8 Ring the Wedding Bells (1/2)

”Your majesty, this subject just found her destined man!”

The emperor, Wei Zhu, sat on his dragon throne as he rested his left cheek on one palm that rested on the armrest. His eyes glowed as he watched the sunset and the changing sky. It was a view that the previous emperors had requested to the imperial engineers from dynasties ago. A special request upon the opening of the thirty feet tall doors, a breathtaking view of the skies that can take away the pain of overwhelming reports and subjects who just can't get settled.

When his cousin's voice came barging in from below, he nodded but refused to look at the nuisance. For as long as he knew, she was the cousin he was supposed to avoid since the child was born, and yet here she is. The battle seemed to have not been able to rid him of his misery. So was his matchmaking plan. Wei Xia Ri was a powerful chess piece who was aware of her power and overused it for as long as she lived. She was a little troublemaker when young, a spoilt princess in her early teens, and a big-time tyrant the years after. She even lost three thousand men to an ambush!

Lately, his son, the fifth prince had been whispering many curious thoughts and ideas about Wei Xia Ri saying she had been behaving like usual yet at the same time, different than before. Moreover, she no longer chased after Zhong Lei. The emperor dropped his sight to his wonderful cousin who makes wonders in the empire. And much to his surprise, a beautiful yet familiar boy was standing beside the lady.

A smile finally graces his lips and lifted his spirits.

Her arms were wrapped around his waist as she cuddled with him like a monkey. Her bold way of showing her affection earned her contemptuous stares from the ministers on either side of the throne. But such behavior was easily pardoned by such good news.

”Zhen has thought it right. Princess Ruge needed such happiness!”

”Your majesty is always right,” Wei Xia Ri agreed. Though Cai Jin was bad news, he was smoking hot.

”What is your name, boy?”

His beautiful and clear black eyes lowered to the sight of the emperor's golden, dragon robes. With a small bow, the handsome peacock reacted gracefully and followed with a respectful tone. ”Your majesty, this subject is called Cai Jin.”

Wei Xia Ri quickly furrowed her brows. 'Why would these ancient people belittle themselves this much! This is beyond self-respect. The emperor is only human with a higher authority!'

For a moment, there was a bit of silence as the emperor pretended to scan the man chosen by Wei Xia Ri. But upon hearing his name, he knew who he was exactly. He was among the sons of small-time imperial officer's many concubines. He was only as good as a commoner in terms of status. What good can he do but drag his official wife down from the ranks of authority? Especially since he was only just a worthless philanderer which will consume the almighty general's mind in the long run.

”Zhen has heard of Cai Jin, and wonders how General Wei found you?”

Though Cai Jin's favorite hobby was finding pleasure in women and his mind can calculate the quickest way to get a woman's interest, his brain processed a bit slower than usual when it was the emperor making a small conversation with him. His eyes turned to the woman who offered him a good dowry and the son of heavens seating on the dragon throne.

Before he was able to answer, Wei Xia Ri laughed. ”It is love at first sight!”

”Guhhuuk!” The emperor's elbow accidentally slipped off the armchair. Yet he straightened his spine and coughed for a bit as if nothing happened. ”There are many mysteries in this world and General Wei Xia Ri has brought one out.”

'Was that a poem?' Thought the general. It sounded like one. . . anyway, who cares?

”Your majesty?”

”Zhen is simply thinking of your happiness. Cousin, Zhen shall bestow you the dragon's blessing. Why not have your wedding held within the week?”

Wei Xia Ri tilted her head. Now that she thought about it, to spend her life with the smoking hot peacock on her right was a fortuitous encounter. He seemed to be in trouble given his impulsiveness from a while ago as if something was troubling him. However, what can trouble him? Is it bigger than this emperor himself?

”His majesty is too gracious!” She accepted nevertheless.