The night was serene, the moon casting its soft glow over the quiet village. Yue stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the sky as a gentle breeze carried the scent of jasmine. Suddenly, a sharp pain pierced her head.

Her breath caught, and she stumbled, clutching her chest as memories—vivid and overwhelming—flooded her mind. She saw herself as Runyu: the bitter loneliness, the crown’s heavy weight, Jin Mi’s cold rejection, and Xu Feng’s fiery rage. The pain was suffocating, each memory cutting deeper than the last.

Her breaths came in shallow gasps as tears streamed down her face. “No… not here… not now,” she whispered, voice trembling. The weight of her past and the love she now cherished clashed violently within her, threatening to shatter her.

Unable to bear it, Yue bolted from the courtyard, her bare feet carrying her into the forest. She ran until her strength gave out, collapsing by a riverbank. Her body trembled as sobs wracked her, the moonlight catching the tears that fell freely.

“I don’t deserve this… not after what I’ve done,” she whispered, burying her face in her hands as her cries filled the still night.