All of sudden, an awkward silence prevailed in the room,

What did they just heard now?

"Princess Xue, did you just say that you will marry this feral in disguise?" Meng Jia asked Xue Lian while trying to muffle her laughter,

"Ohooii, whom are you calling a feral?" Bai Yu Yue raised her voice in objection,

"Jia, you are wrong, Yue is not a feral." Bai Ling Yue corrected her. "She is a wild beast,"

"Seriously princess, why would an angel like you marry this devil?" Bai Ling Yue didn't miss a chance to tease her sister.

"She is not a devil," Xue Lian argued on the behalf of Bai Yu Yue.

"Uffoo, you ruined this child,"

"No, no. Princess knows the best,"

Bai Yu Yue smiled and winked her eyes at Xue Lian, who appeared dazed,

She was taken aback by the reactions of the people around Bai Yu Yue.

Xue Lian thought they will be shocked when she confesses her intention to marry Bai Yu Yue,

However, their focus was on Bai Yu Yue and Xue Lian's temperament rather than their gender.

"Since our pretty princess says so, I will agree," Bai Ling Yue grinned,

"Get dressed and eat something,"

"Hmm, okay," Bai Yu Yue took the dress which is selected by her sister and walked towards the changing room.

"You look surprised," Bai Ling Yue faced Xue Lian,

"She looks so different, the Bai Yu Yue I know is too silent," Xue Lian couldn't help but point out.

"She is silent and cold like the glaciers in the Tu mountains, but with the right people she melts into a sparkling river,"

Xue Lian remained astonished by the inner meaning lied in Bai Ling Yue's words.

"Not to mention that Princess becomes extra clingy when she wants to hide anything," Meng Jia added with a giggle.

"I left for a moment and you two already badmouthed me?" Bai Yu Yue who came back after changing complained, "Princess, don't listen to these people,"

"Knock, knock,"

Their conversation got interrupted by someone,

Meng Jia went to open the door,

It was Bai Li and Bai Yu,

"Baba," Bai Yu Yue jolted towards her father and hugged him with all her might,

"My little kitten, baba missed you a lot," Bai Li hugged her back,

"I missed you too," Bai Yu Yue clung to her father's arms like a kitten,

"Xiao Yu said that you brought a pretty sister for him?" Bai Li was curious to meet the guests.

"Baba here is your new daughter," Bai Ling Yue introduced Xue Lian to him. Just like his daughters, Bai Li also had a caring and amicable personality and he quickly won Xue Lian's heart.

five of them sat down together for a meal,

Xue Lian silently observed the interactions between the family of four with a tinge of jealousy. She also belonged to a royal family and other than the special banquets she never had an opportunity to have a peaceful meal with her father and the siblings like this. The Bai family defied the concepts and norms of a royal family, they were nothing different from an ordinary family where parents and children interacted with each other without any inhibitions.

Xue Lian couldn't imagine addressing her father informally as "Baba" or being called by a pet name.

It was true that the practices and customs of the Yu clan were different from the Mainland.

The memory of her late father made Xue Lian dispirited, Bai Li who noticed her, placed a piece of meat into her bowl,

"Xiao Lan, please eat more," he smiled, "Don't think that you are a guest, you are just like my children." He assured,

Xue Lian looked at him with moist eyes,

"Xiao Jie, is it spicy?" Bai Yu who sat on Bai Yu Yue's lap leaned in and handed over a fruit jelly to Xue Lian. "Eating this will make you alright,"

"Thank you,"

Bai Yu Yue reached out for Xue Lian's slender arm and pressed gently to comfort her.

"I know that we will not replace your own family, but we are glad to take as one of us, as a family member," She smiled and turned towards her father,

"Baba even if I leave one day, you will have another daughter to cherish,"

Bai Yu Yue's words blow off the bright smiles glowed on her father's face.

For a moment Bai Li has forgotten about the decision he took earlier.

For the sake of Yu clan he has made his own daughter as the sacrificial lamb.

-----------------------------

Within a week, the Yu kingdom has a witnessed the grandest marriage ceremony in the history of the land.

Zhang Yi Jun, being the firstborn of the generation and the only suitor for the queen unanimously chosen as the partner of the Queen.

After the marriage ceremony, Zhang Yi Jun was elevated into the position of "King" and thus appointing Bai Yu Yue as the commander in chief of Jade land army and royal guard, fulfilling her childhood dream.

Within these days Xue Lian became more closer to the Bai family. Everyone in the palace started to say that the king has three daughters- Even Xue Lian was happy with her newly acquired relations.

As long as Bai Yu Yue is with her, she was happy.

Once the consummation of the royal marriage took place, Fu Jian went to the Wei Kingdom with the message from Bai Li.

Xue Lian who was unaware of the decisions taken by the royal court was left devastated when she came to know about the news.

Bai Yu Yue saved her from being the concubine of the Wei emperor and give her a new life,

A headstrong person like Bai Yu Yue, who treats everyone equally, why did she agree to become a concubine to a man like Wei emperor?

What about her and Huo Jin's feelings towards Bai Yu Yue?

When Xue Lian reached the military barracks in search of Bai Yu Yue with a muddled mind, Bai Yu Yue was nowhere to see. Usually, Bai Yu Yue's day starts with training the soldiers in Jade land army.

"Princess Xue Lian," A soldier greeted her,

"Where is Princess Yue?" She asked with a concerned face,

"She was taken to the infirmary,

"Infirmary? What happened to her?"

"She passed out while sparring," As soon as he informed, Xue Lian thanked him and immediately rushed towards the infirmary.

In front of the infirmary, a troop of soldiers impatiently waited while the doctor checked Bai Yu Yue's health.

"Doctor, is she alright?" Xue Lian glanced at the unconscious Bai Yu Yue lying on the bed.

"Princess Yue's is too weak, for the last two weeks she has been pushing herself to supervise the royal wedding without taking any rest." The doctor explained,

"She might be the commander of the army, but physically, she is still in her late teens and her body is still growing. Look at her, she looks too skinny and still does all the strenuous training." The doctor sighed,

"She even told me that she started hallucinating,"

"Hallucinating?" Xue Lian exclaimed,

"She started seeing people," Doctor said in a hushed voice, "Even our dead ancestors."

"But she didn't-"

"She didn't want anyone to know about her condition and worry. But I am afraid that it is getting out of our hands."

Xue Lian sat beside Bai Yu Yue with eyes filled with care and concern,

The face which made thousands of people swoon over, soaked in sweat beads.

"I have given her sedatives so that she can peacefully sleep for a while. Let me try to wake her up,"

"No, no let her sleep more,"

" I will be outside, please me inform if you need anything," The doctor left Bai Yu Yue in care of Xue Lian and went outside.

Xue Lian brushed the loose strands of Bai Yu Yue's ink-black hair with her slender fingers.

Bai Yu Yue, the disciple of Tu sect and Mu sect, the commander in chief of Jade land army, the Princess of Yu kingdom, the pride of Yu clan- she has numerous titles. But no one cared about the pressure that has put on her.

Bai Ling Yue might be the Queen of the Yu kingdom, but the one who bore all the burden was Bai Yu Yue.

"Why did you do that?" Xue Lian asked in a faint voice,

"Senior Jin," Bai Yu Yue subconsciously called out, " I didn't -,"

Xue Lian looked at her with clouded eyes, is she having a nightmare?

"Princess Yue," Xue Lian grabbed her palm which was clutched into a fist,

"Don't leave," Bai Yu Yue mumbled, " stay with me, please,"

The words which left Bai Yu Yue's mouth crushed a thousand dreams created in Xue Lian's mind.

"That man, Bai Yu Yue loves him."

It is the truth.

Then why did she agree with the marriage?

----------------------------------

When Bai Yu Yue opened her eyes, she saw the gorgeous silhouette of Xue Lian next to her bed.

"Princess, you are awake?" Xue Lian jolted awake from her dazed state, " Let me call the doctor,

"It is alright." Bai Yu Yue stopped her,

"How long have been I have passed out?"

"A couple of hours," She replied.

"Were you taking care of me all the time?"

Xue Lian smiled faintly, " You are the one who is taking care of everyone, so I thought I will volunteer today,"

"Did you inform Jie?"

"She left a few moments ago,"

Bai Yu Yue sighed and sat up straight.

"Can I ask you something?" Xue Lian hesitated,

"I heard that you are getting married to the Wei emperor, is that the reason for your illness?"

" It is just a proposal," Bai Yu Yue said with an expressionless face, "He is just considered as one of my suitors,"

"What about your senior?"

"What about him?" Bai Yu Yue faked ignorance. Even though her heart got filled with memories of Huo Jin, She was repeatedly reminding herself to get over him,

And what is even worst?

She even started to hallucinate his presence near her.

"He said that he likes you," Xue Lian pointed out,

"He told you?" Bai Yu Yue sounded surprised. She used to believe that it was hidden among themselves.

" Well, he said that he doesn't want to force you to choose one of us," Xue Lian elaborated,

"Hmmm," Bai Yu Yue hummed in agreement.

How can she forget that the girl sitting in front of her has the same feelings as Huo Jin?

"Do you hate me?" Bai Yu Yue asked her, "I brought you here and-"

"I was the one who requested you to take me with you, I will not blame you for anything," Xue Lian assured her with a smile.

" I know my shortcomings and I will not force you either,"

"Xiao Lian, I understand your feelings, but" Even before Bai Yu Yue could complete, Xue Lian interrupted her,

"I know, I know, it is not possible for us- no, maybe I mistook your kindness as love," She corrected herself. The moment Xue Lian heard Bai Yu Yue calling out for Huo Jin, she has decided to put at end to her unrequited love.

"But why did you agree to become his concubine?"

"It was inevitable, Xiao Lian. One of us should take the risk and I don't wish to sacrifice my sister or any other girl in order to appease him."

"So you signed up for the suicidal mission without giving a thought about the people who cherish you,"

"This is my fate and I must confront it," Bai Yu Yue said with a determined face.

"I made a choice and I really hope that everyone including you and senior Jin will understand me,"