Wuxia Tale: Hua in Bloom

The Suitor

(WANG HUA)

The news of the start of the bride selection for Prince Jin was announced two days after our meeting in the Jiang estate.

They are making it shorter as the prince is already nineteen and they want to marry him off quickly. Instead of twenty candidates, they shortened it to twelve. Then after some test, it will go down to ten ladies. Then after living under the Empress' command, that number will be cut into half.

I know the process very well. I read about it. I am sure it is not for me.

But...there is something bugging me. Something that won't let me rest.

I feel like...Prince Jin deserve more than to be a prize to be won. One thing I also don't like about that bride selection was the feeling of those ladies are competing against each other to win a prince.

That...feels degrading for some reason. And Prince Jin is no prize. He is a person. A nice person.

Actually, all the Princes in the palace are nice people. I met them all, spent quite some time with all three of them and they act like normal boys, in my opinion.

Prince Jin, being the oldest is quite serious. He keeps to himself, likes to observe. He is well read too, like my brother Dao. But amidst all his seriousness, Prince Jin treats people around him nice and fairly. I never heard of anyone, servants or noble alike, saying that Prince Jin act rudely towards them or being abusive.

The same can be said to Prince Guo, the second prince. Prince Guo is actually dubbed as the charmer. His easy smiles and outgoing personality wins the heart of the people he mingles with in the Palace. He can tell witty and funny story in a way that makes people laugh and get comfortable with him.

Prince Han, the youngest prince, is ever the adventurer. He likes playing outdoor. Skipping and running around the Palace's grounds. He is carefree, knowing he will not shoulder the burden of being the heir to the throne. Being behind his two older brothers.

The Princes, they are not bad people. Yet they are being treated in a way that makes them feel like they are prizes to be won. Their favors are being courted, they are being wooed to alliances. But I think they deserve better.

Prince Jin deserves someone who will be loyal to him and love him not because he can bestow a crown to any lady he will marry, but because he is a person worthy to be loved.

Oh what am I thinking? What do I know about royalty and their custom about marriage? Nothing...

It's not enough that I study some of the Imperial family's traditions and customs for me to say that I know what drove them to marry. I have my own life to think about, why spend time being concern about one prince?

But my heart won't stop it's worrying. It won't stop aching for some reason that is beyond me. I don't know what to feel or do anymore.

I look at my parents, calmly relaxing in the seaters on the second floor of our home. Father is sewing Baba's under garment shirt. Baba is reading some official looking scrolls while Dao is reading a book about weapon handling. Dao and I started our lessons in weapons. He is choosing steel spikes while knives are my choice. Dao is experienced in dagger handling while I plan to learn acupuncture and needles.

And maybe medicine as well.

My family is not bothered about the news of Prince Jin having a bride selection ceremony.