Chapter 6: Arranged Marriage

Lu Huaijin’s thumb pressed heavily against Su Yao’s lips, the vermilion color instantly staining the inner edge of his jade thumb ring.

She turned her head to avoid him, but he gripped the nape of her neck with such force that the jasmine silver hairpin in her hair bent, piercing her skin.

“Stubborn?”

He chuckled lowly, using his fingertip to smear the blood on her lips onto his own, “Three years ago, the night you escaped from the brothel, you were far more stubborn than you are now.”

Su Yao trembled all over.

“Yao’er...” He suddenly captured her blood-stained lips, the scent of cedar mingling with iron rust spreading between his teeth. “You should know, I wouldn’t hurt you seriously.”

Three years had passed, and Su Yao perhaps hadn’t even realized she was powerless to leave the man before her.

For those three years, she had been confined within high walls. Even if she escaped from the Lu residence, could she truly adapt to life outside and spread her wings to fly?

The world was vast—where could she possibly find her father or brothers?

Her life had irrevocably changed from the moment Lu Huaijin saved her that night.

Lu Huaijin gently waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to take the two fierce wolfhounds out of sight.

“Now, you should be satisfied, right?” he asked softly, his fingers lightly stroking the strands of Su Yao’s hair with a tenderness that could soothe a crying child.

Su Yao clutched his hand tightly. “When will you enter the palace?”

Lu Huaijin pondered for a moment.

“At dawn, I must attend an audience with His Majesty. For the next few days, I probably won’t be able to see you.”

Upon hearing this, Su Yao felt a surprising sense of relief.

The man carried her back to her room, and the servants dared not even raise their heads to look.

Inside, the candlelight flickered, casting the intertwined shadows of the two.

Lu Huaijin’s breath was close, misting her face with a weighty presence.

Their eyes met; his gaze burned with heat as he slowly lifted her chin, compelling her to look into his eyes.

His lips pressed down, slipping into her mouth in a passionate entanglement.

His fingers gently pulled aside her clothing, desire flickering inch by inch in his eyes, breath growing heavy.

The candle burned low and bright through the night.

The next morning, Su Yao awoke to find several servants newly attending her small courtyard.

It was clear without thinking—Lu Huaijin’s spies were everywhere.

Her every move was reported to the man’s ears; even without meeting, she could not escape his grasp.

“Chun Tao, I won’t be going out today to avoid angering the master again and causing unnecessary trouble. You will go to the Chongren Hall and bring back a prescription of medicine according to this recipe.”

“Miss, are you feeling unwell again? If you’re ill, it would be better to have the doctor come to the residence.”

Su Yao shook her head lightly and pulled out a yellowed prescription from her sleeve, handing it to Chun Tao.

“I... am fine. It’s just some medicine to regulate my health. You take this prescription, and they will know how to prepare it. But please, don’t let others hear of this,” she said, slipping her jade bracelet into Chun Tao’s hand.

“No, Miss, I cannot accept this. Serving you is my duty; you’re spoiling me.”

Chun Tao did not understand why a tonic should be kept secret.

Outside, the fine rain wove continuously, the pattering sound striking the eaves and softly tapping at Su Yao’s heart.

She rose and stepped slowly to the window, gazing at the hazy world beyond.

Rain poured in columns from the eaves, splashing into little blooms of water.

The cold wind blew, and the plum blossoms at the corner swayed in the storm, petals drooping under the raindrops. Su Yao’s eyes lingered on that plum tree—did it too bow its head?

Chun Tao brought two bowls of dark, bitter medicine. “Miss, should this be taken while hot?”

Su Yao answered softly, taking the medicine, her brow involuntarily furrowing.

“Why two bowls?”

“One is the tonic from your prescription; the other is a fertility medicine ordered by the master.”

“Leave it be; it’s hot. I will drink it later.”

Chun Tao was surprised; last time, Su Yao had been reluctant to take medicine, but today she cooperated.

“Miss, it’s better to drink it while hot.”

Yet Su Yao did not intend to take it immediately. She waved her hand gently, signaling Chun Tao to leave. “I know what to do. You may go now.”

Though reluctant to leave without seeing her drink the medicine, Chun Tao obeyed and closed the door behind her.

Once alone, Su Yao lifted the contraceptive medicine and drank it all at once. The bitter liquid spread across her tongue, causing her to frown slightly before she smiled with relief.

She had always taken this birth control medicine secretly, fully aware of its cold nature. Every time her period came, unbearable cramps seized her, as if knives were twisting inside.

But she was clear—she would never bear a child for that old man. A child born without status from a concubine would only be scorned.

She had endured enough suffering; how could she bear to let her child suffer the same fate?

Without hesitation, she picked up the other bowl of fertility medicine and poured it onto a nearby potted plant.

*

Five days later was Su Yao’s birthday.

At midnight, curled beneath the brocade quilt, she counted the passing hours. The familiar cedar scent still clung to her pillow, but he had not entered this room for many days.

For reasons she did not understand, she suddenly thought of him, even though she wished not to see him.

She buried her face in the cool silk and remembered last year’s birthday, when he rode through the snow thirty miles to the capital just to pin a creamy white jade hairpin in her hair.

Before dawn, she could not fall asleep.

The copper bell at the eaves jingled softly in the moonlight.

Leaning against the carved lattice, she heard quiet voices in the corridor.

Several elderly servants, clutching brooms, gathered beneath the plum tree.

“The Empress Dowager wants to arrange a marriage for the master!” An old woman in indigo armor whispered, tapping the broom handle with gnarled knuckles. “I heard the Empress Dowager personally selected the bride—a true noble born of gold and jade.”

The woman in a dark green robe gasped and anxiously poked the ground with her broom. “Is that really true? What about the one in that room...?”

“What do you know!” The indigo-clad woman lifted her chin smugly. “My master drives the carriage daily; just yesterday, I saw the lady in charge at Cining Palace deliver the betrothal letter.”

She nodded toward the eastern wing. “If she were truly his beloved, would she still be kept in this desolate garden? Three years, and no title to her name...”

She paused, then continued, “It’s just for novelty. Men are like that, especially a heavenly scion like the master—he’s seen all kinds of women.” The woman shrugged as if it were no surprise.

“True, I haven’t seen the master visit for days. I reckon he’ll tire soon, and then who knows what fate will befall this one.”

Moonlight like shattered ice filtered through the window lattice, casting intricate fractures on her pale gown.

A sudden metallic sweetness welled up in her throat—she had bitten her tongue unknowingly.

Su Yao’s brow creased slightly.

Lu Huaijin was going to marry?