Chapter 8: Petals of Trust

The morning dawned with soft golden hues that kissed the roofs of the manor, melting the traces of night. Chen Yixuan rose before the sun fully stretched its arms across the horizon, his mind already spinning with plans. He had stayed awake most of the night, reading Ye Mei's poem over and over again. Each word whispered to him like a second chance wrapped in verse.

He stepped into the courtyard, inhaling the crisp, dew-laced air. The servants bowed as he passed, but he barely noticed. He had only one goal that day—gain her trust, and keep her safe.

Ye Mei's chambers were located in the east wing, facing the garden she loved so much. He paused outside, unsure whether to knock or wait. Then the door opened slowly, and she appeared in a pale lavender robe, her hair braided simply over one shoulder.

"Oh," she blinked, surprised. "Good morning."

"Good morning," he replied. "I was… hoping to take a walk with you. If you're not too tired."

Her expression softened. "You waited for me?"

"Yes."

She hesitated, then smiled. "Then I'd like that."

---

They walked through the blossoming trail behind the estate, where willows bowed gently toward the earth and wildflowers dotted the edges. The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was filled with tentative hope.

"I always liked this path," Ye Mei said. "Even before I met you, I imagined it would lead to something beautiful."

Chen Yixuan turned to her. "What did you imagine I'd be like?"

She chuckled. "Truthfully? Cold. Arrogant. Uninterested."

His heart sank. "And yet you still agreed to marry me."

"I didn't agree because I thought you'd love me. I agreed because… my mother said there was good in you. I wanted to believe her."

Chen Yixuan stopped walking. "I want you to believe in me again, Ye Mei. Let me prove her right this time."

She paused, the wind catching her hair. "Then show me. Not with grand gestures. Just… be real."

He nodded. "I will."

---

Later that day, Chen Yixuan found himself seeking out his childhood friend, Li Shen, who had always been close to the family. Li Shen was one of the few he trusted fully, even more so now in this new life.

Li Shen raised a brow when Chen Yixuan approached him in the training yard. "Didn't expect to see you here this early. What's changed?"

"I need your help," Yixuan said quietly.

Li Shen's expression shifted. "You're serious."

"There's something wrong. In my last life, Ye Mei died because someone poisoned her. I need to find out who would have had a reason to target her. And I need to keep her safe."

Li Shen's eyes narrowed. "You sound like you've lived it before."

"I have."

There was a long silence before Li Shen nodded. "Alright. I don't know what happened to you, but I believe you. I'll keep my eyes open. Let's start with the servants. New arrivals, those close to the kitchens, anyone who might've been bribed."

"Thank you, Li Shen."

Li Shen placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't waste this chance, Yixuan. Not again."

---

Meanwhile, Ye Mei wandered the halls of the manor alone. She stopped in front of an old painting hanging near the ancestral shrine. A little boy stood beside an old man—Chen Yixuan and his grandfather. The elder's eyes twinkled with warmth even in the portrait.

"Are you watching over him still?" she murmured.

A maid passing by paused. "The late Master always spoke of your mother with great fondness, my lady. He said she was the reason his grandson lived."

Ye Mei smiled faintly. "My mother was brave. And selfless."

"She would be proud to see you here."

Ye Mei nodded. But doubt still lingered. Could she truly belong in a place that only accepted her because of the past?

---

By dusk, Chen Yixuan had returned from his inquiries. He found Ye Mei reading in the study, bathed in amber light. The sight of her—peaceful and unaware—filled him with fierce protectiveness.

"I've been thinking," he said gently, "would you like to visit the city tomorrow?"

She looked up, surprised. "The city?"

"There's a festival happening. Lanterns, music, sweet dumplings. I'd like to go with you."

Her eyes lit up. "I've never been to a festival before."

"Then let me take you. Let me give you a memory worth keeping."

She studied him, then nodded. "Alright. I'd like that."

---

That night, while Ye Mei slept, Chen Yixuan stood outside her chamber door, watching the stars. He didn't sleep much anymore. Not with the weight of his past mistakes haunting him.

But this time, he had purpose. This time, he had Ye Mei.

And he would not lose her again.

---

The next morning, the city bustled with color. Stalls overflowed with silks, candied fruits, and handcrafted lanterns. Children laughed, music floated through the streets, and the scent of spices danced in the air.

Ye Mei's eyes sparkled as she took it all in. Chen Yixuan had never seen her look so alive.

"Come on," he said, offering his hand. She took it without hesitation.

They wandered through the crowd, stopping for sweets and trinkets. At one stall, Ye Mei tried on a red ribbon in her hair, and Yixuan couldn't stop staring.

"You look beautiful," he said honestly.

She blushed. "You're just saying that."

"I'm not. I mean it."

He bought the ribbon for her without a word.

As night fell, lanterns filled the sky, drifting upward like glowing prayers. Ye Mei turned to him as they stood beneath the lights.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For today."

He reached out, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "This is only the beginning, Ye Mei. I promise."

And in that moment, for the first time, she believed him.

He didn't know what dangers still lay ahead, but as long as he had her hand in his, he would face anything.

Together.