Many times Zhang Xiao wondered why fate had played this cruel trick on them. For 25 years she had lived a normal life, unaware of the hidden, unspeakable grief that had happened several lifetimes ago to Ruoxi, to the people Ruoxi loved, to the princes. But then that sudden accident occurred, and what her soul had wanted to forget, she was made to live through again.

But after waking up from her coma and remembering everything, her heart filled with longing, guilt and regret, she realized that the Ruoxi who lived and died for the princes three hundred years ago was already gone. There was only her now. Ruoxi had had a short and painful life, unable to do anything to change the bitter fate of those she loved. But she, Zhang Xiao, was alive. There must be a reason why she remembered, and she firmly believed it was not only to fill her current life with painful memories, nor punish her for what she tried to prevent in the past, yet ended up setting into motion anyway.

And when she saw Yinzhen again, Zhang Xiao knew. The Heavens have heard her prayers.

As Ruoxi, she had loved her Fourth Prince with a searing passion that eroded her whole being. Even when she had wanted to hate him, even when she despised his single-minded cruelty to his brothers, her love had never wavered. It was a fire that burned her from the inside out, so much so that she wanted to see him all the time, be with him, be one with him. In the end, she couldn't even live without him, and the four more years that were supposed to be Ruoxi's life were shortened to one after she left him.

When Ruoxi died, her last thoughts were of him. She had wanted to forget him, but she couldn't.

And so she died holding a magnolia flower in her hand.

Now they were both here. Maybe not as Ruoxi and Yinzhen, but in essence the same. And Zhang Xiao understood that even when their bodies had been unable to withstand death's hand, their love had.

Her love had.

Zhang Xiao lay in bed that night, picturing Yinzhen, no, Jianyu, turning around to look at her from across the room; how he had held her hand and steadied her when she crashed into him. And that lightly teasing smile, the way he said her name… It was the same, all the same.

With a pang she regretted those selfish feelings she had earlier. Yes, he didn't remember her, didn't love her. But now that didn't matter anymore. Once Zhang Xiao realized the kind of miracle it took to meet him again, then it was already enough knowing she could see him, alive and well; enough to have the memories of him loving her with equal measure in the past; enough knowing he didn't hate her and had even forgiven her. If he was living happily now, whole and free from pain, then Zhang Xiao would consider it a lifetime's fortune. The Heavens have been more than generous to her, letting her see that Yinzhen no longer carried the heavy burdens of the past; she would have been happy just to continue seeing him…

Tomorrow, Zhang Xiao thought as she closed her eyes to sleep, I'll call him. Maybe we'll have tea under a fall of autumn leaves.