Recovering her senses, Aman quickly lifted her sleeve, revealing the orchid mark on her wrist. She compared it with Chu Mingxuan's and found that their marks were indeed identical.
"Are you really my younger brother?" Aman whispered, her question outwardly directed at Chu Mingxuan but inwardly also directed at herself.
"I am truly your biological brother, named Chu Mingxuan, and your full name is Chu Miaoling. I've heard our parents say that our sibling names were given by our grandfather. This orchid mark is only found among the descendants of the Chu family in Jiangcheng. Upon birth, every member of the Chu family in Jiangcheng would have an elder use a special medicinal pigment to imprint an orchid on their wrist, and this orchid would accompany them throughout their lives," Chu Mingxuan told Aman, his voice filled with emotion.
"Then what exactly happened back then? How did we get separated?" Aman asked, her expression bewildered.
Why did she have no memory of her childhood? She couldn't even clearly recall who had saved her from the fire.
"Our entire Chu family was massacred overnight, and those villains then burned down our home," Chu Mingxuan said through gritted teeth, his hatred evident.
"That night, I couldn't sleep and sneaked away from the servants to the small cave behind the rockery in the manor's garden to play. I accidentally fell asleep, and when I woke up, I tried to sneak back to my room, only to see our house engulfed in flames. I even witnessed our parents being dragged into the corridor and killed by masked figures in black. I was terrified at the time and managed to escape unscathed by sneaking back to that hidden cave behind the rockery," Chu Mingxuan recounted, the memories of his family's murder still painful. The screams of his loved ones as they were killed were a lifelong curse he would never forget.
Aman felt as if she were experiencing Chu Mingxuan's words herself. As she listened, her nose began to sting, and tears welled up in her eyes. She tried hard to recall the events of that day, but a searing pain shot through her head.
"Why can't I remember anything? What is going on?" Aman cried out, cradling her head in her hands and shaking it, her face contorted in pain.
Seeing her in such distress, Chu Mingxuan's nerves instantly tightened, and he rushed to support her.
"Sister Miaoling, Sister Miaoling, what's wrong?" Chu Mingxuan asked urgently, extending two fingers to check her pulse. He was instantly startled by the erratic rhythm. He quickly helped Aman lie down on the bed, took out his silver needles, sealed several of her pressure points, and guided her back into a deep sleep.
Half an hour later, Aman slowly woke up.
"Sister Miaoling, do you wish to recover your past memories?" Chu Mingxuan asked as soon as he saw her awaken.
Aman glanced at Chu Mingxuan and nodded. She longed to remember her childhood, but whenever she tried, she suffered severe headaches, and in extreme cases, she would fall unconscious.
"That's wonderful! The Cold Consort can help you recall your childhood through hypnosis. If you agree, the Consort can perform the hypnosis for you," Chu Mingxuan said, his face beaming with excitement.
Aman fell silent for a moment before replying, "It's almost dawn. Let me return to Prince Qing's manor to think it over. If I decide, I will come to the Cold Prince's manor to find you and have the Cold Consort hypnotize me," Aman said earnestly.
"Alright, then it's settled," Chu Mingxuan replied with a wide smile. Afterward, Chu Mingxuan personally and stealthily escorted her back to Prince Qing's manor.
***
The next day, Lin Zhenfei, who had been quiet for some time, suddenly received news from the Empress that Lin Zhenfan had returned to the capital. Early in the morning, he led a large group of people to the city gates to welcome Lin Zhenfan.
As Lin Zhenfan's carriage entered the city gates, he spotted Lin Zhenfei, along with his wife, son, and several officials, waiting not far from the gate. Lin Zhenfan's carriage slowly approached Lin Zhenfei's group, and he alighted.
"Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Tao'er, it's been many years. How have you been?" Lin Zhenfan asked, a smile gracing his face. He bore an eight-tenths resemblance to Lin Zhenfei, but was younger and far more handsome. He looked at Lin Zhenfei's family with concern.
"We're well, we're all doing fine. You, however, have been stationed in the Southern Borders for so long; your life must be more arduous than ours," Lin Zhenfei replied with equal concern.
"It's nothing. As long as Eldest Sister and Big Brother are doing well in the capital, your second brother feels that everything is worthwhile," Lin Zhenfan said insincerely.
"Ah, you've truly had it tough," Madam Lin sighed. Her brother-in-law, despite not having seen him for years, still looked as young and handsome as he did a few years ago, his body as robust, and his steps steady. He was nothing like his elder brother, Lin Zhenfan, who was two years his senior. Lin Zhenfei's appearance had aged, his eyes were shadowed, and his body seemed depleted by women, his gait unsteady. Madam Lin mused about what kind of judgment Qin Minzhi had when she chose Lin Zhenfei as her husband. If she had chosen Lin Zhenfan, she would surely be living a happy life now. Alas, time spares no one, and there are no second chances.
"Hmm? Big Brother, Sister-in-law, where is Mengzhi? Why don't I see Mengzhi?" Lin Zhenfan asked curiously when he didn't see Lin Mengzhi among the crowd.
"Ah, Zhi'er, that child has always been rather wild. Three months ago, she suddenly left a letter and departed the capital. We haven't been able to gather any news of her yet," Madam Lin said, her face etched with worry.
"Heh heh, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Zhi'er is so clever; she'll be fine. Please don't worry too much," Lin Zhenfan consoled them.
"We can only hope so!" Madam Lin nodded helplessly.
"Alright, Afan, let's not worry about Zhi'er's matter for now. We should go to the palace first to pay our respects to the Emperor. We can gather again at our manor tonight," Lin Zhenfei suddenly interjected, interrupting their conversation. Lin Zhenfan's quiet return to the capital this time was not at the behest of the current Emperor, so Lin Zhenfei and Lin Zhenfan would undoubtedly face the Emperor's wrath.
"Okay, Big Brother, let's go to the palace to see His Majesty first, then we can catch up at the manor," Lin Zhenfan agreed with a slight nod. Afterward, Lin Zhenfan greeted the officials, and then the two brothers, sharing a carriage, led the officials towards the imperial palace.
At that moment, the Emperor, who had been contemplating by the window in the Imperial Study, suddenly heard the report from Eunuch Li.
"Your Majesty, this servant has just received news that the Great General who guards the South, Lin Zhenfan, has entered the capital and is heading towards the palace," Eunuch Li said, flicking his horsetail whisk and speaking in a shrill, reedy voice.
"Heh! Have Lin Zhenfan kowtow all the way from the palace gate to the entrance of the Imperial Study before I see him," the Emperor said with a cold laugh. This was his own doing. For returning to the capital without his explicit decree, whoever he was, he deserved punishment.