As Shayue was about to made her way towards the palace entrance, Mei Yi hurried after her.
"Y-Your Highness, please wait!"
She stopped before Shayue and respectively raised a beautifully crafted phoenix tuanshan with both her hands.
"A bride cannot walk out without her tuanshan, Your Highness," Mei Yi said with her bright eyes.
"It is said to conceal the bride's beauty until the moment heaven and earth witness the marriage. It also symbolizes an auspicious union, marital harmony and refined elegance. It is a prayer that husband and wife shall remain united throughout their life, that's why the full moon represents unity. So Your Highness, we cannot neglect such an important auspicious tradition."
Shayue lowered her gaze towards the tuanshan resting on Mei Yi's palms, it was crafted exquisitely, its smooth ivory silk was embroidered with a magnificent crimson phoenix and blooming lotus adorned in its ivory silk, bordered by soft crimson and black fathers. Jade beads, red crystals, and silk tassels cascaded gracefully from the carved sandalwood handle, chiming softly with the slightest movement.
Faint smile appeared on Shayue's lips, she said to Mei Yi,
"So you remembered, and even told me what is tradition too." While slightly smiling she asked her.
Mei Yi's cheeks puffed a little, playfully.
"Of course! Nanny Wei would have scolded me for not even remembering such an important thing, if I let the Crown Princess leave without her wedding fan, she would scold for rest of her life."
Even Ying slightly laughed at her playfulness.
Shayue accepted the tuanshan, her slander finger curling around the tuanshan polished handle, as she raised it, making the fan concealed the lower half of her face, leaving only her calm, unfaltering eyes visible beneath the golden tassels of her bridal crown. Without any words, she turned and walked towards the palace entrance.
The crimson hem of her wedding robes swept behind her like flowing fire, while the jade and pearl tassels beneath the phoenix tuanshan chimed softly with each elegant step. As Shayue made her way toward the palace entrance, two familiar figures stepped forward from the gathered nobles and the ministers.
Duke Wang and Duchess Wang
The elderly couple bowed respectfully, though the Duchess's eyes had already turned red with unshed tears.
"Your Highness."
Shayue greeted them with warmth, rarely shown before others,
"Uncle Wang, Aunt Wang."
Though they had held the titles of Duke and Duchess for the court, Shayue had never regarded them as mare nobles. Since childhood when she had Xinyi by her side, they supported her regardless of the any matters concern her, they had cared for Shayue with warmth, which she had longed for within imperial palace. In her heart, they had always been her, Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang. A gentle yet warmth reflected on Shayue's eyes as she approached them.
After approaching them her gaze instinctively searched behind them, finding the person she wanted to see the most. She asked them curiously,
"…Uncle Wang, where is Xinyi?"
The Duke sighed softly, she replied, "We do not know, she left earlier this morning."
The Duchess smiled helplessly, "That child… perhaps… could not bear to watch you leave."
Shayue lowered her eyes, a faint smile appeared, but it didn't reach her eyes, she had understood, Xinyi had insisted to accompany her to the Longlin Empire. But Shayue had… refused.
She had chosen to bear the uncertainties of another empire alone rather than allowing her dearest friend to abandon everything for her.
'Xin'er… I am sorry. You must be angry with me. So angry that you didn't even came to say a last goodbye… I really wanted to say this you before leaving you, take good care of yourself. Live freely, laugh enough for both of us, and when if, fate is kind, may we meet again. I would always be thankful to you Xin'er, you have always made me, smile, laugh and because of you I had a wonderful childhood.'
The thought lingered only for a heartfelt moment, before she looked back at the Duke and Duchess.
"Please take care of yourselves… Uncle and Aunt…" she said her voice softening,
"If Xinyi returns back after I depart… tell her, I had left without any regrets, tell her she was the only reason this palace was ever beautiful with laugher and enjoyable."
Shayue smiled gently—a smile touched with a sorrow.
The Duchess finally couldn't hold back her tears, she broke down in front of Shayue, she stepped forward, carefully taking Shayue's hands in her own.
"Good child, you must take good care of yourself too, no matter how far the Longlin Empire may be… our home is always here to welcome you, remember don't exert yourself too much… no matter what just live a better life…"
The Duke's eyes, weathered and wise, held something unspoken. He knew his daughter. He knew her stubbornness, her loyalty, the way love moved her towards reckless things.
"Shayue," he said quietly.
His voice was rough with years of command and hidden tenderness.
"Xinyi is… willful child. More than her mother, more than me," he hesitated,
"If she has done something foolish in her grief, do not blame yourself, that child has never known how to let go of what she loves, child."
Shayue's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the Duchess's hands.
"She is not foolish, Uncle Wang," she said steadily despite the ache beneath it,
"She is the… bravest person I have ever known. Even her anger is a kind of love for me."
The Duchess held her silk handkerchief to her lips, weeping. She whispered,
"She left no note, no word… only her favorite riding cloak is missing. And the silver dagger you had gifted her last winter."
Shayue stilled in her place, the silver dagger, the one she had given to Xinyi with the words,
"Protect yourself, when I am not around, if, I would not be always there for you to do it."
No.
A cold thread of unease wound through Shayue's chest. Xinyi was angry, yes. But Xinyi was also a proud and smart girl. She would not run away from home over a little quarrel. Not without a word to her parents. Not without…
Shayue forced the thought down, forced the iron back into her veins.
"She will return," she said her voice carrying certainty, which she quite did not feel somewhat, "When she is ready. When she has…" she paused, choosing careful words, "… has said what she needs to say to the wind."
"If she doesn't, I would find her myself."
The duke studied her face, the composure, the distance, the faint shadow of worry on her face that could not be hidden, Shayue met his gaze, the Duke's lips curved, the ghost smile beneath the grief,
"That… is why she always loves you, child."
The Duchess released one of Shayue's hands and reached into her sleeves, she withdrew a small jade pendant, carved in the shape of a phoenix, its wings outstretched as if in flight.
"This is, Xinyi's," the Duchess said, pressing it into Shayue's palm,
"She left this on her dressing table. She… she used to say it matched your mother's, that the two of you were the twin phoenixes, destined to rise from different fires."
Shayue closed her fingers around the cool jade, twin phoenixes. She tucked the jade in her sleeves, close to her heart.
"Thank you, Aunt and Uncle, for everything, for every meal we shared, every winter night by your fire and every time you treated me as a daughter rather than a crown."
The Duchess whispered to Shayue with her trembling voice, holding her hands,
"You are our daughter, blood or not, throne or not, you will always be the child who sat beside Xinyi in our garden, playing together, and making our home even more, happy and brighter."
Shayue hold Duchess hands for bit longer, just enough to remember what warmth feels like, then she stepped back, composure returned like armor, steadying her voice,
"This daughter, will always carry you with her, always."
The Duke placed his hand upon his wife's shoulder, steadying her.
"Go, good child, do not let the people waiting for you wait any longer." He said.
Shayue straightened and smiled at both of them, not the cold smile of a Princess, but a true smile, small, fragile, lit from by the memory and hope and the terrible, beautiful weight of love.
"Then this daughter will leave without any regret, take care, Uncle Wang and Aunt Wang."
Step by step, she walked towards the magnificent crimson wedding carriage waiting for her, just before Shayue reached the imperial wedding carriage, a young boy stepped forward from the Longlin escort.
Dressed in a deep black robe embroidered with golden dragon, he carried himself with the composure of a young man expected of the imperial family. Though still youthful, there was already a quite resolve in his bearing, his features retained the traces of adolescence, making him appear more like a noble young master than a seasoned courtier.
He stopped in front of Shayue, bringing both hands together in a respectful salute, he bowed.
"Your Highness."
He was Lin Cheng'an.
The younger cousin of Crown Prince Lin Yechen,
Only thirteen years of age, he possessed a calm disposition and unfaltering determination. Yet under that composed exterior, lay a clumsy sincerity that often surfaced around those he thoroughly cherish. For now… he regarded Shayue as only the Crown Princess of Fengyu Empire, the daughter of an empire that had long stood opposite the Longlin Empire. Nothing more than that,
Shayue returned the salute with a graceful bow with courtesy,
"I have troubled Young Master Lin to escort me."
Lin Cheng'an lowered his head once more, "It is my honor, Your Highness."
Without another word, he stepped aside allowing Mei Yi and Ying to carefully help Shayue ascend in the magnificent wedding carriage. The embroidered curtains fell gently behind them, outside a command rang through the procession,
"Depart, To Longlin Empire!"
The dragon banners of Longlin unfurled proudly beneath the late spring sky, golden dragons danced upon black silk as the banners fluttered in the wind, announcing the departure of the Crown Princess of Longlin Empire.
The palace gates slowly opened, as the procession began to move, whispers spread throughout the gathered crowd.
"So it is true… our Crown Princess is truly leaving today."
"Who would have imagined Fengyu and Longlin to joined through a marriage?"
"They say Crown Prince Lin Yechen has never lost any battle in the past years, from the day he stepped on battlefield."
"But he is also said to be cold and heartless enough to freeze an entire court with his gaze,"
"I only hope Her Highness would be treated well by the Longlin empire."
"Hmph… an alliance with Longlin may bring peace but who know what it also bring, it is like placing our princess among the wolves."
"The fate of Empires has always depended upon such marriages."
The voices faded into one another as the procession advanced beyond the palace, inside the carriage, Shayue had closed her eyes and remained silent, the rhythmic sound of the wheels echoed softly beneath her.
Mei Yi sat across from her, hands folded, eyes half-lidded in that expression of watchful patience she had perfected over years of surviving palace shadows, while, Ying sat beside Shayue, her posture rigid, her fingers never straying far from the concealed blade at her waist.
"You heard them didn't you Ying 'er?
Ying murmured, "hmm… the wolves."
Shayue's fingers traced the edge of her phoenix tuanshan,
"I have never feared wolves, Ying'er. Don't worry."
Mei Yi's lips curved, almost imperceptibly, "The Longlin court will not know what will enter in their gates."
"They believe they have received a bride, a symbol of peace from Fengyu, a hostage in silk," Shayue said softly, "They will learn that symbols can become swords and hostages…" her eyes found the slit of light where the curtain met the frame, "…can become Empress."
Ying's jaw tightened, "And if the Crown Prince is truly as cold as they say than, what?"
Shayue smiled at her, her eyes held no fear, "Cold men make the best allies, Ying'er. They do not waste words on sentiments. They understand leverage. They understand cost." She lowered her gaze a little on the tuanshan, its gold threads catching the dim light, "And they do not see the blade until, it is already at their throat."
Mei Yi spoke her voice in dry whisper, "And Fengyu? The Emperor's letters? His expectations?"
Shayue's expression did not changed, her eyes carried something like water wearing away stone, "The Emperor wants his eyes on the northern borders and Longlin Empire. He wants the secrets across their borders… he will receive only silence, and the understanding that the daughter he sent away has already made her choice."
She turned her face toward the window, though the curtains were closed, "Let him wait for the letter that will only destroy his expectations, and let him wonder."
"Your Highness, would truly choose Longlin over your own blood?" Ying's grip slowly relaxed,
Shayue looked at her then, in her gaze was the weight of years she spent waiting for the warmth that never reached her.
"Longlin is not my enemy Ying'er it is where I will build my place, my home and my purpose. I do not choose blood that never ever chosen me, I choose the future I can shape with my own hands, and if Longlin proves no different, than I will shape it until it becomes one, but I will not look back toward a door that was never ever opened for me."
The carriage rolled on, wheels against stone, hooves against dust, each mile carrying her closer to the future she would carve with her own hands. As they passed through the towering gates of the imperial city… she slowly lifted the curtains of the wedding carriage, her eyes fell upon the empire for the one last time.
The phoenix flag, palace walls and the rooftops, the empire where she was born… and the every empire that was never truly become her home.
'I was never yours, you gave me a title but never your time nor your love. A crown but never your trust, you sent me to be your eyes or maybe… your sacrifice in a foreign court. But eyes see in the both directions, Father. And I have seen enough to know where I must stand.'
Her gaze lingered for only a heartbeat, then, without a trace of hesitation, she let the curtain fall, a faint smile curved beneath her phoenix tuanshan.
'Fengyu, one day… wait for me… to return and to reclaim what has always been… belonged to me.'
To Be Continued....