Four silhouettes attracted many people in the garden. Two lovely figures - one in pale pink dress, the other in gold and silver dress, two beautiful young women walked side by side in between two tall, handsome men. The one who garter the most attention was Zhao Meixiang whose gaze was on the flowers while lightly tapping the round paper fan against her chest. Because she had purposely walked slowly, other around her had to follow suit or she'll be left behind. Unlike Liu Jiaying who was able to match Lin Heng and Zhuang Yi's long stride, Meixiang seemingly frail, soft demeanor could not. But no one could bear to blame the beauty with her oblivious expression while she took in the blossoms on the trees. Like an
ethereal painting from another time,Meixiang stopped and lifted a hand to catch a blossom that was blown by the wind. No one could take their eyes off the beauty as she revealed her deep dimples while looking at the flower in her hand.
"Heng-ge" Meixiang lifted her head to smile at the tall man beside her. "Plum blossom"
Holding up the flower in her palm, it was clear that the girl had wanted to give it to the man beside her. Any man who was watching would feel envious of the flower in the beauty's palm and Lin Heng who was able to receive the beauty's smile.
"Heng does not like plum blossom"
Meixiang froze at the words and quickly withdraw her hand before it Buched Lin Heng Turning to look at Liu Jiaying, Meixiang gave a loss and hurt expression. Liu Jiaying smiles as if she said nothing wrong. Meixiang smirked inside but maintain the confused expression outward.
"Mei_Meixiang didn't know"
Meixiang quickly tried to hide the plum flower inside her wide sleeve, but because Lin Heng suddenly grabbed her wrist, the flower fell into the ground. Looking sadly at the fallen flower, Meixiang didn't meet Lin Heng's troubled expression.
"Meixiang, I_"
"Heng, I remember you said you weren't fond of plum blossom" Liu Jiaying cut in casually. "Right Yi?"
Instead of agreeing with Liu Jiaying,Zhuang Yi seemed surprised by the girl's behavior.
"What, am I wrong?" Liu Jiaying was startled by the look she was receiving by both men.
Meixiang didn't need to look to know Liu Jiaying's confusion. The female lead was use to receiving unconditional love from everyone so couldn't understand when someone is dismay with her. Continuing the act, Meixiang quietly bent as if to pick up the fallen flower but Lin Heng stopped her, took her hand, and gently guides her to the closest plum blossom tree. Everyone watched as Lin Heng tall figure easily lifted his hand to the tree and break off a small piece of the tree branch. When Lin Heng turned and held out the branch filled with beautiful plum blossom, Meixiang's eyes brightened but made no move to take it.
"I didn't like plum blossom before... but I do now" Lin Heng said softly. "Meixiang, I've been very fond of plum blossom since I've meet you"
Lifting her eyes from the branch in his hand up to his eyes, Meixiang's expression was unreadable causing the taller man to be nervous.
Plum Blossoms keep flowering for no one
Even bruised, they shine like pearls
Caring nothing of the mortal world
Even forced to bloom, nothing could be done
Meixiang smiles were gentle as she recited the poem.
"Heng-ge... Do not force yourself to like plum blossom on Meixiang's behalf" Meixiang caress the small flowers on the branch that Lin Heng held.
Plum blossoms keep me up, every night
Keeping blooming, teasing my lesion
potoler fon him
Blooming for no one, no season
Then consuming my thoughts, my sight
Meixiang lifted her gaze from the flowers to Lin Heng, seeing the earnest expression on his face as he recited his poem. The man really was a first class sweet talker. Any normal young woman would.
Any normal young woman would have fallen desperately for him. Unfortunately for him, Meixiang was too clever for her own good to believe flowery words of a man. Instead of responding to him, Meixiang gave her usual gentle smile while taking the branch from his hand.
"Meixiang" Lin Heng's heart beat at the sight of her smile and before he could stop, his hand has already touched her soft, smooth cheek.
Naturally, Meixiang tried to pull back but the man had his other hand around her waist, keeping her close to him.
"Meixiang, please don't pull away from me" He said softly as he stroke her cheek. "Don't be afraid"
Meixiang face was red but inside she was fuming. Because she must maintain Zhao Meixiang frail appearance, she couldn't vulgarly smack the man's face as she wished.
"Heng-ge..." Instead, Meixiang showed grievance in her eyes as she look up at him. "It's not proper... Meixiang still has not marry_"
"Mother and grandmother have chosen a good date for our wedding. Father has already sent the date to the Viscount... After the Empress approved the date, we will_"
"Heng-ge" Meixiang blush even more and weakly pushed at his chest. "Everyone is watching..."
"Everyone knows Zhao Meixiang is promised to this Lin Heng"
"T_the blossom will be crushed"
"If crushed, I will get you another one"
Speechless, Meixiang bit her lips and look down. Her troubled expression only tickled Lin Heng's heart. When he suddenly kissed the flower birthmark underneath her right eye, Meixiang eyes widen while her whole face glowed like a tomato. She was truly stunned that Lin Heng would kiss her in public for anyone to see. In such a conservation world, it was startling.
"Heng!"
While Meixiang was startled by Liu Jiaying sudden calls, Lin Heng expression was oddly cold. Letting go of Meixiang, Lin Heng kept hold of her hand while he turned to face his friends. Liu Jiaying appeared somewhat upset, while Zhuang Yi was surprised.
"Heng, what are you doing?" Liu Jiaying scolded. "Outside like this, Lady Zhao's reputation would be ruin"
Liu Jiaying was scolding on Meixiang's behalf, but for Meixiang, the woman appeared off edge. The woman tone was more like a scorn lover than a friend - which made Meixiang curious as to why the female lead would behave such a way. The fourth prince was standing there beside her and hadn't said anything to Lin Heng, why should Liu Jiaying care about what Lin Heng does? She was supposed to be a friend – nothing else.
"Meixiang is my fiancé" Lin Heng glanced at Liu Jiaying before he looked at Zhuang Yi. "There are no laws about a man showing affection to his betroth"
That was very true. The country was conservation when it comes to men and women's relationship. It's especially strict toward unmarried women. If she was caught doing anything frivolous in public, she would be condemn by the public. The flip side to the rule, men was treated differently. It was normal for a man to have multiple wives so has long as he could financially support them. For men of higher status, it was even more normal for him to have multiple mistresses on the side. For a married or unmarried woman, she must always maintain her clean virtue toward her husband or future would be condemn by the public. The flip side to the rule, men was treated differently. It was normal for a man to have multiple wives so has long as he could financially support them. For men of higher status, it was even more normal for him to have multiple mistresses on the side. For a married or unmarried woman, she must always maintain her clean virtue toward her husband or future husband. For a married or unmarried man, he can be as frivolous as he wants so as long as he could care for his family and children. The soul within Meixiang was from a different world and time, therefore, scoffed at such double-standards rules. But to survive - to win this game, she had to play the part of a lotus flower.
Liu Jiaying did not expect to be rebuff by Lin Heng - someone who was her childhood friend. Ever since they first met, Lin Heng had treated her kindly - very much like the fourth prince Zhuang Yi. But lately, in the past few years, Lin Heng had behaved differently - very distant, almost cold toward her. Liu Jiaying had thought that it was all due to her status as Prince Zhuang Yi's future consort, so Lin Heng was forced to keep proper distance from her. She had believed that the man still treasure her as a very good friend like before. She was sure even after she became Zhuang Yi's bride, Lin Heng would always be at her side to support her in silence.
What Liu Jiaying refused to acknowledge is that Lin Heng have change. Ever since the announcement of his engagement to the daughter of the 2nd Rank Viscount Zhao, Lin Heng had been dejected. Even though the young man had tried to hide his unwillingness, Liu Jiaying had noticed. People had spoken how odd the engagement was because Lin Heng's status was much higher than Zhao Meixiang. For a 2nd Rank Viscount's daughter to marry the Prime Minister's son wasn't unheard of but was still very rare. With Lin Heng rank, he could marry a true blood princess if he wanted. But the Prime Minister was a humble man so no one was shocked when he agreed to engagement of his son to the Viscount's daughter. People only thought it was wasteful of someone like Lin Heng to marry the Viscount daughter as his main wife. Liu Jiaying had thought Lin Heng was dejected for that very reason. She had believed he was unwilling to marry.
Indeed, Lin Heng had been unwilling in the beginning. No one would have guessed that at his first sight upon Zhao Meixiang that Lin Heng's unwillingness transformed to willing. Liu Jiaying didn't know that in the last four years, Meixiang had engraved her image inside Lin Heng's heart through her letters, words, and poorly drawn sketches. Liu Jiaying never knew each time Meixiang visit the capital for the three short months of the year, Lin Heng became more willing - more eager to obtain the Viscount's daughter. When Liu Jiaying had taken Lin Heng's cold distance toward her in the past years as temporary phase in their life, she was not aware that the man was distance because his heart was preoccupied with someone else.
"Heng..." Liu Jiaying voice trembled slightly. "I_ I'm only looking out for you and Lady Zhao's best interest... it's not proper even if you're betroth to display such vulgar actions..."
No one had thought Lin Heng action toward Zhao Meixiang was vulgar. Men had been envious that Lin Heng was able to touch the white lotus beauty. Women had been envious by the loving affection Lin Heng gave to Meixiang. But because of Liu Jiaying's comment, people quickly judged Meixiang as a loose woman. Meixiang, on the other hand, smirked inside while trembling nervously on the outside. She weakly tried to pull away from Lin Heng and purposely trip over herself in order for the man to grabbed hold of her.
"L_ Lin-gongzi" Meixiang was resort back to an old trick in order to get a rise out of Lin Heng. "P_ Please let go_"
"Vulgar actions?" Lin Heng's eyes were cold as he stared straight at Liu Jiaying. "I didn't think Lady Liu see this Lin Heng as a vulgar man"
To protect Meixiang, Lin Heng put his own name out to counter Liu Jiaying's words.
"H_ Heng, I_" Liu Jiaying was startled by his cold eyes and even colder tone.
"Heng" Seeing the odd situation, Zhuang Yi finally stepped forward. "Jiaying didn't mean anything by it"
"Didn't mean anything?" Lin Heng eyes flickered to the fourth prince, revealing a stom behind calmness.
"Then what exactly did she means?"
Shaking even harder in Lin Heng's arms, Meixiang purposely gripped on his robe as if telling him she was afraid.
"Heng I_" Liu Jiaying realized the situation was turning for the worst. "L_ let me apologize. I truly did not think badly of you or Lady Zhao. We're friends, aren't we?"
Lin Heng did not answer to her question.
"Heng, please" Liu Jiaying pleaded softly. "I'm sorry. I_ I was just looking out for you..."
"I don't need you to" Lin Heng's words were sharn as he aid firmly "Even if we're friends, I hope you be careful with your choice of words. I will not let Meixiang suffer grievance because of your careless verses"
Liu Jiaying was dumbstruck by Lin Heng's stern, firm tone. The usually gentle and kind man never reprimanded her for anything. He never treated her so indifferently or looked at her with such contempt. She had been so shocked that she unconsciously reached for Zhuang Yi's sleeve to seek comfort and protection. She had wanted the prince to be like Lin Heng and shield her with his embrace like Lin Heng with Zhao Meixiang. Unfortunately, Liu Jiaying is known as a strong woman who can stand on her own two feet. One of the main reasons why the fourth prince and Lin Heng were attracted to her in the first place was her bright independence. To see her hand on his sleeve, Zhuang Yi misunderstood it as her silent way of pouting. He didn't think a strong woman like Liu Jiaying needs him to protect or comfort like the frail Zhao Meixiang.
"Heng is right" Zhuang Yi gently patted Liu Jiaying's head, not realizing his words cause disappointment to her heart. "You'll be my princess consort one day. You must be careful with what you say Jiaying"
Zhuang Yi had hoped his beloved would heed Lin Heng and his words seriously. As a future princess and potential empress, Liu Jiaying would be judge by what she do or say. If she said something wrong, she'll be mentally attack. The fourth prince knew the hardship of the inner palace and warned Liu Jiaying on several occasion to be vigilant. But Liu Jiaying had always half-listen to the warnings, believing that she was strong enough to live inside the inner palace. Her confidence had assured Zhuang Yi once. Now, he wondered if the young woman truly understood the meaning of inner palace.
"I understand..." Liu Jiaying hid the bitterness inside her and looked on at Lin Heng with a warm smile. "Again, I apologize. Forgive me this once Lin Heng"
Liu Jiaying was relieved when Lin Heng's expression finally softens. But Meixiang did not give Liu Jiaying the chance to let out a breath of relief when she asked Lin Heng to take her home. Lin Heng hadn't want to part from Meixiang and pleaded quietly to her, asking her to stay longer with him. But the small woman was adamant. Even when the fourth prince and Liu Jiaying tried to plead her to join them for a meal, she politely declined their offer. Meixiang's expression clearly showed she was still nervous as her eyes flickered back and forward from the crowd like a loss little bunny. The very look caused turmoil in Lin Heng's heart.
"Let me take you home" Lin Heng wanted to hold her hand, but Meixiang refused keeping tight hold of the plum blossom branch with both hands.
"Lin-gongzi... Meixiang have guards nearby so she'll be fine" Meixiang kept proper distance. "Do not worry"
"Please" Lin Heng pleaded quietly. "Let me take you home"
Only when Meixiang gave a quiet nod that Lin Heng let out a soft sigh of relief. When Lin Heng guided Meixiang away, he didn't bother to bid Liu Jiaying or Zhuang Yi goodbye. While Zhuang Yi shook his head in amusement, he missed the upset expression on Liu Jiaying's face.