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...
The morning finds Jiang Cheng sleep-deprived. When he drags himself out of bed, he immediately feels the urge to climb back under his covers. The only thing that motivates him to wash his face is his mother's summons to discuss Jiang Ying's marriage. His mind feels sluggish, taking longer than usual to shake off the remnants of sleep, and he already feels tired, even though he has just woken up.
Taking a bath and putting on a set of fresh robes, he leaves his room to make some progress and become more responsible. He knows that he needs to start tackling his responsibilities in order to feel more energized and productive.
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"Good morning, Mother," he greets Yu Ziyuan as he enters the room where she sits, sipping her tea.
She looks up at him with a smile, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and concern. "Sit, my son," she gestures for him to take a seat across from her, where a stack of papers lies on the table.
Jiang Cheng sits down, straightening his posture as he mentally prepares for the conversation ahead.
"A-Cheng, you are aware why I'm summoning you. I'm giving you a huge duty to shoulder. Be A-Ying's shadow from now on. This marriage is not as easy as it seems," she begins, her tone serious. "The imperial family chooses their other half among common folk to show their commitment to the people, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. People are always watching, waiting for A-Ying to slip up so they can take his place. They won't hesitate to kill him until he reaches his designated place because Lans only marries once and doesn't take concubines. Do you understand the gravity of the situation?" She asks, her eyes searching for any sign of hesitation in his eyes.
He nods slowly, his expression grave. "I understand, Mother," he replies, his voice unwavering. "We are twins. Before and after birth, we support each other every step of the way. We are in this together. I will protect him and his honor with all that I have."
She nods in approval, her eyes softening slightly at his words. "I know you will, my son. I have faith in you." She places a hand on his shoulder, a silent gesture of reassurance. "Now go and make sure A-Ying memorizes the book your father gave last night. He may think it is unnecessary, but it is necessary to be in the imperial advisor's good books when the emperor himself takes his advice."
With a final nod, Jiang Cheng bows respectfully before leaving the room, his mind already racing with thoughts of the challenges that lie ahead. He goes to Jiang Ying's room to find him missing. Horrified, he paces around and finds a note that claims Jiang Ying isn't coming back.
"Dear Father and Mother, I am deeply sorry to say that I can't marry Crown Prince Lan Xichen. I wish to find true love on my own terms, and I can't force myself to take pleasure in a loveless marriage. So I regret to inform you that I will not be coming back, ever. Regards, Jiang Ying."
Jiang Cheng reads the letter once over, his eyebrows knit together in anger, fingers curling on the paper. "Damn it, Jiang Ying! How could you do this to us? You've left us in a mess, abandoning your responsibilities without a word! Mother is going to be devastated when she hears about this. The crown prince is coming in two days. What are we supposed to do now?" Jiang Cheng's voice rises with every word, his anger palpable in the air. His sister's hand on his shoulder is the only thing keeping him from exploding.
