During the next days that went on, Li Mei (Ha Lee) just simply stayed in the Li Manor with her mother. She also decided to take the name Li Mei and put behind her old name as it was the past that she once lived.
On this day however, she accompanied her father and brother to the palace where they will be at the training grounds. In the carriage, the three just conversed. Although Li Mei's whole self has changed, since she is now Ha Lee, her family still accepted her.
"Mei, when we get arrive to the palace you can't get out of my sight." he said almost sounding like a demand. She just raised a brow confused as to why he didn't want her out of his sight, but then assumed that she'll get lost since the palace is a grand place.
She nodded, "Yes brother."
The General couldn't help but almost laugh listening to his son's petty words. He was very overprotective of his younger sister and didn't want her out of his sight, let alone a man near her. However, the General also didn't want her out of sight especially in that place.
"Dai, it's alright. Let her roam about the palace if she wants to it'll be alright." he assured his son since there were more guards put on patrol now. His son looked at him with a concerned expression almost doubting his father.
The palace was beautiful but also the most dangerous place besides the battlefield. Silent wars roamed the grounds, and she knew exactly how that felt.
Arriving to the palace, one by one they left the carriage. Li Mei was nervous being back here. This was the place where everything began.
Some court officials that passed by couldn't help but take a glance at the Young Miss. They were thinking of possibly trying to engage a marriage for their sons by eyeing the daughters of other officials.
Then, Prime Minister Niu Zian left the group and came towards the trio. He bowed in respect to the three before greeting them. "Prime Minister Niu Zian, greets the Li family."
General Li just chuckled. The two men have been friends since their childhood and are still close.
"No need for formalities Niu Zian." he said to which his friend just smiled.
"Miss Li Mei, how are you doing?" He was worried about her since that incident took a toll on her, even causing her to "loose" her memories.
"I've been well and I'm sorry that I don't recall anyone that I knew before I lost them." she voiced.
The Prime Minister sighed in relief, "Actually my daughter Niu Xia, has been very worried for you. You haven't seen her since you've awakened and she didn't want to see you so soon. She wanted to give you time to yourself so you can rest and recover." stating the worries of his daughter.
Her face became curious, "Niu Xia?" she said not knowing who she is. "Ahh, she is a close friend of yours. You've been together since children." the official gave a brief history.
"Then, I'll surely pay a visit to her instead of her coming to me." she insisted.
"I need to keep those close to Li Mei, close to me."
He simply gave a nod at her request then looked back to the court hall building. "I must go now. The court meeting will soon begin." he said and quickly left to the morning meeting.
The three then went along their way to the training grounds. As they strode along the palace grounds, Li Dai also gave her a small tour as they walked.
Li Mei listened as he told her about the palaces that each royal member resided in, the Royal Garden, the lotus pond, and the Fall's Spring.
Among the places she was most interested in, was the fall's spring. This place resided in the Plum Palace.
It was a grand waterfall where plum blossoms rained down to the water's surface. The most magnificent part is how breathtaking the view is upon seeing it.
Reaching the training grounds, soldiers that were already up and about running their daily routine of exercise halted in their tracks and paid respects to their General and his son.
"Greetings, General Li and Young Master Li!" the crowds of men said in union then went off to finish their routine.
Li Dai then looked to his younger sister, "Just stay near this area, it's easy to get lost." he told her before leaving to get into his training gear. She simply nodded at his words and left to find a place to sit.
Walking around the training grounds, she found a fairly large tree with shade below. It was a sunny day and very hot despite the morning.
And so, Li Mei made her way under the shade. Once she got there, she leaned her back against the trunk of the tree.
As she rested there, she only thought of her past life. Everything was painful to remember and how that person made her life that way.
"What if I meet him here? What will I do? If anything why was I given a second chance to live again?"
She was still in dilemma about everything.
Was there a reason as to why she was brought back?
Just as she was about to relax and let go of what she was thinking, a jasmine flower drifted from above landing on her lap. Seeing it, she picked up the blossom inspecting it before looking up above her.
Upon her change in sight, she met eyes with a young man that seemed to have already been looking at her for quite some time. He just flashed a smile at her and jumped down from the thick arm of the tree.
He patted himself down to look presentable, before then introducing himself. "Hello Young Miss, I am a member of the troops, an important figure I'd say." he spoke in a cheerful tone.
Not knowing who he was, she bowed. Even of importance or not, she would still do so in respect. "My name is Li Mei, I came with my brother and father today." she spoke almost nervously.
Of course she was nervous, at the back of her mind she felt paranoid about strangers. The life she used to live gave her deep worries of who she should trust and who she should fear.
However, taking a closer look he seemed familiar. Not someone that she knew but rather someone she was acquainted with and someone that she could trust.
"Why do you seem so familiar to me?"
"Li Mei?" he said questioningly. Then, it hit him now remembering the name. "Ah, you're Li Dai's younger sister!" he exclaimed with her nodding at his words.
Suddenly, he then grabbed her hand, guiding her back to the training grounds. This action had her taken aback.
"Why are you taking me back?" The young man just took a glance at her then ahead of him. "Your brother is very worried about you. I'm sure he wouldn't want you out of his sight for no longer than a minute." he knew his worries.
Back at the training grounds, he then had her sit on a chair under the shade of the large building where weapons and supply were stored while he gathered the men to start their sword exercise.
"Mei," her father called her. She turned around facing him, "Yes?"
"I see you've met Commander Yusheng." saying the young man's title.
"Mm." she simply nodded.
He looked down at her lap and saw the jasmine flower that was still in her hands. The man didn't say anything and just went along his way to meet up with the Commander, his right hand man who was a hell of a lot younger than him.
"So he's Commander Yusheng? I don't quite remember any person with that name."
Snapping her out her thoughts, Li Dai came up to her from behind. "Mei," he called his younger sister.
"Yes?"
He looked at her questioningly. This made her almost sweat by his action.
"Why is he looking at me like I'm some criminal?!"
Her brother then broke the questioning gaze and just walked off. "Stop looking so paranoid when you have me!" he yelled as the gap between them thickened.
She was quite shaken by his words but in a way it soothed her. For the first time, it felt like she had someone to lean on. It also felt like her real brother was still beside her.
In a quiet voice she muttered words unspoken to him. "Thank you, Li Dai."
The early evening came and soon, the three will leave. The troops were putting away their equipment before they would leave to their respective homes.
Some remained in the palace as guards.
At this time, Li Mei decided to go sit under the shade of that tree once again before she was to leave. She shut her eyes, resting them for a moment.
As she laid there, Commander Yusheng also happened to pass by, although he does claims this tree as his go-to area. He stopped dead in his tracks and took in the sight of her. His eyes seemed to be observing her, something he would do to his foes to know what they would put into action next.
Feeling as if someone were looking at her, her eyes slowly opened. Upon their opening, she saw the sight of him looking down at her from a view.
As her eyes opened, his mouth gaped slightly, almost in shock and surprise. The way her eyes fluttered opened looked exactly like her, but all in all they felt alike although different in appearance.
"No, no it can't be."
Upon her looking at his expression, she raised a brow. "Commander Yusheng is something wrong?" she asked concerned.
Coming out of his thoughts, he just looked at her with a composed face, acting as if nothing was wrong. "Ah, it's nothing. I just lost myself for a moment there." he simply said.
"Mei!" her older brother was calling her as he walked towards her. She leaned to the side to look toward her brother then back. Reaching her, he looked at the Commander, who was actually a close friend of his.
"What're you doing Yusheng?" he questioned noticing how the aura of his friend felt off.
"We'll save that talk for another day." he told him before going off, back to the main palace grounds.
"Let's go home." he said to his sister.
In the carriage on the way home, Li Mei was asleep as she wandered in her dream. It was something that felt never-ending, a nightmare.
This was a dream where she lost everyone, where she also experienced that day again. Her mother, father, and younger brother all died before her very eyes unable to do anything.
She only shook in fear not knowing what to do. The blood of her family covered her once beautiful dress and her hands that held them all. They were just a middle-class ranked noble family that helped to run the royal army.
Why must this happen?
On her mother's dying breath, she told Ha Lee to run away or else that man will take her away forcibly to become another one of his. And so, she ran away as fast as she could but only to be captured and thrown in a prison.
Just as she was about to reach the next events of where hell came over, she was awakened by her older brother. "Mei, wake up." he said in a gentle voice.
Her eyes opened and looked around to see that they've arrived home and only the two were left in the carriage as he trying to wake her.
On her face were beads of sweat. The young man noticing, wiped them away with his sleeves. "I remember when I watched over you while you were in that deep sleep, you had this same occurrence." he voiced.
His hands then held hers tightly, almost as if he were afraid. "Please don't have nightmares anymore. I know I still treat you like a kid but your big brother really cares about you. I almost lost you once, I don't want another." his words were filled with deep concern for her.
As his only sibling, he wanted her to stay with him for a long time. He loved her dearly as growing up he always spoiled her although she never really accepted it. Loosing her will be as though loosing his other half.
Her hand slipped away from his and came on his shoulder. "I am here. I won't go away again." she promised him with all her heart.
He smiled at her and then left the carriage. "Come on, let's go inside." he told her.
She hesitated at first, then her lips curled into a smile. Knowing that he was her brother now gave her happiness. He felt like her younger brother in that last life.
This time she will protect him.
.
.
.