It had been three months. Three months of Li Mei's carefully orchestrated "unruliness," of feigned disinterest and subtle defiance. Her plan, designed to push the Crown Prince away, was failing spectacularly. Her initial relief that he saw her as merely spoiled had curdled into a gnawing stress. The Queen's veiled threats about a "sister wife" were becoming less veiled, and the pressure to consummate the marriage was mounting daily. Li Mei was starting to panic, convinced that the Prince's ultimate, irreversible favor—the kind that had led to her past demise and her family's ruin—would only be sealed by the act of consummation. She had avoided it for so long, but now, she felt pushed into a corner.
The weight of her sisters' fates pressed down on her. Her elder sister, poisoned for witchcraft; her second, lost in childbirth; her third, executed for loyalty. All, she believed, were consequences of the broken vow, triggered by her own perceived infidelity and the Prince's subsequent "abandonment." If she consummated this marriage, and he still fell deeply in love with her, would the cycle repeat? Would her family suffer again? A desperate thought sparked in her mind: the Li family vow. The secret ritual. Her father, General Li, was the only one who truly understood its depths. Was there a way to reverse it? To break the curse without breaking the family?
One afternoon, during one of the Prince's routine visits, Li Mei's carefully constructed composure began to crack under the immense pressure. "Your Royal Highness," she began, her voice unusually strained, her gaze fixed on her clasped hands. "I… I have a request."
The Prince, who had been observing her with a new, almost sorrowful understanding, noticed the genuine tremor in her voice, the uncharacteristic anxiety in her posture. This was not the spoiled child act. This was genuine distress.
"Speak freely, Li Mei," he said, his voice softer than usual, his eyes searching her face.
"I… I wish to return home," she blurted out, the words tumbling forth. "Just for a short while. I wish to... to speak with my father. There are matters of family that I believe only he can clarify for me."
The Prince's expression tightened almost imperceptibly. "Very well, Li Mei," he said, his voice measured, betraying none of the turmoil she would later learn was within him. "I will arrange for your escort to the Li residence. You may stay as long as you need." He rose, his gaze lingering on her. "But know this," he added, his voice low, "this palace is your home now, and I... I will wait for your return."
Li Mei looked up, surprised by his immediate agreement and the unusual intensity in his eyes. She had expected resistance, perhaps even anger. His compliance, however, only deepened her resolve. She had to find a solution. Her family's future, and perhaps even his, depended on it.
A Father's Confession
The journey to the Li family estate was a blur, her mind consumed by the urgency of her mission. The moment she stepped into her childhood home, she sought out her father, General Li, with a newfound desperation that was a stark contrast to her usual pampered demeanor.
Her father, a man of formidable presence on the battlefield but a doting presence at home, was surprised by her unexpected return and her somber countenance. He had expected her to be reveling in the early days of palace life.
Li Mei led him to a private garden pavilion, far from prying ears. She took a deep breath, carefully formulating her words. She couldn't reveal her rebirth, not yet. The truth of her past life, the curse, and her sisters' fates would sound like madness.
"Father," she began, her voice hushed, "I have been troubled by a dream. A recurring, vivid dream. It speaks of a secret ritual, a vow that binds us to one partner. It speaks of a curse that follows if that vow is broken, or if the husband abandons his Li daughter because of perceived unfaithfulness. Tell me, Father, is there such a vow upon our family?"
Her father's face, usually stern and composed, paled visibly. His eyes, which had initially held a father's concern, now widened with a mixture of shock and profound sadness. He looked at his beloved youngest daughter, her beauty still radiant, yet shadowed by a knowledge she should not possess. The "dream" was far too accurate, too detailed. He knew, with a chilling certainty, that this was no mere dream. His beloved Li Mei had somehow glimpsed the very truth he had sworn to protect her from.
He rose from his seat, walking to the edge of the pavilion, his back to her. His shoulders seemed to slump under an invisible burden. "My child," he said, his voice hoarse, "how could you know of such things?"
"The dream, Father," she pressed on, her desperation overriding her caution. "It was so clear. And it spoke of the consequences. Is there... a way to reverse this vow? To break this curse?"
Her father turned, his gaze meeting hers, filled with a sorrow she had never seen before. "The vow is ancient, Li Mei," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Passed down through generations, yes. It is the source of our family's unique favor, but also its greatest burden. And the consequences you speak of... they are real." He settled back onto his cushion, his gaze drifting to the distant horizon.
"It is a tale from long ago. Our ancestor, a woman of unparalleled beauty, was married into a time when co-wives lived in harmony. But the others, consumed by an insidious envy of her beauty, conspired against her. They cruelly tricked her into the wilderness, where she was attacked by wild animals. She escaped, barely, but her face was tragically disfigured. And worse, they had also mutilated her private parts, ensuring she could never bear children. The trauma caused her to lose all memory of who she was."
"Her husband, believing her dead, mourned her deeply. Yet, a strange, persistent pull drew him to that very wilderness. He came across her, by chance, in a secluded cave. Even though her face was disfigured beyond recognition, and her body bore unspeakable scars, a profound, inexplicable attraction stirred within him. He felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity, a deep sorrow upon seeing her plight, and a powerful, undeniable urge to protect her. It is said he started going to the cave more frequently, neglecting all his other wives and duties. Finally, he completely moved there, leaving everything behind."
"It was in that cave, under the silent gaze of the ancient stones, that they made a vow. The Gods, witnessing her profound suffering, granted her wish. The woman, our ancestor, though her memory was lost, looked into his eyes. Her disfigured body, particularly the mutilation inflicted upon her, paradoxically made her husband feel a double pleasure during their intimacy, and it awakened within her a highly sexual nature. She prayed to the Gods: 'I will never give myself to another person ever again. In return for this unwavering devotion, and for the injustice done to me, I ask that all daughters born from my lineage shall be favored by their husbands, serving him completely with an intimacy that binds them utterly. If they are able to retain this favor and remain true to this singular bond, even their husbands will be blessed with fortune and will rise in glory.' And he, her husband, vowed to cherish her, and her alone, above all else. This was the origin, Li Mei, of our family's vow. A love so profound it transcended recognition and worldly attachments, a love that was fiercely exclusive."
"But with this blessing came a hidden curse: for every daughter born from her generation, when they came of age, they too should go to that very cave to offer their blood and take the oath. And if ever a daughter of our lineage broke her vow, the entire generation would be affected, suffering misfortunes as a consequence. This, my child, is the price of that favor, the cost of the unbreakable bond."
Li Mei listened, her mind racing, connecting the ancient tale to her own life. The "dream" was no dream; it was a memory, a warning etched into her very soul. She finally understood the ritual she and her sisters had undergone: a slight, careful mutilation of the outer private parts. She understood the intense intimacy she had shared with Prince Lin in her past life, the heightened sensation that had made her so smitten with him. She now knew why their sexual connection had been so incredibly powerful, a bond so unbreakable that even in her past life, her older sisters had confessed to a similar experience.
A cold dread settled over her as she stood alone in the family garden, the moon casting long shadows on the stones. Her father's words echoed in her mind, a chilling tale of an ancient vow, a terrible curse, and her sisters' tragic fates. The truth was far more complicated and terrifying than she had ever imagined, and the weight of it all felt like a physical burden on her shoulders. She was no longer a naive girl; she was a woman with a purpose, but she still had so many questions.
A soft rustle in the darkness broke her reverie. Her hand instinctively went to her concealed dagger, but her heart recognized the strong, familiar silhouette of the man who emerged from the shadows.
"Your Royal Highness," she whispered, a tremor in her voice. "What are you doing here? If you are caught, you risk everything."
He ignored her words, his eyes searching her face with an intensity that stripped away all pretense. He closed the distance between them, his voice a low, raw whisper. "I couldn't stay away, Li Mei. I just received a formal invitation from the Kingdom of Xialan for the Emperor's birthday celebration. My mind tells me it's a diplomatic formality, but something in my gut—a feeling I can't explain—is screaming at me that it's a trap. A primal warning, as if I've walked down this path before and it led to ruin."
His words, though lacking conscious memory, resonated with a chilling accuracy. He was not just a lovesick prince; he was a man being driven by a powerful force that was telling him to protect her.
"I need you to come back to the palace with me," he pleaded, his voice thick with desperation. "I can't go to Xialan without you. I will not go without you. Please, Li Mei. Say yes."
Li Mei's heart, which had been so hardened by fear, began to soften. She saw his pain for what it truly was: a primal, visceral fear of losing her again. He was already acting as her protector. She looked at him, truly seeing him for the first time—a man tormented by a past he couldn't remember, yet drawn to her by a love that transcended time and space. She knew then that his love was her shield.
"I will," she said, the words a silent promise. "I will return to the palace with you."
A profound sense of relief washed over his face. He reached out and pulled her into a fierce embrace, his arms wrapped tightly around her. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice a mix of relief and a fierce resolve. "Thank you."
After he left, melting back into the shadows from which he came, a new, more strategic thought came to her. She had promised to return, and she would keep that promise. But not yet. Her father had given her the beginning of the story, the origin of the vow. But he didn't have the answers she needed. The only people who did were the people who were also bound by the vow, the people who had lived through its blessings and its consequences.
She would have to speak to her sisters. She had to understand how their devotion had become their downfall. She had to know the full truth before she returned to the palace. Only then could she truly begin to rewrite their fate.
A Sister's Wisdom
Seeing that she was not going to get more from her father, Li Mei sought counsel from her two elder sisters, Li Wan (the one married to the Chen family) and Li Jin (the scholar's wife). They gathered in Li Wan's private sitting room, a space filled with soft silks and the gentle scent of jasmine tea. Li Mei recounted her "dream" in painstaking detail, watching their faces for any flicker of recognition, any shared burden.
Li Wan, ever the pragmatic one, listened with a furrowed brow. "A dream so vivid, little sister," she mused, her voice soft. "It speaks of the ancient vow. Father has always been so guarded about it, only hinting at its true nature."
Li Jin, the scholar, nodded slowly. "The texts speak of the Li family's unique bond, a blessing and a burden. Our ancestor's tale is woven into the very fabric of our lineage."
Li Mei then confessed her current predicament in the palace—her deliberate attempts to avoid the Prince's favor, her refusal to consummate the marriage, and the growing impatience of the Queen. "I thought if he didn't favor me so intensely, if I wasn't the sole focus of his affection, then the jealousy wouldn't fester. The curse wouldn't activate. But he… he just thinks I'm spoiled." A wave of frustration washed over her. "And the pressure to fulfill my duties is immense. I fear if I continue to refuse, I will be crucified, and then the curse will fall upon us again, just as in my dream."
Li Wan gently squeezed her hand. "Little sister, the vow is about singular devotion, yes. But it is also about the husband's unwavering faith. If he truly believes his Li wife has been unfaithful, and abandons her because of that belief, then the curse manifests. It is not merely the act, but the perception and the abandonment that triggers the greatest misfortune."
Li Jin added, "And the pleasure, Mei'er, the pleasure is meant to bind him to you, to make him incapable of truly favoring another. It is a blessing, not a weakness to be hidden. In my own marriage," she continued, a faint blush on her cheeks, "my husband, Master Gao, finds great joy in our intimacy. It is indeed a powerful bond."
Li Wan nodded. "Mine too. General Chen, for all his sternness, is utterly devoted. It is a favor that is both a gift and a responsibility. Your past 'dream' sounds like a tragic misunderstanding, a cruel deception that led to his abandonment, not a true breaking of the vow on your part."
Li Mei's eyes widened. A perceived broken vow? Abandonment? The pieces of her "dream" began to rearrange themselves. Her confession, her lie in the cold palace, had been an act of self-sacrifice, but it had been interpreted as a true betrayal, leading to his abandonment and the subsequent curse.
"So, my attempts to push him away... they are actually making things worse?" she whispered. A new kind of dread mixed with a flicker of dawning hope. "If he thinks I don't want him, or that I have a secret love, he might abandon me, believing I am unfaithful, and trigger the curse!"
"Exactly," Li Wan confirmed gently. "You must make him believe you are devoted to him, Li Mei. You must nurture that bond, not push it away."
A sudden, breathtaking thought struck Li Mei, echoing the Prince's own silent musings. The Crown Prince already loves her? She replayed the past three months in her mind: his understanding, his patience, his willingness to wait for her, his unwavering defense against the Queen's scolding. He hadn't forced her to consummate, had he? He had simply said he would wait.
Her gaze sharpened, a profound understanding blooming in her eyes. "Sisters, this metaphor... the husband who found our ancestor in the cave, disfigured and without memory... he already loved her, didn't he? The oath only worked because the man was already in love. It only sealed that existing love, and in return, gave them blessings and prosperity."
Her gaze sharpened, a profound understanding blooming in her eyes. "This means in my previous life, the oath worked because Prince Lin was already in love with me. The love and favor didn't come after the oath; it was already there. Which is also our luck as Li Daughters, isn't it? We always end up marrying men who truly love us and would do anything for us."
A wave of profound emotion washed over Li Mei—not just fear of the curse, but a burgeoning understanding of the man she had been so desperately trying to push away. She couldn't wait to hurry back to the palace now. This time, she decided, she wasn't going to run away from favor. Instead, she was going to use it to protect everyone she loved, and that, she now realized with a fierce, protective surge, including him. The path was clear, though perilous: she would embrace the bond.
She had been so focused on her carefully crafted plan, so blinded by the fear of repeating the past, that she missed the most obvious signs. She was trying to outsmart a love that she didn't even realize was her greatest strength. It was all there, in the moments she had foolishly dismissed.
The Prince's endless patience, his willingness to wait for her, was not a trick; it was a testament to a love that went beyond the physical. His bond with her was so powerful that it wasn't about sex or duties—it was about their very souls. She recalled the night he came to her, drunk and on the brink of breaking, confessing a pain he couldn't explain. He didn't come to force a vow but to find a home in her presence. She had seen him as a prince haunted by a past, but he was simply a man who loved her so completely that his heart had never forgotten her, even when his mind did.
Li Mei, in her past life, was so desperate for his favor that she mistook his devotion as a weakness. She had missed the most important truth: his love was not a curse but a shield. In her naivety, she had been so focused on a future that would not have happened anyway, that she missed the signs that even in this life, he has loved her across two lifetimes.