Chapter 1

  As usual, after work, Bai Min walked slowly along the pedestrian path by the road on her way home, feeling neither good nor bad.

  At the age of 27, she is living an ordinary life after many blind dates. Her brother's son can already run around and call her "Auntie", while her sister on the other side of the ocean has also given birth to a beautiful mixed-blood niece with blonde hair and black eyes, but she still hasn't gotten married.

  Luckily, her parents are taking care of her sister in America, otherwise, she wouldn't have such a peaceful life.

  Her brother was doing business and often stayed out, her sister-in-law took her nephew to stay in her own home for most of the time. Bai Min walked into that small restaurant she often went to, sat down at an empty seat, ordered a dish she loved to eat, had a bowl of rice, and ate quietly.

  Outside the window, the wind blows by, blowing up a few leaves, and the autumn rain falls quietly.

  Pack the unfinished meal and open an umbrella to go out. Walk forward for 50 meters, there is an old beggar who has been there for more than half a year and has hardly moved from his place.

  Walked up to the beggar, gently put down the food, and gave a faint smile.

  "Give it to you." The old beggar was very old, with gray and white hair scattered on his shoulders, but still clean, not bad enough to make people dislike him. His rough hands held a string of black small stones strung into a chain, the stones were not big, about the size of corn kernels, extremely irregular, clustered on a thin, somewhat faded red thread.

  Bai Min was slightly stunned, her eyes fixed on the old beggar. For just a brief moment, she reached out and took the chain, smiling as she said, "Thank you, it's very pretty."

  "It's very cheap." The old beggar said with a joyful face, his mouth cracked open, several teeth missing, speaking with some wind leakage, "Not picked up, bought it, yesterday someone set up a stall here, bought it and gave it to you."

  Bai Min smiled again, putting it on her left wrist. It might be really worthless. There are often street vendors here, all selling cheap goods that can be bought in bulk for a dollar at wholesale markets. But the old beggar had no money, and having this intention was already touching to her. She cherished this sincerity.

  The autumn rain falls quietly, cool and slightly desolate.

  As she opened her eyes, a faint fragrance wafted in. The autumn rain was still pattering softly, and the wind seemed half-real, half-fake. The mosquito net above her bed swayed gently, casting a blurry shadow over her vision. She had slept for what felt like an eternity, or perhaps too long. Bai Min felt a dull ache all over her body, and her head was heavy and groggy. Had she caught a chill from the autumn breeze yesterday afternoon?

  "Miss, you're awake?" A soft and gentle voice sounded in her ear, with joy that couldn't be concealed.

  Miss?!

  Bai Min followed the sound and looked over, her mind suddenly went blank.

  A girl of about 14 or 15 years old stood in front of the bed, wearing a pale green dress and two small buns, with a gentle and elegant face, just like the image in an ancient costume TV series.

  Bai Min stared straight at the little girl in front of the bed, not knowing what to say. Time seemed to have frozen, and after a long while, he asked one word at a time: "Who are you?"

  The little girl looked surprised, her eyes wide with fear, and said in a trembling voice: "Miss, don't scare me, I'm Chunliu, your personal maid Chunliu."

  Spring willow? Servant girl? Personal maid?

  Bai Min was confused, what's going on here?!

  She looked at Chun Liu, forcing a smile and said: "Chun Liu, right? Sorry, I feel like I'm in a dream. If you're sure you know me, then all I can say is that I don't remember anything. Can you tell me who I am?"

  Spring Willow nodded seriously and then said with joy: "Miss, you had a serious illness and slept for three days and three nights. It's great that you woke up! Dr. Cao said that after waking up, you will feel a bit uncomfortable, but it will get better slowly. I'll go get you a glass of water first."

  Just then, another young girl with a similar appearance and dress to Chunliu came in from outside. She was about the same age as Chunliu but looked more beautiful, with a round and smooth complexion, and her voice was softer and clearer. "Chunliu, has Miss woken up?"

  "Just woke up." Chun Liu said with a hint of reproach, "Chun Tao, speak softly, the young lady has just woken up, be careful not to startle her."

  "I'll go tell Master and Madam." Chun Tao rushed off like the wind, throwing back a sentence as she left, "It's just you who treats her like a young lady, serving her, what a waste of my abilities!"

  Bai Min widened her eyes, how did Chun Tao become so bold? She looked at Chun Liu, who was uneasy, holding a teacup and standing there, not knowing what to do. "Chun Tao, she...she mustn't have meant it, Miss. Don't mind it, it's not just the servants who treat you as their miss, you are originally the young lady of the Murong royal manor."

  "It's nothing." Bai Min shook his head, "Chun Liu, tell me, where is this? Who am I? Why did I fall ill? First give me some water, my mouth is parched."

  Spring Willow immediately helped White Min up and let her lean against the headboard. White Min drank water with Spring Willow's hand, and found that she was not wearing her usual small floral cotton pajamas, but a silk shirt with delicate embroidery on the cuffs, which seemed to be an orchid pattern. White Min was stunned for a moment, then said: "Spring Willow, bring me a mirror."

  Spring Willow held up the mirror and said: "Miss, this is the Murong Wangfu. You are the third miss of this house. Because you were born in autumn, your father gave you the name 'Maple'. Before you, there were two young masters and two misses. After you, there was another miss. Your father is the current prime minister. The eldest miss married the crown prince two years ago, and the second miss married General Wu Meng last year. You have also been promised..."

  Bai Min looked at the woman in the mirror, a woman who may have lived thousands of years ago, Murong Feng. Her hair cascaded like a waterfall, her skin was as white as snow, her eyebrows were clear and her eyes were beautiful, with an elegant and noble temperament. Although it wasn't entirely her own appearance, it didn't seem unexpected, and upon closer inspection, there was still a hint of her own features, only the woman in the mirror was even more beautiful.

  "Am I perhaps also someone else's?" Bai Min asked sideways as Chun Liu stopped talking.

  Spring Willow nodded reluctantly, "Miss, you are already 16 years old this year and have reached the age of marriage. It was an edict from the Empress Dowager herself that ordered Master to marry one of the two unmarried young ladies in the mansion to the Fourth Prince. Since Miss Four is still too young, it can only be you, Third Miss."

  Bai Min thought for a moment and said: "Is it that this Fourth Prince is not good? Is my illness also related to this?"

  "Alas." Spring Willow let out a soft sigh, "Miss refused to marry, so Master punished Miss by making her kneel outside. Who knew it would rain heavily that night? Miss got drenched and fainted for three days and nights. Luckily, Eldest Miss found out and specially invited Imperial Physician Cao to examine her illness, fortunately saving Miss."

  "How could the Fourth Prince be so unbearable?"

  "Miss, I don't know either, I just heard people say that the Fourth Prince is very handsome, but he's also extremely lecherous and heartless. I also heard that his relationship with the Crown Prince isn't good, Master is the Crown Prince's teacher, and Eldest Miss married the Crown Prince, so it seems Master's relationship with the Fourth Prince can't be good either." Chun Liu hesitated before continuing, "Miss, I didn't intentionally eavesdrop, but that day I happened to overhear Master and Madame chatting casually, and it seemed to mean something like that."