The rain fell harder and harder, showing not the slightest sign of stopping, yet it did nothing to hinder the carriages and pedestrians swarming toward the northern city.
On the broad road from the southern city to the northern city, the grand wedding procession, festooned in auspicious crimson silk, moved slowly forward. Rain and mist blurred the world. Someone had once said that a marriage held in such endless, soaking rain was terribly inauspicious. But the wedding date had been personally set by His Majesty the Emperor—who would dare object?
Man Yao sat steadily inside the spacious, ornate carriage, listening to the raindrops slap against the carriage walls with sharp, pattering sounds, as if they were shattering a dream.
Because of the rain, it was inconvenient for Fu Chou to ride a horse, so he shared the carriage with her, seated directly opposite.
The bright red bridal veil blocked her vision. All she could see was a section of the man’s wedding robe across from her, and the long, powerful hands resting on his knees. It was those hands that would lead her into the prison of marriage. She could feel his gaze resting on her the entire time, as though he were searching for something.
As a new bride, her emotions at this moment seemed far too calm. There was none of the shyness or joy of a woman about to be married, none of the eager anticipation for her future husband, none of the tears and sorrow of parting with family, nor even the agony of being forced to marry against her will. From the depths of her heart to the surface of her face, she was as still as a pool of dead water.
Ling’er sat beside her, unusually quiet. From time to time, she stole glances at the man opposite them. He was handsome and elegant, gentle as jade—truly a rare man in this world who could match her mistress! If her mistress married him, she should be happy, right?
The carriage passed over a puddle, and its body tilted. Man Yao instinctively reached out to find something to steady herself with, but a pair of strong hands clasped hers tightly. The palms were a little rough, yet very warm. She heard him say gently, “Careful.”
Man Yao nodded lightly and steadied herself. “Thank you, General.”
Fu Chou smiled. “In a little while, once we have bowed in the wedding ceremony, you and I will be husband and wife. There is no need to be so courteous.”
His words were spoken quite naturally, without the slightest sense of estrangement. Man Yao pressed her lips together and said no more.
The carriage soon steadied, yet her hand was still held in his. Her fingers were slender, her skin icy cold. Fu Chou drew his brows together and asked with concern, “Why are your hands so cold? Are you very chilled? I’ll have them stop the carriage and find you a robe to put on.” Without waiting for her reply, he called outside, “Stop the carriage.”
The carriage halted at once. Ling’er said, “Mistress, please wait a moment. This servant will go find one right away.”
But Man Yao said indifferently, “There’s no need. I’m not cold.”
There was no deliberate aloofness in her tone, yet it made one feel as if they had been separated from her by a thousand li. Ling’er froze slightly, then looked helplessly toward Fu Chou.
Fu Chou very naturally wrapped both hands around hers and said with a smile, “Today is our wedding day. You cannot collapse before we have even bowed in the ceremony. You should still add another layer.” Though he spoke with a smile, there was a force hidden in his tone that allowed no rebuttal. Turning to Ling’er, he said, “Go quickly.”
Ling’er answered happily.
Only the two of them remained inside the carriage. The air was quiet. A faint fragrance drifted through the carriage, almost there and almost not, exquisitely pleasant. Fu Chou unconsciously inhaled, wanting to catch it more clearly, but the scent suddenly faded again.
Several times, Man Yao tried to withdraw her hand, but Fu Chou would not let her. He tightened his hold and laughed softly. “Your hands are too cold. I’ll warm them for you.”
Hands that were cold could be warmed. But if a person’s heart had turned cold, how was it to be warmed? Man Yao insisted on pulling her hand back and said with a faint smile, “Thank you for your kindness, General. But I am already used to this temperature.”
Fu Chou was stunned when he heard this. Was she not the princess most beloved by Emperor Qiyun? How could she speak so calmly of being used to an icy temperature? Even when she smiled, the tone of her voice carried a sorrow that came from the heart. His brows furrowed. Fu Chou glanced at his now-empty palm, moved to sit beside her, and grasped her shoulders. Through the layer of bridal veil, he sighed softly. “No matter what it was like before, from now on… by my side, you must slowly grow used to warmth. I am not an outsider. I am your husband, the person who will stay with you and grow old with you for the rest of your life.”
His gentle voice seemed to possess a certain steadiness, strangely reassuring. Man Yao found she could not break free from his hands. She felt two burning gazes pass through the red veil and fall directly upon her face. Unnaturally, she turned her head aside.
The scheme she had devised two days ago to avoid Zongzheng Wuyou—Fu Chou could not possibly have no doubts at all about her identity. Yet he asked nothing, only used the most appropriate method to give her the most flawless cooperation. Just how deep were this man’s thoughts? She could not tell in the slightest. And how much did he actually know about her affairs? She had no way of knowing. She no longer dared rely on instinct to distinguish whether another person’s feelings were true or false, because instinct could sometimes deceive as well.
Ling’er brought the robe. Fu Chou gently draped it over her himself. It was indeed much warmer.
The grand procession continued forward. After about the time it took an incense stick to burn, clamor rose from outside. They must have arrived.
Bustling voices, a lively and extraordinary scene—these words were probably made precisely to describe the General Who Guards the State’s manor at this moment. The moment Fu Chou stepped down from the carriage, he was surrounded. Civil and military officials, generals and soldiers from the army—all came forward to offer congratulations. No matter what thoughts lay behind their congratulations, he returned each greeting with a smile and thanks, his courtesy thorough and impeccable. The crowd of onlookers around them could not help exclaiming, “The Great General Who Guards the State is so approachable and puts on no airs at all. How is he anything like the man rumored to be covered in killing aura?”
Ling’er supported Man Yao as she was about to get out of the carriage. Fu Chou turned back, took her hand, and said gently, “Don’t move. I’ll carry you in.”
Man Yao froze. The wedding rites did not seem to include this! In that brief instant of surprise, she felt her body lighten, and she had already been lifted into his arms. The surrounding onlookers were astonished and began whispering among themselves. Man Yao could feel countless pairs of eyes staring at them. She hurriedly pushed at him and said, “General, what are you doing? Put me down. I can walk myself.”
Fu Chou smiled. “There is standing water on the ground. It will dirty your wedding robes.” As he spoke, his arms tightened a little more, his eyes full of gentle laughter, dazzling to behold.
Man Yao could not break free, and could only let him do as he pleased.
Anyone with inner force generally had excellent hearing. Thus, after they entered the gates of the general’s manor, she could still hear the women’s discussions behind her.
“Eldest Princess Rongle truly has good fortune. Even though she is ugly, she can still marry such a fine man!”
“Isn’t that so?! The Great General is handsome and dashing, his martial arts extraordinary, and he treats people with such gentleness and consideration… How could such a good man marry an ugly woman? Ah, there is no justice in heaven!”
“Shut your mouth already. That was a marriage bestowed by His Majesty. If you keep speaking without restraint, be careful of your head…”
Crimson silk had been tied everywhere throughout the general’s manor. It fluttered and swayed in the wind and rain, as though longing to break free from its restraints and fly toward the vast sky, yet never managing to do so. In the blink of an eye, they had arrived at the main hall. Fu Chou set her down, his movements gentle and slow.
The hall was filled with guests, all of them astonished. They had never seen a bride carried directly into the hall by the groom before the wedding ceremony, especially with such an intimate manner that left room for imagination. Originally, they had thought General Fu had been forced by imperial decree to marry the princess. But now, it seemed that might not be entirely the case.
A servant presented the large crimson flower knot. Man Yao reached out to take it, but Fu Chou caught her hand instead and led her directly inside, greeting the guests as they walked.
Everyone returned to their senses and hurried forward to offer congratulations. The happiest of all was Minister of Rites Yang Wei. The marriage alliance between the two countries had been something he had strongly pushed for. Though there had been twists and turns, and even a change of groom midway, in the end it had been successfully completed. He offered his heartfelt congratulations. “Congratulations on your wedding, General Fu!”
Fu Chou smiled. “A joy we all share.”
Another official offered the same words of congratulations, and Fu Chou likewise returned the greeting with a smile. Lord Yu also came forward, and the habitual congratulatory phrase slipped out of his mouth without thought. “Congratulations, General Fu, on winning the beauty home!”
Everyone around them froze, their gazes snapping toward Lord Yu in unison. Rumor had it that Eldest Princess Rongle’s face was ugly, yet he had gone and congratulated the man on winning home a beauty. To the ear, it was clearly a kind of mockery.
The hall fell utterly silent. Everyone waited for General Fu’s reaction, while the noble sons who had previously been on the marriage candidate list wore idle expressions as though watching a play, their faces showing no small amount of gloating. Though none of them had wanted to marry this princess in the beginning, the dazzling imperial gifts today and the princess’s extraordinarily substantial dowry, chest after chest, left a sour taste in their hearts.
Lord Yu realized he had misspoken and hurriedly said in embarrassment, “General Fu, this humble official… this humble official did not mean it that way…”
“It’s all right,” Fu Chou replied. His expression did not change, and his smile remained, but his gaze deepened somewhat, making the meaning within impossible to read. He turned his head to look at the woman beneath the veil, then smiled and said, “Many thanks for Lord Yu’s auspicious words.”
Lord Yu was slightly stunned. Just then, someone outside called, “The Crown Prince has arrived!”
Zongzheng Xiaoren strode in wearing the bright yellow robes of the crown prince. Beside him followed a woman whose radiant beauty seemed to illuminate the entire hall the moment she appeared, drawing everyone’s gaze.
Before Fu Chou could greet him, some of those who enjoyed flattery and currying favor had already gone forward to bow. They smiled obsequiously and said, “This must be the new beauty His Highness the Crown Prince has obtained—Lady Xiang? She is indeed a national beauty, fragrant as heaven, lovely enough to topple kingdoms. Your Highness has excellent taste!”
A chorus of agreement rose around them. The woman’s beauty was real, and so was the resounding flattery.
The Crown Prince was in excellent spirits. He wrapped an arm around the beauty beside him and said with a smile, “A national beauty, fragrant as heaven… Mm. Xiang’er is worthy of those words.”
Henxiang leaned in the Crown Prince’s arms, smiling enchantingly. That smile was enough to make any man’s bones turn soft. Yet through the thin red gauze, Man Yao vaguely felt that beneath that charming smile lay another emotion.
Fu Chou smiled. “With a beauty at your side, Your Highness’s complexion is indeed different from usual today.”
“This is all thanks to you, General.” The Crown Prince walked up before Man Yao and tilted his head to glance at her twice. He deeply sympathized with Fu Chou for sacrificing himself for the great cause of peace between the two countries and unfortunately marrying this ugly princess sent for the alliance. He patted Fu Chou on the shoulder and, with the bearing of a nation’s heir apparent, said earnestly, “General, you are loyal to the country and a model of this age. If my seventh imperial brother possessed even half your understanding of righteousness, Imperial Father would not need to worry day and night.”
What Zongzheng Xiaoren meant was that whoever married her understood righteousness and sacrificed himself for the nation? How shallow the people of this world were, judging others by appearance. Man Yao curled her lips in a mocking smile, but then she heard Fu Chou say, “Your Highness praises me too highly. To be able to marry Rongle as my wife is a blessing this subject has cultivated over three lifetimes.”
“General, the auspicious hour has arrived,” the steward reminded.
Firecrackers exploded one after another, ringing through the skies and scattering the gloom brought by the overwhelming rain and mist. The entire general’s manor was filled with an air of jubilant celebration.
Ceremonial music began to play, the melody bright and joyful.
The rites official sang, “First bow, to Heaven and Earth—”
They turned and bowed toward Heaven and Earth beyond the hall. Man Yao smiled faintly. Bowing to Heaven and Earth was truly easy; it was nothing more than bending at the waist.
“Second bow, to the honored elders—”
No one knew who Fu Chou’s parents were, or whether they were alive or dead. No one sat in the seats reserved for the honored elders, so they simply bowed there, facing a white wall and two empty chairs. On the offering table, not even incense had been lit.
“Husband and wife bow to each other—”
With this bow, in an age where divorce was not possible, whether her future was good or bad would no longer be for her to choose. Fu Chou had already bowed, yet she still stood upright. It was only for a brief moment. As her body bent, a numb, dull ache passed through her heart in that instant.
Just like this, she became the general’s wife in the mouths of the people!
“The rites are complete. Send them into the bridal chamber—”
Man Yao let out a soft breath of turbid air. At last, she could get away from this crowd! She was utterly disgusted by the hypocritical faces of these people of the officialdom.
Someone came over to support her, intending to guide her toward the bridal chamber, but another person blocked the way and said, “General Fu, no matter what, you must let us have a look at the bride’s flowerlike face and moonlike beauty before sending her into the bridal chamber!”
Flowerlike face and moonlike beauty? What a direct mockery, without even the slightest attempt to be subtle. Man Yao sneered inwardly. If they had truly thought her flowerlike and moonlike, why had they all lowered their heads in Yiqing Hall, afraid that they would be chosen?
Another person chimed in, “That’s right. Eldest Princess Rongle has been in our court for more than two months, yet no one has seen the princess’s true face! Last time in the palace, the princess said that according to Qiyun customs, a woman who is to be married may not show her face before outsiders prior to the ceremony. Now that the rites are complete, surely we may be allowed to behold your true countenance?”
“Yes, General Fu, don’t be so petty. We merely wish to admire the bearing of Qiyun’s princess…”
These were the imperial relatives and noble sons who had treated her as a joke in Yiqing Hall. No matter what intentions they harbored, their purpose was nothing more than to know just how ugly this ugly princess, who had once controlled the fate of their marriages, truly was. Or perhaps it was to prove how fortunate they had been not to be chosen by her.
Man Yao frowned. Fu Chou made no sound. No expression could be discerned on his usually gentle face. A wind rose outside, rolling the curtain of rain straight into the hall. Everyone quickly shifted to either side, pressing close to the walls. The wind then swept unhindered into the room, rushing straight toward her face and lifting one corner of the red bridal veil, revealing a small patch of snow-white skin beneath her ear.
The other guests in the hall said nothing. All looked toward Fu Chou, waiting to see how he would handle this matter. With the dazzlingly beautiful Lady Xiang present, even an ordinary beauty would have her radiance eclipsed, let alone an ugly woman! At this moment, there was not a single person who did not think so.
Fu Chou smiled faintly and said, “Although the princess has already married this general, her status… is, after all, somewhat different. And as this also involves the customs of Qiyun, we must still see what the princess wishes.”
With the words “somewhat different,” he had already hinted that she was not merely a princess, but also a symbol of peace between two countries. Fu Chou turned his head and asked, “Rongle, what… do you think?”
He called her Rongle, and did so very naturally. Man Yao, however, said nothing.
Those noble sons were naturally not fools. Upon hearing the implication in Fu Chou’s words, they understood seventy or eighty percent of it. Though unwilling, they could only give up for the time being.
The Crown Prince spoke at just the right moment. “Enough. Today is General Fu’s great day of joy. No one is permitted to cause trouble here. If you wish to admire the princess’s bearing, there will be plenty of chances in the future. Hurry and send her into the bridal chamber.”
It was, in itself, a very perfect statement. Not only did it help Fu Chou out of a difficult situation, it also seized the opportunity to display his incomparably noble status and establish authority before the officials. Unfortunately, Heaven never fulfilled people’s wishes. Whether he was simply too unlucky or for some other reason, the moment his words fell, a cold, deep shout came from outside the hall.
“Wait!!”
The instant Man Yao heard that voice, her body shuddered violently and went rigid.