The Eldest Princess walked with graceful steps, her phoenix-embroidered gown trailing across the stone floor. A Li carefully guided her toward the bridal chamber already prepared. Along the path, rows of red candles burned brightly, marking the way of good fortune.
"At this moment, Your Highness and Young Master are husband and wife under Heaven," A Li whispered. Her heart was filled with relief—though this wedding was different from what she had once hoped for, she felt peace. The Eldest Princess had found someone she truly loved, and who loved her in return.
Once the chamber doors closed, the world outside grew silent. Only the scent of warm tea and sandalwood incense filled the room. Crimson curtains hung around the phoenix bed, creating a sacred yet intimate space.
The Eldest Princess sat at the edge of the bed, waiting for Lang Huan to arrive and lift her veil. Her makeup tonight was bolder than usual. Just imagining Lang Huan's dumbfounded face at her beauty made her smile.
---
Meanwhile, Master Xuan Kai stood in a side corridor, arms folded beneath his robe. His face was calm, but the crease between his brows revealed unease.
Lang Huan approached, the faint smell of wine still clinging to her. She bowed politely, though her cheeky grin never faded. "Master, you called me?"
"Lang Huan, I do not understand the bond between two women… but I hope you will not disappoint Her Highness's kindness."
She laughed. "Master… your face looks like you're about to swallow me whole. Don't worry. I'll love her with all my heart."
Just then, A Li appeared from the corridor, her expression gentle but her eyes carried a sharp glint of meaning. She bowed slightly, a knowing smile on her lips.
"Young Master," she said softly, "it is time. The Princess has been waiting in the chamber."
Her grin widened. "Alright then. I won't make her wait any longer."
The heavy wooden door creaked open. Lang Huan stepped into the bridal chamber, sandalwood smoke curling faintly in the air.
But the sight before her turned her blood cold.
The Princess lay collapsed on the floor, her crimson veil fallen aside, her hairpin shattered. A black snake coiled near her, scales glinting with an eerie light, its forked tongue flickering.
"Your Highness!" Lang Huan shouted, rushing forward without a second thought.
The snake hissed, striking with lightning speed. Murderous intent poured from its glowing eyes.
Rage ignited in Lang Huan's chest. She lifted her palm, qi surging like a storm. The air around her trembled; the crimson curtains rippled violently as her inner force erupted outward.
Her palm struck. A deafening crack split the chamber. The snake twisted in agony before shattering into fragments of scale, crushed under the weight of pure qi. The pieces scattered across the floor, the smell of scorched venom lingering in the air.
Silence returned, broken only by the rapid beating of Lang Huan's heart.
Quickly, she dropped to her knees beside the Eldest Princess, lifting her carefully. "Your Highness, can you hear me? Are you hurt?"
But soon, Lang Huan's eyes widened in terror. Feng Yao's lips had turned dark blue as if poisoned.
"No… no, no!" Lang Huan's heart pounded wildly. Panic seized her chest. She wanted to lay the Princess back on the bed, yet fear gripped her. What if another snake was still hiding in the chamber?
Without wasting another second, she lifted the Princess into her arms."Hold on… don't leave me!"
"Master! Master Xuan Kai! Please—come quickly!!"
Her cry echoed through the halls. Servants gasped and scattered in shock. In that instant, all the festive joy of the wedding night shattered into chaos.
Master Xuan Kai rushed into the hall, his robe sweeping the ground as he knelt beside the Eldest Princess. His sharp eyes immediately caught the dark mark on her arm and the frightening shade of blue that had spread across her lips. "Snake venom…" he muttered grimly.
"Her Highness… she was bitten by a snake!"
A Li covered her mouth with trembling hands, eyes brimming with tears. Lang Huan's heart was in turmoil. She gripped Master Xuan Kai's collar, her voice breaking.
"Master, what should I do? Tell me! Save her—please!"
"Calm yourself." Xuan Kai's tone was firm, though his brows were deeply furrowed. He gently pulled Lang Huan's hands away, then pressed his fingers against the Princess's pulse.
After a long, heavy silence, his face darkened. "The venom has already spread quickly through Her Highness's body…" His voice dropped lower, grim. "To be honest, I have never seen snake poison this fierce before."
The air thickened with dread. A Li sobbed, Qiu Yue shook her head in disbelief, and Wu Ming slammed his fist against the wall in frustration.
"Then… is there no way to save her?!"
Master Xuan Kai remained silent. After a long pause, he sighed deeply, unable to give any answer.
Lang Huan, her hands trembling, pressed her palms against the Princess's body and began pouring her qi into her. "Please… please hold on…"
"Stop," Xuan Kai said firmly. "It's useless. This venom is too strange. You'll only waste your strength. Save your energy."
"I don't believe you!" Lang Huan screamed, her voice cracking with desperation. Tears burned her eyes.
Ignoring her master, she leaned down, pressing her lips against the wound on Feng Yao's arm to draw out the poison with her own mouth.
BANG! A powerful force struck her shoulder. She was hurled to the side, stumbling against the wall.
A figure stood in the hallway—it was Lang Ruhua. She had not planned to attend Lang Huan's wedding. In her heart, she only wished to see her one last time… to say farewell. But the moment she arrived, chaos unfolded before her eyes.
"You…" Lang Huan whispered, stunned.
Lang Ruhua's gaze was complicated. She clenched her fists. "Idiot monkey. You'll throw away your life if you do something so foolish."
Lang Huan's eyes lit up the moment she saw her. She crawled forward, clutching Lang Ruhua's sleeve with desperate strength. "Please… save her! I know you have a way!"
Lang Ruhua looked at her, then at the unconscious Princess. Her gaze softened, though her voice remained firm. "Take her to the inner room first. I will examine her."
Without hesitation, Lang Huan lifted Feng Yao into her arms and carried her inside. A Li and Qiu Yue quickly followed, while Wu Ming stood guard at the door.
Inside the room, Lang Ruhua sat beside the bed and rolled up the Princess's sleeve. Her eyes darkened at the sight of the swollen bite mark and the blackened veins spreading across her arm.
From her sash, she drew a thin golden needle, its surface glowing faintly under the candlelight. She pressed her fingers along Feng Yao's arm, tracing the poisoned meridians.
"Hold her steady," she ordered.
Lang Huan immediately held the Princess's shoulders. A Li gripped her hand, whispering prayers under her breath.
The golden needle pierced a vital channel. Lang Ruhua's qi flowed through the needle, forcing the venom to stop spreading.
Beads of sweat formed on her forehead. "This is not an ordinary snake venom… there's no way the snake just appeared here by accident. Someone must have put it here."
Lang Huan's mind raced, who would do such a thing? with Feng Yao's ruthless temper, it wasn't surprising if she had drawn countless enemies to herself.
The black lines that had been creeping across Feng Yao's skin slowly halted. Though her lips remained dark, her breathing grew a little steadier.
Lang Huan's eyes shone with tears. "She's… she's safe?"
"For now. I've blocked the poison from reaching her heart. But this is only temporary. If we don't find the true antidote soon… she won't survive."
Where can I get the antidote?" she asked, eyes searching Ruhua's face for any sliver of hope.
Ruhua looked at the dark veins on Feng Yao's arm, then back at Lang Huan.
"I'm afraid… there may be no antidote for this venom," she said slowly. "And if an antidote does exist, no one knows where to find it. We won't have enough time."
In the doorway, Master Xuan Kai swallowed and stepped forward. "A Li, Qiu Yue—give them some privacy," he said in a low voice. The two women backed away, eyes red.
Lang Huan forced a smile that did not reach her eyes. "I can't just stand here and watch her die. I'll try to suck the poison out…"
Something inside Lang Ruhua snapped. Her heart ached as if someone had squeezed it, and anger flared across her face. "Do you want to die?" she barked.
Lang Huan's hands tightened around the Princess's wrist, her knuckles whitening. 'I don't want to die… but I can't live without her either."