Burning Bridges | | Jing Yuan X Reader | |

Distant Affection

"Jingliu! Are the flowers not beautiful?" A nameless and faceless beauty danced in the imperial gardens. Roses and lotuses blooming in the gardens, having been planted just for her. 

The princess of the Xianzhou approaches the beauty with a warm smile. Joining her beside the pond where tiny lily pads float in deep waters, they stare at their reflections. As Jingliu leans towards the beauty -whose name was erased from history- she is stopped. 

"You know I cannot...I am to be married." 

"To whom!?" Jingliu exclaims with anger, placing a tender but firm hand to the face of her lover. 

"A young master of the Minister's family. He is a good man-"

"You do not love him! How can this be? I will speak to my father at once!" Jingliu began to storm off, picking up her dress as she ran through the courtyard. The beauty grabbed her arm, shaking her head slowly. 

"Please, Jingliu- Before my wedding, please, just allow me this one last moment with you." She begs solemnly. Her head turned down towards the ground in despair. They barely touch the tips of their fingers to one another before the wind forces them apart. Brisk cold air reminding them of their statuses. 

Forced to imagine the love of her life walk over flaming coals for another, other than herself embittered Jingliu. A strange illness that warped her mind like a plague began to fester and spread- consuming all healthy cells with depraved and angry resentment. 

Months later, under request of the emperor, Jingliu was to take over the army. 

"Such prowess and skill in my daughter, I have been granted a filial child. You will report to the western front to defend our great nation from invaders." The edict was read aloud before Jingliu, sending her off to a frozen wasteland. Infuriated by the blatant dismissal of her skills, Jingliu begrudgingly took her armies to the front lines of the western front. 

"Y/N, you shouldn't slack off while we are on duty." Jing Yuan laughed, watching you lean lazily upon the edge of the wall. 

Taking a bite from your apple you scoffed, "Come on Jing Yuan! This space is a barren wasteland- an army would be foolish to send troops through the blistering cold!" Shaking your head.

 You choked on your apple to see Jingliu standing angrily behind Jing Yuan. 

"Master!" 

"General-" 

"Disgraceful to your comrades, atone for your mistakes at the punishment hall." She commanded, but before she could walk away, Jing Yuan bowed upon his knees. 

"Master, please. Do not punish Y/N!" He beseeched the irritated princess for mercy, one that she was not privy to giving. 

Before you both knew it, you were kneeling upon the harsh gravel with your trousers rolled above your knees. Each holding two buckets of slowly freezing water upon your shoulders. 

"Jing Yuan- you have such a large mouth." 

"Me?! I was trying to help you!" He exclaims with disbelief. 

Listening to you laugh at his outrage brought a coy smile to his face. Staring at you gently while you accidentally tipped the bucket over. "Crap." Getting the frosty water over your uniform your began to shake in the cold. 

"Here." Jing Yuan set his buckets carefully on the ground, taking his cloak and laying it over you. 

"But now you can't put the buckets back on your shoulders." 

"I will gladly take that punishment as long as you can keep your legs." He jokes, failing to place the buckets back on his head. 

Waddling over to him on your knees you help him hold the buckets. Both of you leaning on one another occasionally when the water became too heavy. Eventually Jingliu had sent someone to relieve the both of you from your punishments. Sending the two shaking teenagers running for the warmth of the barracks.