The knock had barely faded before an impatient voice rose, loud and incredibly sharp.
"Eldest Miss, the council of elders has convened and requires your presence! Hurry — you mustn't keep them waiting!"
Lian Xue's brow furrowed. They had sent her stepmother's servant to summon her? That could only mean trouble.
She rose from the bath, water sliding from her skin, and moved to her wardrobe. Her fingertips traced the fabrics as she considered her choices. The proper thing to wear would have been white — the color of the Lian Clan, meant to symbolize purity and elegance. But Lian Xue had made her decision before she even opened the closet.
The servants had gossiped about a guest who had come to the estate. Because she was blind, they often seemed to forget that she could still hear. Every careless whisper, every cruel word — none of it escaped her notice. A subtle smile touched her lips as her hands found the garment she sought: a red dress, chosen not for modesty but for the message it would send. Along with it, she found a strip of matching red cloth for a blindfold.
She slipped the dress over her head, feeling the snugness of the fabric as it settled into place. It clung tightly across her chest and hips — tighter than she remembered, though she had owned it for years. The gown, once loose, now traced the curves of her body more than she intended, a silent testament to how she had grown. She was told how beautiful she was. Even those sleazy elders described her body as being the perfect one for a woman. She would have traded every inch of beauty for the gift of sight, for the chance to walk the same path as her siblings without hindrance.
Her hair, black as midnight, fell in long, smooth waves as she brushed it out. Her father had always said she took after her mother — not only in her hair, but in the grace of her face and the quiet strength she carried. Pale skin like polished jade, delicate brows, soft lips touched by natural color — it was beauty she could never behold herself.
When at last she was ready, she tied the blindfold firmly in place and stepped toward the door, moving with the practiced ease of one who had long ago memorized every step of her world.
The door opened, and a familiar scent filled her senses. A moment later, strong arms enveloped her in a firm, protective embrace.
"Xue'er, I'm sorry. I couldn't dissuade them," said the voice she trusted most, filled with sorrow.
"It's all right, Father. You did all that you could," she answered quietly.
Lian Chengwu stood before her, tall, broad, and proud, a man respected not only for his strength but for the steadfast heart that beat within his chest. The moment the elders made their decision, he had cast aside formality and come straight to his daughter's side.
Lian Chengwu's arms lingered around his daughter for a moment longer, as if he could shield her from what awaited beyond these walls. Then, wordlessly, he released her, and they began their slow walk down the corridor. His large, weathered hand closed gently around hers — strong, steady, but trembling ever so slightly beneath the surface.
The estate was hushed, as if even the walls knew what awaited them. The servants kept to the shadows, heads bowed, pretending not to see.
Lian Xue's steps were sure, her head held high, but inside her heart ached with a deep, cold weight. The red dress clung to her as she moved, tight across her chest and hips — a garment that once fit loosely in her youth, now another reminder of the woman she had become. Would they think I dressed like this to tempt him? she thought bitterly. As if a blind girl would seek the attention of a man like Jin Wei.
The name tasted like ash in her mind. Jin Wei — Young Master Jin. She had heard enough whispers, enough drunken boasts carried on the wind, to know the kind of man he was. A lecher. A liar. A wolf hiding behind the thin veil of a noble family name. She imagined his smug face waiting beyond the council doors, eyes already undressing her, already claiming her in his thoughts. She was already regretting her decision to wear the red dress.
"Father," she said softly, her voice steady despite the storm inside, "did they even try to bargain for more? Or did they give me away at the first offer?"
Lian Chengwu flinched as if struck. He stopped walking for a heartbeat, then resumed, his grip on her hand tightening.
"I fought for better," he said quietly, his voice rough with pain. "I begged. I argued. But the elders... they said this match would bring stability. That the Jin family's support would strengthen the clan's position. They spoke of trade routes, spirit stone rights, alliances — everything but you."
Lian Xue's smile was bitter. "Everything but me," she echoed. "Because what am I, to them? Just a tool to barter. A blind girl they couldn't mold into a proper heir. A wasted firstborn."
Her father stopped again, turning to face her though she could not see the anguish in his eyes. His voice lowered, raw and pleading. "Xue'er... I failed you. I couldn't stop them."
She shook her head, gently freeing her hand from his. "No, Father. You didn't fail me. They did. All of them." Her lips pressed into a thin line. "If Jin Wei thinks he's won, if the elders think they've rid themselves of me... let them think so. I'll play the part for now. But I will never belong to him."
The doors to the council chamber loomed ahead now, towering and silent, their dark wood polished to a muted sheen by the hands of generations. Upon them, carved deep into the grain, was the emblem of the Lian Clan — the lotus flower, petals spread wide in graceful bloom, untouched by mud or stain.
Lian Xue could not see it, not as others did. But she knew it was there.
She remembered as a child, no more than seven, standing before these very doors for the first time. Her small fingers had roamed across the cool, smooth wood until they found the carving. She had traced it again and again, memorizing the shape of each petal, the curl of each leaf. In the dark world that was all she had ever known, that lotus had been one of her first maps — a symbol of the clan that claimed her, and yet, never truly accepted her.
Even now, her hand itched to reach out, to feel the grooves she had once found comfort in. But she kept it at her side, her fingers curling into her palm instead. What comfort could that flower offer her now? A symbol of purity, yes — but a purity that had never been meant for her.
Pure? Untarnished? The thought echoed bitterly through her mind. What purity remains when they trade me away like a coin to be spent? When they offer me to a man like Jin Wei, hoping he'll shield them from their own weakness?
Beside her, Lian Chengwu stood silent, his hand resting firm upon her shoulder. She felt the weight of it, a quiet promise that he would stand with her — even if his strength could not change what was about to unfold.
And so, together, they stepped forward. The great doors creaked open, the carved lotus splitting apart as the two halves swung wide, as if the flower itself were opening to reveal the rot that lay within.
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The great doors parted, and Lian Xue entered the council chamber at her father's side, her red dress a silent act of defiance against the fate decided for her and causing more than one elder to frown at her. The chamber smelled faintly of old wood and incense, the air heavy with expectation.
Before her sat the five elders, the true rulers of the Lian Clan — for though Lian Chengwu was patriarch, the face and voice of the clan, it was the elders who held the true power. The patriarch saw to the day-to-day administration: managing the lands, representing the clan to outsiders, overseeing trade, and negotiating with small parties. But for decisions that shaped the clan's future — alliances, marriages, the handing down of techniques — the council's approval was law.
Once, Chengwu's father had been the head elder, and his influence had kept enemies at bay. But with his passing, the balance of power had shifted — and now, Chengwu stood almost alone.
At the center sat Elder Lian Heng, thin as a spear, his sharp eyes missing nothing. As master of external affairs, Heng handled diplomacy, trade, and alliances. His gaze held no warmth, only calculation — weighing gain, loss, and the clan's advantage.
To his right lounged Elder Lian Yanyu, a woman of immense size, her flesh spilling from her ornate robes, heavy jowls trembling with each small movement. Her jeweled fingers fanned herself lazily as she studied Lian Xue with a glint of greed. Mistress of wealth and resources, she cared for the clan's coffers — and saw this marriage as gold in the making.
Beside her sat Elder Lian Baishi, old and hard-faced, keeper of law, land, and justice. His voice was that of order, his mind that of balance. Today, he saw this match as a means to bring peace.
On the other side of Heng sat Elder Lian Duyi, the clan's overseer of martial matters, tall and broad-shouldered, his form still fit and powerful despite his years. His face was carved from stone, his eyes bright with anger beneath furrowed brows. He despised what was happening — the sale of their secrets, the surrender of their dignity.
Finally, at the end of the crescent was Elder Lian Suqin, silver-haired, with fine-boned features marked by sadness. She held the clan's records and histories and bore the weight of tradition. Her gaze on Lian Xue was full of pity, but her vote would not change the outcome.
Near them stood Jin Guang, patriarch of the Jin Clan — reserved, watching like a man inspecting goods before a purchase.
And beside him — Jin Wei.
The young master's smirk widened the moment Lian Xue entered. His eyes devoured the sight of her. The red dress, meant to mock the elders, only fed his lust. His gaze clung to her chest, where the fabric strained against the fullness of her breasts. His eyes also lingered on the gentle sway of her hips and the roundness of her rear as she walked.
She's even riper than I imagined, Jin Wei thought, hunger turning his mouth dry. Those curves, that body... I'll have my hands all over her soon enough. I cannot believe a girl of her quality is hidden in such a backwater. I haven't seen women like her even in the major cities. All that and she is to be mine. A blind girl, proud now — but she'll break. And when she does, oh, how sweet it will be.
He barely heard the elders as they spoke. His mind filled with visions of Lian Xue bent beneath him, of that defiance in her face replaced by submission. Let them dress her up in honor — I'll strip it away piece by piece.
Elder Heng's voice snapped the tension."Eldest Miss Lian Xue. Before we finalize our decision, what have you to say? Speak now."
She lifted her chin.
"I am the daughter of this clan," she said quietly, her voice clear as the chime of silver. "I have no illusions of my worth in your eyes. If you believe this match secures the future of the Lian Clan, if you believe it brings wealth, alliances, and safety, then do as you will."
A murmur rippled through the chamber. Jin Wei's smirk deepened, his gaze once again trailing boldly across the curves of her figure, as if imagining what was soon to be his.
Elder Yanyu leaned forward, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "The Jin family offers us access to their merchant connections and trade routes, control of river tolls, and partnership in their new expansion plans for the nearby cities. We will have their protection in trade disputes and their favor. We would be fools to refuse."
Baishi nodded, though his tone was more tempered. "And the blood feud of old between our houses will finally be put to rest. This match is peace without bloodshed."
But Duyi's voice rang out, sharp as a blade. "And in return we give up our greatest treasure — the Lotus Palm, the art that defines us. We give them our technique and our daughter. We trade away our strength for coin. I stand against it."
Suqin's soft voice followed, heavy with regret. "There are some bargains not worth making. I, too, oppose."
Elder Heng's gaze swept the room, satisfied. "The majority stands. The union will proceed. May it bring prosperity to us all," his gaze narrowed at the father and daughter, "You two are dismissed."
Like those escaping from a fire, the father and daughter pair quickly offered respects before turning and exiting the room.
The doors behind them loomed once more, the carved lotus sealing closed like a silent witness to the bargain made.