Ning He
As soon as I woke up, I found myself in a familiar tent. I looked around and saw my closest buddy, who was smiling at me while holding a washbowl.
I was still dumbfounded when Gao Cang told me the year today. I thought I was dreaming and spent days traveling back here in the capital.
Every time that I fell asleep on my way here, I was relieved and afraid that I was still dreaming. I recall every single thing that happened for all those years.
I remember that the empress dowager will send verdicts to the final men that won the competition to be the empress's husbands. I made my choice.
'I won't let you die, Feng Jiu. This time... I'll take care of you. I won't let anyone hurt you again. This time... I'll keep you all by myself. You will only be mine for the rest of my life, Feng Jiu.'
"General Ning... your hands," she says, averting her gaze.
I don't know if my eyes were deceiving me, but Her Majesty... She's smiling and looks happy after I confessed. I don't know if it's my imagination, but if she was indeed happy, I'll make sure to give her more happiness in this lifetime.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty," I modestly stated.
I let her go. She coughs and fixes her clothes. I bow my head. "Raise your head. As my husband, you have to confidently look at me in the eyes," she asserts.
I raise my head and look at her beautiful face. Her brown eyes, long lashes, thin brows, slender nose, and pouty small lips capture me from the very moment I meet her, twenty—I mean ten—years ago.
I still forget that I'm back from ten years ago, before the empress marries Liu Shang and four other men. But... What did she say? "Husband?" I repeated.
She nods and smiles brightly. "In three days, we will get married. So... I own you now. I'll see you on our wedding day, A'He."
My palms ball into fists. I don't care if the empress suddenly changes her mind and wants to marry me. From what I remember, she was persistent in choosing Liu Shang, but... She suddenly changed her trajectory.
'I don't know what you are thinking, Jiu'er, but forgive me. I'm not letting you go no matter how you beg me. You will stay by my side...'
I smiled. "Me too, Your Majesty," I simply replied. I keep staring at her for a few moments when the empress dowager's servant coughs.
"General Ning, we must go," she stated. I blink and face her. "Of course, Madam Hong," I remarked.
I look at the empress one more time. She smiled and nodded lightly. I followed Madam Hong, and we left the palace altogether.
As soon as we arrived in our manor, Grandfather was stunned when she saw Madam Hong. "Naughty kid!" He smacks the back of my shoulder.
"What did you do again? Did you speak rudely to the empress dowager?!" he roars. Madam Hong chuckles. "No. Your grandson was a good man, Lord Ning."
"Here's the royal decree from the imperial palace!" she roars. We all kneel, hold our hands, and bow our heads, waiting for the next words.
"In the year of the Celestial Phoenix, it is hereby decreed that Empress Feng Jiu, revered for her grace and wisdom, shall take General Ning He, a valorous protector of the empire, as her consort and future Phoenix Lord of the empire of Fenghua!" she stated.
My grandfather turns his head and glares at me even if we're all bowing our heads. Madam Hong continues.
"This union, born of mutual respect and admiration, is granted by the Imperial Court to strengthen the ties between the royal lineage and the Ning family, ensuring the prosperity and stability of our great empire," she adds.
"Let it be known that this marriage shall be celebrated with all due ceremonies, and the bond formed shall be honored as a symbol of unity and strength for the ages to come. Thus, let the heavens witness this sacred alliance!" he roars thunderously.
She takes a step closer. "General Ning, Lord Ning, please receive this imperial verdict," she says. "You may all stand up." We all did.
"We humbly receive the imperial verdict. Long live our empire!" I exclaimed.
A day before our wedding, an announcement was posted in the entire empire, declaring my marriage to the empress. I am currently looking at the wedding clothes that were sent to our manor.
I lower my body and touch the fabric. "Is this a dream? If it is... I don't want to wake up anymore," I whispered softly.
I close my eyes when suddenly the empress's bloody and wounded body flashes at the back of my head. The moment I entered the palace.
I saw her crying. She looks so weak and lifeless. The bloodstains in her clothes were hers and her servants', who were all dead in front of her.
I shake my head. "Liu Shang... I'll make you pay! You and your family will taste the bitterness that Feng Jiu experienced. I'll make sure of that!" I growled.
I raise my hand and open my fist. I look at the blood in my palm. I will make her happy. I won't make her cry the way that bastard did to her. "Ning He," Grandfather called.
I already notice his presence as he gets closer to where I am. He looks at the wedding clothes.
"You didn't announce your arrival here in the capital and went straight to the imperial palace without asking my opinion. Tell me the truth, what is happening here?" He paused.
"Why all of a sudden did you become one of the empress's men?" he added. I smiled and placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Forgive me for being an unfilial grandson, grandfather. I know I selfishly ask to be the empress's husband, but... you knew my true feelings for the empress. I was even determined to adopt a son that will inherit the Ning army, but I..."
I look at him intently. I dragged my grandpa, and we took our seats near the window. I poured tea in our cups.
"I know this is too much for you, but I choose to follow my heart's desire. I'm chasing the empress. This time, I won't give her up to some random bastards," I added.
He frowns. I know my grandfather was a wise and intelligent man. He knew that something was wrong.
"I've been living in this world for six decades, young lad. You can't fool this man's eyes. There's a deeper reason why you suddenly chase the empress after you decided to give up a few months ago!" he roars.
"Grandfather, all I ask for now is your trust. Please, let me take care of this one. I want to be selfish this time," I whispered.
He sighed and sipped his tea. "If this is the path that you choose, you must remember that you are no longer just a general and young lord of this manor. Your duty is much heavier as soon as you are crowned as the Phoenix Lord of this empire."
I smiled and raised my cup. "Thank you, Grandfather. I won't let down our ancestors and the entire Ning family," I stated.
He just gazed at me and left without any more argument. "I wonder what the reaction of Liu Shang and the entire Liu family is," I murmured.
That thought didn't leave my head until I found myself walking on the street while covering my face with a mask. I decided to sneak out of the Liu residence and check them.
As soon as I arrived, I sneaked from the backyard and used my martial skills to jump off their gate and roofs.
"What did you say, big brother?! The Ning family receives a betrothal gift from the palace?! Don't tell me General Ning was the man that was chosen to be the phoenix lord?!" Liu Jing roars. I can see them from this distance.
They are in the garden and were all anxious. "How is this even possible, son?" his mother asks.
"No! The rumors must be a mistake. That general didn't join the selection program held by the empress dowager!" He looks at his parents.
"Plus, the empress dotes on me the most. There's no way she will choose that barbaric man!" Liu Shang commented. He is in denial, to be exact.
"Big brother was right, Mother, Father. There's no way that stupid empress will choose General Ning. She loathes him!" Liu Jing says.
My jaw clenched. What she said was basically true. The empress hates me. But why did she insist that she would only marry me?
"My lord! It's not a rumor! Look! The royal palace was posting announcements and declared that the empress was marrying General Ning!" Liu Shang grabbed the paper first.
"There's no way! This is not true!" he screamed.