"Signs of snowing started at the southern border. While the road is not block yet, create a delegation and lead them to send the supplies." In a monotone voice, Jiang Yu instruct for his brother to be sent far away from the palace.
"That's--- that's harsh."
"Zhen will send you a capable minister and let you borrow some soldiers for the journey." The emperor heeds no mind to his troublemaker sixth brother.
This time, Jiang Liu use a heavy tone to refuse. "It's impossible."
"..." Jiang Yu.
"..." Jiang Liu.
"Then, the spring examination will be held in half a year. The position for---"
"This prince only recognized a few characters. It cannot be done."
The sixth prince bravely interrupted the emperor.
There's no way he'll sit in any position! Once received, stepping down from it later will be a hard task. The emperor might bury him with work first even before he could return it!
"Jiang Liu, you dare lie to your emperor? How about I send you to marry off?!"
From his dead tone to an angry roar, the emperor's temper is unstable these days.
Thinking that there are times where he must be more understanding, Jiang Liu acted like the bigger person and 'generously' explain, "Royal brother, brides are the only one that could be send off for marriage."
"Jiang Liu!"
Like he doesn't know that! This brother of his really doesn't know what situation he's in! Just how big of a mess did he create?! And he's not even directly involved in politics yet!
"You! You really have no fear! Good! After zhen clean up this mess, await for your punishment!"
Ah, his royal brother snapped.
The sixth prince was mercilessly kicked out of the imperial study. Both figuratively and literally. What followed him are a storm of scrolls raining down yet again. It was another hit in his face.
One by one, he took his precious time picking them up. Jiang Liu would laugh from time to time whenever he reaches for an open scroll.
Thinking of the woman living inside the Xian Feng Palace, Jiang Liu adoringly whispered to himself, "Just like a Phoenix. Older sister is really amazing."
Inside the study, Xiao Lin Xi broke in cold sweats for him. Sixth prince, the emperor hears you all the way here!
By now, Jiang Yu is convinced that his brother purposely did it. He just doesn't know what came to Jiang Liu's mind to actually act on his mischievousness!
---------
In the middle of the night, Xiao Ai called her on the phone. After driving for an hour, Wei Yi Yi found her drunk and crying at the side of the road.
There's this guy that's courting Lou Ai Ning for a long time by now. Just when she started to open up to him, his work offered a transfer overseas. It was his dream and so they plan what to do with their 'relationship'. Despite talking it out, and despite their mutual feelings, they never came to an understanding.
Both of them separated paths even before their relationship starts.
"He doesn't love me, Yi Yi." Lou Ai Ning tearfully declare.
It was a fact for her. That's the only conclusion to their situation. Love... love is scarily fragile.
What made him love you yesterday would be the reason he would frown upon you today. Your imperfections, your flaws. Suddenly everything is apparent.
How come, just when she gathered her courage to love someone, they would turn their backs at her.
Every ending, will they always be the same as her divorced parents?
"He does, indeed, loves you. It just that he don't love you enough to keep fighting. Xiao Ai, you don't need half-hearted love such as that."
Thinking about her parents who surrendered, and decided to just start a new beginning without her, Lou Ai Ning could only mock herself. "Or maybe I'm just not worth the fight."
"Don't say that. You know how much I love you Xiao Ai."
Wei Yi Yi's breathing intensity, her pulse rapidly increased. The irritation in her heart started to accumulate.
Oh, how she hated it when others touch her things and drop them.
Why does love always need to be defined as romantic? Why is it more important than it's other forms? Even though her heart ached so much for her best friend. Even though she loves this person so much. Why is it that she's below that of a man?
"We're your family now Xiao Ai. The others and I---"
"No! I don't want to hear that from you!" Suddenly, Lou Ai Ning acted violently. She pushed Wei Yi Yi away. "When you get home, there is your mother and then your father! Your family is complete! Your parents dearly love each other until now! They are so inseparable it makes everyone jealous!"
The more she thought about it, the more she felt miserable. "You have a home and yet you act indifferent towards it. Still playing house with Lan Zhuang and the others! Calling them family instead, did you have fun building your dollhouse?"
Facing Wei Yi Yi, who have everything and have been spoiled since small, it's like the whole world is laughing at her, someone who had become the outsider even to her own parents.
Wei Yi Yi... Everything she wanted, she would get. An only child and an heiress. How lucky is that? Wei Yi Yi also has the looks. She might be unaware of it, but there are countless guys adoring her. If not for the four whose acting as walls, just how many would have tried their luck?
And talking about it, those four; Lan Zhuang, Ye Ming, He Liang, and Si Song. What is there that they wouldn't give Wei Yi Yi? Their whole life was spent devoted on her. In a snap, surely they would go running after her.
And now this very person is saying she loves her? Claiming they're family? A person who's been left behind countless times, whether it is her parents or family.
Lou Ai Ning cannot understand what goes into the mind of people who have everything. Is the contrast fun seeing? Or maybe they think being 'pitiful' is poetic and romantic? That broken people are beautiful artworks?
It is not! It damn hurts!
She won't be one of Wei Yi Yi's dolls on her playhouse!
In utter disgust, like Wei Yi Yi is weird or some kind of crazy, Lou Ai Ning asked her, "What is wrong with you?"