In the afternoon, in the study of the eastern courtyard of the Shen residence, Shen Yuance leaned his head back against the chair and tiredly rubbed his brow. Since returning from Tinglan Pavilion, due to Pei Xueqing’s questions, scenes related to his elder brother had been continuously flashing through his mind.

From his earliest memories, he had known of his elder brother’s existence, while his brother only learned about him the night before departing for war. Three years ago, when his brother first arrived in Hexi, he seemed unable to believe he truly had a twin brother. On the day they met, they stood gazing at each other from a distance by the Ruoshui River. When his brother saw him remove the scout’s mask to reveal a face identical to his own, his eyes were full of shock and wonder.

Later, his brother openly led troops in battle, while he worked in the shadows, both continuing to scout enemy conditions at the front and assisting his brother in formulating strategies. During the intervals between battles, they would talk, play chess, and spar in private. Though they had only recently met, it felt as if they had known each other for more than a decade.

Naturally, they often disagreed on military strategies. His brother was gentle and conservative, while he was risky and aggressive. In the dim lamplight, his brother would sigh that he cared too little for his own life, to which he would reply that what he had learned since childhood was that if one couldn’t stake one’s life in every battle, then that life was useless.

But his brother said that was because their father wanted him to be the sharpest blade for the Shen family and the Xuance Army, but he didn’t want his brother to become a blade—he wanted him to be a living, breathing person who could be cherished.

His brother said that even though he was born only a moment earlier, he was still his elder brother, and as the elder brother is like a father, he must listen to him.

The scenes from his memory flashed by one by one, and the final one that appeared before him was that rainy night in May.

Before that battle, he hadn’t seen his brother for many days. The frontline war situation was urgent, and they had to act separately, moving between their respective battlefields. The night before they parted, he had proposed a bold plan to his brother—in this battle, he would take his brother’s place in armor. Their forces were dulled by prolonged fighting, and they lacked the energy to continue. He wanted to use himself as bait to annihilate the most troublesome cavalry unit of the Northern Jie, to turn the tide of war in one stroke.

His brother had rejected him without hesitation. They parted on bad terms due to their disagreement. When they met again, it was as he rushed through heavy rain for hundreds of miles to the battlefield, finding his brother’s corpse with his own hands among mountains of bodies and seas of blood.

That rainy night, he lost his brother, and also lost his qualification to be a living, cherished person.

When he once again decided to use himself as bait, he was already the unchallenged Young General of the Xuance Army, with no one standing beside him, telling him, “Not allowed.”

…

Shen Yuance slowly opened his eyes, let out a long, deep breath, and lowered his head to look once more at the jade pendant on his desk.

Such a brother, and such a young woman who would protect even his brother’s posthumous affairs—there was no reason to doubt anything was false in this. The owner of this jade pendant was indeed Pei Xueqing.

So the false one could only be Jiang Zhiyi.

But why did Jiang Zhiyi sincerely believe that she had pledged herself to his brother three years ago with this jade pendant, and waited painfully for him for three long years?

A sincere belief…

Shen Yuance repeatedly pondered these words when suddenly he heard an urgent knocking at the door. Mu Xinhong rushed into the study anxiously: “Young General, something terrible has happened!”

Shen Yuance looked up: “Is she awake?”

Before leaving for the pavilion today, he had instructed them to keep Jiang Zhiyi calm. If she woke up in the meantime, they were to tell her anything—even that he was dead—rather than saying he had gone to see Pei Xueqing.

“No, no, it’s that Doctor Li discovered that in the Princess’s medical records from two months ago, it was recorded that after the encounter with bandits in the suburbs, the Princess not only suffered external injuries but also had a bump on the back of her head. Doctor Li determined that the Princess’s blood stasis condition stems from this…”

Shen Yuance’s expression grew serious.

“Please don’t worry about the Princess yet,” Mu Xinhong quickly stopped Shen Yuance. “According to my discussions with Doctor Li just now, what you should be worried about might be yourself.”

“?”

“Doctor Li said the Princess’s injury is not in a vital area, and she hasn’t had any discomfort in the past two months. This blood stasis has no substantial damage to the Princess’s health. However, Doctor Li consulted many texts today and found that in similar past cases, many patients with injuries to this area suffered from amnesia. After fainting, some couldn’t remember who they were or recognize their family members, while others had jumbled memories, treating dreams or random thoughts as real events, speaking nonsense after waking…”

“I told Doctor Li about the Princess’s condition after she woke up in the military camp on the day she encountered bandits. Considering Miss Pei’s visit today, Doctor Li now suspects-no—, he has determined—that the Princess’s supposed relationship with the Young Master is completely a delusion produced after she injured her head!”

Shen Yuance slowly rose from his chair.

Beside him, Qing Song, representing his expressionless master, widened his eyes in shock.

The last time the master and servants had been this rigid in this study was when they learned of Jiang Zhiyi’s intimate relationship with Shen Yuance.

If this study had its thoughts, it might also be choking now, wondering why it had to bear so many things.

Shen Yuance stood motionless in front of his chair, lowered his head to look at the jade pendant on the desk, then raised his head to look in the direction of the west wing where Jiang Zhiyi was staying.

…Although this matter sounded absurd and strange, it indeed made everything fit together.

Jiang Zhiyi’s relationship with his brother was false, but due to her delusion, she believed it to be real, so before him, her joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness all came from the heart and were sincere, showing not the slightest flaw.

And Jiang Zhiyi’s transition from ordering him around to suddenly calling him “Brother A-Ce” began precisely after she fainted from fright at the bandits that day. So she hadn’t simply fainted from fear that day, but had injured her head.

The military doctor in the camp couldn’t properly examine her injuries intimately, and merely taking her pulse without Li Dafeng’s skill, failed to discover this.

The maids currently serving Jiang Zhiyi had only arrived this year and knew nothing of her affairs from three years ago, so they mistook everything she said as true.

Everyone had joined Jiang Zhiyi in a story that didn’t exist at all, including him.

Shen Yuance slowly lifted his eyelids and said softly: “So—she and my brother were never lovers, she just injured her head?”

“Yes, Young General! What a troublesome situation this has become, truly harmful…”

Before the words “not slightly” could leave his mouth, Mu Xinhong looked up and suddenly saw the corners of Shen Yuance’s mouth gradually curving upward.

“…?”

Mu Xinhong anxiously reminded him: “Young General, have you not realized the critical point of this matter? The Princess’s blood stasis will eventually dissipate, sooner or later. When she comes to her senses, how will she view your actions during this time? She might very well deduce that you are not the Young Master!”

“She just injured her head,” Shen Yuance sat back in his chair, leaning against the backrest and nodding, seemingly oblivious to Mu Xinhong’s sweaty brow. He gently stroked the armrest, curved his lips in a smile, and repeated, “She just injured her head—”

Mu Xinhong hesitantly turned to look at Qing Song: “…Was I not clear enough? Did you understand?”

Qing Song trembled nervously: “I understood. Given the Princess’s relationship with the royal family, she definitely won’t side with the Young Master. When she exposes him, we’ll all be finished…”

Yes, isn’t that exactly the point? Mu Xinhong slapped his thigh in frustration and looked back at Shen Yuance.

Yet Shen Yuance continued to smile without speaking, his face cleared of all gloom, unprecedentedly basking in success, as if intoxicated with joy.

“……”

Mu Xinhong and Qing Song slowly exchanged a glance—

It seemed the Young General’s head might also be damaged.

At dusk, in the west wing room, Shen Yuance sat on the edge of the bed, lowering his eyes to look at the person sleeping peacefully.

The calming incense had been extinguished for some time; it wouldn’t be long before she awakened.

Doctor Li’s judgment was likely correct, leaving only one final question unresolved—

If her misperception came from jumbled memories, where did those memories come from?

Shen Yuance narrowed his eyes, calculating how to clarify this matter.

After a day of rest, the person on the bed had regained her rosy complexion. Her black lashes lay quietly over her eyes, but her brows remained slightly furrowed and her lips drooped, as if she were still angry with him.

Shen Yuance reached out his hand and forcibly smoothed the crease between her brows with his thumb.

The eyes beneath those brows trembled slightly and opened.

Their eyes met, and Shen Yuance’s hand paused on her brow. Meeting Jiang Zhiyi’s still dazed and confused gaze, seeing her bewilderment as if she didn’t know where she was, he grew alert.

Doctor Li had said her blood stasis condition had improved compared to before, which explained why she had recently been doubting herself for not remembering past events. Could it be that today’s emotional fluctuation and blood rushing up had restored her to normal?

Shen Yuance watched her probingly and said: “Awake?”

The next moment, a fair white hand slowly rose, smoothly waved, and with a smack, knocked away his hand that had been near her cheek.

Shen Yuance hesitantly looked at his hand that had been slapped, then looked back to see Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes filled with anger, as if she were looking at some unforgivable, heartless man. He turned his head away and let out a soft laugh.

Jiang Zhiyi blinked in bewilderment: “…You’re still laughing? I fainted from anger because of you, and you still have the nerve to laugh?!”

Shen Yuance turned away, as if he hadn’t felt such joy for a long time, his shoulders trembling with laughter.

Jiang Zhiyi was both confused and suspicious, with anger rising from all directions. She sat up in bed: “Shen Yuance, don’t go too far!”

Shen Yuance stopped laughing and looked back at her: “Why are you calling me by my full name?”

“Because I’m angry—!”

“Call me something else.”

“?”

Shen Yuance raised his chin: “Four characters.”

Jiang Zhiyi was momentarily stunned before realizing what the four characters meant, and laughed angrily: “I fainted because of you, I have the right to call you whatever I want. Do you have the face to hear it?”

“You fainted because of me?” Shen Yuance raised an eyebrow.

“Wasn’t it because of you?”

“Think again carefully.”

“……”

Jiang Zhiyi fell silent, unconsciously pursing her lips and licking them lightly, her cheeks suspiciously turning red. She pulled up the quilt and shrank toward the corner of the bed: “You—you can’t explain yourself, so you’re trying to bewitch me with your mouth!”

Shen Yuance turned his head away and laughed again.

“What are you laughing at…? If you don’t explain, I’m leaving right now!” Jiang Zhiyi angrily threw off the quilt and was about to get up.

Shen Yuance quickly stopped her: “It’s not that I won’t explain, but I truly can’t explain. Today that Miss Pei suddenly came to our door saying the jade pendant you gave me was hers, and showed me her half of the pendant. I still want to ask you what’s going on?”

“Shifting the blame again, are you?” Jiang Zhiyi pointed at him, “Let me tell you, there’s no way out of this. Even if the Jade Emperor himself came down, it wouldn’t be my fault. I gave you that jade pendant three years ago—how would I know why another half suddenly appeared?”

“I’ve been far away in Hexi these three years, so how would I know?”

As the two stood in silent confrontation, there was a sudden knock at the door: “Young Master, an elderly woman has come from the Pei residence, saying she is Miss Pei’s wet nurse and wishes to speak with you and the Princess. Shall I invite her in?”

Jiang Zhiyi was startled.

Shen Yuance’s eyes also flashed with surprise. He pondered Pei Xueqing’s words at the pavilion today, remained silent for a moment, then said to let her in.

A respectable woman in her forties entered humbly, walked to the bedside, and bowed to both of them: “The hour is late, and I apologize for disturbing the Princess and General Shen. This old servant has come to explain some matters to the Princess and General Shen.”

“My young lady has recently contracted a rare delusion disorder. Because General Shen somewhat resembles her deceased beloved, my young lady, unwilling to accept that she is forever separated from her beloved, imagined that General Shen was that person. She believed she had a past relationship with General Shen, which is why she repeatedly disturbed General Shen and caused the Princess to misunderstand.”

Jiang Zhiyi’s eyes widened in shock: “There is such a matter…?” After contemplating these words, she looked toward Shen Yuance, “So you truly didn’t know…”

Shen Yuance glanced at the elderly woman.

Pei Xueqing had not discussed this with him; she must have thought carefully after returning home, guessed that he would encounter trouble with Jiang Zhiyi, and worried that her actions today might expose his identity. So she sent her trusted wet nurse to fabricate a half-true, half-false explanation.

Meeting the elderly woman’s suggestive gaze, Shen Yuance nodded to Jiang Zhiyi: “Yes, I didn’t know.”

“Then what about the jade pendant?”

The elderly woman bowed her head and answered: “My young lady may have seen the Princess’s jade pendant somewhere and had someone make a similar one.”

Shen Yuance quickly added: “When I had the jade repaired, I showed it to a craftsman, so perhaps it leaked out then.”

Jiang Zhiyi couldn’t have imagined this would be the reason, no matter how hard she tried. She pondered for a while, recalling that Pei Xueqing began showing unusual behavior shortly after her jade pendant broke, which did indeed align with the timeline.

Looking at this wet nurse, she could see that her manners were appropriate and her conduct proper—surely a respected figure in the Prime Minister’s household, not someone who would lie about such things. Besides, who would falsely claim to have a delusion disorder?

Jiang Zhiyi: “So that’s how it is…”

“My young lady, being ill, doesn’t know why she has acted contrary to propriety. Please don’t blame her, Princess. She developed a sudden high fever after returning home today and cannot come in person, so this old servant is here on behalf of my young lady to apologize to the Princess and General Shen.” The elderly woman bowed deeply.

Jiang Zhiyi came to her senses and quickly raised her hand to ask her to rise: “Since it was just a misunderstanding, it’s good that we’ve cleared it up. I don’t blame her. But how is Miss Pei’s condition now? Has she seen a physician?”

“Rest assured, Princess. After today’s events, my young lady should have come to her senses.”

Jiang Zhiyi recalled her conversations with Pei Xueqing in the study today.

“But I think I spoke harshly to her today,” Jiang Zhiyi looked toward Shen Yuance and said softly, “Did I make her ill with my words? If I had known, I would have just scolded you…”

Shen Yuance: “…”

“The Princess need not worry. When someone has things bottled up inside, not expressing them can easily cause illness. You awakened my young lady today—perhaps this high fever is a good thing.”

“I understand the devastation of being forever separated from a loved one. She must have been suffering terribly to develop such an illness…” Jiang Zhiyi murmured distractedly, then thought of something and asked Shen Yuance, “Doctor Li’s medical skills are excellent, shall we invite him to see her?”

Shen Yuance looked toward the elderly woman.

“Thank you for the Princess’s kind intention, but this matter should not be spread. We won’t invite other physicians. If the Princess and General Shen could keep this secret for my young lady, this old servant would be most grateful…”

“What are you saying? There’s no need to ask, we’ll naturally keep it confidential.” Jiang Zhiyi thought for a moment, “Since that’s the case, if your young lady is willing to see me later, I’ll visit her. We have similar experiences, perhaps I can comfort her.”

“Thank you, Princess. This old servant will now return to care for my young lady.” The elderly woman exchanged a meaningful glance with Shen Yuance and then withdrew.

With only the two of them left in the room, Jiang Zhiyi thought deeply about Pei Xueqing’s experience, forgetting her anger toward Shen Yuance, muttering to herself: “How could such a thing happen…”

“Enough, stop thinking about it.” Shen Yuance interrupted her.

Jiang Zhiyi looked up: “How can you be so heartless?”

“I’m heartless?”

“Even if this were just a story, it would be moving. Not to mention it happened right before our eyes—how can you not care at all? To love someone so deeply that even after their death, one imagines still being with them—what profound feelings that must be. Doesn’t that touch you?”

It was just a lie, and Shen Yuance was about to dispel her unnecessary sentiments when he suddenly paused: “…To love someone so deeply that one imagines being with them?”

“Yes, isn’t that what happened to Miss Pei?”

Whether that was the case with Miss Pei, he didn’t know.

But Miss Jiang seemed to understand such things very well.

Mu Xinhong’s voice suddenly echoed in his ears again—

The Princess’s supposed relationship with the Young Master is a complete delusion produced after she injured her head!

Regardless, the formation of a delusion must have some cause. Memories can be jumbled, but they can’t appear out of nowhere. Since she had such a detailed story in her heart…

“If you loved someone, would you also imagine like this?” Shen Yuance fixed his gaze on her.

Jiang Zhiyi looked at him, puzzled.

“The person I love is right in front of me, though we just argued today…” Jiang Zhiyi snorted coldly, “Why would I need to imagine?”

“But what if the person you loved didn’t love you, even had someone else they cared for, and their attitude toward you was extremely hostile—would you create a delusion then?”

“If they didn’t love me, that’s one thing, but who would dare to be hostile toward me?” Jiang Zhiyi frowned, “Your hypothesis doesn’t even make sense!”

How could it not make sense? His brother had treated her exactly like that in the past.

Given his brother’s true temperament, perhaps he hadn’t deliberately offended her in the past, but merely acted excessively outrageous to maintain his playboy facade.

But Jiang Zhiyi didn’t know this. If she liked his brother and imagined a story that he deliberately pretended to be her enemy in public while being her lover, to indulge in daydreams, wouldn’t that be reasonable?

Moreover, she hadn’t just imagined they were lovers, she had even imagined his brother kissing her…

All that talk about the second month of mid-spring with growing grass and flying orioles, about kites caught in trees, about one turning around while the other lowered her head… it was almost unbearable to watch.

“Jiang Zhiyi, dreaming up something nice, are you?” Shen Yuance narrowed his eyes, crossed his arms, and regarded her coolly, “Your beautiful dream, starting from today, is over.”