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 Yanli paces back and forth near the lotus pond, keeping a watchful eye on Jiang Ying's room to ensure that no one enters and discovers his absence. He claims to be studying the imperial family rules, a lie she and Jiang Cheng fabricated in order to buy time to locate Jiang Ying or uncover the truth. However, the weight of their deception settles heavily on her as Jiang Cheng takes charge of searching for their missing brother.
She stops in her tracks when she sees a maiden in red robes wearing a veil trying to enter Jiang Ying's room. "Who is she? As far as I know, A-Ying doesn't have friends his age or older. Then how... Wait! Does she know A-Ying is not inside and is trying to expose him? If so, she might pose a threat to our search for A-Ying." She quickly steps forward, her hand reaching for the dagger hidden in her robes.
The maiden is alerted, so she pulls her hand off the door handle and walks away. Jiang Yanli follows her through the training grounds and into a large hallway, where the fragrance of peach blossoms is carried by the wind. She doesn't admire or question how the surroundings are playing hide-and-seek. She is only concentrating on the maiden and pushing open the door through which the other had entered, finding it empty. How?
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Her beautiful eyes widen, her heart threatening to leap out of her chest. She turns back to leave and finds the door closed. Fear creeps through her veins. This... this couldn't be a ploy, could it? She has fallen into a trap and left a way for the enemy to tarnish her brother's honor. What can she do? She has already failed in her responsibilities and let her brother shoulder their family's future. Now, once again, she fails and lets her brother down. What a terrible sister she is!
No, she shouldn't think like that or accept her failure. She needs to find a way out. She looks around the room and finds the window open. Feeling relieved, she grabs a chair and places it near the window to jump out. As she reaches for it, she runs toward Jiang Ying's room while praying all the way that nothing bad will happen.
Upon reaching Jiang Ying's room, her breathing becomes lighter as she sees Nie Huaisang standing outside, peeling lotus petals and muttering something under his breath. "A-Sang!" she calls out, drawing his attention as she reaches for his hand. "When did you arrive?"
"I came when you left. I decided to take your place," he replies with a small smile, his eyes showing concern. "We will face this together, Maiden Jiang. We will bring A-Ying back home."
She squeezes his hand gratefully, feeling a sense of comfort wash over her. Then she gestures for him to go inside to recount the events that have transpired in his absence. He listens intently, his expression growing more serious with each passing moment. After she finishes, he sits in thoughtful silence and looks up at the red petal in his hand. It is the last petal that he plays with, pondering whether Jiang Ying is safe or not. Now, in his distraction, he doesn't know what the petal symbolizes.
***
The adrenaline is coursing through Jiang Ying's veins, almost like a fire burning beneath his skin. He can hear the shouts of the guards behind him growing closer. His body, unprepared for this level of physical exertion, shows its struggles with his racing heart. As he rounds another corner, narrowly avoiding the people going about their daily lives, he honestly envies them; they are living a normal life while he is running in an unfamiliar street he can't navigate.
