On the third day of the third lunar month, Princess Changle held a spring lotus banquet at Moonlit Terrace outside the capital.
Jiang Shao was an inconspicuous illegitimate daughter of the Duke's household. She was careful at every turn, yet someone still framed her and took her virtue.
The scent of flowers lingered around a scene of chaos.
When she woke again, the man beside her had long since disappeared.
After asking around, she learned that the men who had been absent from the banquet at the same time as her were:
The elegant young heir of a marquis, betrothed to her legitimate elder sister;
The cold-faced general, ruthless in battle and at odds with the Duke's family for three generations;
Her legitimate elder brother, who had always treated her with cold silence;
And... the newly appointed top scholar, her childhood friend, with whom she had broken things off long ago.
Jiang Shao thought back over the strength and force of the man's hands, and first ruled out the elegant, delicate-looking heir to the marquis's house.
But the next day, she saw the young lord wield a sword that chilled the whole realm, his grip leaving her fleeing fingers bruised purple.
Jiang Shao: ...
Jiang Shao timidly shifted her gaze to the general. He was merciless; if it had really been him, he might have broken every bone in her body.
But as they passed each other, the general gave her a meaningful look. “A flower is not to be picked before its time.”
Jiang Shao: !!!
Jiang Shao returned home, dazed and confused, just as her legitimate elder brother was leaving. He glanced at her coolly. “Where have you been so late?”
Jiang Shao hung her head. “Looking for tadpoles.”
Her brother gave her a long look, then turned and left. “If you won't look for them in the house, where else would you go?”
Jiang Shao: ???
When she finally dragged herself back to her room, exhausted, her personal maid came over. “Miss, the top scholar sent you a letter.”
Jiang Shao sprang up and tore it open. It contained only three words: “I will marry you.”
Jiang Shao: !!! Could it have been him?
Theme: Love someone wholeheartedly.
