chapter 3

As fate would have it, that very evening Mother told me the Emperor was pressing Father for a decision.

General Xie would leave for the northwestern frontier after autumn, so the wedding had to be moved forward.

I stared for a moment, then embraced her.

“Mother, ask Father to petition His Majesty. Tell him my sisters’ marriages have already been arranged and cannot honorably be broken.”

“His youngest daughter, Shen Yun, willingly asks to marry into the Xie family.”

Mother said nothing for a long time. Then several tears fell onto my face.

She held me tight and choked out, “My Mian’er, your mother has failed you.”

We were family. There was no need to speak of debts between us.

…

On my wedding day, my dowry procession stretched for ten li, splendid and lively.

Everyone said General Xie’s gifts were lavish and proved his sincerity.

Father received the guests in front while Mother and my sisters dressed my hair and painted my brows.

Both sisters’ eyes were red.

Holding back tears of her own, Mother said, “Today is Mianmian’s joyful day. You must both look happy.”

“My Mian’er was born under a lucky star. She will certainly live a happy life after marriage.”

My sisters nodded in agreement.

The bridal music played through another verse.

I lowered the red veil over my face, my eyes secretly growing damp.

I had never been away from home. All I could do was pray that Xie Yuan would be easy to live with.

The wedding rituals were numerous. By the end of the day, my shoulders and back ached, yet I still had to sit upright on the bridal bed and wait for Xie Yuan.

Fortunately, he did not have many friends. Fewer guests had come to congratulate him than had gathered at my family’s house, and no one even stayed to tease the newlyweds.

Xie Yuan rewarded the wedding matron and ordered everyone out.

The room fell silent.

I twisted the bridal handkerchief in my fingers and watched his feet approach beneath the edge of my veil.

The veil lifted.

I kept my eyes shut.

Then a familiar voice laughed above me. “Why will my wife not look at me?”

“You promised me a happy life. You cannot take it back now.”

“Wufeng?”

“No—Xie Yuan!”

“You—you scoundrel!”

“You deceived me!”

I had always spoken whatever came to mind. Only after the words escaped did I recall Mother’s and my sisters’ repeated warnings before I left home.

Xie Yuan was a military man, not a gentle scholar like Father.

Whenever my parents quarreled, Father was always the first to apologize. More than once, I had even caught him on his knees outside Mother’s room, pleading with her to let him in.

I had just spoken too fiercely to Xie Yuan.

Would he lose his temper and kill me with one punch?

He still held the red veil embroidered with golden thread. The red wedding candles burned brightly, and fire seemed to glow in his eyes as well.

Guiltily, I looked aside and lowered my voice. “How could you deceive me?”

“I treated you as a friend and never told you a single lie.”

The candles crackled.

Xie Yuan spoke softly. “It was my fault. I should not have concealed my identity.”

“Wufeng is my courtesy name. I feared that the truth would frighten you that day, so I resorted to deception.”

He poured a cup of hot tea and picked up a plate of pastries from the table. Hooking a round stool over with one foot, he sat beside me.

“You must be hungry. Eat something first. Once you have your strength back, you may continue quarreling with me.”

I had eaten nothing for most of the day, and the few hawthorn cakes Second Sister had slipped me were long gone.

From childhood, I had understood that no matter how serious a matter might be, it should never come between me and food.

I accepted a pastry and stole a glance at him.

The last few times we met, he had worn black and looked coldly handsome. Dressed as a bridegroom that night, he was so handsome I found it impossible to remain angry.

But forgiving him so quickly would cost me all dignity.

I muttered, “A mighty general, reduced to a petty trickster. You only wanted to laugh at me…”

Cicadas shrilled in the sultry summer night.

Xie Yuan offered me a cup of tea, amusement in his voice. “I was wrong. Moisten your throat before you continue scolding me, my wife.”

He was so accommodating that I had no grounds left for an argument.

After finishing a plate of pastries, I had calmed enough to think clearly.

Although he had not revealed his identity when we met, talking to him had always felt easy and unrestrained. He was plainly a good man.

The last time we met, he had even led his horse around the city for me beneath the scorching sun.

With that thought, the last of my resentment faded.

When I looked up, I met Xie Yuan’s dark gaze.

He spoke first. “Has my wife eaten enough? If not, I will have the small kitchen send something else.”

The night watch had already sounded twice. Summoning the kitchen for another meal would be outrageous.

I quickly shook my head. “I am full. There is no need to trouble them.”

Xie Yuan inclined his head, took the empty plate from my hand, and set it aside.

Then he turned back to me.

“My wife has eaten her fill.”

“Now it is my turn.”