I have always prided myself on my ability to adapt to awkward situations quickly without showing my own awkwardness, but at this moment, I am unable to move.
I ran into the crown prince—the god of war who is both revered and feared—and I casually dragged him for facial comparisons.
Ah, Su Jingxin, you really are plagued by misfortune.
"Your subject greets the crown prince and also apologizes for her unsightly behavior just now. I am truly sorry."
He holds my hand and guides me up.
"Please rise. There is no issue at all. But may I ask, which family are you from?"
I hesitate for a moment. Should I just lie? Maybe tell him I am a commoner? Getting involved with the crown prince is the last thing I want to do.
"Dear subject, I do hope you do not intend to lie to me."
He smiles at me, but I can see the slight malice in his eyes.
The script really described him perfectly: a man whose smile is scarier than his frown.
"Replying to the crown prince, my name is Su Jingxin. I am the eldest young lady of the Su Marquis Mansion."
"You are not the Su daughter I know of?"
Of course he would know her. How exactly should I explain this? Father nor mother told me what to say in such a situation.
"I was newly recognized, and a banquet will be held soon to clarify everything."
He nods slowly and gives that smile again.
"A daughter the Su family just newly recognized—hasn't even held a recognition banquet or been introduced to the imperial family—yet she is so familiar with Prince Zhenbei. The Su family are truly fortunate."
Oh no. There it is again—using riddles to threaten both my life and the life of my family. His words are almost equivalent to treason.
I knew this crown prince couldn't be normal.
I immediately drop to my knees like I have seen in thousands of dramas.
"Crown prince, it is nothing of that sort. I was just recognized and brought back the day before, but due to my bad fortune, I had run into Prince Zhenbei while still a commoner. That is all there is."
He gives me an amused look once more.
"Why are you on the floor again? Aren't we just having a casual conversation?"
He guides me up once more.
"But you said you met him due to your bad fortune?"
"Yes, crown prince."
"Ah, so you only encounter him when your fortune is bad?"
"We encounter when I have a truly unfortunate day."
Something is telling me I might be falling into a trap.
"So then your fortune today must be bad, seeing as you ran into him. Am I right?"
"Yes, crown prince."
"But you also ran into me today as well. So are you trying to imply that my presence is a result of your bad fortune?"
His tone is calm and playful, but my heart feels like it is being squeezed by a huge hand. What exactly am I supposed to say in response?
"Alright, that's enough, crown prince. You're scaring her. After all, she only just returned to her roots. How is she supposed to immediately conform to the stifling ways of the nobility?"
"Ah, that's true. But she was doing so well. Guess I got carried away. Won't you accept my apology, Miss Su?"
Zhou'er is helping me? Why does it feel like he is throwing me deeper into a pit?
"I wouldn't dare, Your Highness."
"Ah, but a few minutes ago when you dragged me, you seemed pretty daring. What changed?"
What the hell is wrong with this crown prince? Why does he keep pushing with that irritating smirk plastered on his face? And why isn't Zhou'er interfering all of a sudden? Has he turned deaf and mute?
"Your Highness, I believe I said that is enough. Or are you not taking the suggestions of your subject seriously anymore?"
"Ah, my dear subject, why does your suggestion sound to me more like a command?"
"I wouldn't dare, Your Highness. But one should always know their limits."
Damn. Go, Prince Zhenbei. Show him whose boss. Gosh, I will never understand why they always make villains so hot. Now when we simp for them, it makes it look like the viewers are the ones with morality issues. Geez.
Prince Zhenbei takes my hand and drags me out of there before the crown prince can utter another word. He takes me to the gate of my mansion before letting go of my hand.
"Be careful of him. That crown prince of ours is a venomous snake disguised as a dragon."
I just nod and enter the mansion. Though he saved me, he did lie to me and watch me fumble there. Why should I give him a friendly look?
---
On my way to my courtyard, I run into Su Ming heading towards Su Jin's courtyard.
"Ah, Xiao Xin, you're back! Perfect. We're having dinner at big brother's courtyard. Why don't we just head there together?"
"Oh, all of us?"
I ask skeptically. Doesn't etiquette say that private dinners be held only in the main courtyard or in the courtyard of an elder?
"Don't overthink it too much. It's just us siblings. Hurry up. We shouldn't keep Siyan and Jin waiting."
He holds my shoulders and pushes me towards the direction of big brother's courtyard.
We arrive in record time and join our already waiting brothers and a just-arriving Su Wanwan.
"Ah, you're back already from your outing. How was it?"
Siyan asks as he drops a bit of food onto my plate.
I recall the incident that happened outside, and my expression sours immediately.
"Unlucky."
They all exchange looks and clear their throats at my blunt reply.
"Xin-jie, brother is showing genuine concern for you. How can you just ignore him like that?"
Now it was my turn to be confused.
"What exactly are you talking about now, Su Wanwan? He asked me how my outing was, and I answered that it was unlucky. Which eyes of yours saw me ignoring him?"
"Ah, so you were talking about your outing earlier?"
"What else would I be talking about?" I ask, genuinely confused by their own confusion.
My big brother clears his throat and takes charge of the conversation.
"It's okay. They might have just been worried, thinking someone bullied you outside."
"Jin-ge, if someone really bullied me outside and I retaliated, would you protect me?"
"Xin-mei, if anyone bullies you, feel free to act first and report later. Your eldest brother has your back."
"Wow, Xiao Xin, you're so lucky you have the protection of the great and mighty General An Ren. I'm so jealous."
"General An Ren?"
"Ah, yes. That is Jin-ge's official title personally bestowed upon him by the emperor himself. Isn't that reassuring?"
An Ren? Isn't he the mighty general who died due to betrayal by his subordinate on the battlefield?
So General An Ren is my brother. Turns out he was mentioned—just under a different name.
"Wow, Da-ge is so amazing. So not only are you General An Ren, you are also the heir to our marquisate?"
"No. Father did not want me to hold two honorary titles, as it could lead to unwanted attention. So Yan-ge is the honorary heir with the title An Bei Si."
An Bei Si? Wasn't he the wise and dignified former general turned leading businessman who turned dark and supported the villains in order to kill the royal family?
Ah, so they actually were mentioned. And here I thought I knew the plot like the back of my hand.
I steel myself to keep a straight face and calm my voice before speaking again.
"So you all hold official titles. How about you, Ming-ge? What's your official title?"
I turn to him expectantly.
"I don't have one yet. But I will someday."
"Ming-ge, why are you being so humble? You do have a title. Why aren't you using it?"
Yan-ge says with a teasing smile on his face.
"Yeah, or don't you like your honorary title? That's a great disrespect."
"Da-ge, San-ge, please stop!"
"Hey, what are you guys talking about? Tell me. What's his title?"
"Xiao Xin, ignore them. Their heads have gone wrong from being hit too much at war."
"Those are bold words to say to your elder brother, Xin-ban."
They all burst out laughing.
"Xin-ban?"
"Yes, Xin-mei. Your very own playmate. Why haven't you thanked your third brother?"
"Thank you for your great favor, third brother."
"Hey, Xiao Xin, are you really joining them?"
Ming-ge turns to me with a wounded expression on his face, which only makes me unable to hold in my laugh any longer.
"Alright, don't worry. Soon enough, I will earn my own title—far more grand and amazing than An Ren even."
"Of course you will."
"My brothers have their real sister back, and now they don't want me anymore. They only want to protect Xin-jie. It's okay. I understand."
"Wan-mei, worry not. Our third brother here is very generous with a big heart. I'm very sure he can proudly hold two honorary titles. Aren't I right, Wan-ban?"
"Yan-ge, get your sword. I request a duel!"
The table erupts into another fit of laughter, and even the servants are unable to hide their snickers as Ming-ge chases Yan-ge around.
Is this what it feels like to have family?
I let a true smile show on my face but am unable to stop my thoughts from drifting to that line from the original:
"An Ren died by betrayal. An Bei Si turned dark and supported the villains, which led to his own brutal death."
I immediately push that thought away. I survived. They can too.
Right now, I don't care about other things, but this family—I must protect them.
We all must live.