Marriage, The Palace , A hidden past.

The first light of dawn spilled over the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of amber and rose. A gentle breeze rustled through the village, carrying with it the distant hum of morning activity.

Feng Xiangling stood at the edge of the settlement, her long robes swaying with the wind. Her eyes took in the small but vibrant village—a place built from resilience and survival. The children she had played with the previous day now gathered, their tiny hands waving farewell.

Xu Liangchen stood beside her, adjusting the reins of his horse. He glanced at her. "You don't want to leave, do you?"

Feng Xiangling sighed. "It's not that… This place, these people… they feel familiar, as if I've known them longer than just a day."

Hei Long, the leader of the bandits-turned-villagers, approached them. "Lady Feng," he greeted with a deep bow. "We owe you more than we can ever repay."