Chapter 2 - Imperial Decree (1/2)
Fourteen years later after Xian Ai died...
In the Xian family's mansion at Fēngfù City at dawn, the maids were busy battling with a girl who was afraid to dip her n.a.k.e.d body in a bathtub full of hot water and flower petals.
”Ahh! Noo! It's so hot. Can we skip the bath? Can we dress up?” asked the girl that would become a bride today. She was afraid the smoking water would scald her and held hard on the door as if her life depended on it, while two girls pulled her arms so she would let go and another one grabbed her waist.
By the time her grip loosened, they quickly pushed her inside the tub, making her scream as the high water temperature hit her skin, splashing water on the floor. Somehow, after a minute passed, the temperature became tolerable and relief flowed through her chest.
She leaned on the tub wall to relax but suddenly she felt someone began brushing her arm with a cloth. The girl angrily bit the owner of the hand without hesitation. The poor helper loudly yelled, ”Ahh! That hurts. My lady, please, don't make it hard for us!” Her voice reverberated in the silent air while the sun was still hiding behind the mountains.
Xian Xinyi retorted, ”I don't want anyone touches me.” She grabbed the cloth and scrubbed her face while wagging her tongue at everyone.
However, the rest of the household didn't bother with the struggles to go on inside the bride's chamber. They were full of life and buzzing with excitement. Lanterns, curtains, and paper flowers, all colored red, filled every corner and column post.
Two hours later, a bridal carriage passed through Ren' Ailu, the main street of Fengfu City.
The Xian's eldest daughter wore the traditional red head-cover and her velvety black hair laid on her back while she wore the red traditional wedding dress. She sat peacefully inside the fully curtained bridal carriage where no one could see her and she couldn't see anything or anyone else outside.
A month ago...
While the moon was battling the sun, Xian Lang, who was now the prime minister and had two grown-up children in his second marriage but the wife had died as well because of sickness, held back his tears. A young girl's wailing echoed threw out his private chambers, but he felt powerless.
Xian Changying knelt before her father while her tears flowed onto his cheongsam. ”Papa, please, please, let me marry someone I love.” Xian Changying plowed her face into her father's garment and wiped her tears while looking at him with her black eyes filled with tears.
Xian Lang frowned while looking at his child's pitiful state and said, ”If only I could. Sadly, if we do not obey the imperial decree, we will all die without honor and be labeled as traitors.”