Chapter 10
Chapter 10
On the day I was married off, the Son of Heaven dispatched the Golden Guards to escort me the entire way, and the whole city’s nobles and officials came uninvited.
I understood. This was the Emperor making his stance known to the great aristocratic clans-
Those who know which way the wind blows will naturally be rewarded with a splendid future.
My father stood before the steps in his purple robes and jade belt, still the awe-inspiring Grand Chancellor of the current court.
Only when I served him tea did I glimpse the pair of hands beneath his sleeves, trembling ever so slightly.
When Mother pinned the Nine Phoenix Gold Hairpin into my hair, her gilded nail guards took three tries before they finally found my bun.
Second Sister caught Mother’s hand at once. Third Sister silently passed her a handkerchief. Their three hands overlapped in front of the mirror, and none of them spoke-as if they’d agreed not to.
In the main hall, I bent over Eldest Brother’s broad back.
Before my veil was lowered, I took one last look at the Kong Clan plaque.
I saw Father standing to the side of a corridor pillar, the slanting morning light cutting his figure into two halves-bright and shadowed.
And suddenly I thought of these past years: Second Sister’s ruthless calculations; Third Sister’s decisiveness as she smashed the medicine; Father’s cold indifference when he exiled Eldest Sister; Mother’s harshness when she tried to send Third Sister to the villa.
Beneath the surface of endless fighting, blood ties were, in the end, bonds that could not be severed.
“Lift the sedan-”
At the officiant’s drawn-out cry, the sedan chair was raised steadily.
From this moment on, the daughter of the Kong Clan became a wife of the Xu Family.
My life’s game piece had only just been placed.
From Chang’an all the way to Bizhou, the month-long journey was anything but smooth-half a month by official road, then half a month by water.
By the time we reached the port, more than a dozen painted pleasure boats were already waiting to welcome us-sent by Xu.
The one in front was draped in red and festooned with decorations. The gold-plated plaque at the bow bearing the character for double happiness flashed so brightly in the sun it made one’s eyes swim.
I had been raised behind inner courtyard walls since childhood and had never suffered hardship like this. Less than half a day after boarding, I was already vomiting until the world spun.
By the time we entered Bizhou’s waters, I had grown much thinner-so much so that the wedding dress that once fit me perfectly now hung loose by a finger’s breadth.
As we were about to disembark, Lüshao redid my hair and makeup.
The veil had only just been lowered when, all at once, festive music rang out from the shore.
I was about to step into the sedan when an elderly woman hurried forward to bar my way.
“Madam, please wait. According to Bizhou custom, an outsider marrying in must step over a fire brazier to dispel ill fortune.”
Under my veil, I saw the basin at her feet-the charcoal inside burning fiercely, a pair of scissors laid right atop it.
The crowd murmured among themselves. I couldn’t see their faces, but I knew at once this was no kindness.
This was plainly meant as a show of force.
I stopped Lüshao before she could speak and let out a soft, amused laugh.
“So that is the rule.”
I gathered my skirts and stepped over calmly. Flames licked at my hem, and the pearl ornaments on my dress instantly dulled.
The bridal sedan made its way down the long street. Musicians were already up front, piping and drumming, while the common folk along the roadside scrambled to snatch up scattered wedding coins, calling out auspicious blessings.
After more than half an hour, the sedan finally came to a stop.
The curtain was lifted, and a long-fingered hand reached toward me.
“Madam has traveled by boat and carriage all this way. You’ve suffered for it.”
A warm, gentle voice followed-Marquis of Huaiyi, Xu Zhao’an.
I extended my hand and let him lead me down, step by step, into the main hall.
Wedding drapes hung low. Standing side by side, we performed the grand rite of three kneels and nine kowtows to the officiant’s chanted calls.
I waited in the bridal chamber until the third watch. Only then did footsteps finally sound outside.
The fragrance of agarwood, mixed with faint wine, seeped into the room.
Xu Zhao’an spoke with a hoarse edge of drunkenness.
“I’ve kept you waiting, Madam.”
The moment the jade ruyi lifted my veil, the candle flame jumped.
What came into view were swordlike brows and star-bright eyes-those eyes carrying a haze of wine.
“Lord Marquis…” I called softly, lowering my gaze as warmth crept up the rims of my ears.
He paused, then suddenly leaned in close, his wine-scented breath brushing my ear.
“At home, you may call me Zhao’an.”
Just then, children’s laughter and shrieks came from outside the window.
Xu Zhao’an glanced toward the lattice, his smile tinged with helplessness.
“Bizhou’s folkways are simple and honest. I’ve made you a laughingstock.”
The instant the nuptial wine slid down my throat, the red candle snapped with a burst of wick-flower-crack!-sharply loud in the quiet bridal room.
With the rites complete, the servants withdrew in a stream.
I let Xu Zhao’an remove the last gold hairpin from my hair.
As my hair fell loose, his fingers naturally slid into it.
I felt the heat of his palm, scorching against the back of my neck.
At some point, the red gauze bed curtains had already fallen, enclosing us in a dim, ambiguous dusk.
The distant drip of the water clock continued, yet it couldn’t cover the deepening sound of our breaths.
The children eavesdropping outside had long since scattered.
Only the dragon-phoenix wedding candles burned on in silence…