Highness Li Yue was marrying two men who, by every account, were sworn enemies.
The news had shocked everyone in the Ming Empire, for Highness Li Yue was the cherished jewel of the nation. No one expected her to end up with such a marriage.
But what could be done? Emperor Li himself had announced a week ago that whoever found his daughter and brought her back alive and unharmed would earn the honor of marrying her, because it would prove he could protect her.
Those words had spread throughout the empire, sparking determination in every man who heard them, each eager to win the reward. Because that was the kind of honor every man dreamt of in Ming Empire.
Xiao Feng and Wang Yuan.
The two sworn enemies honored enough to win the hand of Her Highness Li Yue tonight.
They had found and saved her together, and neither was willing to let the other claim her alone. Somehow, against all odds, they ended up sharing her.
No one truly knew why Xiao Feng of the Xiao family- the empire's second most powerful family, and Wang Yuan of the Wang family- the third.. hated each other so deeply.
All anyone knew was that they were born on the same day, and since their fathers worked closely in the government, the boys grew up together and were once as close as brothers.
They trained together, learned swordsmanship together, attended every imperial lecture side by side. They were inseparable- until around the age of seventeen, when suddenly, they couldn't stand the sight of each other.
They began avoiding one another. They competed instead of cooperating, just like they competed over Highness Yue. They refused tasks that needed them to work together, and four years passed like that.
No one knew what sparked that sudden hatred.
However, the truth was almost laughable.
But as laughable as it was, it carried a danger so serious that if revealed, Emperor Li would order both of them executed on the spot.
For Emperor Li tolerated no wrongdoing, not even the smallest. In his empire, everyone stood straight; even the slightest bend in conduct was crushed along with the one who committed it.
And yet, here they were today, sitting cross-legged in expensive red wedding robes, each on one side of Highness Yue as they went through the wedding rituals.
Candles flickered all around. The place was beautifully decorated, and the scent of jasmine drifted softly in the air, mixing with the aroma of roasted meats and delicate pastries lining the banquet tables.
Courtiers and ministers in their finest silks murmured among themselves beneath the rising swell of music.
"Yī èr sān!"
The master of ceremonies counted to three, and Xiao Feng, Wang Yuan, and Li Yue released their sky lanterns.
They rose slowly, glowing against the dark sky, drifting toward the stars with the wishes and prayers of those below.
They were said to bring good fortune and mark new beginnings. They also signaled the end of the ceremony and sealed the bond of the newlyweds.
With a shy smile, Highness Li Yue turned to Xiao Feng on her right and lightly pecked his lips. Then she turned to Wang Yuan and did the same.
The crowd cheered, swept away by the moment.
But Xiao Feng's fingers tightened before he could stop himself. His gaze lingered on Wang Yuan's lips after Yue's kiss, and his chest rose and fell a little too sharply. The noise around him faded.
It almost looked like he might step forward and kiss him, erase her kiss and replace it with his own. But he didn't move a muscle.
Music swelled as girls in elegant dresses danced gracefully, nets twirling with the melody of strings and flutes.
Nobles laughed, talked, sipped wine, and tasted the endless dishes spread before them.
After some interaction, the three newlyweds were guided toward what seemed to be Emperor Li's office, where he wished to speak with them before they left for their honeymoon.
As they walked along the polished path lit with lanterns on both sides, music still loud behind them, Li Yue walked ahead with her maid, while Xiao Feng and Wang Yuan followed side by side, their guards right behind.
Neither looked at the other, but even while staring straight ahead, both were painfully aware of the tension between them.
They finally reached the chamber. And.. even though Xiao Feng and Wang Yuan came from wealthy families, they couldn't help noticing how much finer everything here was.
They lowered themselves onto the low cushions arranged, with Highness Yue seated between them. Emperor Li sat across from them with a low table between them.
"First," Emperor Li began, voice deep, "I would like to congratulate the both of you on your union." He went on, "I'm glad you were the ones who found my daughter because you are exactly the kind of men I've always hoped for her. And it's a relief that Yue Yue is happy as well."
His tone hardened suddenly. "But I have some conditions. You are two men and she is one woman. And for that reason, I would like to set one rule that should always be followed. That she will always be the one to decide when she wants something and when she doesn't. You..."
Before he could finish, Li Yue cut in, her face burning.
"Father," she said softly, voice full of embarrassment, "are you really doing this? You can't tell us how to live. That's our decision. I'm not a child anymore."
"Fine, fine. But the rule still stands." Emperor Li said, face softening, raising his hands.
But his expression hardened again as he turned to Xiao Feng and Wang Yuan. "Let me never regret handing my daughter to you. Also, there are rumors that the young masters of the Wang and Xiao families do not get along. From this moment, put your differences aside and take care of my daughter properly." His tone carried a sharp warning.
After a moment of silence, he leaned forward slightly. "On second thought, I'm your father now as well. I can help you solve whatever issue..."
"No." Yuan and Xiao Feng interrupted at the same time, their both voices sounded tense.
Emperor Li's brows drew together in confusion, his eyes narrowing at them.
Wang Yuan let out a shaky but controlled chuckle. "What we mean is… it's nothing worth troubling you with. We just haven't sat down to talk about it, but we will. Everything will be fine. You have our word." He bowed slightly.
Emperor Li nodded, satisfaction in his gaze, and rose to his feet. "Very well. Your chariot should be ready by now." He said, referring to the chariot they were to use for their honeymoon.
After a second, he added, "I have also prepared chambers within the palace for the three of you. You will live together as one household, but do not worry, your privacy will be fully respected around the palace."
"We're living in the palace? The three of us together?!" Wang Yuan asked. The words slipped out, laced with mild shock… and something else, something closer to fear.
And maybe it wasn't fear of the palace, or the three of them, but for the two of them.