"Nonsense! What nonsense is that, Mother? I'm to be wed to Lord Tei San in three weeks!"
Madam Bixia adjusted herself, her cold gaze fixed squarely on her. "Well, that can certainly be arranged. I'm sure the Tei household wouldn't mind a cancellation, considering they haven't signed the betrothal application."
Sanxi panicked. "Still... I don't think it's right to have me replaced. What if Lord Yu finds out?"
"I'm quite certain his reaction would be far less deadly than hearing his wedding has been postponed because his bride ran away."
"Still. I—"
"It is finalized, Sanxi," Madam Bixia snapped, rising to her feet. "You are to replace your sister." She turned to Head Maid Ruilan. "Have her prepared."
As Madam Bi set to leave the chamber, Sanxi rushed after her, dropping to her knees and grabbing hold of her green dress adorned with emerald stones.
"Mother, please. Don't do this to me. Please. I—I—I can't do this." She turned to Head Maid Ruilan, her heart pounding like it might rip out of her chest. "Head Maid Ruilan, say something! Please!"
Ruilan shook her head, the sorrow in her eyes clear—there was nothing she could do.
"Mother, please. I love Lord Tei San. I want to marry him."
Madam Bi crouched down and gently cradled Sanxi's face in her hands. "I'm aware... but you must make sacrifices. This is a necessary one."
"Why do I always have to be the one making sacrifices?! Why me?! Why do I always have to clean up after her mess?" Tears streamed down her cheeks, frustration clawing up her throat.
"Please, find another way, Mother. I can't marry anyone that isn't Lord Tei. Please."
"Shut up," Madam Bi spat. "Choosing who you want to marry is a privilege. You should be grateful I even allowed you to choose Lord Tei San in the first place. Now get ready and stop whining."
Madam Bixia stood and turned to Ruilan again. "Get her prepared—"
She was interrupted by a sudden sound. When she turned back, she saw Sanxi holding the hairpin—its sharp edge pointed at her own neck.
"Take your words back or I'll pierce through."
Ruilan gasped, panic overtaking her, but Madam Bi remained completely unfazed.
"Put the pin down, Sanxi," she warned coldly.
"Take your words back!"
"Put the hairpin down!"
"I know the only reason you care about me stabbing myself with this pin is because you need me for your dirty scheme!" Sanxi cried. Madam Bi's expression darkened. "Don't you know? I know all about your desperate plans—to form an alliance with the Yu household and secure that Mayor position. You're so hungry for power you'd sacrifice your own daughter's happiness!"
In one swift move, Madam Bi lunged forward, snatched the pin from her hand, and slapped her across the face.
"Don't be stupid, Sanxi! You don't know Lord Yu better than I do. If he finds out your sister escaped, he'll think we orchestrated it to humiliate him. And do you know what happens when Lord Yu feels humiliated? Do I need to remind you how he had Governor Feng cut into fifteen pieces just for spreading rumors about him?" She hurled the pin across the room. "Now pull yourself together and wear that wedding dress—unless you want to be beheaded along with the rest of us!"
She slumped onto the floor, her tears flooding and eyes which turned into sobs when Madam Bi requests again that Ruilan have her prepared.
It wasn't until later, as she walked down the aisle, Lord Yu holding her hand in his, that she realized that it really wasn't about getting married to Lord Tei San but instead it was about getting married to a monster like Lord Yu. She was simply terrified.
Even after she returned to her chamber, waiting for her maidservants to gather her things and prepare for their departure to Lingyang Fu city—the place where Lord Yu resided—she still shook like a leaf.
Night had almost fallen, and they would most likely stop at a nearby inn and continue the journey come morning. She bit her fingernails anxiously, pacing back and forth across the room.
A gentle tap on the back door of her chamber snapped her attention, and she hurried over to answer it. Li Sheng, the steward of the Han household, slipped inside.
"Did you get it?" she asked, eyes filled with urgency.
He nodded, producing a key from the sleeve of his white robe. He dropped it into her palm, and she clasped it tightly.
"What do you plan to do, Young Lady Han?" he asked in a hushed voice.
"I'm leaving through the back door of the courtyard before sunset."
"You have to be careful, Young Lady. Lord Yu's men are stationed all over the premises."
"They don't know what the bride looks like. I had a veil over my head throughout the rites. Not even Lord Yu has seen what I looked like it'll be easier for me to escape."
"You should have an alibi. There are men posted right outside the chamber as well."
"I do. Bilan has volunteered to pretend to be me."
He reached for her hand and gave it a soft, concerned squeeze. "Young Lady, you know this is highly risky. I'm warning you one last time—think this through."
"I know, Steward Li. I'm not escaping. I'm going to find Sanfei. I know where she might be."
"How do you plan to bring her back?"
"Shingang Inn."
Steward Li's brow twitched in confusion.
"I overheard the soldiers saying they'd be taking Baixian An mountain. We won't be able to make it through to Lingyang Fu city tonight, and the only place along that route where they might rest is Shingang Inn. So, I'll take Sanfei and we'll wait for them there." She exhaled deeply. "We should be able to switch back before daybreak."
"And what if you don't find Sanfei?"
"I'll find her."
Sanxi slipped out through the courtyard's backdoor successfully. As predicted, Lord Yu's men didn't suspect a thing. She had pretended to be Bilan and slipped past them without trouble. Without hesitation, she headed straight for the awaiting carriage, where Bilan's brother stood watching.
"What of Bilan?" he asked the moment she came into view.
"She's settled in the carriage transporting her to Lingyang Fu City. I overheard the guards saying they plan to leave in thirty minutes. We have to get there before them. Let's move fast."
"Sure, Young Lady." He opened the carriage door. "Step in."
She climbed in and leaned back against the seat just as the carriage began to move.
She had only one destination in mind—the place she believed Sanfei might have escaped to. Her heart thudded wildly against her ribcage as the wheels bumped along the uneven, sloping road.
Steward Li had been right. If anything went wrong, she could very well lose her head. The thought of not finding Sanfei clawed at her chest—it was too terrifying to even imagine.
Then, suddenly, the carriage jolted to a halt.
"What is it, Bijun?" Sanxi shouted over the rustling trees.
"There's a rock in our way. I'm moving them now!" Bijun's voice called back.
Sanxi gave a short nod, trying to calm her nerves.
A few moments passed. Growing uneasy, Sanxi decided to peek outside to check on him—but there was nothing. No Bijun. No rocks in sight. Panic tightened around her chest.
"Bijun?" she called softly, eyes sweeping the towering trees around her. There was no path he could've taken. Only the road ahead, winding toward the mountain where she believed Sanfei was.
"Bijun? Are you there?" she tried again, her voice tense.
No response.
Carefully, she stepped down from the carriage and scanned her surroundings.
Nothing. Not a single sign of life.
"Bijun, where are you?"
She rounded the back of the carriage, her breath catching as a metallic scent crept into her nostrils. Her heartbeat thundered.
Blood.
Her steps slowed as she approached.
Then she saw him.
A sharp gasp tore from her lips.
Bijun lay sprawled behind the carriage, his throat sli
t clean, lifeless eyes wide and staring.
Sanxi staggered back, gaze darting wildly around the silent trees, heart pounding in her ears.