Magnolia Manor~
The kitchen was lively and filled with delicious aromas from succulent roasted suckling pigs, golden, crispy-skinned ducks, braised abalones, steamed whole fishes, longevity noodles, and sweet white shrimp filled the air. The summer mitten crabs from Yangcheng Lake and a variety of sweets like cakes, candies, caramelized fruits, crispy treats with honey, sesame seeds, roses, and nuts fried together, celebration foods were being prepared and arranged on banquet platters inside Magnolia Manor.
“You must keep stirring the malt syrup. We don’t have enough time to start again if it burns.” Mrs. Ma instructed one cook as she rolled up the sleeves of her dress and directed the other hired staff like a battle-ready general. She wore her apron like armor and urged everyone to focus on their tasks because time was ticking.
This wasn’t her first time in charge of such a large scale banquet. She had been helping her mother, who worked as a hired cook, at catered events since she was a child. However, this feast was the most expensive event she had ever overseen, with the shortest notice to prepare. Two days ago, Madam Li had handed the cook a substantial sum of money, in the form of banknotes rather than coins, and requested Mrs. Ma’s help to arrange a banquet in celebration of the double seventh day. She assured Mrs. Ma that money was not a concern, not to hold back on the extravagance of the feast, to invite anyone who wanted to come and everything was up to the cook’s discretion.
Mrs. Ma was delighted by the culinary challenge of hosting such an elegant event and was eager to assist her mistress with this important occasion. The Qixi festival was favored with people of all ages. Feasts at this time of the year weren’t uncommon. It was quite suitable for people to host banquets during the annual meeting of Zhinü, the immortal weaver girl and Niulang, her mortal, cow herder, husband. Some families introduced their daughters of marriageable age and showcase their impressive needlework. They hoped that through divine intervention, suitable husbands would be found for their daughters.
In town, there was always a big fair with games and foods and fortune tellers who supposedly specialized in predicting fated matches came into town from near and far and, as with all celebrations, there was music. Women took part in competitions held in town. These games tested their skills to thread a needle under dim lighting conditions, such as the glow of an ember. People would gaze up at the night sky, searching for the symbolic bridge formed by a flock of magpies, which represented the reunion of separated lovers. Women used this auspicious day to pray for fertility and miracles from celestial beings, hoping to be blessed with many children. The festival also held a great significance for newlyweds. It symbolized a prosperous marriage and highlighted the value of a married woman in her new family.
There were many reasons to celebrate on the seventh day of the seventh month of the lunar calender. Out of all the reasons to throw such a fine dinner, Mrs. Ma assumed that the reason for the lavish feast at Magnolia Manor was the latter. Since everyone admired Madam Li. She thought that her fortuitous in-laws must feel the same way about her. After all, it was rare for a family to have such an extraordinary, beautiful and capable daughter-in-law like Madam Li to boast about. However, the young lady of the manor made a special request for her bedroom to be decorated like a proper bridal bedchamber. This curious request made Mrs. Ma raise an eyebrow of suspicion. Madam Li wanted it all. The crimson wedding quilt, red candles, and lots of pomegranates, fruit, and nuts on the bed so she could enjoy what she never had. Thus, Mrs. Ma understood the secret meaning behind the celebration finally.
Mrs. Ma considered. Madam Li and Mr. Hua slept under the same blanket as husband and wife, but it was likely they were not be legally married yet. Some would have judged the young, unconventional couple harshly, but the cook did not. She felt the younger generation was modern and more progressive. They weren’t bound to follow the same traditions as the older generation. The younger people loved more freely, sometimes regardless of social differences. Some were bold enough to run away and elope against their parents’ wishes. Yet, it was Mr. Wu, her husband, who proposed an alternative interpretation.
Madam Li and Mr. Hua were merely pretending to be married because Madam Li’s parents refused the match that was a love or, more likely, a passion match. According to Mr. Wu, no family in their right mind would allow a wealthy, graceful girl like Madam Li to marry a pauper with nothing to offer but good looks. Men like Mr. Hua only knew how to do one thing well. Such dandy fellows were good at sneaking around in back gardens with other men’s wives, but not husband material.
Mr. Wu acknowledged that Mr. Hua was handsome. This quality would draw many concubine-sisters to keep Madam Li company. Therefore, she would always have enough players for card games. However, good looks alone wouldn’t provide food. Her husband also pointed out that Mr. Hua was endowed by the gods and his endowment might bring about countless children, but endowment alone wouldn’t clothe or provide a roof over their heads. Mr. Wu feared it wouldn’t be much longer before Madam Li’s family cut off her financial backing for marrying a worthless and bankrupt womanizer like Mr. Hua.
What a dreadful, terrible picture Mr. Wu painted of the Master and mistress she served. Mr. Wu had sat up in bed and wagged his crooked finger at her. The same finger that got caught in the rice mill a few years ago. He had chastised her for being naïve, asking how she never considered such an obvious narrative?
Mrs. Ma rarely agreed with her husband, but his point of view made some sense. And, if that was the case, how tragic it was for the couple she had become attached to and enjoyed working for. It was truly heartbreaking.
Mr Wu had yelled at her for blubbering and keeping him awake, but it made her cry all night to think no one had yet celebrated Madam Li and Mr. Hua’s union. Everyone knew the heavens blessed such lovers, even when mortals didn’t. All around the world, unworthy couples were enjoying big weddings, with countless blessings from family and friends, but not the wonderful couple she served. If anyone deserved to be praised, surely it was Mr. Hua and Madam Li.
Mrs. Ma, aided by her niece Little Min, decided to organize a secret wedding banquet and disguise it as a Qixi festival feast. She and Little Min handed out over one hundred and fifty invitations without mentioning the banquet’s purpose. They said there would be food and the wine would be flowing until daybreak, and it would be a feast like those thrown in noble houses inside the capital. Most townfolk had never seen the capital or many hadn’t stepped outside of Qingshui City since arriving there. They could only imagine such a fine feast. It took little to convince them. They eagerly accepted the offer.
Mrs Ma’s involvement didn’t stop there. When Mr. Hua casually asked about an intimate place by Crystal Lake for a romantic picnic. Mrs. Ma drew him a detailed map to the altar set up by the town’s women to pray to Zhihu for wisdom. Mrs. Ma even offhandedly alluded to the most auspicious hour when she said how very fortunate it would be if some unknown couple were to marry at three in the afternoon. That little tidbit earned her a shy smile from the quiet fellow everyone called a stoneface.
Mr. Hua woke up early on his wedding day while Madam Li was still sleeping. He saw his new outfit that matched Madam Li’s dress and looked confused. He asked where it came from and why it was white and red. He preferred his other clothes. Mrs. Ma shook her head and chuckled. She lied and said his other clothes were wet because it had rained overnight. She informed him that Madam Li had secretly sewed the garments for him for Qixi Day and explained how not wearing them would deeply wound his wife’s emotions, given the countless pricks endured by Madam Li during their creation.
Mrs. Ma thought it was a small, white, harmless lie to save her mistress’s face because Madam Li’s stitching skills weren’t good enough to make an entire outfit. However, she did stitch an animal on the collar. Her explanation caused Mr. Hua to stare into the cook’s eyes without speaking, making her tremble as they engaged in the most intimidating staring contest. Mrs. Ma was scared and her mouth went dry. She won the staring contest and Mr. Hua believed her eventually. It was good timing because Mrs. Ma’s right eye started twitching from her nerves.
When he later re-emerged from his room dressed for his morning tea, he spoke in a voice as gentle as a whisper, saying with all the preparations for the banquet taking place for later in the day, not to bother cooking another meal just for him and Mr. Yuan, since they wouldn’t be having breakfast at the manor this morning. All he needed was tea. He also instructed Mrs. Ma to let Madam Li sleep longer and not to disturb her just yet. He gave her a few more instructions, but Mrs. Ma, mesmerized by his striking appearance, found herself unable to recall a single word he uttered, as her senses were overwhelmed by his unparalleled handsomeness.
Illuminated by the morning light, the busy kitchen hushed and went still enough one would have heard a single duck feather had one dropped. Even Mrs. Ma was left breathless, red-cheeked and weak-kneed. Mr. Hua had forsaken his usual somber attire, opting for the all white ensemble that she and Little Min had laid out for him. Mr. Hua caught her and everyone’s attention in his white yishang.
The jacket flowed gracefully, with wide belled sleeves. It was embellished with sophisticated lotus flower embroideries that sparkled from the complex silver threading. A thick, smooth-textured, crimson braided rope, intricately tied in a secure knot, dangled from the vibrant, green jade ornament, delicately suspended from his gleaming silver belt that had the same stitching as his jacket. Mr. Hua’s body language was never big. He moved the same way he was built, sleek. His white cloak billowed ever so slightly when he walked with minimal arm movements. The garment had a red satin hidden underlining that shimmered like a flickering flame when the red peeked through. Just below his Adam’s apple, the cloak was fastened with a silver ornament, a smooth, surfaced bamboo leaf.
He never sought to gain recognition, but it naturally gravitated towards him the way flowers turn up their faces to the sun. The women in the kitchen stopped working and eyeballed him as he sat quietly, drinking tea. Someone mentioned that he smelled as nice as he looked. One pointed out the smelled the faint scent of mugwort lingering from his habao, the fragrance pouch. Another woman teased how even the coy fish embroidered on the purse seemed in admiration of Mr. Hua. The fat fish with orange and black scales, white fins, and bulging eyes looked like it wanted to jump out of the blue satin background and into his lap like the gossiping wives.
Her husband said Mr. Hua was a womanizer from their first meeting, but Mrs. Ma had never noticed him to have wandering eyes. If anything, Mr. Hua made it clear Madam Li was the only woman in his world without speaking a word. Which was a hundredfold better than sickening philanders who yapped endlessly, making empty promises with their slick, oily lips. People complained he was brisk, indifferent, and rude, but they could never say he wasn’t utterly fetching.
Mr. Hua was the local women’s favorite flavor of eye candy. Two wives from nearby homes swore they got pregnant because Mr. Hua, with a single glance, made them ovulate. Many of the wives had been there on the day Madam Li found the snake in her yard, so they knew Mr. Hua had the kind of physique that could rival the God Of war.
Mrs. Ma, though tempted by his youthful charms, fought to keep her thoughts from straying into indecently lustful territory, which was rather difficult. Dressed as he was this morning, Mr. Hua resembled one of those celestial heroic beings from the pages of the steamy romantic novels sold in the adult bookstores. The kind of books women hide under other book covers. Images of captivating deities, with sweet peach blossoms on their lips, who caught half dressed goddesses falling from trees in enchanted forests and made love to them in jade ponds, stayed in her thoughts longer than what she deemed decent. As enjoyable as he was to look upon, it was a relief when he left so Mrs. Ma and the other kitchen workers could resume their attention to the feast.
It wasn’t much longer before the sun moved high in the sky. It was almost time, and there was still so much to do. Madam Li wasn’t ready. She hadn’t changed her clothes or left to meet Mr. Hua. Despite everything happening around her, she still noticed the unfamiliar person who had come into her sight for a while. Oh, what terrible timing. What a bothersome person!, she thought to herself, for Mrs. Ma recognized again the same young chubby-faced girl with messy braids who had been lurking around the manor and circling in Madam Li’s shadow for days, but she didn’t have the time or the inclination to deal with the problem. Once the feast was done, she would attend to whoever this girl was and get rid of her.
She ordered the women to refocus on their tasks and to stop whispering about Mr. Hua again, as they tended to do. Mrs. Ma herself had to clear her mind and refocus on the decorations and pointed at the red paper lanterns in the garden. “Aya, fix this! There are more lanterns there than here. Space them out evenly,” she yelled. The hired staff nodded quickly at her imposing voice.
Mrs. Ma meticulously observed the lanterns until she was satisfied with their placement. Then, she shifted her attention to the other helpers and loudly hollered at them. “Hang the lucky love knots from the plum tree,” she commanded. “Make sure to spread them out, resembling ripened hanging plums instead of clustering them all together. It should be enchanting. It should look whimsical, even.” With determination, she even shouted to her husband, “Mr. Wu, please show everyone what needs to be done.”
Against her better judgement, she instructed her husband to check on the wine shipment. After all, all the wine from town was being delivered to Magnolia Manor. Despite the time constraint, Mrs. Ma was content with the progress. Everything was falling into place beautifully. Standing with her hand on her hip, she carefully observed the male attendants and ensured their focus remained intact because Mr. Hua wasn’t the only distraction on Crooked Hill Road. Every man in town with a heartbeat secretly desired the beautiful Madam Li.
Meanwhile, Madam Li herself was utterly distracted. Standing dazed in the middle of the courtyard, her long black hair shimmered in the sunlight, casting a becoming golden glow on her flawless porcelain skin. With wide eyes full of wonder, she stared at the festive decorations, her face filled with innocence and marvel. It was fascinating to witness how Madam Li could effortlessly switch between speaking with great wisdom, as if she were a centenarian, and in the same breath behaving like an adolescent girl as she was doing in this moment.
She reached out to touch a lantern shyly the way a child does to a dish of candy just out of their reach, but retracted her hands and interlocked her fingers behind her back. “Madam Li, it’s time to move your feet? Or have they taken roots leaving you unable to move? Are you planning to stand there all day and sunbathe when there is a feast to prepare for?” Mrs. Ma called out, scolding her mistress with a motherly voice that cut through the background noises. “Isn’t Mr. Hua expecting you for a picnic before the banquet?” She reminded her.
Madam Li’s eyes sparkled with joy and delight as she looked up at the sound of her name. “Mrs. Ma, everything is just so lovely! You are a miracle worker!” Madam Li gushed, sounding like an excited child. “But Yes, Mrs. Ma, you’re right. Thank you for reminding me.” Her face lit up with a wide smile, radiating the joy of a bride. Mrs. Ma called out to her niece, “Little Min,” who came running from inside as she had been busily fixing the bridal bedchamber and asked her to assist Madam Li in preparing for tonight.
With a grateful smile towards Mrs. Ma, Madam Li, pressed her hands together in a prayer-like gesture and silently mouthed, ‘Thank you, Mrs Ma’, before following Little Min into her bedroom. When she gracefully emerged from the Magnolia Manor, the air seemed to still, as if holding its breath in awe of her presence. Conversations instantly transformed into an orchestra of soft whispers.
She gracefully moved, her sweeping dress cascading around her like a waterfall of silky material. Each layer upon layer radiated pure light. Even though it was just one shade, the white fabric added more depth and dimension to her attire, creating a mesmerizing sight. The contrasting shades, the flaming red and gold trimmings on the sleeves and neckline, hems and ribbons in her hair shimmered under the warm rays of the sun, igniting the scene with their vibrant hues as the colors came alive.
As she walked, the fabric of her dress rustled, emitting a soft whisper that seemed to dance in the air. Her red satin cloak, adorned with a narrow strip of snow white brocade along the hemlines, enveloped her with a gentle swish as she glided forward. The absence of a white fox fur collar, a fur that was a popular choice among young women her age, gave her ensemble a unique simplicity. This simplicity, however, only enhanced the overall elegance and warmth of her outfit, perfectly mirroring the exquisite beauty of her dress.
On her forehead was a meticulously drawn lotus hudan. Her fair complexion was the color of a white orchid, and the faint scent of rice powder from her skin lingered in the air behind her. Her eyes, resembling those of a gentle doe, were accentuated by dark pigments, creating a mesmerizing allure. Delicately drawn like rounded mountains, her eyebrows framed her face most elegantly. She had a generous, pouty, sensuous mouth that had been pressed red with vivid crimson paper.
As she moved through the crowd, they parted like the sea. Those close enough could smell a subtle fragrance of sweet osmanthus oil extracted from the flowers around the manor from her skin. Madam Li, who could have been mistaken for the empress, humbly bowed to everyone she passed, displaying deep respect and gratitude. Before entering her sedan, Madam Li plucked two elegant golden hairpins from her hair. She gave Little Min the golden feather and Mrs. Ma the butterfly filigree hairpin and carefully placed it in Mrs. Ma’s bun. She bent at her knees, bowing lower than Mrs. Ma, and spoke in a gracious whisper only Mrs. Ma could hear.
She said, “Thank you, Nanny Ma. You have been like a mother to me today. I am grateful to you for giving me something nobody else can or has. Though it’s not as meaningful as your gift to me. Please accept this hair pin that was given to me by my royal aunt, the empress. I, Princess Yueli, owe you a debt of gratitude. I will always remember the affection and kindness you’ve shown to both my husband, Fourth Prince Jinghua, and me, his Princess Consort, Bai Yueli.”
What a great boon! What a fine present! She considered herself quiet blessed. Mrs. Ma was thrilled. Madam Li had given her a wonderful one of a kind gift, but it took only a few seconds for her parting words to sink in and her delight to turn into shock. Mrs. Ma was so overwhelmed that even a light breeze could have knocked her down.
Aya! Amituofo!
How was such a thing even possible? She suddenly realized that she had not only planned a wedding for the future Empress, Princess Bai Yueli, but she had also committed the worst kind of treason one could lose their heads over, high treason. Because the groom was not the crown prince, but his younger twin, the Emperor’s fourth son, Prince Jinghua.
Wedding~
The picturesque lakeside is fresh and wonderful. The air is full with the floral fragrance of blooming dove trees, which have delicate white flowers. On the water’s surface, there are large white and grey feathered cranes, like the ones in classic paintings. They are towering, graceful looking birds with long necks, long legs, and very broad wings, which make them aesthetically pleasing. However, their bird sounds are not melodic, soothing or peaceful.
In fact, one could describe the clamorous sounds as offensive.
They are making honking, hissing, and alarming loud noises that are startling. These birds are looking for mates. It sounds like a group of drunken suona horn blowers playing different music all at once. The noises are annoying, obnoxious, but all we can do is laugh. Jinghua doesn’t laugh much, but today, he is chuckling heartily and clutching his side. The rambunctious cranes in heat have brought humor to his usually earnest demeanor and tears of laughter to his eyes.
“Stop laughing,” he says sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a knife as he finds his lost composure. His eyes narrow as he glares towards the cranes, their supple movements filling the air with a symphony of flapping wings and noisy mating calls. “They are so rowdy! Why didn’t anyone tell me they were mating?” he demands, his frustration evident in the furrowed lines on his forehead.
I simply shrug and respond, my cheery voice filled with amusement. “When relying on nature, one must accept what nature sends his way. But don’t worry about those birds. Those romance seeking cranes are merely mirroring your state of mind. You, the groom, are looking quite handsome today.” I compliment him, and Jinghua drops his gaze and shakes his head at me modestly.
People think he’s spoiled, arrogant, and cold, but he is actually quite modest, unpretentious and warm. Others assume he knows how attractive he is, hence he’s lustful, but Jinghua doesn’t know how handsome he is and he’s not a skirt chaser. He never has been. He honestly doesn’t understand why women hound after him as they do or beg to be one of his concubines. Jinghua is loyal. If he wasn’t forced to marry Lady Min, he’d likely have only one wife for life. He doesn’t easily give his heart away. When he does, it’s all or nothing for him.
He’s shy and a man of few words, so he’s often misunderstood, but his words are deep and meaningful. He’s quiet because he’s introverted and reflective, always prioritizing others over himself. Jinghua’s personality resembles the lake – calm, even, and unruffled. I’ve often envied how he’s always so logical, temperate and prudent, like now, while I’m sweating uncontrollably. This guy, he’s calmly looking at the scenery. I struggle to make small talk at this important event between my two best friends. Weddings have always had this peculiar effect on me. They make me nauseous. Weddings clearly don’t agree with me, hence why I’m going to be a bachelor for life. I distract myself by rushing to the altar at the end of the red rug, decorated with incense, exclaiming, “Look how perfect everything is! Even the Gods are blessing your marriage today.”
The rock altar itself has been decorated with red and gold fabric, perfect for a sacred union or blessed event. I ask Jinghua of his upcoming lifelong commitment, “Are you nervous about getting married?” He appears calm and confident. He replies composed, “Who’s nervous? Me? No, why would I be? A-li is my chosen one. I’m overjoyed and excited about our future.” Jinghua speaks with pure foresight, and I feel foolish for underestimating my best friend.
It is just like him to be this confident. Nothing makes him waver. If he one day told me his testicles were made of metal, I might believe him.
I firmly pat his back and watch with subtle interest as Jinghua saunters off, scanning the carpeted walkway, his gaze fixated on the route A-li would soon follow. With the focus of a bird of prey, his eagle eyes meticulously analyzes his every step. Jinghua paces back and forth, but using smaller steps as a petite woman might take. Suddenly, his thick brows furrowed in deep contemplation, as he turns to me and declares saying, “There are too many trees in this forest. Who planted these trees so closely together?” With hands securely planted on his hips, he muses aloud, his mellow voice becomes bassy with concern. “To have such an excess of branches, what kind of demon trees are these?” he wonders, his eyes tracing the intricate patterns of the branches above. His thoughts shifts to the potential hazards, and he ponders, “What if one of them snags my A-li’s delicate dress or accidentally scratches her tender skin and draws blood?”
Jinghua’s tightened gaze leads my eyes to the wicked branches. I agree, there are too many branches on these trees. I wonder if I should look for branchless trees instead? I run around in a small circle, flustered, pushing my purple cloak back forcefully. The jade pendant hanging from my neck chokes me. I suggest in haste the impossible. “Maybe we should move the stone altar over there along the water’s edge? It’s huge, but maybe we can chisel it off this rock wall bit by bit and roll it. It would be a beautiful backdrop to bow to heaven and earth, with no tree branches to worry about. What do you say to that idea?”
Jinghua shakes his head slow while squinting his eyes. He points, focused on the dry pebbled waterline that isn’t deep enough to dampen the soles of his boots, and suggests the absurd. “No. That’s clearly too dangerous. What if my A-li were to slip, fall, and get pulled into the lake by one of those excited cranes? She could drown. How will I explain that to Royal aunt and the Grand General?”
My mouth goes dry from panic. My forehead wrinkles, copying his expression of deeply furrowing brows as I processed the potential consequences. My nervous voice suddenly breaks and goes high like it did before I reached puberty, full of urgency and desperation as I look to Jinghua, hoping for a feasible solution to our predicament. I squeal. “We can’t let that happen! What should we do?”
Jinghua and I stared at each other in silent contemplation before Jinghua suggests in earnest. “Qing Yuan, use your sword. Let’s quickly cut some of these trees down before she gets here. We’ll use the carpeted pathway as a guide. You cut the ones on your side, and I’ll chop the ones on mine.” We nod in agreement, taking our places, standing shoulder to shoulder, our long swords ready in hands. We survey the pathway to clear it and make it wide enough for A-li when we realize, we see this path is not only wide and safe enough for A-li, but it could easily accommodate three full-grown burly men in full armor walking side by side.
I look up to the heavens and pray out loud, “Oh, Heavenly Lord, where has my calm, logical friend gone? And who is this lunatic by my side?” I then turn to the tense groom who just told me he wasn’t the slightest bit nervous, “Jinghua, are you crazy? There’s enough space for A-li and I’m sure Pangu planted these trees. And every tree under the sky has branches. Put down the sword before you startle your bride.” I snort like a pig, wagging my finger at Jinghua. It’s rare I get to laugh at him for acting a fool.
Jinghua sheepishly admits to feeling nervous. He becomes wide-eyed upon hearing A-li’s sedan approaching. His long fingers and hands shake as he removes his cloak, flipping it inside out, revealing the hidden red side. I assist him in securing it with the silver bamboo ornament, a gift from his brother. I comment, noticing the golden embroidery on the collar. “That’s a nice turtle,” I add, and Jinghua replies seriously. “Qing Yuan, you need to have your eyes checked. It’s not a turtle. Look well, it’s a magnificent golden dragon soaring through the air.”
“Huh?! How is that possible?” My eyes widen in disbelief. “Is that truly supposed to be a dragon?” I’m flabbergasted. In all my years, I’ve never seen such terrible sewing. It’s so awful that I almost curse out loud when a soft voice comes from behind. “Unless you two plan to marry today, Qing Yuan, you’re standing in my spot.”
She explains her sudden appearance. “I know I was supposed to wait for you to come and escort me, but I am impatient to get married today and become someone’s Princess Consort.”
Jinghua and I are suddenly jolted by the sound of A-li’s melodic voice, causing us to swiftly turn our heads and our bodies follow. In that moment, I can’t be the only one overwhelmed by her as a choked gasp escapes my lips. My breath catches in my throat as our eyes meet. I am enchanted. I am enthralled. I am enraptured by the exquisite sight before me.
A-li’s eyes, filled with unspoken words, shine with an ethereal beauty despite the red cloud-shaped fan covering her most of her face. Her eyes shift, moving from mine to her groom’s face. The intensity of their gaze locks them in a timeless connection, as if they have endured countless lifetimes of separation rather than just a few scant hours. Finally, a smile dances on Jinghua’s face, and in response, A-li’s cheeks flush with a delicate rosy hue of a blushing bride.
A-li’s small hand doesn’t tremble at all as Jinghua, her husband to be, takes it and guides her down the auspicious red pathway set between the trees. Her small steps look weightless, as if she is walking on fluffy celestial clouds and disconnected from the ground beneath her. On both sides of the red pathway are dove trees with white dove-like flowers in full bloom, their delicate colourless petals fluttering in the breeze, adding to the stunning backdrop for their sacred union. Suddenly, Jinghua and A-li are on their knees, the earthy scent of incense filling the air as they bow, paying homage to the heavens, bowing to the earth, bowing to their ancestors and towards the capital to their families before finally bowing to each other.
The bowing ceremony is followed by Jinghua and A-li offering each other tea with both hands to show their respect for each other, the delicate porcelain cups in their hands symbolizing purity and unity. Their eyes meet, losing themselves in each other’s gazes and in that moment, I watch them recognize each other for the first time in their eternal bond as lawful husband and wife. Their presence together is akin to a heavenly offering, as if they are divine beings disguised within their mortal shells.
Crown Prince Jingyuan~
Jingyuan perused the urgent message sent by one of Grand General’s Ghost Soldiers, delivered by a carrier pigeon. He carefully read it twice, then proceeded to burn it until it turned into ashes. The contents of the message revealed that Jinghua and A-li had gotten married without the approval of their royal father. They had yet to resolve Jingyuan’s engagement to her or gain the official documents validating their union as legal. However, the true source of Jingyuan’s anguish lay in his immortal remembrances.
The memories of High God Mo Yuan had come back to life inside his mortal vessel.
Mo Yuan could not use his dragon magic. However, he believed that his age and cultivation made the water of oblivion useless in erasing his memories for the entire duration of his mortal trial. The timing of everything felt incredibly cruel. Just a few weeks after granting Jinghua permission to be with her, Mo Yuan’s memories came flooding back. In a matter of three weeks, Bai Qian once again became his sister-in-law.
In some sense, he was at fault. It would have been better had he done nothing since Jingyuan and A-li were supposed to get married. However, Jinghua and A-li fell in love. This was ironic because Jingyuan basically gave A-li to his brother on a silver platter, and now he was in a similar situation as before. It all began when he became Bai Qian’s brother-in-law instead of her warrior god. Despite this, he still desired her and loved her deeply.