Lu Hua's head pounded from the drug and the frantic struggle. A rough, clumsy touch snapped her fully awake. Someone's fingers were tugging at the sash of her beautiful blue banquet robe.
Her eyes shot open. In the dim, flickering candlelight, the boy leaned over her, his face way too close. His eyes were fixed with a creepy, intense look as he struggled to untie the silk knot. Panic surged through her, pushing away the fog in her mind.
"Get OFF!" Lu Hua shouted, twisting her body hard. Her hands, tied tightly, were no help. With all her strength, she jerked her head forward.
*CRACK.*
Her forehead slammed into his nose. A loud, sickening crunch filled the small room. The boy stumbled back with a sharp cry, pressing a hand to his face. Blood poured between his fingers, dripping onto the dirty floor and staining his servant's tunic.
Lu Hua got ready for anger, for a fight back. But the boy just put his hand down slowly. He looked at the bright red blood on his hand, then at her. His eyes were big and shiny, but not mad. He smiled.
"Oh, Princess," he said, his voice thick because of the blood and sounding amazed. "You fight for me already!" He laughed, sounding wet and funny. "I knew you were perfect! A true warrior queen!"
Lu Hua looked at him, scared. His reaction was scarier than if he was mad. It was crazy. "You're insane!" she said, her voice sounding rough. "Let us go!"
He didn't listen. He wiped blood from his chin with his sleeve, still smiling. "Don't worry, my love. The pain is a gift from you. I will treasure it." He stood up. "But we must get ready! The ceremony is waiting!" He pointed to the corner.
Lu Hua looked where he pointed. In the dim light, she saw a wooden box with a dirty, old white cloth on it, like a simple altar. Next to it, there was a dark, rough piece of cloth - it was meant to be a "wedding robe". Another, a bit cleaner bundle was nearby - his clothes for the wedding. A single, wilted flower was on the "altar". Near Beihe, who was just waking up, there were some bread crumbs and a broken water jug on the floor - the "wedding feast".
He smiled at her, blood still coming out. "I got everything ready! See? A special place. And," he pointed at Beihe, who was starting to move and moan softly, "our witness! She will watch our wedding!"
Beihe's eyes opened. She looked confused, then very scared when she saw the cellar, the ropes, Lu Hua tied up, and the boy with blood smiling. She screamed, but it was quiet because of the gag, her body moving against the ropes.
"Beihe!!" Lu Hua called, trying to sound calm when she wasn't. She looked into Beihe's eyes, trying to make her feel better, even though she couldn't. Beihe's wide, scared eyes looked back, with tears starting to form.
The boy laughed, happy about Beihe's fear. "Awake just in time! Perfect!" He looked back at Lu Hua, his smile going away a little when he saw her hands tied. "Ah, yes. Can't put your dress on like this."
He took out a small, sharp knife from his belt. Lu Hua got ready for an attack. But he just knelt next to her and cut the ropes on her wrists. The rough ropes fell off, leaving her skin red. Her hands were free, but her feet were still tied up.
"Now," he said, his voice sounding scary and bossy. He held out the bundle of dark, rough fabric, the "wedding robe". "Put this on. The ceremony must start."
Lu Hua looked at him angrily, rubbing her sore wrists. "Go to hell."
The boy's smile went away. His face, covered in blood, became hard and scary. He didn't look at Lu Hua. He looked at Beihe. Slowly, he lifted the knife and pointed the sharp end right at Beihe's neck.
Beihe made a scared sound, trying to move away as far as she could with the ropes, her eyes very big with fear.
"Put it on, Princess," the boy said again, his voice quiet and flat, without the crazy excitement from before. It was the voice of a real threat. "Put it on right now. Or I will cut your pretty little maid's throat while you watch." He moved closer to the shaking Beihe, the knife not moving. "Choose. Your dress. Or her life."
★
Lu Hua had no choice but to follow his orders. The dress he gave her smelled like dust, a sharp contrast to the fine silk she had worn just hours before. She put it on over her own clothes, her body stiff with disgust and fear. Her eyes never left the knife pressed against Beihe's throat. The boy watched, his nose still bleeding from being broken, his smile wide and full of triumph.
"Beautiful," he whispered, ignoring the blood. "Perfect for our union."
He pulled a crate to the center of the damp cellar, right under the flickering candle. "Stand here, my bride." He placed Lu Hua roughly on one side of the crate, then stood across from her, beaming with joy. He had changed into his own "groom's" outfit - a slightly cleaner servant's tunic, with a wilted flower pinned to his chest.
"Witness!" he shouted to Beihe, who was tied up, tears rolling down her cheeks, muffled sobs coming from behind her gag. "Witness our eternal bond!"
He started a rambling, nonsensical chant, saying the cellar was their sacred temple, and their love was decided by the stars he saw once. He bowed deeply towards Lu Hua.
"Bow to your husband!" he commanded, his voice breaking with excitement.
Lu Hua stood still, her fists tight at her sides. Her hatred was stronger than her fear.
Suddenly, a familiar see-through screen appeared in front of Lu Hua's eyes, covering the scary scene:
'SYSTEM NOTIFICATION:'
'Premium Mod Subscription Payment Overdue!'
'Total Due: 400 Points'
'Current Points: 210'
'Payment Options:'
'1. Pay Now (Points Required)'
'2. Complete a Quest to Settle Debt'
'[Select Option]'
Now?! Lu Hua screamed inside her head. With shaky focus, she chose '2. Complete a Quest'.
The screen changed:
'QUEST ACCEPTED: Settle Debt'
'Objective: Hurt Someone.'
'Time Limit: 5 Hours'
'Reward: Debt Cleared'
'Failure: Points Deducted (Insufficient = Consequences)'
'Good Luck!'
The screen disappeared as fast as it came.
Hurt someone. The order echoed in her mind, cold and clear. Her eyes quickly went back to the crazy boy in front of her. He was bowing again, lost in his made-up ceremony, talking about love forever. Beihe made a small crying sound.
Time seemed to slow down. Five hours. But she had to do something right now. The ceremony was almost done. The boy stood up straight, his eyes full of crazy happiness. "By the power given to me by fate! I declare us-"
Her hand went to her hair. The fancy hairstyle from the party had fallen apart a bit, but one strong, sharp hairpin was still there. She pulled it out smoothly.
As the boy stepped forward, his arms wide open to hug his "bride," Lu Hua lunged at him. With a fierce, angry cry, she stabbed the hairpin down with all her might.
It plunged deep into his shoulder, close to his neck.
"AAAAAGH!" The boy's joyful chant turned into a scream of pure pain. He stumbled back, frantically pulling at the hairpin stuck in his flesh. Blood spread quickly, staining his tunic dark red. His face twisted, the love in his eyes gone, replaced by shock and burning pain. "YOU STABBED ME!" he shouted.
Fury filled his face. The wild look in his eyes grew even crazier. He forgot about Beihe and the ceremony. All he saw was Lu Hua, the one who ruined his perfect moment. With a loud roar, he charged at her, his good hand clenched into a fist, aiming for her face.
Lu Hua braced herself, raising her hands weakly to protect herself. She had finished her quest, but it didn't save her from his anger.
*CRASH!*
Suddenly, the heavy wooden door to the cellar burst open, flying off its rusty hinges and splintering into pieces. Dust fell from the ceiling. In the doorway stood a tall, strong young man. He wore the clear, proud uniform of the Imperial Palace Guard. His sharp eyes quickly scanned the scene: the tied-up maid, the bleeding boy charging forward, and Lu Hua.
The guard didn't pause. In two quick steps, he crossed the damp cellar. The boy spun around, snarling at the interruption, but the guard's boot slammed hard into his chest.
The blow sent the boy flying. He crashed into a stack of wet crates with a loud thud and a sharp, choked cry. Wood cracked and splintered around him. The boy crumpled to the cold floor, still, with blood pooling from his shoulder and nose.
The guard turned to Lu Hua right away, his sword still in its sheath. His face was fierce but softened with worry. "Your Highness! Are you hurt?" His voice was deep and steady, cutting through the chaos.
Lu Hua felt a wave of relief so strong her knees nearly gave out. She shook her head, her breath shaky. "N-no. I'm… I'm okay. Thank you!" Her voice quivered, barely steady.
Ignoring the boy on the floor, Lu Hua stumbled past the guard. She dropped to her knees beside Beihe. "Beihe! Oh, Beihe!" Her trembling fingers fumbled with the tight, dirty gag, pulling it from her maid's mouth.
Beihe gasped, her breath ragged and uneven. Then she burst into loud, shaking sobs. "M-my lady!" she cried, her words breaking apart as she wept. Her body trembled against the rough ropes still tied around her wrists and ankles.
"It's over, it's over now," Lu Hua whispered, her hands shaking as she worked to untie the knots around Beihe's wrists. The rough rope was tight, digging into Beihe's skin. The guard knelt beside her, pulling out a small dagger. With quick, careful cuts, he sliced through the ropes. They fell away, showing red, raw marks on Beihe's skin. Beihe threw her arms around Lu Hua, pressing her face into her shoulder. Her sobs were soft, muffled against the rough fabric of Lu Hua's robe.
Lu Hua held her trembling maid, rocking her gently. Her own heart pounded hard in her chest. The cellar smelled of blood and fear. But the danger was gone. They were safe now. The guard's steady presence beside them felt like the only solid thing in this nightmare. Lu Hua glanced over Beihe's shoulder at the unconscious boy, blood pooling around him, then at the guard who had come like a hero.
The guard led Lu Hua and a shaking Beihe through the twisting palace halls. He moved with sure steps, one hand resting near his sword's hilt, ready to protect them. With his other hand, he dragged the unconscious boy by the collar, like a heavy sack. The boy's head hung limp, leaving a faint trail of blood and dirt on the shiny floor. Lu Hua kept her arm around Beihe, who cried silently, her body trembling with shock.
"Thank you," Lu Hua said again, her voice rough and quiet. "Truly. If you hadn't found us…"
The guard glanced back, his face calm in the dim torchlight. "It's my duty, Your Highness. Protecting the Imperial family is why I wear this uniform." His voice was steady, like a warm light after a storm. He kept moving, focused on guiding them quickly to the safety of the Sixth Prince's wing.
★
They reached Prince Zihao's residence at last. The guards at the door stood tall, their eyes growing wide when they saw the princess, her pale maid, the serious guard, and the bloodied boy he dragged behind him.
Inside the main room, Zihao waited. His wheelchair faced the door, his face tight with worry and exhaustion. But when he saw them, relief flooded his features, washing away the fear.
Before he could say a word, Lu Hua moved. With a shaky sob that sounded raw and real, she rushed across the room. She threw her arms around Zihao's neck, pressing her face into his shoulder. Her sudden hug pushed the wheelchair back hard.
"Whoa!" A nearby guard jumped forward, grabbing the chair's handles just in time to stop it from tipping over. Zihao wrapped one arm around her, his other hand gripping the chair to steady himself.
"Lu Hua!" he said, his voice full of feeling. "You're safe. You're safe now." He held her close, his own fear melting into deep relief as he felt her shaking against him.
"It was awful, Zihao!" Lu Hua cried, rubbing her cheek against his, leaving smudges of dirt and maybe a carefully placed tear on his clean robe. "That boy is crazy!" Her voice broke, trembling as she clung to him tighter. "I was so scared!"
Zihao held her tighter, his jaw tight. He stroked her hair, speaking softly to calm her. "He can't hurt you now. You're home." He looked over her shoulder, his eyes turning cold as he saw the guard and the unconscious boy. "Guards," he said, his voice sharp like ice, "take that boy to the dungeons. Lock him up. I want him questioned carefully when he wakes." Two guards quickly stepped forward to take the boy from the man.
Zihao's eyes moved to Beihe, who stood near the door, looking lost and shaken. "Li Beihe," he said, his voice soft and kind. "Maids! Prepare hot baths for the princess and Li Beihe right away. Use lavender oils to calm them and get clean robes ready." He looked at Lu Hua, still holding onto him tightly. "You both need to wash off that dirt and rest."
Then his gaze fell on the guard who had brought them. The guard stood tall, his face calm and hard to read. Zihao noticed the sharp focus in his eyes and the strong way he carried himself. "You," Zihao said, speaking directly to him. "What's your name?"
"Jiang Chen, Your Highness," the guard answered, giving a quick bow.
"Jiang Chen," Zihao repeated. "You have my deepest thanks. You saved the princess's life." His voice was heavy with meaning. "Your alertness and bravery are special. I would be honored if you'd become Princess Lu Hua's personal bodyguard. Your only job would be keeping her safe. Your rank and pay would match this important task."
Jiang Chen didn't pause. He bowed again, deeper this time. "The honor is mine, Your Highness. I will protect Her Highness with my life."
As he stood straight, his eyes flicked to Lu Hua for a moment. She was still pressed against Zihao's shoulder, her "sobs" quieter now, her face hidden. Jiang Chen's gaze stayed on her for just a second, a look that held something strong, almost protective—before he quickly looked back at Zihao, his expression respectful.
"How did you find them, Jiang Chen?" Zihao asked, his arm still around Lu Hua to comfort her.
Jiang Chen met his eyes steadily. "Last night, Your Highness, during the loudest part of the banquet, I was patrolling near the old storehouse wing. I saw him," he nodded toward the door where the boy had been taken, "sneaking out of an old service entrance. He was dragging something heavy in a sack. It looked strange, not right for a simple servant boy, especially during the Emperor's celebration. I remembered the spot and decided to check it later. When Her Highness was reported missing this morning, I thought of that moment and went to look."
Zihao nodded slowly, taking in the words. "Good instincts and hard work. You have both. Report to the Captain of the Guard later for your new assignment details. For now, stand watch outside the princess's chambers. You're dismissed."
Jiang Chen bowed again. "Yes, Your Highness." He turned and walked out with steady steps, taking his place just outside the door.
Zihao looked down at Lu Hua, who finally lifted her head from his shoulder. Her eyes were wide, her face pale under the dirt and lingering fear, but her dramatic tears had stopped. "Come on," he said softly, his voice gentle again. "Let's get you cleaned up." He nodded to the waiting maids, who carefully guided the still-trembling Beihe away and approached Lu Hua.