Chapter 36: Caged Bird
A week had passed like nothing. Feeling like a caged bird; Ying Yue was stuck at home and was not allowed to leave her father's mansion, leaving Ying Yue with only her mother and Chunhua keeping her company. Sitting out on the courtyard under the shade of a dying tree and a neglected small garden; Ying Yue couldn't help but miss the dragon palace and its luscious garden. Unable to sit still anymore, Ying Yue runs to the main mansion. Making her way to the main hall, Ying Yue could see her father with her stepmother Ma Dai chattering a few feet away. The marquis takes notice of Ying Yue and quickly comes to greet her.
"Ah! If it isn't my daughter! I was wondering when you would finally come to your senses and come back to the main mansion.
"I didn't come back here to stay. I'm bored to death and want you to find someone to bring me Bolin and Zhi Ruo."
"What? You have Chunhua for that."
"She's busy tending to other things, you have plenty of servants. Send one out and have them notify Bolin and Zhi Ruo. I'm heading back to mother."
Ying Yue knew her father would not be able to harm her or disobey her as the crown prince wanted her. This was Ying Yue's only chance to boss her father around and not be punished for it. Feeling rather good after her talk with her father, Ying Yue decided she was going to take a walk in the garden. To her dismay, Ying Yue comes across Jia Li. Her once beautiful skin was now ruined by her dark circles and chapped lips. Thinking she should be happy to see her half-sister suffer for once, Ying Yue found herself almost pitying her. Jia Li was not allowed to take her child out of the palace with her, seeing as the child still carried royal blood. With only a few feet between them, Ying Yue calls out to Jia Li who was accompanied by her maid Nanjing.
"Well, look who it is."
"What do you want Ying Yue? Haven't you ruined my life enough already?"
"Ruin your life? Don't you dare blame me for your situation right now. You got yourself into it. No one told you to lie to the crown prince in the first place."
"That lie would've been kept hidden if you never opened your mouth!"
"Was your moment of happiness worth it Jia Li? Was that little lie worth what you're going through now?"
"He will come around, just you wait Ying Yue. He will end up abandoning you too."
"He cannot abandon what was never his in the first place. I don't know why you are still so attached to the crown prince, Jia Li."
"Hah, those words mean nothing to me. He's the father of my daughter and the crown prince. Who wouldn't want him?"
"I'm well aware of that, but let's not forget the crown prince abandoned you the moment he knew the truth. He left you when you needed him the most did, he not? Take my advice Jia Li, love yourself and do yourself a favor. The crown prince offered you an option to leave. So, leave and don't look back."
"Ha...you're just saying that so that you get the crown prince to yourself! I'll have you know that's never going to happen!"
"I don't want him anyways, continue to be stubborn and see where that gets you then."
Shaking her head at how stubborn Jia Li was, Ying Yue decides she was going to walk away. Feeling better about herself; knowing that she tried to help Jia Li. She felt she grew stronger as a person. Quickly running back to her mother's residence, Ying Yue sees Chunhua still sweeping away at the courtyard.
"Chunhua, come here. Take a break and have some tea with me."
"Lady Ying Yue I am not allowed to dine on the same table as you. It's not proper! What if the marquis saw?!"
"It's fine! Father never comes here, and I closed the front entrance already, besides it's an order from me. Come now, chatter with me a bit as we wait for Zhi Ruo and Bolin."
Unable to continue declining Ying Yue's invitation, Chunhua places her broom against the building wall and seats herself next to Ying Yue on the courtyard table. Chunhua watched as Ying Yue offer her a cup of tea and sweets. Out of everyone in the Yang family, Ying Yue was the only one that treated her like a human being.
"Thank you, my lady for treating a servant like me so well."
"Of course, it's natural to want to take care of people you care for, right? Anyways, Chunhua, tell me what you know about Jia Li and the crown prince."
"What do you want to know, my lady?"
"Everything, from the moment the crown prince abandoned Jia Li."
"Well....after you jumped into mount Tai rumors started spreading that the crown prince became frivolous. Drowning himself in pleasure to get rid of anything that would remind him of you. After two months of the prince's scandals, Jia Li had enough and ran back here; hoping that the crown prince would come for her, but he never did. She spent countless months in the Yang residence and he never came to visit her or take her home. He didn't even come to see the birth of his own daughter. Everyone knows that the crown prince was no longer favoring Jia Li anymore. It's almost been a year since the last time the crown prince stayed a night with Jia Li."
"So....he ended up taking other concubines and consorts from what I heard. Is that true?"
"Yes....it's old news now. The once educated man and well-respected prince was now different. His values and morals changed.... it's hard to explain, my lady."
"No, thank you Chunhua for telling me. Here, eat some more snacks."
As Ying Yue and Chunhua chatted away; they were soon interrupted by a sudden knock on the entrance of their residence. Chunhua quickly stood up and went to open the front door. Seeing who had come to visit, Ying Yue breaks into a smile.
"Bolin! Zhi Ruo! I'm so happy to see you two!"
Ying Yue hops from her chair and quickly runs into Zhi Ruo's arms. Catching Zhi Ruo off guard; Ying Yue almost sent them both flying back. Zhi Ruo pats Ying Yue on her back and breaks into a smile, seeing how energetic she was.
"I'm glad to see you doing well, Ying Yue."
"Of course, I'm even better now that I can see you two. Come in, have some snacks and tea!"
"Ying Yue, where's your mother?"
"Hm? She's resting inside. She's been feeling more tired lately, so the doctor recommended for her to not do anything that will require too much energy."
"Well....how are you doing now? There's only a week left right?"
Ying Yue loses her appetite and places her teacup down. Staring at Zhi Ruo and Bolin now; Ying Yue twiddles her thumbs together. Bolin couldn't help but feel bad for Ying Yue. Doing so much for this kingdom and now being forced into something against her will.
"Ying Yue, are you alright? What's on your mind right now?"
"Bolin...I have thought about running away countless times from home, but every time I do, I end up stopping once I reach the front door."
"I told you not to worry about my family!"
"That's easier said than done. Your sister in law just had her third child and its finally a son, right? You see? I guess this is my fate. I am not meant to be happy in this lifetime."
Zhi Ruo grabs hold of Ying Yue's hand and gives them a squeeze. Looking into Ying Yue's eyes, Zhi Ruo could tell why Ying Yue was so saddened to marry the crown prince.
"Ying Yue...you have someone you love, don't you?"
"....."
"I'm right, aren't I? Please tell us what happened to you in the dragon world after we left."
Ying Yue motions for Chunhua to close the entrance doors. Breaking away from Zhi Ruo's hold, Ying Yue kept her gaze on Bolin and Zhi Ruo.
"I....met a wonderful man while I was in the dragon world. I was able to experience things I never thought I would. Zhi Ruo...he showed me what feeling loved was like."
Without realizing it, Ying Yue was breaking into a smile. Zhi Ruo and Bolin watched as Ying Yue talk so fondly about a man they had never met. Zhi Ruo couldn't help but tear up at seeing Ying Yue smile genuinely. Ying Yue notices Zhi Ruo crying and stops her story telling.
"What's wrong Zhi Ruo?"
"It's nothing Ying Yue. It's just...you're like a beautiful bird that's trapped in a cage, unable to fly away."
"I'm alright Zhi Ruo....I'll be alright. I mean...think about it, I wasn't normal to begin with. If you two have time...will you listen to my whole story?"
"Of course, Ying Yue. Whatever you say."
"Heh, Bolin do you remember my dreams about the red-haired man?"
"Of course, it's not like you ever allowed me to forget it."
"When I was in the dragon world, I met that man, He was the dragon emperor and he's in love with me. We were to be wed, but things didn't work out the way we wanted."
Zhi Ruo and Bolin looked at each other in disbelief. Unable to tell if Ying Yue was serious or not, they both continued to listen. Every time Ying Yue mentioned Jianyu, she would smile, and her eyes would soften. As Zhi Ruo was about to ask Ying Yue a question; loud horn noises were coming from outside the marquis residence. Everyone looked at each other, checking to see if either one of them were expecting someone. With everyone shaking their heads no, there was only one other person Ying Yue knew it could be.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Gumibear
Gumibear I'm so tired, but ideas are coming into my mind so I'm writing as I go while the idea's are still fresh! :)
I whipped this one up fast too. Excuse the mistakes here and there, but thank you to everyone for their kind words and review! :)
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