As if in a cruel trick, Zhan returned home shivering with cold, his body burning with fever. Mah did not suspect much at first, thinking only of the exhaustion from the school event earlier.
With effort, she forced him to bathe and eat a little. She gave him medicine for the fever, after which he lay down again and skipped his lessons that day.
That night, Zhan was restless, jolting awake from terrible nightmares that left almost no one in the house able to sleep. Only at dawn did he doze off a little, but even then, he woke suddenly in fright, and Mah had to calm him down before he could drift off again.
The situation weighed on everyone's hearts. Yet by morning, Zhan managed to get up looking pale and drained, which surprised them all...no one would have guessed he had spent the night in such torment.
When Zhan insisted on going to school, Babiy refused. He declared that instead, they would go to the hospital with Huan. But Zhan hated hospitals, so he protested, claiming he was already better. Remembering what Mah had said, Babiy finally relented but warned that if the fever returned later that day, he would have no choice but to take him there.
Quickly, Zhan agreed.
After Babiy left, Zhan pushed himself to help Mah with chores. Even though he still felt weak, he was determined to prepare for his lessons. Lying in bed around 2 o'clock, he received a call from his teacher, Sir Fenghui. Zhan only stared at the phone, hesitant to answer until it rang out. A second call came, but he still didn't pick up.
Though he had longed to hear from Sir Fenghui after nearly three days of silence, his hand felt too heavy to lift the phone. A message notification cut through his thoughts. Nervously, Zhan reached for the phone and opened it.
"Zhan, the second opportunity has come again. If you see this message, make sure you come out before four."
Startled, Zhan leapt up, his body trembling, and began preparing for his lesson. He gathered all the documents he had been storing, along with the new ones he had collected over the past three days.
"Mah, I'm leaving for my lesson," he said while putting on his shoes. Mah was busy in the courtyard preparing dinner.
"You? And you claim you're well enough?"
"Mah, I feel better. Besides, I've been missing lessons these past days. My teacher warned me about it…" His words froze on his lips as the sharp blast of horns echoed, announcing the arrival of the Palace guards from the Beiping Empire.
It felt as though a hammer had struck his skull. His ears buzzed as the sound grew nearer until the soldiers stepped into their yard. Was it fear? Or sheer terror? Zhan could not tell which seized him.
Mah touched his arm, pulling him back to his senses. He inhaled deeply, glancing at her trembling form. Her eyes glistened with tears, but Zhan shook his head firmly, silently begging her not to cry. He clasped her hand tightly, then turned toward the Palace attender with a hardened expression.
This time, he had made a vow...whatever they came for, however many of them stood before him, he would not bow. If it meant his end, so be it.
"What do you want in my home? Have you come again to finish us off as you slaughtered my kin with your power and schemes..."
Mah quickly pressed her palm to his lips before he could finish. Shaking her head desperately, her whole body quivered.
Were it not Mah, Zhan would have pushed her hand aside and spoken his mind to ease the fire in his chest. But seeing her like this, he could not. Instead, he met her gaze, silently pleading for her to let him speak. Yet she refused.
The whip-cracking guard barked at Zhan as usual. Startled, Mah quickly covered his mouth with her hand, pulling him into her arms tightly. Zhan felt his heart pound furiously in his chest. Trembling, he tried to speak again, but she stopped him.
"You lowly commoner, watch your place! The mouth of the well is no playground for the blind. If arrogance is your only pride, it will be snatched away in the blink of an eye, and your whole family will be wiped from the earth."
Zhan's anger boiled, but Mah's sudden sobs stopped him from uttering a word. He turned to her instead, his body quivering with suppressed rage, while she shook her head desperately, signaling him not to speak.
"Mah…"
"No, Zhan! I command you to stay silent."
"Let him speak.... His tongue will be cut before your eyes."
Before Mah could respond, Babiy entered suddenly, as if hurriedly summoned. It seemed someone had reported that messengers from the Beiping Empire Palace had arrived at his house. They gave him no chance to say a word before handing him a royal summons.
Tears welled in Zhan's eyes. He and Mah felt a cold dread in their hearts...it was as if history was trying to repeat itself. Hot tears streamed down Zhan's delicate face, while Babiy himself knew this summons was not a matter to be taken lightly. For the third time, before their very eyes, Babiy was being summoned to the Beiping Empire's Palace. At the same time, imperial guards stationed themselves outside the family's home, forbidding anyone from leaving.
Zhan and Mah clung to each other, weeping quietly, for it was all they could do.
***
Two hours later, Babiy returned. As always, his return carried a heavy silence. The way he fixed his gaze on tear-streaked Zhan made Mah collapse to the floor in grief.
"Will we lose Zhan too? Did you already accept his bride-price from the King…?"
Tears of pain and bitterness spilled from Babiy's eyes. He shook his head slowly at Mah, signaling no. Then he shook again, signaling her to keep quiet. She wiped her tears, obeying his silent plea, though her body trembled restlessly.
Zhan, frozen under his father's gaze, could not even blink. Mah straightened herself again, facing Babiy directly.
"If it's not what we fear, then what happened?"
"Calm yourself, there's nothing....."
"I refuse to believe there's nothing! Unless you want to keep me in the dark. But that would be the gravest mistake of all, one I could never forgive you for. My heart tells me this summons is tied to our son's fate. If your heart can hide the truth, your eyes cannot. Tell me everything!"
Babiy realized Mah had forgotten Zhan was still in there. He wanted to keep the matter until later, but she insisted he tell her now. He tried to open his mouth, but courage failed him. Closing his eyes tightly, they burned red with strain.
"No marriage has taking place yet since Zhan wasn't present. But…" His voice faltered.
"But what? Tell me!" Mah cried, breaking into deeper sobs that tore at his spirit. He tried to rise, but she clung to his leg.
Babiy himself felt he might break into tears, just to release the burden. Kneeling before Mah, he held her hands. "From what they said, there's still a way out. It's different from before, Song. That's why I've decided....we'll leave this city, this land, tonight. They've demanded my permission for Zhan's marriage, and I've been given until the end of this week to decide."
Before Mah could answer, a sudden thud made them turn in terror. Together, they looked down...Zhan had collapsed, his body limp, motionless on the ground.
Mah screamed, clutching him. His face was pale, his body still… as though all life had left him.
- - - -
Zhan's sobbing grew louder, filling the place with unease.
Since water had been sprinkled on his face, he had regained consciousness and sat with his head buried in his knees. His parent could only watch him silently, tears pressing at their hearts. Though the turmoil was centered on him, they felt the pain even more deeply because of his youth and the heavy burden upon him. In their eyes, Zhan could not possibly grasp the full weight of what they knew.
Nearly thirty minutes passed in this silence before Babiy forced himself to stand and urged them all to return inside. With Mah's help, Zhan managed to rise. Just as they reached the doorway, he stopped, lifted his head to look at Mah, then turned to Babiy, tears streaming down his delicate face.
"We won't run away, Babiy. I will marry him…"
Babiy almost stumbled from the shock of Zhan's words, which struck with the force of thunder cracking across the night sky.
Mah, too, froze in disbelief, her hand clutching her chest, eyes wide in horror.
But Zhan wiped his tears and, for the first time, managed a faint smile.
"Mah… Babiy… calm yourselves. Don't think I'm not in my right mind. I know your greatest wish is to save me from death. But wherever I go, danger will follow me. This tyrant king is not someone we can escape from...we must face him head-on. As Grandfather once said, sometimes running from fate only invites greater destruction.
To confront it directly is courage. If we run, can you guarantee we'll ever escape his wrath, when the Beiping Empire is entirely under his control? And if we flee, where would we go, when we know no land outside this empire?
Even the cruelest rulers of the past, none could match the wickedness of this king. Yet, just as others once endured within their enemy's palace, I too will marry this tyrant, live by his side, and seize the chance to achieve my purpose.
This man must not be avoided...he must be brought down. If you save me, what of the countless others who will fall after me? Babiy, I will follow the path my sisters did. But remember this...if anyone will end him, it will be me…"
Shaking with fear, Mah rushed to cover Zhan's mouth, glancing frantically toward the door where five guards of the Beiping Empire stood. Babiy, too, was shaken to the core by Zhan's bold declaration. But before either of them could speak, Zhan slipped away into his room.
For two long minutes, Mah and Babiy stared at one another in silence, until Babiy finally exhaled heavily and withdrew to his chamber. Mah let out a trembling breath and started toward Zhan's room, but changed her mind and followed Babiy instead.
When she entered, Babiy was already on the bed, speaking on the phone pressed to his ear. Mah sat quietly at the edge of the bed, her body weak from distress. The mention of "Baba" drew her full attention. Babiy relayed everything before falling silent, listening.
On the other end, Baba sighed heavily. Then he forced a reassuring smile into his voice:
"I support Zhan's words. If anyone had the power to stop fate, many lives would have been spared. But remember, we are commoners, living under their rule. We have no power to change their judgment upon us or our children. The only thing we can do now is stand with Zhan."
It was as if Baba were standing right before him...Babiy bowed his head, tears stinging though he tried to hide them. "Understood, Baba. But his words shook me. I fear his heart may drive him to act recklessly. To even speak of killing the king....if that reached other ears, it would bring disaster."
"Don't let it trouble you, Zinnu," Baba replied firmly. "Zhan only spoke out of pain and youth. Just inform them that you've accepted the proposal. In three days' time, I'll come to settle the bride price, along with others from your family…"
NB
Baba is Zhan's grandfather, Mah's father.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛