surprised, her eyes widening, and her voice trembled as she said, "Miss, please don't frighten this servant. I am Chunliu! I am your personal maid, Chunliu!"

Chunliu? Servant? Personal maid?

Bai Min was completely bewildered. Where on earth was she!

She looked at Chunliu, tried hard to force a smile, and said, "Chunliu, right? I'm sorry, I feel as if I am in a dream. If you are sure you know me, then I can only say that I don't remember anything. Can you tell me who I am?"

Chunliu nodded very seriously, then said joyfully, "Miss, you fell gravely ill and were in a coma for three days and three nights. It is wonderful that you have woken up. Imperial Physician Cao said that you would feel some discomfort after waking, but you will gradually get better. I will go fetch a cup of water for you first."

As she was speaking, another young girl dressed as a maid entered from outside. She was of a similar age to Chunliu, but she was more strikingly beautiful, with a rounded, graceful figure and a voice that was more charming and loud. "Chunliu, is Miss awake?"

"She just woke up," Chunliu said with a hint of reproach. "Chuntao, keep your voice down. Miss just woke up; be careful not to startle her."

"I'm going to tell the Master and Madam." Chuntao left like a gust of wind, leaving behind a vague remark as she went: "Only you treat her like a Miss and serve her; it's truly a waste of my abilities, Chuntao!"

Bai Min's eyes widened. How could this Chuntao be so bold? She looked at Chunliu, who looked uneasy, holding a teacup and standing there, not knowing what to do. "Chuntao, she... she surely didn't mean it. Miss, please don't mind her. It's not just this servant who treats you as a Miss; you were originally the young lady of the Murong Estate."

"It's fine." Bai Min shook her head. "Chunliu, tell me, where is this? And who am I? Why did I fall ill? Give me the water first, I am thirsty."

Chunliu immediately stepped forward to help Bai Min up, letting her lean against the headboard. Bai Min drank the water with Chunliu's help and realized that she was not wearing her usual small-patterned cotton pajamas, but silk garments with exquisite embroidery on the cuffs, appearing to be orchids. Bai Min froze for a moment and said, "Chunliu, bring me a mirror."

As Chunliu fetched the mirror, she said, "Miss, this is the Murong Estate. You are the Third Young Lady here. Because Miss was born in autumn, the Master gave Miss the character 'Feng' (Maple). Before Miss, there were two young masters and two young ladies, and after Miss, there will be one more young lady. The Master is the current Prime Minister. The eldest young lady of the estate married the Crown Prince the year before last, and the second young lady also married General Wu Meng last year. Miss has also been promised..."

Bai Min looked at the woman in the mirror—an ancient woman from perhaps a thousand years ago, Murong Feng. Her hair was like a waterfall, her skin was like snow, her features were delicate, and her temperament was noble and elegant. Although it wasn't exactly her own face, it didn't seem entirely unexpected; upon closer inspection, there was a faint resemblance to her, though the woman in the mirror was more beautiful.

"Was I perhaps promised to someone?" Bai Min asked, turning her head when she saw Chunliu stop talking.

Chunliu nodded sadly. "Miss, you are sixteen this year, which is the age for marriage. It was the Empress Dowager herself who issued the decree, ordering the Master to marry one of the two unmarried young ladies in the estate to the Fourth Prince. The Master and Madam said that the Fourth Young Lady is still too young, so they could only let you, the Third Young Lady, marry him."

Bai Min thought for a moment and said, "Is this Fourth Prince very bad? Does my illness have something to do with this?"

"Sigh." Chunliu sighed softly. "Miss refused to marry, so the Master punished Miss by making her kneel outside. Who knew that a heavy rain would fall all night? After Miss was soaked by the rain, she fell into a coma for three days and three nights. Fortunately, after the Eldest Young Lady found out, she specifically sent the Imperial Physician Cao from the palace to examine you. It was a blessing that Miss was saved."

"Then how is this Fourth Prince so unbearable?"

Chunliu remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "This servant does not know, but I heard people say that while the Fourth Prince is very handsome, he is extremely lecherous and heartless. I also heard that his relationship with the Crown Prince is not very good. The Master is the Crown Prince's teacher, and since the Eldest Young Lady married the Crown Prince, it is likely that the Master's relationship with this Fourth Prince is not very good either." Chunliu hesitated and added, "Miss, this servant did not intend to eavesdrop, but that day I happened to overhear a few words during a casual conversation between the Master and Madam; it seemed to be the case."