Darkness surrounded her.

The last thing she remembered was Gabriel Agreste making his wish trading her life for his wife.

Tikki and Plagg had tried to save her right?

Something about her taking the place of a counterpart that had passed away prematurely in her timeline.

Startled out of the darkness by a firm swat on her cheek, Marinette opened her eyes. Tenderly she caressed her reddening cheek, "That hurt," she whispered, furrowing her brow as she heard her words were in Chinese. Looking up at the two people leaned over her.

Right in front was the girl who had slapped her. She was about sixteen or seventeen, with twin buns of dark hair atop of her head. Her clothes that of an ancient maidservant, her cheeks were plump and there was an endearing naive glint to her eyes, even as they were narrowed in worry.

Next to the maidservant stood a young boy with long blue black hair tied up like a traditional noble child.

Who were these people in relation to her new identity?

Instinctively she knew she couldn't back to her old identity, not with the wish made. She would miss her Maman and Papa, her friends and the kwami.

As tears filled her eyes, from what she lost, her other self's memories flooded her mind.

The young lady who looked at her in worry was Ah-miao, her loyal maid.

Rubbing her cheek she watched the girl step forward hesitantly, "Miss, you are finally awake. Does your face hurt?"

"Just a bit." Marinette, no Yihuan she told herself, she would need to get used to her new name.

"Sister! Forget about your face for now! We must hurry and see Father and Brother before they leave!"

The young boy, Lin Yiran, was the youngest son of Minister Lin. Grabbing her hand he pulled her toward the city gate.

Minister Lin, her father, and her older brother were demoted and exiled 1500 km away after being beaten by the Emperor. Sent far away from their family only for suggesting torture no longer be legal.

With her father and older brother being exiled, her and her little brother were on their own in this new and uncertain world.

As they ran she heard the combination of Tikki and Plagg's voices speaking one last time, "We leave you our favorite, make the best of your new world. Have fun and find a new happiness, Marinette."

Looking around at the ancient surroundings she wasn't sure exactly she'd have fun especially with her new situations, but she was never one to give up easily.

Looking forward she glanced down the dirt road, before looking at her little brother. "Where are they now?"

The crowd ahead of them was dense, blocking any view they might have of the prison carts. Standing on her tip toes, Yihuan managed to glimpse the two carts moving slowly into the distance.

"Big Sister! I want to see them too!" Yiran cried his voice trembling.

Yihuan remembered when she was child as Marinette wanting a little brother now she had one and she would do whatever she could to protect him and make him happy. She bent down and picked him up marveling somehow she still had her strength from her previous life, she truly had traded places it would seem. Her little brother clung to her neck as he finally saw their father and brother being led off. He didn't let his tears fall even at only six years old, his lips quivered and his breath hitched. Keeping a firm hold of his legs with one arm she rubbed his back as sobs finally burst from him, rattling his whole frame.

Ah-Miao almost losing sight them in the pushing crowd called out, "Miss, be careful!"

The three of them struggled to remain standing as they were pushed around by the crowd.

It was only when Minister Lin and Lord Lin's prison carts disappeared from sigh that the onlookers began to disperse that three of them were able to get back fully together.

Yihuan looked at her younger brother's face wet from tears, inside her she felt sorrow swell in her chest. Sorrow for how much pain he was going through, sorrow for the world she lost, sorrow for the Yihuan who had died before seeing her family off.

Ah-miao looked sad too. "Miss..." she hesitated before speaking again, "Now that the minister's residence has been seized, we no where to return to. What is your plan?"

What was her plan? She needed to find a safe place for the three of them. It didn't have to perfect just safe.

As she thought about the information Yihuan had supplied her with via her memories she tried to think of an immediate solution, she felt a tugging on her sleeve.

"Sister, I'm hungry."

She patted his head and gave him an encouraging smile, "I will take care of you."

If she was merely the Yihuan in the past they would be in big trouble that girl had never had to lift a finger to do anything for herself. A virtuoso in musical instruments she was nationally recognized.

No doubt with those similiar thoughts her maid looked in worry, "Miss! You are not thinking of selling...selling..."

"No..." Her voice was firm, "Things will be hard though, I understand if you don't want to stay with us Ah-miao. I have nothing to give you, I am truly regretful of this." She thought back on the past memories, "I know we went by Master and Servant, but I always felt you were like a sister to me."

A tear ran down Ah-miao's face, "Thank you, Miss. I don't need wages. You can sell me instead. I am young and strong and can work hard, you could get a good price for me..."

Yihuan quickly shook her head, "I promise you this I will never sell myself or you!" The very thought of it made her feel sick to her stomach. Small little plans started to form in her head. "I promise if you stay by my side, you won't go hungry but if you ever wish to leave you are free to go whenever that might be."

Ah-miao looked shocked.

Getting straight to the point, they had not time to waste. "Did Father leave anything for us?"

Ah-miao thought for a little bit before her eyes turned bright and she smiled with hope. "Yes! The Minister told me that your Mother after passing left you a storefront as an inheritance. It's at the end of Changming Street. Since it's private property and not tied to the Minister's residence, it most likely wasn't confiscated..." She drifted a frown on her lips.

"What's wrong?"

Ah-miao hesitated, "But beyond Changming Street is Tianshui Alley."

Yihuan went over her new memories to understand why that was bad before realizing that the name was a euphenism for the red-light district. She could understand Ah-miao's hesitance, a young lady would never have been seen before where the courtesans and their beaus hung out.

Instead, the new Yihuan saw an opportunity. "It's perfect." Mumbling to herself about menus she almost missed the look pass between her brother and Ah-miao, "Don't you see it would be a busy area, perfect for getting plenty of customers."

Channeling her modern-day Ladybug sunshine she looked at the two with bright optimism: she was going to open her own bakery, or more like dessert shop. With all the experience as Marinette growing up in her parents bakery she had tons of recipes beneath her belt not only French delicacies but some from around the world and her mother had taught her Chinese treats as well.

All girls like desserts, being at the entrance of Tianshui Alley was an ideal spot.

"Ah-miao, take us there!"

Lin Yiran looked longingly at the cart tracks in the mud his eyes downcast. This would be the last time he would see his brother and father.

Remembering the traditions Sabine Cheng had taught her, Yihuan looked at her brother. "Would you like to bow three times to Father?" A final sign of respect, for their final farewell.

Lin Yiran nodded. The two knelt together and bowed three times in the southwest direction their exiled family had gone.

Standing Lihuan placed her hands on her brother's shoulders, "Yiran, we have to look to the future now. We must forget about the past and have a new start. Can you try to do that for me?"

Lin Yiran nodded although looking a little unsure.