Late Bloomer Brings The Light

Chapter 3

Once 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 study 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 by kneeling and engaging in a stare-down, but that's exactly what is happening in the study hall.

Jiang Fengmian leisurely sips his tea from his seat between his glaring wife and pouting son. He remains calm and collected, showing no sign of being affected. Why should 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 the party and the punishment.

Moments pass in silence. Yu Ziyuan never looks up from her glares, and Jiang Ying pouts back at her impassively. Both are engulfed in their world of unyielding stubbornness, completely oblivious to those around them.

"My Lady! Since A-Ying restrained himself a little longer at the engagement party, we should forgive him," Jiang Fengmian pleads when he can no longer handle his son's sulking. "You said he behaved well earlier, and you were almost impressed."

She whips her head 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. An omega who symbolizes peace and tranquility causes trouble even at their engagement party. I'm thankful that the imperial family hasn't presented today. Or what would they think? Above all, he drank wine..." She turns her attention back to her son and glares even harder.

"Nie Huaisang also drank it, but you didn't say anything," Jiang Ying snorts, crossing his arms in defiance. "Last time, I caught Father and A-Cheng drunk behind the bushes, and being the next Yu Ziyuan to uphold the honor of our family, I told you, but you just scolded them and let them go. Yet when I curiously tried its taste, you switched the punishment from scolding to locking me in the room for a week." He shakes his head in disappointment. "You say I'm the apple of your eye, but you do injustice to me."

"Injustice?" she argues. "Nie Huaisang is a beta and has his own family to discipline him for his mistakes. A-Cheng and your father are alphas, so it doesn't affect their health or status. But as omegas like A-Li and me, did you ever see us drink?"

Jiang Ying rubs his nose for a moment and thinks about it. "No. But I'm a male omega, a rare and precious one. Also, a late bloomer! Nothing can ruin my health or status."

Jiang Cheng can't help but murmur at the rim of his cup, "Health! Status! If only such a thing existed." Thankfully, no one hears him.

"I don't know what I'm going to do with you," Yu Ziyuan sighs, holding her head in frustration. "Thankfully, the Lans won't back out of this proposal since they do not go back on their word, but still..." She turns her head toward her husband and grinds her teeth. "We must discipline A-Ying, or his life will be a disaster because of his own pranks!"

Jiang Ying remains stubborn, his jaw clenched tight as he continues to sulk in silence. He 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 involved. "I will make them pay and give them sleepless nights for a few days, especially A-Cheng, who nods at each word Mother says. A grumpy traitor!"

Jiang Fengmian doesn't flinch at her outburst and calmly takes another sip of his tea before coming up with something. "He can be himself for two weeks before 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 dismissively and releases Jiang Ying from punishment.

Not wasting a second, Jiang Ying breathes out and takes a seat next to Jiang Fengmian, finding comfort. With a smile as serene as the water after a flood and the pink of a lotus floating on the pond, Jiang Fengmian pours 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 service. He scoops out a large amount of honey and 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 down, Jiang Ying walks out of the study hall, followed by his father, Jiang Fengmian, who has a large book in hand. Lotus Pier is quiet, except for those strolling around the garden. Their purple robes are a stark contrast to the cold water of the pond. "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 or rules holding me back?"

"Unless the prince himself is to be," Jiang Fengmian lets out a long exhale. He places the book in Jiang Ying's hands and pats his head before gathering himself 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 number of rules and expectations. Seriously, do those 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 into the garden with little thought. His mind is chaotic, and every corner of his brain is being assaulted. He kicks 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 movements of orange, black, and white koi fish dappling in the shade of lotus leaves rising gracefully from the water.

A slender hand drifts across the clear water, sending ripples forth. The fish swim over to Jiang Ying, creating a swarm of orange, black, and white as they nibble on his fingers. A small smile creeps onto his face as the fish splash around in the pond. Eventually, they realize he has no food to offer 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.

"What are you doing?" he asks, holding the turtle up to his face. He knows there will be no 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 bearing many-petaled 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. Without even a chance to cry for help, the world fades into darkness around him.