19; Beautiful bird within the Weeping peach

Jia Hui Liang sits on the sofa, he is doing some embroidery and feels confused. Why is he embroiderying? He looks up and he is in his home.

Something is strange, he feels off. Soon the door creaks Open, a child walks in, Jia Liang blinks twice before bursting into laughter. The child's face is white Over her eyes where red and messy with her lips all smudged up.

“Mama, I'm a bweautiful princess bwird!”

Jia Hui Liang is in Hysteria, “Of course always and forever, now come here.” He said gently.

Jia Hui Liang didn't mind that the child went into his makeup kit and made a mess of it after all she always made him smile by the end. Jia Hui Liang's heart softens his sweet child.

“Oh Mei Niao, my precious treasure.” He hums

Before Jia Hui could finish this moment he was on his knees kneeling before the tree, looking at it. The corpse dangling from one side to the other, a child no older than 6 up there.

“Mama, do you think I can become a beautiful bird one day?”

Jia Hui Liang’s breath hinges as he tries to grasp air.

Jia Hui Liang shot open his eyes, sweat covered his body, his heart racing painfully, and he couldn't sleep.

The memories, the dreams, he can't, it haunts Him.

He gets out of bed putting on a shawl, the night is chilling, and he takes up a lantern carefully lighting it Before shining his way out.

He quietly walks carefully so as to not wake anyone, navigating his way back outside the mansion, he stops as his feet touch the dirt on the floor, and he feels his mind shifting back to the memories that he wishes he could forget.

Walking, the memories play back into his head, seeing his child running around in the backyard with a kite in hand. He hears her playful laughter, he stops for a moment.

“Mama, am I beautiful? Is Niao er a beautiful bird?”

He sees her looking at him, her innocent eyes that don't know the pains of the world.

When one step becomes two and two becomes three, Jia Hui Liang stops one more time reaching his destination, a tree, the weeping peach. It was not blooming Seasons yet so he could not see the glowing beauty of the pink peach blossom, This tree is older than him being the favorite of a former Consort who died in her sleep at the roots of this tree.

Jia Hui Liang used to think her soul left here in the tree And often nature it that's why the tree is so big and beautiful. But his eyes grew darker, as he looked void at the tree.

He sees his child again standing in front of him, tears Filling her eyes looking at the side of her face that is covered in deep burn scars, he looks longing at her as she looks At him, he stoops down meeting her eyes as she does not say a word.

The silence was loud, Jia Hui Liang bowed once before the tree with hands clasped and eyes closed, and he bowed a second time and soon a third. He pauses at The third, he soon slowly stands again picking up the lantern before throwing it into the tree and starting a fire.

He looks at the tree as the lantern falls to the floor and the water flows down. It didn't last long until the fire was put out.

“Ah, I guess it needs more than that to burn an old tree down.” He said, “Xie Gui,”

Xie Gui appears behind him silent, Jia Hui Liang turns away from the tree facing him walking up closer. “Burn it down, and make it look set up, make it spread.”

Xie Gui nods as Jia Hui Liang walks away and enters the mansion, he slowly walks towards his child's bedroom on his way there he sees Ling sitting at the corner of his bed sleeping.

“Ling?”

Ling looks up feeling tired, “Honourable Master? Hmm”

Jia Hui Liang smiles gently, “You are tired go sleep now,”

“no, the prince… umm,” she says tiredly.

“don't worry I've got him.”

Jia Hui Liang walks over to his child, he looks at him. He is hurt looking at him but at the end of the day, he is still a tool for his revenge.

He will never look at him the same, no matter how hard he tries.

Ling stands up then sniffs, “Um… Honorable Master… Do you, Do you smell that?”

They both could smell, the smoke seeping inside the mansion Ling covered her nose it was the burning smell.

Jia Hui Liang picks up his child, gently covering him, protectively. “Ling let's go.”

Ling feels concerned, he sees the Honourable Consort's eyes and her fears risen, and the Honourable Consort is in one of his episodes again.

The flames blazed viciously. Burning the tree Like nothing, Jia Hui Liang runs panicking along with some other servants, while others try to put out the fire by pouring water which Only ignites it more.

Soon The fire gashes closer catching the roof Of the building, the servants run for cover. Jia Hui Liang is at The front watching how the house With treasured memories was Lit on fire.

He looks at the door, and seeing his child, standing there silent without words.

‘Don't worry, my little bird, they'll all feel the burning flames of my anger and you can stop suffering.’

The child closed her eyes as a tear fell from her eyes disappearing.

The emperor's foot stepped through the gates annoyed, Looking around. “What happened?!”

“Your Imperial Majesty! Th-the fire! It won't go out?”

The emperor looks at the burning mansion voided, he turns to see his honorable Consort on the floor. He turns to him stooping down.

“Are you okay?”

Jia Hui Liang frowns a bit, looking at his son before stretching him to the emperor, smiling nervously. “Your son is safe.”

The emperor pauses then holds his arm, “is that Your only concern,”

“Imperial husband?” He tilts his head confused.

The emperor looks aside, “Who started this fire?! Investigate now before the day ends!”