"Open your eyes, Qian Lan."
After hearing Jiang give her the ok, Qian Lan slowly opens her eyes and realizes they were now back inside the water palace garden grounds.
"Hah....to think I'd back here."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Jiang stares curiously at Qian Lan, waiting for an answer.
"I'm just saying it, doesn't mean I hate being here. Take it as a figure of speech."
"Okay?.....Whatever you say Qian Lan."
"Good!"
Qian Lan breaks from Jiangs hold and brushes her outfit down to rid of any dirt.
"I'm going to head back to my room and get cleaned up."
Just as Qian Lan was going to walk away; Jiang grabs hold of her right wrist stopping her in her tracks.
"What is it Jiang?
"We're husband and wife now, you don't need that room anymore."
"Ah! Wrong! We are not married yet so I will be using my own room until then!"
"What?! What married couple sleeps in different rooms?!"
Jiang Pouts and crosses his hand in frustration as he stares into Qian Lan's face.
"Ahem! I mean its only a temporary measure. Until you give me a wedding I am not your wife! Don't forget that! Now, excuse me!"
Qian Lan stomps away in the direction of her old room without glancing back at Jiang. Not even five minutes into her walk, Qian Lan bumps into a familiar figure from around the corner.
"Ah! Julong!"
"My lady! You're back!"
Julong jumps up and down before running towards Qian Lan.
"Ha Ha Ha, you're like a big dog Julong."
"My lady, I told you not to compare me to those animals!"
"Hee Hee I know, you know how I am."
Qian Lan continues on to her room with Julong walking along side her.
"My lady, is master not with you?"
"Oh, I left him in the garden. He was being unreasonable."
"Hmmm I see."
Finally reaching her room, Qian Lan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Sigh, its good to be back here again."
Wasting no time, Qian Lan locks her bedroom and heads off to bathe. Taking her time, Qian Lan soaks every inch of her body in the lukewarm water. Thinking to herself, Qian Lan finally grasped her current situation. Still soaking in her bath with her eyes closed Qian Lan whispers among herself.
"Hmmm....I guess its official now."
"What are you talking about?"
Taken off guard, Qian Lan shriek's out from the familiar voice. Qian Lan opens her eyes and uses her thin arms to cover her breast as much as possible.
"Jiang! What are you doing here?!"
With his fingers plugging his ears, Jiang had one of his eyes opened.
"Ouch, you didn't have to scream so loud."
"Enough of that! Get out! Can't you see I'm busy?!"
Jiang gets an eyeful of Qian Lan and smirks.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. I will see everything sooner or later anyways."
"Wow.....talk about a whole personality change."
Qian Lan motions for Jiang to leave her room as she dresses herself.
"Get out Jiang. I can't get dressed with you there!"
"Agh! Fine....fine. I'm leaving... but when you're done, come to my room. We have something to discuss."
"Alright! I will! Now go!"
Jiang quickly teleports himself out of Qian Lan's room in the blink of an eye.
"Sigh, seriously. What's the point of a lock if he's just going to do that?"
Qian Lan grumbles at her own remarks and quickly dresses herself. Drying her hair with a dry towel she grabs the simplest outfit she could find in her dresser. A light lavender purple hanfu with a white lily in the center. Combing her semi wet hair, Qian Lan stares at her own reflection.
"Hey Julong?"
Julong sits up from the ground where he laid silently near Qian Lan's bed.
"Yes my lady?"
"What happened here while I was away?"
"I think it's better to ask master that question my lady."
"You seriously think he will tell me anything? Just tell me."
"Well, master became easily irritable. Everyone was scared to speak to him since everything seemed to enrage him only. He had shut himself up once again in his room. Like how he did when he lost the first lady."
"Did....he cry for me?"
"I don't know my lady, I rarely saw master when he sent you away."
"You know Julong, it rained non-stop when I was in the human realm. The mortals believe it to be due to the water god crying."
"That holds some truth."
"What?"
Qian Lan stops combing her hair and turns around to look at Julong.
"I'm saying it's not entirely false. When he lost lady Chenguang, master unintentionally caused a hurricane that killed many humans. This enraged the heavenly king, therefore he sealed away masters ability to love anything."
"His ability to love?....Is that why he was so cold to me when I first met him?"
"Most likely, but the seal has weakened over the years which is probably why master is attached to you now, my lady."
"You really think he feels anything for me?"
"Of course he does, my lady. He came back for you no?"
"I..I guess.."
"Enough with the questions my lady. Masters waiting for you isn't he?"
"Oh! Right....I'll get going."
Qian Lan quickly runs out of her room and dashes down the long halls before reaching Jiang's room.
Catching her breath she calms herself before knocking on Jiangs bedroom doors.
"Knock Knock."
"Jiang?"
A muffled voice from behind the door answers Qian Lan.
"Come in."
Qian Lan opens one side of the door open. Slowly closing the door behind her, she walks to where Jiang was sitting on his study desk. Not even making eye contact, Jiang motions for Qian Lan to take a seat on the brown chair in front of him.
"Take a seat."
"Oh...okay."
Qian Lan grabs the chair and seats herself. With the tension in the air, Qian Lan found it hard to relax.
"Ahem....soooo Jiang, what did you want to talk about?"
Without looking up at Qian Lan, Jiang pauses and stops writing.
"We'll have our wedding in a week."
"A week?!"
"Yes, is that a problem?"
"Ah....well! A week is so sudden! I haven't prepared anything."
"There's nothing for you to prepare, everything will be provided for."
"Well, I need to prepare mentally too! If I'm getting married shouldn't I tell my family?!"
"Why is that? You didn't need to tell them when you first came here."
"Well, that's because I was sure you'd kill me....heh heh."
Qian Lan chuckles nervously as Jiang rubs his forehead.
"Alright, we'll go see the heavenly king tomorrow."