Meng Yao was giving the book in his hand a confused look. It was a Western style journal rather than a Chinese scroll. Jia Yi walked in and realized that Meng Yao seemed a little perplexed.

"Yaoyao, is something the matter?”

"Jiajia," Meng Yao looked up at Jia Yi and then back at the journal, "I am torn. I want to read this – but I also don’t. I’m a bit afraid.”

"Hmm, why?" Jia Yi was startled. In his experience, Meng Yao was never afraid.

"If I read this, I have the feeling that all my current beliefs will be shattered," Meng Yao confessed slowly, still staring at the journal with a mixture of desire and rejection.

"Why don’t you think about it for a while longer? Take a break and relax your mind first. You don’t need to make such a quick decision, after all. You can wait until you are truly ready to face what is in this book – or you can choose to remain ignorant. Whatever you choose, just know that I am here, always," Jia Yi advised, placing a gentle kiss on Meng Yao’s temple.

Meng Yao smiled; feeling like a burden had been released. He put down the journal, ate dinner with his wife and spent several hours that night showing his wife how much he loved him. But after only a few hours of sleep, Meng Yao woke up. It was as if the journal was pulling him. He needed to know what was in it – his curiosity would allow nothing less.

Meng Yao lit a gas lamp, realizing that this was probably another of Minister Liang’s inventions. He turned the knob for the gas so that the light was low and unlikely to disturb his wife before opening the journal. Preparations made; Meng Yao began to read.

Hello, my name is Liang Huan.

If the one reading this is my son Meng Yao, who is only but a week old now, it must mean my premonition was right and I have either died or disappeared.

I'm writing this to you, Yaoyao, in case I cannot tell you these things in person or have failed to. I want you to know that if I haven’t already told you what’s in here that I did so for your sake.

I am a Minister in the Qing Empire – or I was before eloping with the love of my life, the Crown Prince of that Empire, Zhong Xiao Si. We are currently living a simple life in hiding. You have barely been born and he loves you so dearly I hardly get a chance to hold you myself. In my 23 years of life, your birth is both my happiest and saddest event.

Note to you; If you have your daddy’s temper please be a little more discreet about it – especially if you’re a martial artist! hahaha

Meng Yao, your father is a stranger to this world. This is not where I was born, although I believe it's where I originated. You must be confused; right? I am just as confused. I'm still trying to put the pieces together myself, but haven't gotten very far.

I was born on a world we call “Earth” and grew up in a place called “China”. I was raised by a cranky man who hates me – and all men – and I still am not sure of the reason for that.

I am not my mother's child but I am my father's son. Even so, my mother treats me better than my father does. I mentioned already that my father hates me. He and mother had three daughters who were all younger than I was. Father didn’t hate them. He treated them like princesses while I was treated like a slave.

As I grew up, in addition to making me responsible for all the chores in the house, Father also taught me strange skills. Many of them he got from the internet. I learned basic mechanical skills, finance, and military strategies. Father had me trained in martial arts from the time I could walk. He personally taught me to hunt, track, clean and prepare prey and other skills for surviving in primitive conditions. Any mistake I made – any delay in mastering a skill – brought brutal abuse. Throughout all of this, I watched as my sisters were pampered and spoiled. I wanted nothing more than to vanish from that world of misery.

Then came that day…

Two weeks after my 19th birthday my father took me to the cabin we had in the wilderness and stabbed me in the chest. I was shocked, but not shocked at the same time. After all, I always knew he hated me. As I lay on the ground – my blood pooling beneath me and my vision growing hazy – Father knelt down and whispered in my ear: “Go and look for the man who caused my suffering. Find your father and make sure he sees how you have suffered."

Can you imagine my surprise when I opened my eyes to see a strange man dressed in lavish robes with the intimidating air of a callous killer staring at me?

I didn't know how I ended up here instead of in a coffin. I had no idea where I was. Even though I miraculously had no injury on my body, I was still confused and scared. But that strange, intimidating man helped me and in return, I helped him.

I have always wondered if I was adopted. I don't look like my father nor did I understand his words or behaviors. I have never known what I did to deserve all that he did to me but coming here has brought me nothing but joy. I hope you will love this world as dearly as I do.

Meng Yao closed the book at that point. It was only the first few pages and he could already feel pain in his heart. He looked at Jia Yi who was sleeping peacefully on the bed.

"If you loved this world so much why did you leave?" Meng Yao softly asked the air.

I'm writing this to you, Yaoyao, in case I cannot tell you these things in person or have failed to. I want you to know that if I haven’t already told you what’s in here that I did so for your sake.

My son, even though I am only 23 years old, I am a Minister in the Qing Empire – or I was before eloping with the love of my life, the Crown Prince of that Empire, Zhong Xiao Si. We are currently living a simple life in hiding. You have barely been born and he loves you so dearly I hardly get a chance to hold you myself.

Note to you; If you have his temper please be a little more discreet about it – especially if you’re a martial artist! hahaha

Meng Yao, your father is a stranger to this world. This is not where I was born, although I believe it's where I originated. You must be confused; right? I am just as confused. I'm still trying to put the pieces together myself, but haven't gotten very far.

I was born on a world we call “Earth” and grew up in a place called “China”. I was raised by a cranky man who hates me – and all men – and I still am not sure of the reason for that.

I am not my mother's child but I am my father's son. Even so, my mother treats me better than my father does. I mentioned already that my father hates me. He and mother had three daughters who were all younger than I was. Father didn’t hate them. He treated them like princesses while I was treated like a slave.

As I grew up, in addition to making me responsible for all the chores in the house, Father also taught me strange skills. Many of them he got from the internet. I learned basic mechanical skills, finance, and military strategies. Father had me trained in martial arts from the time I could walk. He personally taught me to hunt, track, clean and prepare prey and other skills for surviving in primitive conditions. Any mistake I made – any delay in mastering a skill – brought brutal abuse. Throughout all of this, I watched as my sisters were pampered and spoiled. I wanted nothing more than to vanish from that world of misery.

Then came that day…

Two weeks after my 19th birthday my father took me to the cabin we had in the wilderness and stabbed me in the chest. I was shocked, but not shocked at the same time. After all, I always knew he hated me. As I lay on the ground – my blood pooling beneath me and my vision growing hazy – Father knelt down and whispered in my ear: “Go and look for the man who caused my suffering. Find your father and make sure he sees how you have suffered."

Can you imagine my surprise when I opened my eyes to see a strange man dressed in lavish robes with the intimidating air of a callous killer staring at me?

I didn't know how I ended up here instead of in a coffin. I had no idea where I was. Even though I miraculously had no injury on my body, I was still confused and scared. But that strange, intimidating man helped me and in return, I helped him.

I have always wondered if I was adopted. I don't look like my father nor did I understand his words or behaviors. I have never known what I did to deserve all that he did to me but coming here has brought me nothing but joy. I hope you will love this world as dearly as I do.

Meng Yao closed the book at that point. It was only the first few pages and he could already feel pain in his heart. He looked at Jia Yi who was sleeping peacefully on the bed.

"If you loved this world so much why did you leave?" Meng Yao softly asked the air.