Two months passed.
With each passing day, Yan Meilin's health grew worse. She could no longer eat properly, nor sleep through the night. Her heart ached for the emperor, and the longing inside her only deepened. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't forget him.
She had told herself she would never give in. She had told herself that her family, her aunt, and her values mattered more than love. But the pain of being away from him was unbearable. It felt like her lungs couldn't breathe without him. Like her heart would stop beating.
And then, one night, she crossed the line she had promised never to cross. A message came for her—simple, unexpected, and shocking. The emperor had summoned her to the palace.
For a moment, Yan Meilin just stood there, unable to move. She had truly believed he had forgotten her. That he never wanted to see her again. That she had been discarded completely.
But now… he was calling her.
She felt alive again.
