Amnesia

The emperor passed away, and before his throne had even cooled, the palace was already in turmoil.

That night, corpses were piled up inside and outside the palace, lights were lit all night long, and the sounds of fighting echoed through the sky.

The bloody smell permeated the cold wind, and it seemed as if even the stars and the moon were disturbed by this tragedy and disappeared behind the dark clouds.

The third prince had ulterior motives and colluded with the Prince of Beiping to usurp the throne, attempting to seize power in this chaotic period.

However, the prince had already seen through his intentions and had set up a tight net, just waiting for this night to take advantage of his trick.

Inside the palace walls, flames of war raged. The loyal Yulin Army fought desperately to defend, their armor stained with blood, and they vowed to never retreat.

*

Three days later, June 20th.

General Lu returned victorious from the battle, and the people cheered and rejoiced, no longer having to stay indoors. The city was filled with the sound of drums and gongs, and the sounds of celebration were endless.

On both sides of the long street, people waved flowers in their hands with long-lost smiles on their faces.

The new emperor ascended the throne, crowned the queen, and the whole country celebrated.

The palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the sound of music and ceremony filled the air with joy. Civil and military officials gathered together to congratulate the new emperor, and the sound of praise spread throughout the palace.

Only one family had no signs of joy and was decorated with plain white ribbons.

The white lantern hanging in front of the hall swayed gently in the breeze, and the candlelight reflected on it, making it look even more desolate.

In the center of the mourning hall stood a pitch-black coffin covered with white cloth, with the deceased's spirit tablet next to it and the smoke rising from the air.

In the dim hall, the candlelight was dim, illuminating two sad faces.

It’s Luo and Luo Zhiyan.

Luo Zhiyan sat there in a daze, staring at the coffin in the hall without shedding a single tear.

She couldn't believe that Brother Huai could die because of Shi Jiangli's sword.

Is this true?

The last words Brother Huai said to her were to save her tears for when she returned to Beijing and was punished.

But now, her aunt had no time to punish her.

Brother Huai, why is he gone?

And that day was his birthday.

She had prepared a birthday gift for him early, intending to give it to him after returning to Beijing.

Even if he didn't like it, it didn't matter, because after this, she suddenly felt that she didn't seem to care about him that much.

Brother Huai might be more like a brother to her.

She just wanted to be with him forever, but it was more like a family relationship.

She had been getting it wrong all along.

...On the contrary, the little stutterer seemed a bit interesting. He didn't fight back when hit or scolded, but would blush when someone said a few words to him.

But...he also seems to genuinely adore my sister.

But after what happened, Sister Mu should resume her marriage with Brother Huai.

At that time, she and the little stutterer were in the same boat.

Perhaps, the two of them could also consider living together.

Luo, who was beside Luo Zhiyan, fainted several times from crying since she saw the coffin last night.

Her husband was called into the palace overnight and has not returned since. Now she has to take care of her son's affairs alone.

"Aunt..." Luo Zhiyan held the arm of the crying woman, but she didn't know what to say to comfort her.

Three days ago, when Gu Ji told her that they were going to return to Beijing, she was very happy. Although she didn't see Brother Huai, she just thought he was recuperating and couldn't go out in the carriage.

Unexpectedly, they were separated forever that day.

But how come that kid Gu Ji pretends so well that no one can tell at all?

"Yan'er," Luo wiped her tears, turned her abashed eyes away from the coffin, and spoke with difficulty: "Did your brother Huai ask you to... take a few words with you?"

Luo Zhiyan's expression, which had been as dull as a stone sculpture, finally changed. After a while, she shook her head and cried out, "Wuwuwu, aunt, Brother Huai didn't tell Yan'er anything."

Luo closed his eyes and finally softened.

She used to worry about her husband, now she worries about her son.

I never thought that in the end, the old would send the young off.

At the same time, a gentle female voice that the two people in the room had not heard for a long time came from outside: "Sister, Yan'er, what happened?"

The two looked back in surprise, and Luo Zhiyan was the first to react.

Tears welled up in her eyes. She staggered to her feet and threw herself into the woman's arms, whispering softly, "Mother!"

She had never dared to ask her aunt about the whereabouts of her father and mother.

Now that Brother Huai was like this, she was even more afraid to ask.

"Dear Yan'er, mother and father are back." The woman stroked her hair tenderly, then looked at Luo, who was walking towards her with a tired face, "Big sister..."

Although Luo was her husband's sister, she had treated her like her own sister over the years.

"I'm glad you're back." Luo held the ranking, her ugly expression seemed to ease a lot, and she glanced outside the door: "Where's Ah Cheng?"

Mrs. Chu took a deep breath, patted her crying daughter in her arms, helped her stand up, and then said, "Yan'er's brother... is still alive."

*

Mu Mansion.

The girl's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she suddenly opened her clear almond eyes.

"Miss!" Baoqin, who had been guarding her young lady, showed joy on her face and held the girl's hand tightly: "You are finally awake!"

Mu An Ning was stunned for a moment, rubbed his aching temple, and asked with a bit of confusion: "Who are you?"

Baoqin was startled when she heard this, then her eyes widened with tears of disbelief, "Miss, what are you talking about?"

She subconsciously reached out to feel the temperature of the girl's forehead, and seeing that the girl's eyes were still dull, she couldn't help crying out: "Miss, you, you forgot to hold the zither?"

Seeing this, Mu An Ning couldn't hold back his laughter and burst out laughing. He slowly sat up and said, "I was just kidding you."

She just wanted to lighten the mood because she saw Baoqin was so nervous for no reason, but Baoqin took it seriously.

"Miss! You scared Baoqin to death." Baoqin stopped crying and couldn't help but said angrily: "Baoqin thought you were too frightened and lost your memory!"

Mu An Ning raised his eyebrows slightly, opened the quilt, slowly stood up, walked to the table, and said with a smile: "I just took a nap, why are you so frightened?"

Baoqin was shocked and looked distressed: "Miss, you have been unconscious for three days."

According to Gu Ji, who sent the young lady back to the Marquis' Mansion, the young lady never woke up on the way back to Beijing.

Mu An Ning paused in her washing motion, her uncombed hair moved, and she turned back in surprise: "Three days?"

Seeing Baoqin nod, the girl wiped her hands and frowned, "Why did I fall into a coma for three days?"

"Miss," Baoqin hesitated, her face a little unnatural, "You have been in a coma since you came back from the battlefield."

Ever since the young lady followed the second young lady to the battlefield, she has not had any appetite. She wishes she could go back to the day when the young lady left and refuse the cup of tea that the young lady had drugged.

Fortunately, the lady finally returned to Beijing safely.

But what is unexpected is that Prince Gu...

"Battlefield?" Mu An Ning was even more puzzled than before. He frowned tightly but chuckled: "Then tell me, what am I going to do on the battlefield?"

"Baoqin," Mu Anning couldn't help laughing when he saw Baoqin's stunned look. He stretched out his hands and let her change his clothes for him: "Next time you tell a joke, make it more believable."

Baoqin opened her mouth, a hint of surprise welling up in her eyes.

Could it be that her young lady really has lost her memory?

When changing clothes, Mu An Ning suddenly felt a slight pain in her right shoulder. Seeing this, Bao Qin carefully lifted the girl's clothes.

She first saw the peach-shaped birthmark, and then an arrow wound that was almost healed.

Mu An Ning naturally saw the strange wound through the bronze mirror and stared at it for a long time.

She certainly recognized the shape of the scar and roughly how it had been formed.

But...when did she get hurt?

Suddenly, the girl felt a sharp pain in her temples and her body swayed slightly. Fortunately, Baoqin supported her and she did not fall.

"Miss, be careful," Baoqin helped her sit down in front of the dressing table, "The doctor said that although there is no poison in your body, you still need to rest and don't worry too much."

"Baoqin," Mu An Ning paused for a long time before looking at her maid and murmured, "So I really went to the battlefield?"

This time, Baoqin hesitated and did not answer. She was thinking that it was better that her young lady had forgotten.

She originally thought that her young lady had been in a coma for so many days because she was heartbroken over the incident with Prince Gu.

Unexpectedly, the lady seemed to remember nothing at all.

Moreover, the young lady has not mentioned Master Gu since she woke up, and there is no trace of grief on her face.

Miss, you really don't remember anything that happened on the battlefield.

Baoqin shook her head immediately: "Miss, it's all over."

When Mu An Ning saw that Baoqin did not give a direct answer, she suddenly felt a little empty in her heart. Her eyes fell on the scarlet box on the table and paused for a moment.

She couldn't remember when she had such a box.

As she moved it in front of her, she asked, "Baoqin, where did you get this box?"

Baoqin was stunned again when she heard this: "Miss, don't you remember?"

Before going to the battlefield, the young lady would stare at the box in a daze from time to time.

That day the young lady asked her to put the box away, but after a while she asked her to take it out again, but she was reluctant to open it.

When Baoqin didn't know whether to say it or not, Mu Anning had already opened the box.

The moment I opened it, a scent of peach blossoms wafted into my nose, like the breath of summer, instantly flooding into this dull room.

The girl took a closer look and found that the box was filled with dried peach petals.

Although the petals have dried up, they still retain their bright pink color and have a strong fragrance, as if they had just been picked.

The girl picked up a petal casually, and the look of inquiry in her eyes became even more intense.

There are two books in here and some small medicine bottles.

She opened the two books and was greatly surprised.

This was the remaining medical book that she had never found.

How did this thing end up in her house?

Then, Mu An Ning picked up a medicine bottle, which had a few peach blossoms painted on it.

At first glance, she thought it was her work, but if she looked closely, she could see that the details were a bit stiff and rough.

The person who painted these petals must not be a very good painter.

She put down the medicine bottle and then saw some peach blossom-shaped jewelry, which were the few styles she liked.

But she had no impression of these jewellery at all.

The girl gathered her thoughts and looked inside the box again, only to see a flute lying there quietly.

Her eyes trembled and her nose felt sore.

This flute was exactly the same as the one she loved in her childhood, but that one was broken for some unknown reason.

After that, she never played the flute again.

Thinking of this, Mu An Ning rubbed his temples again, but he couldn't remember what was wrong with the flute.

There were some other knickknacks in the box, all of which she liked, but none of them could have been bought by her herself.

In particular, those dozens of tiny pink heart-shaped knots were extremely strange.

Finally, her eyes fell on a thick letter and a jade pendant that was completely white, crystal clear, and had a hint of red.

She picked up the warm jade, looked at it for a while, then picked up the letter and slowly opened it.

For some reason, her fingertips trembled.

The first two words that came into her sight were: Aning.

The words above seem to have been written stroke by stroke.

The person who wrote this letter seemed to have tried his best to cover up the fact that his handwriting was ugly.

The letter was three pages long and it took her nearly a quarter of an hour to read it word by word.

The writer seemed to know her well, and listed her childhood embarrassments, her daily habits, and her favorite things...

Mu An Ning smiled unconsciously. The man seemed to have written down everything he thought of, which seemed a bit nonsensical.

The signature on the last line is: Gu Huaizhi.

When Mu An Ning touched those three words, a wonderful feeling arose in his heart.

It was a strange throbbing that kept rising in her heart.

After a while, the girl suddenly raised her curtains and asked slowly, "Gu Huaizhi, who is that?"