It was a sunlit day of early spring, and the sky held a soft blue glow. The field is a light green that almost has a hint of blue, and the sky begets ample pristine white cloud to exhibit how beautiful it was.

The spring flowers were arrayed in a perfectly ch.o.r.eographed order. The dandelions are the gold amid the green, blue, red and white. It"s like a little suns.h.i.+ne close to the earth, born to s.h.i.+ne.

Plum trees were planted around, almost in a perfect arc to separate another domain. The air was perfumed by the heavy scent of flowers and makeup. The flowers danced gaily in the breeze, a myriad of vibrant shades.

Fang Xiang eyed the red flowers as she rested under a plum tree at the rear. The blossoms" red petals were striking against the backdrop of green gra.s.ses, simply beautiful. On closer examination, she could perceive that their stamens had been removed.

Reaching out a hand to the delicate scarlet petals, Fang Xiang reminisced her favorite type of flower that wasn"t grown here. The type of flower that she can never get tired of seeing nor scenting its sweet fragrance. Their petals were delicate works of art, and their hues were medicine for her soul.

Roses, her favorite.

Fang Xiang let out a faint sigh as a soothing breeze blew upon her flowing ebony hair. The dangling ornaments adorning her hair softly chimed against one another as she tilted her head to the left, once again lost in admiring the flowers. Her snow-white gown was spread out around her, garnished with red begonia blooms, wild and free, just like the temptress she is.

Fang Xiang can feel the stares on her as she calmly gazed at the blossoms with no companions, unlike the others. After all, she was thrust into the high society for no rhyme or reason plus, she didn"t know anyone here besides their names and their parent"s positions. She caught a few jealous comments about how a peasant, like her, didn"t deserve her current position. She can also hear snickers and whispers directed at her about how unsightly she seemed as she crouched down amongst all the dirt.

Fang Xiang once again sigh at the boredom she felt. She would undoubtedly prefer training under the searing heat of the sun for a military drill over her crouching alone in this stifling matchmaking event any day. Why did she arrive so early anyway?

Oh right, there"s this parasite that kept badgering her nonstop, called the system.

"Hey! I"m no parasite! Just so you know, I"m a hundred percent constructed from the cryptograms of data, the evolved archetype of artificial intelligence, unparalleled and superior to others."

"Hmm, sure system, sure."

Fang Xiang perked up when she heard the arrival of the general, Guan Chengyi. She promptly swerved her head to the entrance, her swaying flower decorated hairpin clinking collectively.


Fang Xiang peered at Guan Chengyi"s indomitable figure as he slowly strode towards her, not bothering to notice the others even as they greeted him. His eyes were solely trained on her.

Fang Xiang watched with bated breath as Guan Chengyi stopped in front of her, staring down at her with his strong, penetrating gaze. But something about it looked significantly… warm. She was uncertain.

"General," Fang Xiang hurriedly stood up and straightened out the wrinkles on her dress.

"Fang Xiang," Guan Chengyi blurted out the girl"s name before he could think twice about it.

Fang Xiang widened her eyes at the unexpected call he was addressing her. Her heart drummed against her chest, and her breath hitched as she finally discerned the scant distance between them.

Fang Xiang noticed the radiance from the sun shone serenely on his stoic, unsettling, silent profile. His Grecian nose and long eyelashes were exceptionally clear in the light, like a close-up scene in a movie.

At that explicit moment, it felt like time stood still, and everything evaporated around her. The people, the whispers, the beautiful trees and flowers, the spring itself, all faded into a blur. Nothing mattered. It was solely him and her. She can merely hear his and her breath as they stood still.

"Guan Chengyi," The general said, his voice deep and magnetizing.

Fang Xiang was confused for a few seconds before she comprehended his meaning. "Guan Chengyi," She echoed back, his name rolling out of her tongue easily from all the countless times the original body called out his name in secret. "Guan Chengyi," she repeated, carefully testing his name for one last time.

Fang Xiang glimpsed at Guan Chengyi"s reaction. Her heart couldn"t help but skip a beat at the slight perk at the edge of his lips.

Once Fang Xiang cleared her head, she took a step back to maintain a proper distance lest there"ll be any unnecessary gossip, which plausibly is already too late. But hey the male lead and the female lead haven"t arrived yet, right? So there is presumably no evidence to impeach her for anything… yet.

Fang Xiang took a deep breath before looking around. Good, none of them have arrived yet. She gently leaned her back against the hard bark of the plum tree she"s under, instantly relaxing as she felt the breeze caressing her face and lightly tugging on her dress.

Fang Xiang could detect the faint rustle of clothes and the next thing she knew, her right side was presently occupied by Guan Chengyi.

"So what are you doing here, general?" Fang Xiang started but was met with an icy glare. She coughed before correcting herself, "Guan Chengyi."

Guan Chengyi nodded before looking into her eyes, "To woo someone."

Fang Xiang locked eyes with him. Wrong move. His eyes, so black and deep, like the endless stretch of the midnight sky, was slowly drowning her into a bottomless abyss.

Fang Xiang"s heart beats erratically. If she didn"t fathom what he expressed from his intense stare and voice, then she"s positively an idiot. The man in front of her definitely likes her. And she didn"t know how to react to his confession… if it"s even one…

Fang Xiang forced out a strained laugh, "She must be one lucky girl."

"No," Guan Chengyi firmly denied. "I"m lucky to fall in love with her." His words were so earnest and sincere, Fang Xiang went speechless. There were no words she could reply to that.

"Y-yeah…" Fang Xiang agreed lamely, her face flushed red, and her mind had long blanked out.

Her situation in the present is extremely complicated. She"s engaged with the crown prince but the general indirectly confessed to her. Plus, she was pretty sure these feelings were not even hers. And it"s not like Guan Chengyi"s soul will follow her to various worlds... will it? What can she do? Can she just bury herself underground and never to resurface again? Can she somehow run away from the situation?

As if on cue, she graciously heard the arrival of the female lead followed by the notable appearance of the reigning monarch.
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Fang Xiang was so grateful for the distraction, although Guan Chengyi doesn"t seem to regard anything else except for the girl in front of him. He was extremely irritated by the arrival of the emperor as the girl"s attention was directed away from him.

Everyone reverentially greeted the emperor before they resumed their own activities.

Guan Chengyi"s aura instantly turned a few degrees colder as he strode gallantly towards the emperor without a hint of fear. In fact, he looked like he was just strolling in his own manor.

n.o.ble girls couldn"t help but swooned as he pa.s.sed by them. Many of them fanned their faces with their colorful fans, striving hard to put out the blush painting their profiles. They laughed and giggled as they eagerly sneaked glances at the man.

Fang Xiang followed a few steps behind Guan Chengyi, ignoring the envious and resentful stares directed from the n.o.ble ladies, and the awes from the n.o.blemen. She curtseyed before flas.h.i.+ng a radiant smile at the emperor.

"How have you liked the event so far?" The emperor asked both of the youngsters.

"Your Majesty, the venue itself is already so impressive. This subject dare not think less of the following events accompanying it." Fang Xiang answered in a heartbeat, knowing fully well that Guan Chengyi will stay as silent and stoic like a gilded statue.

The emperor roared out a laugh, "Zhen"s future daughter-in-law sure knows how to play with words. Zhen will reward you with a palm-size night pearl." The eunuch at the emperor"s side whispered towards a servant boy, and Fang Xiang saw him running away, presumably to retrieve the night pearl.

Fang Xiang mentally cringed at the words daughter-in-law? Really? She will probably, probably, be a future concubine of the male lead. But that doesn"t mean she will be called daughter-in-law After all, she"ll merely be a concubine, someone that doesn"t really mean much.

"This subject thanks, Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live for ten thousand years." Fang Xiang was about to kowtow but was halted by the emperor.

The emperor laughed heartily at the clueless girl across him. "Forgo the formalities, after all, you will soon be part of the imperial family."

Fang Xiang forced out a smile and nodded to the emperor. She was glad she didn"t need to kowtow, but to be part of the royal family was another thing altogether.

Fang Xiang suddenly felt that the surrounding air turned even colder than before. She s.h.i.+vered as she felt a sudden cold breeze. Is it winter already? But it"s not even autumn yet! Then she accidentally glanced at the general beside her.

Guan Chengyi was drilling holes into the oblivious emperor"s head. Fang Xiang studied the heedless emperor as he made his way towards a slightly elevated stage with a chair on top only reserved for him.

As he sat on the luxurious chair, all the youths directed themselves towards the chairs positioned on several extensive rectangular tables. Boys sat on one side, and the girls sat at the other at each table.

Fang Xiang was motioned to sit on the very front, which is on the right edge of the table. And the seat across her was reserved for the crown prince.

The girl sitting beside her is the daughter of General Bai. He is the general appointed to keep the safety of the southern border. General Bai is already in his fifties, wedded to several women, a wife, and two concubines. His legitimate daughter would be the person beside Fang Xiang, Bai Mianyu. She is to be married off as the wife of the second prince, Huo Liwei.

Next to Bai Mianyu is the daughter of the Grand Tutor of the imperial family, Du Biyu. Across her is the seat of the third prince, Huo Zhangyan.

Guan Chengyi, who is to be seated to the right of the third prince, is sitting across…

Fang Xiang moved her body to get a better view of Guan Chengyi"s partner and nearly gasped.

It"s the female lead, Yun Mei.

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