In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, the Jiangs make a strategic move to secure a marriage alliance with a late bloomer, Jiang Ying, and the crown prince, Lan Xichen. However, their plans are disrupted when Jiang Ying is abducted before the meetin...
After the engagement party ends and most of the feathers are picked up, many attending lords and ladies head to their guest rooms to retire for the night. Meanwhile, Jiang Ying is being dragged to the ancestral hall for punishment. If one were to ask how Yu Ziyuan disciplines her children, they would answer that she whips them until they repent their mistakes, not through kneeling and engaging in a stare-down, but that's exactly what is happening in the ancestral hall.
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Jiang Fengmian leisurely sips his tea from his seat between his glaring wife and pouting son. He remains calm and collected, not showing any sign of being affected. Why does he? It isn't new.
Jiang Ying, on the other hand, is disappointed and feels no one cares for him. He is going to sacrifice his life for his family, but they do not even bother to ask if he wants tea or snacks since he is tired to his bones from both party and punishment.
Moments pass by in silence; Yu Ziyuan never looks up from her glare, and Jiang Ying pouts back at her impassively. Both are engulfed in their own world, completely oblivious to the others around them.
"My lady! Since A-Ying restrained himself a little longer in the engagement party, we should forgive him," Jiang Fengmian pleads when he can no longer handle Jiang Ying's sulking. "You said he believed well earlier, and you were almost impressed."
She whips her neck to send a glare flying at him. "We forgive him since he is our own, but think about the imperial family. They can't contain him if he behaves like this. They won't back out of this proposal since Lans does not go back on their word, but still... We must discipline A-Ying or his life will be a disaster by his own pranks!" She grinds out her teeth so harshly.
Jiang Ying lowers his gaze as her glare turns back at him. His hands clutch his robes as he waits for his siblings to interrupt, hoping they can calm their mother from avenging him. But the traitors aren't getting involved. He will make them pay for this and give them sleepless nights for a few days, especially Jiang Cheng, who nods at each word their mother says. "A grumpy traitor! I promise you won't be able to catch a breath peacefully until I marry off."
Jiang Fengmian doesn't seem frazzled at her outburst and calmly takes another sip of his tea before coming up with something. "He can be himself for two weeks before the Imperial Advisor Lan Qiren shapes him into a new one for his nephew and family. So let him enjoy as much as he wants." This seems to ease her a little, so she waves her hand off and releases Jiang Ying from the punishment.
Not wasting a second, Jiang Ying breathes out and takes a seat next to Jiang Fengmian, finding comfort. With a calm smile as serene as the waters of a flood with the pink of a lotus floating on the pond, Jiang Fengmian pours the tea, doling out a cup for him. After his first sip, Jiang Ying grimaces and reaches out to take the honey that is always included in their tea services. He scoops out a large amount of honey and then stirs it loudly into his tea.
Jiang Cheng makes an odd sound in his throat, and Jiang Ying shoots him a glare before drinking the tea, pairing it with the sweet lotus pastries.
Once everything settles off, Jiang Ying walks out of the ancestral hall and is followed by his father, Jiang Fengmian, who has a large book in hand. Lotus Pier is quiet, except for those walking around the gardens. Their purple robes are a stark contrast against the cold water of the ponds. "A-Ying! This book is sent by the imperial advisor. He expects you to know everything in this." He holds out the book toward him.
Jiang Ying blinks once, then twice, then three times. His eyes flick down to the top of the book, eyeing it warily with a narrow gaze. He judges it silently, then looks back at Jiang Fengmian. "Father, is there no way I can be myself without any restraints and rules holding me?"
"Unless the prince, himself, to be," Jiang Fengmian lets out a long exhale. He puts the book in Jiang Ying's hands and pats his head before gathering himself together and walking away.
Jiang Ying stares down at the book, opens it, and flips through the pages with wide eyes. "Seriously, who gives people a thousand pages and expects them to read and know every little thing? The Lans, apparently. And, within two weeks, I'm going to marry the crown prince and be whisked away to live in the imperial palace, whose beauty can only be matched by its stupid amount of rules and expectations. Seriously, do people who rule others need all these rules? Maybe they do, but I don't. I'll skim some parts of this book. No one will know if some parts are missing from a thousand-page book."
He strolls out into the garden with little thought. His head is chaotic; every corner of his brain is being assaulted. He knocks a stone in his path, and it lands in the lotus pond with a plop. The light breeze caresses his cheek as he sits by the pond, watching the surface ripple with the movement of orange, black, and white koi fish, dappling in the shade of lotus leaves rising gracefully from the water.
A slender hand gracefully drifts across the clear waters, sending them rippling forth. The fish swim over to him, creating a swarm of orange, black, and white as they nibble on his fingers. A small smile creeps onto his features as the fish splash around the pond. Eventually, they realize that he has no food to offer them and start to disperse.
He frowns and turns his head until something nudges at his foot. It is a turtle. "Hello," He nods and tries to push it away, but it keeps climbing onto his leg.
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"What are you doing?" He asks, holding the turtle up to his head. He knows there won't be a response, but to his surprise, the turtle hisses at him. "I know you like me. Wait, I will take you with me."
As he moves to stand up, he stops and watches the bobbing stalks bear many-petalled white blooms surrounding yellow centers. One of the blossoms is within arm's reach, so he leans down to stretch out, wanting to feel the softness of the petals. Before his fingers make contact, he notices the reflection in the water of the figure standing above him, the hilt of their sword aimed at his head. It's too late. Without even a chance to cry for help, the world fades into darkness around him.
