•••••••••

I felt Lienna hesitate before she decided to wait no longer for Zhao Ji and passed me over to GeiFei who struggled to hold up my weight. I thought it was a bit weird GeiFei would volunteer to take me home, even weirder that she volunteered first. If I'm not mistaken while in my current state, I'm sure GeiFei's the same woman who treated me coldly since our first meeting. Even after then, she would avoid me like a disease. And when she did speak, she'd normally keep her sentences short and uninterested. I felt uncomfortable in general.

Seeing the small drips of sweat down her chin and the vibrant color of red dulling on her lips as I was looking up at her, I noticed the look she held in her eyes matched Zian's — she was determined to succeed. But it wasn't the only thing I noticed; we weren't going in the direction that was leading me home, we haven't even reached the gates where the soldiers stood watch unless my brain was playing tricks.

"Are we not heading home?" I asked, looking over her shoulder to see the gates we were supposed to exit. I'm sure?

GeiFei was too focused on properly walking without me tripping over myself or leaning to close on her. "We are heading home." She rolled her eyes.

"We are?" My bottom lip sucked between my teeth as my brows reached to meet each other. I glanced back once more. I blinked. Was I seeing wrong or were we truly heading home? "But I think the gate is that wa — "

"You're too drunk to see in the direction we're heading. Don't convince yourself while your brain plays tricks."

A pout formed over my face. "I might not be thinking straight, but I'm positive — " A gasped was forced out at my short legs tripping over the wide stair I failed to notice. My body fell to the floor, my cheek slapping the surface as I fell. And though this was an embarrassing moment to witness, I couldn't help the giggles churning its way up.

Flinging her thin arms, GeiFei let out a tiresome sigh. "Ugh, this is so irritating. Can you not walk properly like a lady?" She must've looked down at me for an answer that I didn't have, filled with laughter. "Do you think I am funny to you? Are you laughing at me? Well, you're funny to laugh at. Ugh! Why must I be the one to do this? Why must I be too shallow and agreed to this? Hurry, get up," I was being grabbed at to stand to my feet.

I'm not sure myself of what was funny nor did I know what I was giggling about, but it made me full and I was happy. Since being here, I can't even remember the first time I've genuinely laughed besides smiling myself to death to please others even when it hurt. Like the old days with my siblings, those days we'd share jokes and play along with each other filling those memories to last much longer. And those were memories I missed the most, memories I knew I was never going to gain back or go back in time to experience once again.

GeiFei sat me down on a cozy couch in a room I didn't recognize. And by the looks of it, this wasn't my house nor was it my bedroom, and when I opened my mouth to express those concerns, GeiFei was already shoving a cup filled with warm substance into my hands. Where did she get this?

I glanced up. "What is this?" I sniffed the cup smelling something strong and unfamiliar. A smell I didn't recognize. 

"It's tea mixed with herbs." She explained. "This will help sober you up so you don't go embarrassing yourself and Zian."

I was hesitant to drink the tea she served me. If there was one thing I've learned from my mother out of multiple, it was to never take things from people with the look of hate in their eyes when seeing only you. But another part of me, the part that failed to get itself together, wanted to finish every last drop of the tea. This event was important to Mr.Xiaomeng and if I wanted to prove myself worthy for his son, I couldn't let myself roam around making a fool out of myself and harm their family's name.

And so, I drunk the tea.

Seconds after finishing the tea and sitting there awkwardly with GeiFei's eyes on me, my vision suddenly became blurry and my muscles felt a lot more relaxed. Even after I blinked a few times, or shook my head to dance away the feeling, the blurriness grew and my body grew more fatigue. I wanted to lie down and rest my eyes for a bit.

"Is it normal to feel a bit," I yawned after letting my body fall comfortably on the couch. "A bit tired?"

"Of course. You stay here and I'll be right back."

I reached out my hand to grab onto GeiFei, but it was already too late seeing her dark figure exit the room where she left me here alone. My eyes closed shut. 

A heavy voice coming from within the walls of the room rang in my ears, causing my body to awaken with a jolt. I woke up so fast that my brain felt as if it was pounding against my skull, and it was. My body still felt somewhat weak, my arm felt numb from lying on it too long, my mouth felt dry, and my eyes still felt heavy and somewhat blurry. But at least I didn't feel as drunk and sluggish as before.

"Who are you? And what are you doing here?" I followed the voice to a figure standing at the entrance of the room, exactly where I remembered someone leaving me at.

It was a woman who left me, it wasn't a man. I knew because as I tried to recall the voice I spoke to, my brain couldn't convince itself to believe it was a man's voice I heard but a woman's. My memory remained fuzzed. There weren't many women I knew, but there were many within the city who side-eyed me occasionally. Especially with me being married to Zian. A lucky fortune, and a sad case, they gossiped.

My attention was forced back to the questioning voice when hearing something move and the figure was now stepping forward. "I won't ask you again, who are you, and what are you doing in my room?" It was a man's voice. A familiar clinging sound shot my body up from the couch and scuffled back.

It was too dark to identify the person and I was unable to recognize their voice, but I could recognize the scraping sound of a sword exiting its scabbard, spotting its pointy glint beneath the small crack of the curtained window.

"I-I-I don't know!" As the figure crept closer, I scooted backward. Off the couch, I fell. I tried standing to my feet but my legs were still sleeping and immediately gave out which resulted in crawling. "Please don't hurt me!"

"I won't have to unless you tell me who sent you?" His footsteps were suddenly heard on my left side. I gasped, attempting to crawl away.

"No one! I don't know how I ended up here!"

And it was true. I couldn't remember even if I was down on my knees judged by my ancestors.

The figure was getting closer and I was soon running out of space to crawl into, leaving me stuck in the open like prey waiting to be killed off. I was still waking up, gathering my displaced thoughts to think accordingly if I wished to make it home cause I knew that if I did nothing now, this man was going to kill me.

I searched the room for an object to defend myself with. Though I'm sure anything wouldn't be able to compare to a sword, it was still worth a try if I wanted to make it out alive. There was nothing. There was nothing insight for me to use to fight off this man, so my only choice was to run.

Using one of the chairs to pull myself up, despite my weakened legs, I tried to run. But so suddenly, my body was thrown back to the ground after my hair was grabbed. My bun fell loose. The same pair of hands grabbed a hold of my legs, dragging me across the floor until I was in between the hold of their legs. After flipping me over to their advantage, I swung my arms at the man, feeling my hand connect hard against their cheek. My feet kicked between their legs.

"Ugh!" The figure fell cupping his man parts.

Quickly, I jumped to my feet to run. My first instinct was to run for the door and keep running for however long and fast I could, but the man was standing in the way of the exit, my legs weren't still recovered, and I was more afraid of him swinging his sword at me than anything. But whatever I do, I must back it back home and alive in one piece.

Once my gaze caught sight of the multiple long, silky curtains hanging from the wall in another room connected, I rushed through and hid behind the darkest shade with little shadows.

I was afraid. More unhinged than anything, forced to remember what I could before waking up here but nothing came but a grey fog blinding it all. I don't who this man was, nor did his voice sound anything familiar. Maybe he's gotten the wrong person? Maybe he's too drunk and it's got his brain thinking all sorts of deranged thoughts? Or maybe he was here for me? Here to kill me.

There was movement heard behind me, somewhere within the room near me — the room I left the man in. Or it was in the room I was in? Their footsteps heavy and long, the floor creaked beneath. I held my breath for as long as I could while placing my hand on my thumping chest to calm down my heart thudding loud and heard through my ears.

"I tried to be nice seeing you're a woman and today's a grand day for me, but then I remember the kind of man I am, and then I remember the countless lives of women I took across our enemies border and how many lives I'm willing to take within my home's nation. Being nice didn't get me where I'm at, and so — " Out of nowhere, a sudden force of an arm threw itself through the curtains, grabbing ahold of me. The impact of his arm had cut off my screams and it was too late to run, my fingers squeezing in between his tight hold around my neck, dragging me away from the curtains. His sword pinching at my waist, his breath filled with alcohol, and his long hairs touching down my neck, he continued. " — I will ask you once more, tell me who you are. Who sent you and why you are here? If you fail to comply, I will not hesitate killing you. Either that or — AHH! FUCK!"

The man threw me to the ground and I was finally able to breathe. His sword fell near my bare hands gasping for air and he was bent over, holding both his hands on his right knee where blood was seen clear between his fingers and the beautiful hairpin Lienna gifted me sticking out.

"I will kill you for what you've you shameless bitch, and I will curse your family's bloodline and make sure none will ever continue." With a painful wail, he pulled the ornament out from his knee and found my gaze. "I will kill you now!"

I gasped. "No."

I wasted no time jumping to my feet. After grabbing the hairpin covered in the man's blood that felt wet in my hand, I ran into the nearest room where I found the exit. I noticed the sky was dark when running out. I had thought my vision went blind until the lowly lit lanterns surrounding the place came to view, which helped my eyes adjust itself quickly and I was able to see much better.

"Peizhi?" My head spun so fast towards his voice that I could've suffered from whiplashed — Zian. My shoulders fell in relief and my heart was full at the clear sight of Zian standing off to the large building across that he just walked around from. He stared a bit longer before finally realizing it was truly me. A disappointed sigh filled his lungs while massaging between his brows as he made his way to me. "Where the hell have you been? I've spent hours looking for you when you should've been home as I asked, and you're — "

"Get that bitch and don't let her get away!" The angry voice from inside the room shouted, commanding the two guards I didn't notice who was standing at the entrance behind me.

My eyes grew big with fear. "Zian," I stumbled down the stairs rushing to him. Zian cursed under his breath and picked up his steps soon after he heard the command. I hit the ground harshly, somehow, I fumbled over my legs while panicking.

It's tea mixed with herbs. A woman's voice echoed. This will help sober you up so you don't go embarrassing yourself and Zian. 

My hand placed itself on my head, the same arm that was being grabbed at. I glanced up thinking Zian had reached me, but it was a face I didn't recognize— it was the guard. I screamed as the other guard took hold of my other arm. "Let go of me! Please, let go! I did nothing wrong!" These men were too strong for me to fight out of their hold nor were I physically strong enough to break out of it.

Zian rushed in front of me with his hands up to reason. "What are you doing with my wife? Let her go this instant."

We were beginning to attract attention. One by one, many heads of noblemen and women and servants gathered nearby to see what ruckus has been caused during this grand feast.

"Zian, you must help me! A man is trying to kill me."

Zian freed his sword upon the word 'kill'. His action frantic the guards, but only one decided to let go of me and pulled their sword too. The other guard took my arm and held them both tightly behind my back. I feared the guard would kill Zian. "I don't want to cause an even bigger scene and ruin this night by shedding blood in another man's home, but if you refuse to let go of my wife immediately, I will use force and it won't be pretty. So let go of her now while I speak kindly." The look in Zian's gaze suddenly darkened with the look of murder on his face. He held his sword up with a tight grip and inched closer with every step they took back. 

Both men were conflicted between two orders; one given by the mysterious man, and the other given by a murderous husband who would spill blood for his wife's safe return. Finally making the decision, the guard holding me back lets me go.

"Zian," Filled with instant relief, I ran into Zian's arms happy to feel his warmth and smell his familiar scent.

Zian moved his sword from my running figure as he wrapped his free arm around my waist, tightly holding me up from almost tripping over my short legs once again. His gaze narrowed. "There's blood on your hands, are you hurt?" He asked with concern, noticing my bun was no longer on top of my head. I was almost surprised by how quickly the tone in his voice changed when speaking directly to me.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine."

"Now, who gave you the right to command my men if the command wasn't heard from me?" My legs trembled upon hearing the heavy footsteps — that skipped its normal patterning — of the man who tried to kill me, appeared from within the darkroom.

My mouth gaped open at the sight of the tall man who stood at the entrance. The noisy crowd of people gasped as well. My hand threw to my mouth and I blinked a few times to make sure the face I was seeing was truly standing there in front of us.

The Grand General, General Wang.

It was then after he immerged from darkness, I realized how deep in trouble I've buried myself in, and how much of that troublesome I brought onto Zian's weight and his family's'. With this one mistake, I just signed myself a meeting with my ancestors and I've might've just brought shame to both my family and Zian's when all I should've done was go home. Why didn't I go home? How did I end up here? I shouldn't have come in the first place.

"General," With his jaw clenched tightly, Zian properly greeted General Wang as both guards behind him did, moving to the side to let him through. A clear sight of wet blood bled through his gown, trailing down to his feet and stained the ground beneath him. Zian noticed and hissed under his breath.

As General Wang walked further into light, his gaze was locked on me. His lips parted slightly and I tore my eyes away, unable to look him in the eyes for all I saw was nothing but the disappointment I've caused both families. And It was obvious he had never seen someone as dark as me and was vividly taken back.

"Xiaomeng Zian," He nonchalantly greeted back. "I hear your father's building a new school west from here? I've also observed the way you've fought on the battlefield and the many ranks you've earned yourself, so I'm sure the men who hear of you wouldn't think twice about baring their swords for a fight. But you see, this bitch here — "

"This bitch here is my wife, and I'd respect you address her properly. I would also respect consulting with me as her husband before you try to arrest my wife without my knowledge."

A woman gasped. "Honey, you're bleeding! What's going on?"

Without opening his mouth, General Wang rose his hand before his pregnant wife took another step closer. His thin lips were pulled tightly into a fainted smile as he took a step forward. I took one back behind Zian. "Consult." He repeated, a taste of humor touched his tongue. "And who exactly are you to tell me what you would respect me to do in my house on my own grounds? Shall I remind you what this b — this woman, your wife has done? First, she trespasses my private quarters. And then like the crazy woman she is, she stabbed me in my leg."

"I don't know how I ended up there," I told Zian in a whisper. "I was protecting myself. He pulled his sword and vowed to kill me first."

"So you tell me," General Wang spoke loud with pride now that there was an audience and by the looks of it, they were all on his side. Of course, they would be. He was a War General and I was nothing more than just the unique wife of a soldier who harmed the Grand General in his home without reason. "how do you think I should handle this problem giving the importance of my title, the injury she's caused, and the audience we've gathered? Nothing's came to mind? Normally when similar situations as this tend to happen, there's a simple saying of an eye for an eye. But instead of her leg, I'd rather take her head since I'm in a good mood. Grab her." 

He gave the order to his men, holding both hands below his back as he stood tall in front of the growing audience. Both guards and two other new faces appeared from behind us with their swords drawn. Within seconds, Zian took my arm and pulled me behind him as he turned his body so that he was standing sideways in between the guards and not caught off guard from behind. He held up his sword ready for a fight.

"If any of you lay a hand on me or my wife, then I will not hesitate to cut you down and send you under. Don't forget my name and how many ranks I've surpassed with my skills alone." He threatened. "And I don't miss. I never do." I stood close behind Zian to the point my body laid flat again this backside.

A boisterous chuckle lingered from General Wang's. "You're a bold talker for someone lower than me. I like you, your spirited character which impresses me, but your 'ranks' are nothing compared to me. But if you must, I guess I will have to finish this myself." He revealed his sword already in his hands causing the crowd to gasp and his wife to almost faint.

Even as a War General, I'm sure he has borne worse wounds on the battlefield so a little stab from a woman's hairpin was nothing to compare. Which explained how quick he was to suppress any signs of pain written on his face and stood up straight as if both legs were unharmed. As General Wang ordered his men to lower their weapons, he continued to make his way towards us. No guilt or sorrow in his eyes.

Zian pushed me further back, allowing there to be space between us so I wasn't in harm's way. And though I couldn't see his face from behind, he looked like a true-born warrior and I was just useless. I felt useless not being able to fight my own battles and coward away placing my issues on Zian and his family. I was already a problem to begin with, what more can I cause now?

"What is going on? Why has the crowd — " a woman gasped. "Zian? Oh, my!"

I closed my eyes. Just when I believed it couldn't get any worse than now, it did. Frantic with fear all over her pale face, Lady Xiaomeng pushes past the crowd with her mother behind her. As the scene became vivid, she rushed into the situation and stood in front of Zian despite Zian telling her to standby or she'd get herself hurt. He quickly lowered his sword.

"General Wang," She dropped to her knees shocking us all. I'm sure it took a lot of her pride and consideration giving her nasty personality. "Please forgive my son and whatever mistakes he has done. He's too hard-headed and stubborn and thinks too little of the consequences towards his actions. I should've taught him better as his mother."

He lowered his sword as well. "It's not your son who's committed the mistake; it's his wife. Your daughter."

From behind, I could see how clenched her jaw was. Even worse as she turned her head slightly to finally acknowledge my existence, keeping her shoulders stiff and her neck strained as she inhaled a long breath. She faced General Wang.

"Ah, you see," She took a moment to calm herself down and became someone I never met. And anyone who wasn't easily fooled or too caught up within the drama could see how visibly heated Lady Xiaomeng was through her pasted smile. Even Wàipó didn't dare to look at me. "You see, my son's...wife is a bit new here. She is not familiar with our ways or the way our country works as you can see by her appearance she's not from here — " Zian took a brief glance back before I noticed it — I wasn't looking at him; I was looking at Lady Xiaomeng. I bit the inside of my mouth as a mixed feeling of bereft and bitterness flourished my system. " — and I'm sure the lack of education she bares is one of the reasons why she failed to recognize you. It is my fault for not teaching her any proper manners as I should've. Please forgive them both and think of all the good things we've done for you and your family, and the pure relationship you have with my husband. Please repay that kindness and allow my son and his wife to earn your forgiveness."

The day I was finally acknowledged as part of this family by Lady Xiaomeng was the same day I was still nothing more or less than an African with no cultural tides to my mother's side. Did I not look Chinese enough to be acknowledged? Was I even Chinese to begin with? As I looked around into the crowd of prying eyes blinking back at me, I've noticed I was the only one who stood out. And I've noticed that no matter how Chinese I am or how much of my mother's blood that runs through me that I will always be nothing but an ugly, uneducated, African. Silk dresses and robes won't change it. Pretty jewels and a friendly approach won't change it. Being married into a noble family won't change it. And if nothing else does, it makes me wonder what Zian truly thinks of me when he sees me.

It doesn't matter who you are, where you are from, or how you look; as long as you be the person people want to be then anyone will believe it

Of what he really thinks of me.

"Mmm," the hum came from General Wang as he tilted his head to get a good look at us. "They don't look as if they need my forgiveness."

Lady Xiaomeng whispered to us to get down. It took me a second to understand what she meant and what General Wang was implying before I quickly did as told if it was the quickest way to get out of this situation. Exposing myself from behind Zian and lifting my long dress, I got down to my knees. My messy hair fell in my face.

Zian didn't.

He stood still next to me and looked as if he was battling between his pride and the right thing to do, but if he wished for us both to live and walk out of this safely, his only answer was to put away his pride and get on his knees. 

"Zian," I whispered under my breath after gesturing my head downwards. 

Hesitantly, Zian shoved his sword back into its scabbard and got down to his knees keeping his gaze down. Once doing so, a fainted smile could be seen along General Wang's face before it washed away and he came closer. He took in this beautiful sight, joy in his gaze as we stood on our knees beneath his power. My knees already beginning to hurt from the small rocks beneath.

"Since you've kindly asked and I can see how sincere you truly are," Zian scoffed lowly. "And because of the relationship I share with your husband, I will grant mercy towards your son and his violent wife. But this mercy comes with a price, of course."

Lady Xiaomeng sucked in a sharp breath. "And that is?"

"She is no longer welcomed here." the people gasped. "In shorter words, she is banned from stepping foot in this city ever again. I'm sure your son, one of my talented men, wouldn't bare letting his wife live in such a dangerous world without being by her side, so he may leave too if wanted."

"Do you have that much of power to ban my only son from his home?" Mr.Xiaomeng appeared through the crowd.

Lady Xiaomeng added, "They are just hard-headed children who need a good lesson learned. Surely, another punishment would do. Maybe a harsher one towards my son's wife if that would please you most?"

I stared at her silently.

"With all due respect, I don't think it matters how much power I've endured to be able to practice it. What matters is that his wife was caught trespassing in my private quarters, and when I tried to confront the intruder, she slashed me like the beast she is and treated me as the predator. If I didn't know better myself, I would've guessed she was a bed wench."

I lifted my head in shock. "That's not true, I would never do that! I — "

"Shut your mouth, girl. You have done enough damage. " The rest of my words were swallowed down at Lady Xiaomeng's hissing voice. Turning back her head, she rolled her eyes. I bit even harder on my bottom lip, silently glaring at the man who was lying on me and made me look as if I was a whore.

"As I was saying, if you look at the situation from another angle, you might even thank me for not sentencing them to death and saving your family's name from being tainted by the crimes of a woman you allowed to marry your last-living son. Don't blame me, blame her will for not staying loyal to her husband." He continued. "Anyhow, I would like them gone by sunrise. Preferably sooner, but I'll be lenient for the sake of my friendship with you in hopes we can continue to work together with personal feelings pushed aside . But if she is not gone by tomorrow morning, I will not hesitate to behead her, so choose wisely or suffer."

•••••••

Just learned that when a woman marries the man, she can still keep her family's name and doesnt have to change it. And I'm happy cause I kind of didn't like Xiaomeng Peizhi. So from now on, Peizhi will continue to have her family name; Jiang Peizhi. So don't be surprised haha. See you in 2weeks ❤️