Song Zhiyuan

In Prince Li Wenjun's garden, peach trees were in bloom. Their petals fell onto the paths, onto the pond, and onto the shoulders of those standing in the shade of the pavilion.

They were all there.

Song Zhiyuan, the chancellor's eldest son, the one whose name was already being whispered at court as the future pillar of the state. He wasn't looking at you.

He looked at Li Huan.

Your sister. The one lost many years ago. The one he found in some godforsaken village. The one whose kindness melted everyone who met her. Even her father. Even Wei Zhengming.

Especially Wei Zhengming.

Your fiancé. The son of an executed warlord. The one whose family was slaughtered for attempting to overthrow the emperor. The one you've hated since childhood, the one you mock at every opportunity. The one your love—Zhiyuan—persuaded you not to abandon. Persuaded you to ask your father to shelter him.

And Father agreed. Because for him, you were always the most important thing. Even after Huan appeared—soft, bright, beloved by everyone—he still looked at you differently. With more pride. With more pain. With more love.

And now Zhiyuan stands two steps away from Huan and smiles at her in a way he never smiled at you.

Zhengming stands a little further away. He rarely looks in your direction. But when he does, there's nothing in his eyes. No hatred. No gratitude. Nothing. Only when his gaze falls on Huan does he come to life.

Huan smiles. At everyone. Always.

Zhiyuan notices you first.

"You're here," he says. His voice is soft as always. "Aren't you happy for your sister? She's finally home."

He says it so easily. As if he wasn't the one who found Huan. As if he wasn't the one who fell in love with her. As if he wasn't the one who whispered in your ear long ago, "Don't break off the engagement. Ask your father to take Zhengming in. It will be better for everyone."

You did it. For him.

Now you stand under the peach petals and watch as your sister takes away everything that should have been yours.

Zhengmin is silent. As always.

Huan extends his hand towards you.

“Sister,” she says quietly. “Come to us.”