The streets of Canglan were lit up by a bright, golden sun in the morning. There were already a lot of people on the narrow roads. People in the town started their day as market vendors yelled at the crowds. Two guys walked through the market without any problems, even though it was very noisy. Anyone who saw them thought they were just normal travelers, but both of them moved with a power that was hard to notice.
People in the neighborhood knew Lian as the daughter of the vegetable seller, as she carefully arranged bundles of fresh greens. She picked out the crispiest leaves with her thin fingers and stacked them in neat rows. She looked like any other young woman who worked hard, but she had the heart of a princess and the mind of a warrior. She always looked over the crowd with eyes that were more like a scout's than a shopkeeper's.
Her eyes stopped suddenly on a man five blocks away. He was strong and lifted a heavy bucket full of fish with no trouble. Lian stopped, interested in him. He looked different—his thick eyebrows, light skin, and sharp jaw didn't seem to fit with the rough docks. Watching him work, she wondered, is he really just a fish seller? He looked too fancy for such a hard job. Her thoughts were stopped by soft laughs. Lian turned and saw three local women nearby, whispering and looking at the handsome man in a flirty way. A quick feeling of anger came over her, bringing her back to the moment.
"How much for this, handsome? " the woman in the blue dress said in a soft voice. Lian watched closely. In her mind, the woman wasn't as pretty as she thought. The man smiled at the woman in a smooth, practiced way that made her giggle like a young girl.
"Usually, it's five wen for each fish," he said smoothly.
"But for a lady like you, I might sell it for four." The woman giggled and made a playful face. She leaned closer and whispered, "Only four? I thought my 'charm' would get me a bigger discount."
Lian had seen enough. Bristling with irritation, she marched over and stepped between them. "Are you deaf? " she snapped, rolling her eyes at the stranger.
"He already told you it's four. Besides, you're not pretty enough to get it for free."
The man's eyes locked onto Lian's. For a moment, a flash of real surprise crossed his face before he masked it with calm. Turning back to the flirty customer, his tone became businesslike.
"Will you be buying this or not? "
The woman huffed, flipped her hair over her shoulder with a disdainful glare at Lian, then marched out of the market. Good riddance, Lian thought, watching the "bitch" disappear into the crowd. As if she were one of some great beauty's.
When Lian turned back to the fish vendor, she found him staring at her with an intensity that made her heart skip. It was a look of recognition, as if he knew exactly who she was.
"What now? " he asked, his expression shifting to mock blame.
"I just lost a customer because of you."
Lian straightened her posture, refusing to back down.
"I'll buy it then. Four wen—if that's still the price? "
The man's eyes danced with amusement. "It's quite all right, Miss Lian. In fact, I'm in such a good mood today that I'll give it to you for free. Consider yourself lucky."
Lian froze. The shock wasn't over the free fish but the sound of her name on his lips. She didn't know him at all.
"Thanks," she stammered, offering a smile so sweet it surprised even her. She rarely smiled like that at strangers.
"Anyway… are you new here? May I know your name?"
He didn't stop scaling the fish as he answered.
"My name is Ji. I only rented this stall yesterday."
"Ji? " she repeated.
"Yes," he said, a small smirk playing on his lips.
"Why? Is there a problem with my name, Miss Lian?"
"No, nothing. I should get back to my stall," she said, cheeks warming.
"Before I forgot, please, just call me Lian. Dropping the "Miss" would be less weird."
With a final smile, she turned and walked away. Ji watched her retreating figure, his mind racing. He had never seen a woman move with such careful grace in a market; she carried herself more like a princess than a vegetable vendor. A wild, dangerous thought took root in his mind. What if I asked my father for a marriage decree? He knew it was madness. He was a prince of the realm, hiding his identity on a secret mission; he wasn't allowed to marry a commoner. But Ji had never been one for rules. His temper was legendary; those who tried to force his hand usually met a bitter end. That was why he was known as the "Dangerous Prince" among the treacherous officials at court. Even his father, the emperor, had no idea he was currently disguised as a humble fish vendor.
His thoughts were broken when a shadow fell over the stall. A man stepped up beside him and silently began helping with the fish.
"Your highness, I have bad news," Jarius whispered. As Ji's right-hand man and the commander of his private army, Jarius didn't waste words.
Ji didn't look up. "Spill it. I've only been out of the palace for a day, and already the world is ending? "
Jarius hesitated. "Your father has issued a decree. You are to be married to the Second Princess the day after tomorrow… if the First Princess cannot be found."
The knife in Ji's hand slammed down on the wooden chopping board with a deafening thwack. The wood creaked, nearly splitting in half under his rage.
He was mad, truly, dangerously mad.
"Go back to the palace and tell him I will find the First Princess myself and tell him this—I will choose my own bride."
Ji's voice was like grinding stone. His enemies were fools if they thought he didn't see through the charade. This wasn't his father's decree; it was his stepmother's. That woman, he thought, his jaw tightening. He should have killed her five years ago.
Memory surged back like a bitter tide. Five years ago, his father had been lured into a deadly ambush by a forged note claiming Ji's eldest half-brother had been taken by bandits. To save his heir and protect the imperial reputation, the emperor had personally delivered a mountain of gold, only to be met with steel in the shadows. Ji had arrived just in time to pull his father and that treacherous woman from the attack, yet his reward for loyalty was shame. The court officials, bought and paid for by the Empress, had accused him of bribing bandits to clear his own path to the throne.
The memory burned, but Ji settled his pulse. He was no longer that vulnerable boy. He had built a network of connections that cast a longer shadow than even his father's reach.
"Your highness," his subordinate whispered, bowing low.
"I will leave now. I'll send word as soon as I have news."
Ji nodded abruptly. As his right hand melted into the crowd, Ji's expression changed instantly. The cold, lethal prince disappeared, replaced by the weary, approachable face of a fish vendor. He had mastered this mask at eight years old; he wouldn't let palace politics ruin his cover now.
Five stalls down, he spotted Lian tidying her bench. Sensing his gaze, she looked up, her eyes sharp.
"Going home? " Ji called out.
"Yes," Lian replied, wiping down her wood. She gestured to his empty table with a faint smile.
"Looks like the market favored you today. Not a single scale left."
Ji glanced down, surprised to see his stock was indeed gone.
"Not yet. Join me for lunch? There's a porridge and noodle shop just six blocks from here."
Lian gathered her belongings, her movements fluid and practiced. As she moved, she subtly adjusted the heavy cloth wrapping her Sweetbriar sword. To a stranger, it looked like a decorative, rose-carved walking stick, but beneath the wood lay a blade of royal-grade steel. She couldn't risk Ji or anyone seeing the small, intricate seal on the hilt. That crest was the mark of the imperial house; one slip, and her life as a vendor would end.
They stopped in front of a small, simple store that was filled with steam, Zi's Noodles and Porridge. A man in his fifties, his face etched with friendly wrinkles, approached them.
"Mr. Zi, can I have two bowls of noodles? " Ji asked warmly.
Lian cleared her throat, watching the easy bond between them.
"So, you're a regular here? "
Ji turned to her and smiled, a genuine spark reaching his eyes.
"Yes. Noodles have been my favorite since I was a child."
As they sat, Ji's mind drifted. He remembered his mother. Years ago, after his long martial arts training, there was always a steaming bowl of her handmade noodles waiting on the table. No one could truly copy her recipe, but the simple comfort of noodles was his only relief when the world felt like it was spinning out of control.
Mr. Zi returned, placing two sweet-smelling, steaming bowls on the table.
"Here you go."
"Thanks, Mr. Zi," Ji said, picking up his chopsticks.
Before the old man walked away, he paused, looking between them with a wide, knowing smile.
"I'm glad to see you've finally found a wife, Ji. She is very pretty."
Lian nearly choked on her breath. Before she could protest, Mr. Zi leaned in conspiratorially.
"Did you know you're the first woman he's ever brought here? My shop is famous, you know. People believe it's blessed—nearly every couple that eats here ends up married. That's why they keep coming back! "
With a hearty chuckle and a wave, Mr. Zi vanished back into the kitchen before another word could be said.
Lian raised an eyebrow, her face flushed as she looked at Ji. To her surprise, he didn't look embarrassed. He was already eating, a small, peaceful smile playing on his lips. He looked... happy. It was a sharp contrast to the guarded man she saw at the market.
"What? " Ji asked, catching her stare. He gestured to her bowl with his chopsticks. "You should eat while it's hot. It's the best noodle in Canglan."
Lian didn't reply. She grabbed her chopsticks and tasted the broth. It wasn't too spicy; it was balanced, savory, and warmed her all the way to her chest. As she ate, she felt the tension in her shoulders and the weight of the hidden sword at her side soften, if only for a moment.