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Evening slowly descended upon the Great Empire of Tianzhou.
The palace looked different at night.
The brilliant gold and crimson colors of the day had softened beneath twilight, becoming quieter and more peaceful. Above the vast palace roofs, the sky stretched endlessly in shades of deep blue and soft violet, while the first few stars slowly revealed themselves one by one.
Outside the palace grounds, a cool breeze wandered through the imperial gardens.
Cherry blossom petals danced gently through the air, swaying and spinning before falling upon stone pathways and quiet ponds below.
Moonlight reflected beautifully upon the waters, causing small ripples to shine like tiny fragments of silver.
The atmosphere felt calm.
Comforting.
And almost lonely.
Inside Shen Yunxi's personal chambers, soft candlelight illuminated the room.
The chamber was quiet.
Only the faint sounds of wind brushing against hanging curtains could be heard.
Near the open balcony sat Shen Yunxi quietly upon the edge of his bed.
His long dark hair rested over his shoulders as the evening breeze entered gently from outside, causing a few strands to sway softly around his face.
Before him rested a small wooden box.
It was old.
Very old.
The corners had become slightly worn over time, and the once smooth wood now carried tiny scratches across its surface.
It was one of the few things Shen had brought with him from his childhood home.
One of the few things he refused to leave behind.
Slowly, Shen lowered his gaze.
His fingers carefully opened the box.
Inside were small treasures.
Things that might seem meaningless to others.
But to him-
They were precious.
A tiny jade bead.
A dried flower carefully wrapped in cloth.
A small carved wooden rabbit with chipped ears.
And then-
His fingers stopped.
There, beneath the little treasures, rested a silver necklace.
Shen carefully lifted it.
Moonlight from outside reflected gently against the silver locket.
Immediately, warmth softened his eyes.
His mother.
It had belonged to her.
He still remembered her hands gently placing it around his neck when he was little.
Though years had passed...
Though her face had already become blurry inside his memories...
This remained.
Shen lightly held the necklace against his chest.
Silence filled the room.
Then-
Something caught his attention.
Beneath the necklace...
There was another object.
A handkerchief.
Shen blinked.
Slowly, he lifted it.
The cloth looked old yet surprisingly well-preserved.
Soft pale blue fabric.
Simple.
But elegant.
He frowned slightly.
He didn't remember owning this.
It wasn't his mother's.
He was certain.
Quietly, Shen inspected it beneath the candlelight.
Then-
His eyes widened slightly.
Near one corner of the handkerchief was delicate embroidery stitched carefully by hand.
Small silver threads.
And a name.
"小星星"
Shen stared.
His fingers slowly brushed against the embroidery.
'...Xiǎo xīng xīng...'
Little Star.
The words felt strangely familiar.
Very familiar.
His chest tightened slightly.
Suddenly-
Something blurry surfaced within his mind.
Under a willow tree...
Warm sunlight.
Soft winds.
The sound of distant birds.
A child crying silently.
The memory slowly became clearer.
A little Shen Yunxi sat beneath a large willow tree.
The hanging branches swayed gently around him like soft curtains.
Small shoulders trembling.
Tears rolled down his cheeks quietly.
No sounds escaped him.
Not because he chose not to cry-
But because he simply couldn't.
His small hands clutched his sleeves tightly.
His face carried a faint red mark near his cheek.
A bruise.
Because earlier that day-
His father had become angry again.
Little Yunxi lowered his head further.
He remembered feeling scared.
Lonely.
Unwanted.
Then-
Footsteps.
Small footsteps approaching.
Yunxi slowly lifted his head.
Standing nearby was another little boy around his age.
His face looked blurry within the memory.
Unclear.
Like fog covering a painting.
But Shen could remember something-
The boy wore expensive clothing.
Beautiful fabric embroidered carefully.
And his eyes...
Though blurry-
Felt warm.
The little boy blinked.
Then awkwardly crouched beside him.
"...Why are you crying?"
Little Shen lowered his head immediately.
The boy frowned.
"...Did someone bully you?"
Silence.
Little Yunxi simply looked down.
Then suddenly-
The other boy looked around awkwardly before pulling something from inside his sleeve.
A handkerchief.
The same one.
Little Shen stared quietly.
The boy held it out.
"...Take it."
Yunxi blinked.
The boy scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"My mother made it."
Little Shen looked confused.
The boy pointed toward the embroidery.
"See?"
Little Shen looked down.
"小星星"
The boy smiled.
"It means Little Star."
His eyes curved slightly.
"My name has something to do with stars too."
Little Shen looked at him quietly.
The boy continued speaking.
"My mother said stars are important."
He looked up toward the sky.
"Even when it's dark, stars still stay there."
"..."
Then he looked back toward Shen.
"So don't cry too much."
He smiled softly.
"If you're sad... then you can think about stars."
Little Shen stared at him.
Then slowly-
Very slowly-
Reached out with trembling hands.
Taking the handkerchief.
Warm.
It felt warm.
The boy suddenly grinned proudly.
"There."
"You look less ugly when you're not crying."
Little Shen blinked.
Then stared at him.
Then-
Very slightly-
The corners of little Yunxi's lips moved.
The smallest smile.
The little boy widened his eyes dramatically.
"Ah!"
"You smiled!"
......
Knock.
Knock.
The memory shattered.
Shen blinked.
The blurry scene disappeared instantly.
Reality returned.
"Young Master Shen?"
A familiar voice spoke gently outside.
"It is me."
Mei Lian slowly entered carrying a tray.
Warm milk rested atop it, with small honey cakes beside it.
Mei smiled immediately.
"I thought you might still be awake."
She placed the tray down.
Then paused.
"...Hm?"
Her eyes landed on the wooden box.
Then the handkerchief.
Shen lowered his gaze quietly.
Mei sat beside him carefully.
"What are you looking at?"
Shen hesitated.
Then slowly showed her the handkerchief.
Mei blinked.
She carefully leaned closer.
"Little Star?"
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh?"
She looked curious.
"Whose is this?"
Shen lightly shook his head.
Mei blinked.
"You don't know?"
Shen nodded slowly.
"...Hmm."
She looked thoughtful.
Then suddenly smiled.
"Maybe it belongs to someone important."
Shen looked down at the handkerchief quietly.
Important...
Could it be?
Mei then gently picked up a wooden comb nearby.
Without asking-
She moved behind him naturally.
"Come here."
Shen blinked.
Then obediently sat still.
The maid carefully began combing his long dark hair.
Slowly.
Gently.
"No tangles today," Mei murmured proudly.
Shen hummed softly.
Mei smiled immediately.
"There it is again."
"Hearing Young Master Shen hum makes me happy."
Shen lowered his eyes shyly.
The maid continued brushing his hair quietly.
The room became peaceful.
Outside-
Cherry blossom petals continued dancing beneath moonlight.
And within Shen Yunxi's hands-
The old handkerchief rested quietly.
As if waiting...
For forgotten memories to finally return.
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(End of Chapter 22)