In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, the Jiangs make a strategic move to secure a marriage alliance between a late bloomer, Jiang Ying, and the crown prince, Lan Xichen. However, their plans are disrupted when Jiang Ying is abducted before the mee...
Jiang Ying waits anxiously behind the curtain for his mother to announce him. He runs his fingers through his black bangs, trying to straighten them. He knows he looks fine, having prepared since early morning with his servants, but he has never been the center of attention before. Jiang Cheng is always the one being fawned over, and that is fine. His twin brother is good at handling attention, while he, on the other hand, is not used to it.
He is ripped away from his thoughts by his mother's voice starting her announcement. "Thank you all for coming to my son's engagement party. Unfortunately, Crown Prince Lan Xichen is unable to make it today due to unforeseen circumstances, but we are still holding a celebration on short notice. Now, to keep you from waiting, I present our pride, the beautiful treasure of the Jiangs, Jiang Ying!"
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If it weren't for Jiang Yanli holding the curtain open and giving him a gentle push on the small of his back, Jiang Ying might not be able to step into the main hall. As his eyes land on the mass of lords and ladies, his stomach begins to churn.
He puts on a fake smile and walks confidently despite his inner turmoil. The clapping from the crowd makes his heart beat faster, and when the noise settles down and he takes a seat, his heart slows.
He only has a moment to himself before people start coming up to him to offer congratulations on his engagement. He accepts them all with a kind smile and politely converses with those who speak to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he notices his mother's satisfied smile as things go according to her wishes.
Everything becomes a bit repetitive by the time an hour has passed. People congratulate him; he thanks them and then makes small talk for a while before doing it all over again. He is almost tempted to ask his mother for a break, but before he can even ask, Nie Huaisang, General Nie's younger brother, steps in front of his seat.
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They exchange bows in greeting before Nie Huaisang speaks in a tone that sounds as if he has rehearsed those words for quite some time. "Congratulations on your engagement, A-Ying! I'm happy to see you with the prince next time," he says with a smile.
"You will be happy if I rub your face in the mud. Don't you dare mock me," Jiang Ying replies through gritted teeth. Immediately, Yu Ziyuan's face turns pale, and her glare reminds him of what to do. He sighs and bows again. "Sorry for being rude. I'm grateful for your well-wishes."
Nie Huaisang hides his face behind a fan and laughs quietly. He can't help but find the situation amusing.
Rolling his eyes, Jiang Ying adjusts to all the drama and becomes tired. Everything is exhausting him, so he looks around for help. After another hour, his silent plea for some alone time is granted. No one has come to offer their congratulations recently, so he takes his chance and runs away from the party.
As he leaves the main hall, he turns a corner and sees a familiar figure sitting against the wall, drinking wine straight from the jar. Although Jiang Ying originally left the party to find peace, teaching a lesson to his so-called friend doesn't seem like a bad idea. "You little weasel, here you are!" he growls as he approaches him.
Startled, Nie Huaisang tries to hide the wine jar. Eventually, he realizes his efforts are useless as he is caught red-handed. "Ah... Care to have some?" he asks, holding out the jar with a happy face.
Jiang Ying knows his mother will have his head if she finds out, but seeing the jar dangling in front of him makes his hand twitch. "A little won't hurt anyone, especially if they don't know!" he convinces himself.
The empty spot next to Nie Huaisang seems to be calling him, so he listens. He sits down and leans against the wall, taking a small sip of wine. The taste is sweet and rich, causing a warm sensation to spread through his body. "Now I feel like myself."
Silence settles between them, but neither moves to disturb it. Finally having enough of the stillness, Nie Huaisang speaks. "Crown Prince Lan Xichen is a pure-hearted man. Whoever is going to marry him will be lucky. But if you're not interested in marriage or him, then don't. I'll support you."
The silence that existed before returns but doesn't last long, as Jiang Ying lets out a chuckle. "I know, but it's something I have to do for the good of my family." He takes a large gulp of wine. "You know I've never even spoken to my fiancé before. How pathetic is that?" he asks, leaning an elbow onto Nie Huaisang's shoulder, groaning and making a fuss.
Nie Huaisang can't help but pat the fan on Jiang Ying's chest. "That's the most pathetic thing I've ever heard in my life! How do you manage that?"
Jiang Ying sighs. "Don't get me wrong. I've seen him a handful of times, tagging along with his uncle or imperial advisor, but I've never said a word to him. It's not like he's said a word to me either. He's busy attracting everyone with his gentle smile and small gestures."
"Attracting everyone?!" Nie Huaisang asks, wiggling his eyebrows.
Jiang Ying brings a hand to his chin. "Aw, but not me. No offense. He is attractive and worth fighting for, so I hold nothing against him, but he's not my type."
"What is your type, then?" Nie Huaisang sounds interested.
A list of marriage requirements battles in Jiang Ying's head, even if it hardly seems to matter, and he picks out a few important things from it. "Just like me! Lively, bright, jovial... and a little wild," he answers, dreaming of such a person with twinkling eyes and snickering to himself.
Nie Huaisang chokes on his sip of wine. "What? If your mother heard this, she would have a heart attack. No wonder she wants you to marry off the prince! The one who is supposed to control this empire can't even control you!" he says while coughing and laughing at the same time.
The corners of Jiang Ying's smile slowly turn down. He glares at Nie Huaisang, then frowns, his eyes cast downward.
Nie Huaisang places his hand on Jiang Ying's shoulder and tries to lighten the mood by suggesting, "Shall we release some birds in the main hall to make things a little livelier?"
Jiang Ying looks up at Nie Huaisang, his frown slowly turning into mischief as they both smile at each other. He knows it's a bad idea. If they get caught, the punishment will be severe, but he can't find it in himself to care. If he has to suffer through the stuffy party, then everyone else will suffer too. "Let's do it!"
After they have their fill of wine, they grab some baskets and carefully place the birds inside before returning to the main hall. They look at each other, count to three, and lift the basket lids to release the birds at the same time.
It takes a while for people to notice the small, feathered creatures. The birds are quite friendly, as they have been well-socialized, quickly starting to eat from the banquet food and landing on the women's ornate hairstyles, pecking at the colorful hair ornaments.
Shouts and screams erupt in the main hall, and it doesn't take long for Yu Ziyuan to lock eyes with the troublemaker's laughing self. "A-Ying!"
Jiang Ying and Nie Huaisang try to get their laughter under control and look at each other. They know they are in trouble now that Yu Ziyuan has caught them in the act. Her stern expression quickly turns into a scowl as she marches over to where they are standing, still holding the now-empty baskets.
"Save yourself! Run away before Mother has our heads!" Jiang Ying yells, pushing Nie Huaisang toward the nearest exit.
Nie Huaisang starts running in the opposite direction of Jiang Ying. As much as he likes his friend, he knows Yu Ziyuan is more likely to go after her beloved son, so he decides to protect himself. When he reaches a safe distance, he hides behind the wall and watches Yu Ziyuan grab Jiang Ying by the ear and drag him somewhere while scolding his ear off.
