As the prime minister's anger reached its crescendo, the air in the hallway seemed to thicken, making it difficult to breathe. Lian Yan stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest, but her resolve unwavering. She had made her choice, and she was prepared to face the consequences, no matter how dire they might be.
The prime minister's eyes were wild with anger, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to contain his fury. He took a step closer to Lian Yan, the blade of his sword gleaming ominously in the dim light of the hallway. "You ungrateful child," he spat, his voice barely above a whisper, but laced with a venom that sent a chill down Lian Yan's spine. "After all I have done for you, this is how you repay me? By defying my wishes and bringing shame upon our family?"
Lian Yan's heart ached at the pain and disappointment in her father's eyes, but she refused to let it sway her. She had spent her entire life trying to live up to his expectations, trying to be the perfect daughter, the perfect pawn in his political games. But she had reached her breaking point, and she could no longer ignore the desires of her own heart.
"I am not a pawn to be used in your political games," she said, her voice steady and calm, despite the turmoil raging within her. "I am a person, with my own thoughts and feelings and desires. And I will not be forced into a marriage that I do not want."
The prime minister's eyes widened in surprise, his anger momentarily forgotten as he stared at his daughter. But the moment was fleeting, and his anger soon returned, more intense than before.
"You know that this is for the best!" He shouted, his voice echoing through the hallway. "Think about how you can live peacefully in luxury. No one is going to mess with you either! Why can't you think of the good of it for yourself? Be more obedient like your sister!"
Lian Yan's heart twisted at the mention of her sister, who had always been the perfect daughter, the perfect bride. She loved her sister dearly, but she could not bring herself to follow in her footsteps, to sacrifice her own happiness for the sake of duty and expectation. Along with knowing how well her sister was with trying to plot something against her—it was all mostly an act.
As the servants struggled to hold the prime minister back, his grip on the sword loosened, his anger fluctuating between decreasing and increasing as he took in the sight of his defiant daughter. It was then that Jin Ai, Lian Xia's mother, entered the fray, her voice calm and soothing amidst the chaos.
"Husband, why are you at this again?" She said, her eyes filled with concern as she looked at her husband. "The physician told you many times to not get angry. You have been exhausting yourself for quite some time now, and it is making me worried."
The prime minister's anger seemed to deflate at his wife's words, his grip on the sword loosening further as he turned to face her. Jin Ai was a woman of grace and poise, her beauty only enhanced by the kindness and compassion that radiated from her. She had always been the voice of reason in their family, the one who could calm the prime minister's fury and bring a sense of peace to even the most tumultuous of situations.
"It is because of my ungrateful eldest daughter!" The prime minister shouted, his voice laced with frustration and hurt. "It is obvious that she is trying to avoid her marriage and settle down. She needs to stop going out of this house until the day of her wedding!"
Jin Ai's eyes softened as she looked at her daughter, her heart aching at the pain and turmoil etched on Lian Yan's face. She knew that her daughter's defiance was not born of malice or ingratitude, but of a desire to live her life on her own terms, to forge her own path in a world that sought to confine and control her.
"Lock her up in her room and make sure that she does not step foot out of this house!" The prime minister declared, his voice echoing through the hallway as he dropped his sword to the ground, the clatter of the blade against the marble floor sending a shiver down Lian Yan's spine.
As the servants rushed to carry out the prime minister's orders, Lian Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of despair wash over her. She had fought for her freedom, had stood up to her father's wrath and defied his expectations. But in the end, it seemed that her defiance had only served to tighten the chains that bound her, to further confine her within the gilded cage that had been her home for as long as she could remember. At most, she was ready to be kicked out of their home.
As Lian Yan was led past Jin Ai, the tension between them was palpable, a thick, almost tangible force that seemed to fill the air. It was a tension born of years of conflict and mistrust, a history that was well-known to those within the household. Jin Ai, the second wife, had long harbored a deep-seated resentment towards Lian Yan, the eldest daughter from the prime minister's first marriage. This resentment had manifested in a series of cruel and calculated schemes, each one designed to humiliate, discredit, or even eliminate Lian Yan.
There had been the time when Jin Ai had tried to drown Lian Yan, a chilling attempt on her life that had left the entire household in a state of shock and disbelief. Yet, it was dismissed by the prime minister. There had been other incidents as well, each one more insidious than the last. Jin Ai had tried to sell Lian Yan off, to entrap her with other men, to tarnish her reputation and destroy her prospects. But each time, Lian Yan had managed to escape her stepmother's machinations, her luck and resilience seeing her through even the darkest of times.
The only thing that had put a stop to Jin Ai's schemes was the announcement of Lian Yan's marriage to the crown prince. The empress dowager's decree had been a powerful deterrent, a clear message that Lian Yan was under the protection of the royal family and that any harm befalling her would be met with swift and severe consequences. It was a fragile peace, a temporary ceasefire in a war that had been waging for years. But it was a peace nonetheless, and Lian Yan had been grateful for the respite, however brief it might be.
As she was led back to her room, Lian Yan couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She knew that her confinement was a punishment, a means of controlling and manipulating her. But she also knew that it was a vulnerable position to be in, one that left her open to the whims and schemes of those who wished her harm. She couldn't help but wonder if Jin Ai would see this as an opportunity, a chance to strike while Lian Yan was isolated and alone.
Her unease only grew as she caught sight of her younger sister, a smile playing on her lips that seemed to hint at some hidden secret plan. Lian Yan sighed, her heart heavy with the weight of her sister's betrayal. She had always tried to be kind and loving towards her younger sister, had always hoped that they could forge a bond of sisterhood and mutual respect. But it seemed that her hopes were in vain, that her sister's loyalty lay with Jin Ai and her schemes.
As she entered her room, Lian Yan was greeted by the sight of her maids and servants, their faces etched with concern and sorrow. She knew that they were only doing as they were told, that they had no choice but to lock her up and keep her confined. She couldn't bring herself to blame them for their actions, couldn't find it in her heart to hold them responsible for the cruelty and injustice of her situation.
"It's okay," she said, her voice soft and gentle as she smiled at her maids. "It's not like it's the first time. Just do what you are told. I don't want anyone to get punished for not obeying him." No one should be punished for her actions.
The sound of the lock being placed on the doors, she would sit in her room that was the furthest away from everyone as if meant to be isolated or a way to have plenty of schemes brought upon her. She would take a moment to look at the teapot in her room on the table, turning the cup around to pour herself some tea. She paused, looking at the tea in her cup now. "Again." She said.