Qian Lan scans the banquet room in search of the water god's reserved table. With Julong's help it didn't take her long. To her surprise Qian Lan was seated next to someone she had hoped to avoid.
Taking a deep breath, she drags herself to her table and sits quietly as maids quickly begin to fill the table of every guest with food.
"I must say, I think this is fate."
The fire god grins like a fool as Qian Lan tries to avoid making eye contact.
"I don't think that's how fate really works."
She groans as she continues to wait. Once food was set and the room begin to fill even more with guests, Qian Lan becomes uneasy. Lightly tipping over to her left side where Julong was laying; she whispers to him.
"Julong, where's Jiang? He didn't forget about me, did he?"
"I'm not sure either my lady. Should I go look for master?"
"No! Don't leave me alone with the pervert fire god next to me."
Qian Lan sighs and tries to past her time munching on the food in front of her. Trying to make most of her time out of the palace, Qian Lan continued to perform her task as the soon to be bride of the water god. As she silently sipped on tea, an exotically dressed woman approaches her with a group of two other women.
Qian Lan gets a bad feeling but continues to smile and greet the goddesses.
"Ah, hello. Can I help you?"
"You're the new bride of the water god? From the rumors I expected someone better."
"Seeing as we aren't familiar with each other, I find your remarks rather rude."
The trio of women laugh at Qian Lan's reply. The exotically dressed woman smiles and leans in near Qian Lan before turning her smile into a rather large grin.
"I am the goddess of Virtue. Needless to say, people like you normally wouldn't even get the chance to talk to me."
"Hah, for someone of virtue you sure don't dress like one."
The goddess blushes as the nearby gods and goddess that were listening burst out into a chuckle.
"Hmph! I don't know why the water god continues to keep you around! You better watch your back! Once he abandons you, I'll make you pay for embarrassing me!"
The trio of women quickly runs off. With the water god not present, Qian Lan couldn't help but feel invisible to the other gods.
"Julong....are the other gods ignoring me?"
"My lady, it can't be helped. Master is not here and there has not been an official wedding between you and master."
"How rude of them. I'm still considered his guest and soon to be bride. You'd think they at least try to acknowledge me."
"Well, most of the goddesses here probably just envies you. Don't worry about it my lady."
With time continuing to past her by, hour after hour; Qian Lan soon becomes uneasy. The wedding was drawing near its end with guests slowly leaving already. The fire god had just finished his flirtatious talks with the many goddess when he returns to his table and finds a dejected Qian Lan.
"Don't tell me the water god forgot you already."
"Ho... how rude! I'm sure he's just busy with something!"
"Well! I am leaving, care to join me?"
"No thanks! I'll be fine on my own."
The fire god smiles and pats Qian Lan on the head before heading out.
"Well, just remember my offer still stands if you want to rid of the water god."
The fire god happily leaves with a different woman in each arm. Qian Lan rolls her eyes and turns to Julong who had remained silent.
"Let's go home Julong. I think we've waited long enough."
"But, my lady!"
"No, buts! Let's go! I'm tired of waiting."
Qian Lan slowly stands up and quickly walks out of the banquet hall. Julong quickly follows behind her as she heads outside. Unable to change her mind Julong finally agrees to head back to the water god's palace. Qian Lan quickly hops onto Julong's back as he rose into the sky and flies back to the palace.
Unable to take the silence, Julong tries to make for small conversation.
"My lady?"
"What is it?"
"Are you mad at master?"
"Of course! That goes without saying! He askes me to do my duty but he thinks it's okay for him to skip out on his?! You bet he's getting an earful from me later!"
"I'm sure master has his reasons."
"I don't care! If it was so damn important, he could've told me in advance. I felt like a fool sitting alone there!"
Julong groans and pities his master as they approach closer and closer to the water palace. After a fifteen-minute ride, Qian Lan was now back inside the water palace. She quickly gets off Julong and stomps all the way towards the water gods residence.
Without even knocking, Qian Lan slams both doors wide open only to find an empty room. The head maid quickly runs towards Qian Lan and askes her what she was doing.
"Lady Qian Lan, what are you doing?!"
"Where is he?!"
"The master is busy and out on business."
"What business?! His business was to attend that damn wedding with me today! I waited the whole day like a fool! Thanks to him I had to deal with so much crap from some goddess of Virtue!"
"Calm down, my lady!"
Qian Lan snaps and screams out in frustration. Hoping to take out her anger on the water god, but with him gone her plan of releasing stress was ruined.
"If he wants to be like that then in the future don't expect me to do these things anymore!"
"Wa...wait my lady! Surely you're joking!"
Qian Lan storms off towards her room with Julong quickly following behind her. The head maid continues to chase after Qian Lan only to be locked out once she had reached her room.
The head maid tries to knock on Qian Lan's bedroom door only to get ignored. With a deep sigh she heads off to complete her other tasks for the night. Once Qian Lan was inside her bedroom, she quickly undressed and soaks herself in a cool bath to calm herself.
"That stupid man.... how dare he do something on the day he asks me to do crap for him? It's not even fair to me! I didn't even want to do it in the first place. Ugh!"
Julong remains quiet and by Qian Lan's bedroom door as he listens to her constant rants and degrading words about his master.
After twenty minutes Qian Lan finally calms herself and goes quiet. Left deep in thought, she twists her wet hair and dresses herself in clean clothing. As she was about to walk to her bed, Qian Lan hears a very quiet knock on her door.
"Knock Knock."
"If it's you head maid, I don't want dinner!"
Hearing no reply back, Qian Lan repeats herself.
"Did you hear me head maid?!"
To her surprise a familiar voice cracks in through the door.
"Uh...it's me."
"What do you want Jiang?"
Qian Lan seats herself on her brown chair and table and uses a clean cloth to dry her hair as she listens for his explanation.
"I would like to apologize for today. The head maid has informed me of certain things already."
Qian Lan scoffs and lets out a loud laughter.
"Forget it. We are not married. I am nothing but a guest in your home."
The water god goes quiet. After five minutes he finally musters up a reply.
"Qian Lan, open the door. I'd like to talk to you face to face."
"Jiang, the day is already over and I am tired. Perhaps another day when I feel better."
"And when will that be?"
"Someday! Because right now I don't want to look or talk to anyone."
"Qian Lan, I know you're mad, but let me explain. I didn't mean to leave you there alone."
"What's done is done! Whatever you say now is not going to change my mind. Please leave me alone!"
The water god sighs and agrees to Qian Lan's terms.
"Very well, I will come back another day."
Qian Lan listened as the water god silently walked back to his sleeping quarters. Julong who was silent walks over to Qian Lan and quickly transformed himself into a small black rabbit.
"My lady, if you are sad, I will keep you company."
Qian Lan smiles and grabs hold of Julong as she walked to her bed.
"Thanks, Julong. I don't know why its easier talking to you then to everyone else."
Qian Lan lays down towards the wall and places Julong on a pillow next to her.
"Maybe it's because I am just a mystical beast. We are sympathetic creatures by nature."
"Maybe...."
Qian Lan forces her eyes shut and clears her mind and she tries to catch some sleep.