The words of Zhan struck deepest into the hearts of Mah, Babiy, and Huan. They lingered like scars that would never fade, for their hearts had long been chained by helplessness. Accepting this cruel fate was no choice of their own...it was forced upon them by the loss of power and voice in their lives. They wept, for tears were the only refuge left to them.
Days passed in this sorrow until the fated day arrived...the day when the powerful decreed that their son's wedding would take place. To describe that night, or the morning that followed, would only waste words, for no language could capture the torment in which the family of Xiao Zinnu found themselves.
There were no signs of festivity on their side; rather, their household carried the silence of mourning. Apart from Wei Po, Grandfa, and a handful of elders barely numbering five, no one else from their kin came to witness this blind and merciless marriage. Even their neighbors kept away.
By Grandfa's command, Babiy and Huan prepared themselves to attend the ceremony at the Beiping Palace, compelled to witness what their hearts most dreaded.
Mah remained behind with Wei Po, both women swallowed by grief too heavy to bear. As for the groom, Zhan...no one had seen his eyes that morning. Wei Po herself had brought food into his room, but it remained untouched.
- - - -
Hours later, the sharp blare of royal horns and the thunder of ceremonial drums filled the capital of the Beiping Empire. Nobles and foreign guests crowded every corner, for the day was marked with a grandeur none could ignore.
Ten kings of the Beiping realm had gathered, though even they carried the weight of their own losses, memories of daughters taken by the same fate. Yet, beneath their grief, some still clung to ambition, dreaming of the honor of having their children tied to the King... believing it a chance at power and glory, no matter the cost.
The Royal Wedding of King Yibo and Zhan Ruilan.
The entire capital of the Beiping Empire buzzed with anticipation. Scarlet lanterns hung from every archway, silk banners bearing the royal insignia rippled in the breeze, and drums echoed through the grand avenues leading toward the Imperial Palace. Today was no ordinary day...the empire was about to witness another of King Wang Yibo's fated marriages, this time to a man of humble birth, Zhan.
Inside the palace grounds, golden carpets stretched from the palace gates to the towering jade doors of the Hall of Radiant Harmony, where the wedding rites would unfold. Soldiers in silvered armor lined the pathway, their halberds gleaming, while courtiers and ministers in formal robes filled the courtyard. No one dared raise their voice above a whisper; the atmosphere was heavy with awe, fear, and speculation.
Zhan, dressed in layers of red silk embroidered with gold phoenixes and peonies, walked with measured steps. A crimson bridal veil covered his face, weighted at the edges with tiny jade beads that chimed faintly as he moved. Every step echoed the weight of his vow for revenge, yet his back remained straight, betraying no weakness.
By his side, two attendants guided him toward the altar, where King Yibo already stood. The King's robes shimmered with dragon embroidery stitched in real gold thread, his crown adorned with strings of black pearls that hid most of his features from view. His aura of dominance was unmistakable... calm, proud, and terrifyingly untouchable.
The traditional rites began first.
The court officiant stepped forward and raised a ceremonial tablet.
"First bow, to Heaven and Earth!"
Zhan and Yibo turned together, kneeling to the heavens as drums resounded.
"Second bow, to the ancestors.
They turned toward the golden ancestral tablets of the royal line, incense curling in the air, heavy with the scent of sandalwood.
"Third bow, to one another!"
Zhan bent deeply, his veil brushing the ground, never once daring to lift his eyes. Across from him, Yibo's movements were steady, deliberate, giving away nothing of his expression.
Next came the court ceremony, binding them in law as well as tradition. The ministers unrolled silk decrees bearing the Emperor's seal, declaring Zhan as the newly conferred Royal Consort. The words were cold, official, and final.
Servants presented a shared cup of wine, tied with a red cord. Zhan raised it beneath his veil and drank, the bitterness of the wine burning his throat. Yibo followed, his lips brushing the same cup, sealing the bond.
The hall erupted with the sounds of gongs, firecrackers, and jubilant shouts from the officials:
"Long live King Yibo! Long live the Royal Consort!"
Yet for Zhan, the world felt silent. His hands were clenched beneath his sleeves, his heart pounding with the promise he had made to his lost sisters.
Finally, when all rites were completed, attendants led the new Zhan Ruilan back to his parents house for another rituals from his family part.
***
Zhan lay motionless in his room, his heart hollow, tears streaming silently from his eyes after the binding of his marriage with King Yibo. A strange ringing filled his ears, like the sudden silence of a radio when power was cut off. He felt himself trapped... neither fainted nor truly alive, lost in a haze of despair.
He remained in that daze for a long while before his thoughts began to piece together the reality. What had happened to his family months ago had now fallen upon him as well. He, too, was bound into the grasp of the ruthless ruler of Beiping, stripped of freedom, left to wither in chains gilded with power.
From today onward, every moment would be counted like the ticking of a clock toward his slow death. From today, he had bid farewell to Mah, Babiy, Huan, and Grandfa.
Could he endure it? Was this sacrifice worth the silent burden pressed upon him? Could his fate still bend under the weight of his will?
"No… it must be possible. Why not? Even if I walk into silence itself, I will make sure my story resounds across the world when I lay judgment upon King Yibo with my own hands," he whispered, tears burning down his cheeks. His sorrow shifted into a sharp resolve...vengeance would become his strength.
Without wiping his face, Zhan stumbled from the bed, dizziness weighing him down. He reached for the phone he had sworn to abandon, powered it on, and hesitated only briefly before sending a message. Within minutes, a call came through. He exhaled deeply, then gave a bitter smile at the words he heard from the other side.
"Sir, we don't have time for discussion now."
"I know," Sir Fenghui answered, his voice low. "But fear grips me… a fear that anyone who looks in my eyes would recognize at once. I know I've lost you forever now."
A bitter smile curved Zhan's lips again, though his eyes glistened with unshed tears. "This fear....this is the same dread all of Beiping has lived under. But I will not give up. Plan A was only a shadow play. Plan B… dangerous, yes, but it holds the certainty of success."
"How, Zhan? Do you even understand who King Yibo is? Do you know the extent of his power?"
"I was born in this empire. My family tasted the sharpest edge of his authority and cruelty. Do not worry for yourself...your part in this plan is small, but crucial. And it will not harm you."
"But Zhan..."
"Please, sir," he cut in, firm.
The man on the other end drew a heavy breath, forcing strength into his reply.
"…Alright. I'm listening."
"Give me your friend's number."
"What more are you planning, Zhan?"
"Much. And now, the true game begins."
"Don't be reckless, Zhan."
"I have lived too long with an empty heart."
"Try to understand me."
"I barely understand myself anymore, sir."
"I don't want to lose you, Zhan."
"My family lost me long ago. And I accepted long ago that I must sacrifice myself."
"Why are you so stubborn, Zhan?"
"This is my pride..my strength in facing an enemy head-on."
On the other end, Sir Fenghui bit his lip hard, tears falling freely as they had from the day he learned of Zhan's forced marriage. His love was helpless against the storm of fate. He could only give one final gift...acceptance, even if it meant letting go.
"Farewell, Zhan. May you walk in safety." Sir Fenghui's voice cracked as he ended the call, the silence heavier than any chain.
Hot tears streamed down Zhan's face. He hadn't realized how deeply he like Sir Fenghui until this very moment. Now, when it felt like the cruelest time in his life, all he could do was wish Sir Fenghui happiness....even if it meant finding someone better than him. Hearing footsteps approach, he quickly lay down and pulled the blanket over his head…
★★...
"Zinnu!"
Grandfa called Babiy's name as if he were right before him, his face drawn with visible fear and worry. Babiy slowly lifted his head, revealing weary, reddened eyes from the weight of the day.
Grandfa had left straight after the wedding and gone to Yizhou, never returning home since.
"Yes, Baba?"
"Endure, my son. You and your wife must not drown in sorrow. You must have strength to carry what has been placed upon you. I, too, feel the same pain pressing in my chest, but still, I cannot tire of reminding you...life gives no shield from fate once it strikes. Nothing can erase what has already been written.
Our part is finished now, and what remains belongs to you. Wei Po will prepare Zhan before they come to take him. Use only the fragrance already in your house, and nothing else. He should drink the milk that's in your home, and nothing more, until morning comes.
He must not stay in the room he was placed in. He can't accept anything from hands that are not steady. He must remain only a watcher at the first night, silent at the first word, weak among the first gathering. Hold fast that protection is still with him. I leave you both in peace."
Mah turned toward Babiy, who stood still clutching the phone in his hand, as if he were a carved statue preserved for memory.
"Is everything truly well? Even Baba has no other solution? Is that why he refused to return and went straight home?"
Babiy stared at her for several long seconds until she began to cry. He bit his lower lip, swallowing the tightness clogging his throat. Sitting beside her, like a student repeating lessons aloud, he murmured Grandfa's words once more:
"Wei Po will prepare Zhan before they come to take him. Use only the fragrance already in your house. He should drink only the milk from your home until morning…"
Mah wiped her tears while watching him, her voice uncertain.
"What are you trying to say?"
He shook his head. "Not me....it's Baba's message for Zhan. But I can't make sense of it, Song. Can you?"
She was about to say no, but then her wide eyes...so much like Zhan's...wavered in thought. Softly, she repeated the words again and again, until their meaning began to take shape.
"If I understand correctly…Baba means Mama should prepare Zhan herself. If they bring their own fragrance, we mustn't let him use it. And if they offer him food at the Palace, he mustn't eat it, and he can't let sleep overtake him in his first night or stay in the room they offer him….Do you see? That means we give him our own fragrance, and make sure he eats only from here so his body is filled with what we trust. And then we…"
Babiy drew in a long breath through his nose and released it slowly, cutting her words short with a small gesture of his hand. She let out her own shaky breath, tears slipping free once more. Though his heart remained heavy, Grandfa's words had at least given them a fragile thread of reassurance. They still didn't understand the full meaning...but obedience was no longer a choice.
~**~
Wei Po carefully dressed Zhan, who was still shedding tears, in the ceremonial attire chosen by Grandfa. It was an elaborate robe, the kind only worn by the most distinguished men of the Beiping empire. Even Wei Po had never seen such a garment before...it had been brought by Grandfa himself, insisting Zhan must wear it.
Though the occasion weighed heavily on him, Zhan looked strikingly handsome. A subtle fragrance clung to him, delicate and refined, almost making the sadness of his tears sharper. Mah herself had prepared a few of his personal items, knowing well that his stay in this new life would be short-lived.
Both Babiy and Mah sat with him, their voices heavy with advice. Babiy, with trembling hands, even pressed a device into his palm and told him to keep it hidden, so they could still reach him if needed. Zhan barely understood the significance...his thoughts were too clouded by sorrow.
Their quiet gathering was interrupted by the arrival of the Beiping imperial escorts. Tall men and graceful women entered, accompanied by attendants, demanding the groom be presented for preparation.
Babiy lowered his gaze and answered, "He is already dressed." His words drew surprise on their faces, especially when Zhan emerged with Wei Po guiding him gently forward. One among the group opened her mouth to speak, but another quickly shook her head, silencing her. With reluctance, she turned away, slipping out while tapping furiously at a device in her hand, clearly contacting someone.
Babiy himself took Zhan's hand and carried his small chest of belongings, escorting him to the waiting sleek car. As Zhan stepped forward, the heavy hem of his robe caught underfoot, nearly sending him stumbling. Immediately, the imperial attendants shielded him with their cloaks, ensuring no curious eyes outside the gate would see him.
Among the pressing crowd, a woman cloaked in black with her veil drawn low leaned as if to help him. Their eyes met briefly...hers sharp and intense....before she quickly turned away, scooping up a book Zhan had dropped. In that instant, she shoved an envelope of her own into his palms, which Zhan instinctively hold tight just as Babiy straightened him up again. Behind them, Sir Fenghui, disguised among the attendants in black robes, quietly slipped away into the sea of onlookers.
The Beiping Empire
It was Zhan's second time entering the heart of the Beiping imperial palace. Though he rode within a closed car, tears still streamed down his cheeks, leaving pale trails across his face. He had not once lifted the veil concealing him since morning, not even when the palace gates swung open to admit them into its vast, gleaming courts.
The magnificence of the empire pressed down upon him...so immense, so untouchable...that it made his heart tremble even more.
Thus the marriage between King Yibo and Xiao Zinnu Zhan was sealed.
But whispers already followed them: Would Zhan, too, meet the same fate as the King's former consorts? Who was Cao? Who was the inner one? And who was King Yibo truly...a ruler of unmatched might, or the cruel tyrant the people of Beiping feared?
The truth lay hidden in shadows, waiting to unravel…
NB
Pweey, this story is sooooo hard to write, with those indirect words and puzzles. 😂
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛