💟 Valentine's Day Story: Accidental Interstellar Bride - 3/7💟

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There were a total of four men working together in a human trafficking ring. Two would isolate and capture the target. One would keep a lookout. The fourth worked in the inn and was the one who delivered food to guests’ rooms. He also informed the others where the target would be staying and if they’d be alone.

“I asked and there are a few hills nearby that are rather dense. I think you may be able to find some medicinal plants there,” Shenwei said the next morning after the attack. “I will deal with the men from last night. It would be a waste for you to simply sit here, bored. Besides, from what it looks like, we used a good portion of what you’ve collected so far.”

Li Yan looked up from across the table, dressed in her slightly oversized cotton garments. She had insisted on eating with him and trying his food and drink. He wanted to refuse her, but she’d already helped herself. Steward Peng had nearly run across the room to stop her. She’d only lifted her hand to stop him and reassured him it was fine, though the tea was over steeped.

“That would be useful. I may need to make some more salve. When can we leave,” she asked, lowering her teacup.

He knew she ate little, but whenever he saw her with just a teacup in front of her while he ate his meal, it bothered him. He felt as if he were not taking care of his wife enough, agreement or not.

“I will have some of the guards and a valet accompany you,” he told her. He looked to Steward Peng, who was standing to the side, and gave him a nod. The older man’s smile seemed to fill his face as he walked to the door and reached outside. “These may help you when you’re gathering plants.”

He casually motioned towards the door and Li Yan turned her head. He watched her eyes widen and he hid his smile behind a teacup as Steward Peng carried in the baskets and other items they’d bought. Li Yan let out a gasp and shot out of her seat to exam her gifts.

“What are you doing with all of these?” she asked, kneeling beside the basket as she looked over her shoulder towards him.

He gave an elegant shrug of his shoulders. “You seemed interested yesterday.”

She lifted up a pair of shears and knit her brows. “You didn’t need to buy them,” she said in a quiet voice.

“I can afford them, so I did,” he said. She seemed uncomfortable and he let out a little cough. “Consider them as supplies for the future and for now. You need to go and collect medicinal plants for us.”

He hoped giving her a responsibility would mitigate her discomfort. She snapped her head back at him. Her pink lips parted and she seemed to be thinking of an answer. Instead, she snapped her mouth shut and gave him a determined nod.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

He took that as her acceptance.

Shenwei sent some of their guards to accompany Li Yan to the nearby hills after breakfast. She would not get into the carriage until she finished telling him and Steward Peng that he was not to move his bandaged shoulder and it was to be kept dry. Steward Peng assured her he would make sure that no injury came to Shenwei before Li Yan was carried away.

He told her that they would take the four captured men to the town’s authorities and report the inn. The inn was reported, but the four men ‘disappeared’ on the way.

No one was to say a word to Li Yan and when she returned, he ushered her into the carriage and told her they were going to go to the next village, as they didn’t trust the inn. Li Yan asked what happened to the captured men and the inn and he’d give her the standard response.

While in the carriage, she changed his bandages once more and checked to make sure he was healing well. She’d let out occasional mutters of approval and they were a relief to hear. He laid across the floor of the carriage, on a clean mat and blankets, as she knelt beside him, reapplying the salve.

Shenwei rested his head on a pillow and closed his eyes. Her fingers were soft and warm and the small circular motions she made across his skin relaxed him. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t let anyone he was so unfamiliar with that close to him, but he made an exception for her.

The rage in her voice when she used a chair to bat the two assailants off him and the frantic urgency in her voice when she barked orders at his men were surprisingly reassuring. He was certain that if she did not want to be in her position, rubbing his back in the carriage, then she would simply leave.

But for now, he had a conscientious and useful partner.

When they stopped, the guards began to volunteer to accompany her into the forest rather than him having to assign them. At first, he was pleased. It was reassuring that these trusted men wished to protect Li Yan.

Then, he noticed they were getting too attached to her. Carrying her things, bringing her plants they’d found, asking her what she thought of their food preparation with looks eager for approval on their faces. She likely saved them from being paralyzed, but they needn’t keep their eyes on her all the time.

When they stopped by a river to camp for the night, he’d made his decision. Two guards approached them as they came out of the carriage. One was already holding her basket with a trowel and sheers.

“Madam, may we accompany you around the river to look for more plants?” one of them asked.

Shenwei tried to hold back his frown. “There is no need.” He reached forward and pulled the basket from one of his guards. “I will accompany her.” He said it quite confidently, only to have the basket pulled from his hands. He turned to the side as Li Yan rested it on her hip and frowned.

“Your shoulder.” Simple, but firm words, yet Shenwei found his heart jumping at the concern in her voice.

“It’s been a week. You said it was healing well. It’s no longer bleeding and you and Steward Peng continue to bandage it firmly. I’m not able to move my shoulder as much as normal, so accompanying you shouldn’t be a problem,” he told her. Part of him wanted to tell her that he’d had worse, but he was sure that would elicit even more ire.

Li Yan’s lips were in a tight line. “Then you can come, but don’t think of trying to carry anything.”

He lifted his hand to his chest and gave her a reassuring smile. “I will do whatever my Yanyan tells me.”

She rolled her eyes and he chuckled as he followed behind her. Li Yan balanced her basket on her hip as she made her way closer to the river. She rolled her pant legs up her calves and removed her shoes. “You stay on the shore,” she said. “It’s slippery.”

He took her basket from her and put it on the ground, next to her shoes. “What are you trying to get?”

“Edible water plants.” She tugged up her sleeves and waded into the shallows. Shenwei took a seat on the banks and watched her as she waded towards a patch of greenery on the water and began moving her hands through.

“What are you going to do with the plants?” he asked.

“I’m going to give them to the guards. It will give them more nutrients,” Li Yan said. “Do want to have some?”

“If you’re making it.”

“I’m not much of a cook, but if you like bland, limp greens, I’ll save you a plate.”

He chuckled and sat back against his arms. Every so often, she’d return with some wet plants and put them in the basket. As the sun hit the horizon, she waded out of the river. She picked up the basket before he could and they returned to where their camp was set up.

At night, the two of them slept in the carriage. Li Yan didn’t seem to mind. “I sleep in front of you during the day. What difference is this?” she had told him the first time they had to sleep in the carriage. He was stunned at first, but it was more that a woman had said it, not that Li Yan specifically did. At this point, he was used to her strange behavior and attributed it to her inexperience with the rest of society having spent so much time in the mountains.

“When we get to the capital, don’t be so unguarded, especially with other men,” he said. He slept on the floor, on a mat, while she slept above him, on one of the benches along the side. He heard her shuffle and he glanced over. He could make out the shape of her body in the small streaks of moonlight coming through the window curtains.

“What other men? I have silkworms to raise,” she said. “From what I was told, most social events would have men and women separated. In the chance where they are not, I would be seated next to you, won’t I?”

“If they haven’t changed from what I remember, yes.”

“By the way, Your Grace, I never asked. How old are you?”

“Thirty come next winter.”

“So young....” Her voice was so quiet, he almost didn’t hear her.

“You think that’s young? How old are you?” It may have been rude to ask, but this was Li Yan he was talking to. She would be frank with him.

“T...twenty-four.”

From where he laid on his stomach, still avoiding putting weight on his back shoulder, he furrowed his brows. “Was that a pause before your answer?”

She shuffled once more and he heard her voice. “You’re tired. You should sleep.”

He laughed to himself. “Goodnight, Yanyan.”

“Hmm...goodnight, Duke Zhang.”

He stared at the dark corner of the carriage. “When we are alone,” he said, his own voice quiet. “Please call me Shenwei.”

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The town they had stopped at the night before was less than a day’s travel to the capital. Their next stop would be their final destination: the Zhang Ducal Manor near the heart of the city.

Liyanne sat on a small, cushioned stool in front of a red painted vanity and a shiny bronze mirror in front of her. As she promised Steward Peng before he left to go ahead and prepare for their arrival, she had put on the best looking of the robes; a flowing light blue silk skirt beneath a dark blue jacket, both embroidered with gold and red flowers.

They matched to a reasonable degree with her silk slippers.

The more challenging part was her hair. As a commoner woman, she had always pinned it into a neat bun with a wooden hair pin. She didn’t know how to do the elaborate hairstyles she’d seen in passing.

I’m certain additional hands are needed for that. Liyanne combed her hair back and split it into a lower and upper part. The lower portion stayed down while the top half was twisted into a bun. She carefully pushed her wooden hairpin through and inspected her hazy reflection on the bronze mirror. The wooden hairpin didn’t match with her clothing at all. It’s fine. I’m a peasant anyway.

She dipped her finger in the cup of water beside her and smoothed out her brows and swept her lashes upwards, holding them to the count of thirty before letting them go. She rubbed her cheeks and chewed on her lips to put some color on them. She didn’t have any make-up nor did the Duke buy her any.

There was a knock at her door.

“Madam,” the raspy voice of the innkeeper’s wife said from the other side of the door. “I have brought you something from Duke Zhang.”

Liyanne stood up and walked across the room. She opened the door and saw the short old woman. The old woman appeared startled and drew her head back as her small eyes widened.

“Thank you for your troubles, Madam,” Liyanne said with a smile. The old woman was staring up at her with a dumbfounded expression. Liyanne’s smile began to falter. “Madam?”

The old woman shook her head and let out an embarrassed laugh as her face reddened. She lowered her head and held up a short, narrow black box. “This is for you, Madam. From Duke Zhang.”

Liyanne accepted the box into her hands and thanked the woman again before stepping back into her room and closing the door. She lifted the lid of the box and let out a small laugh.

A few minutes later, one of the valets knocked at her door to let her know that they were ready to leave. Liyanne took a deep breath and readied herself. She opened the door and the valet turned around. His eyes widened and the pleasant smile he had on his face dropped. Liyanne jerked her head back.

“Is something wrong, Jiang?” she asked. She lifted her hand to her hair. It didn’t feel like it was out of place.

“No...no, Madam, nothing is wrong.” A glint of joy appeared in his dark eyes as he stepped to the side. “The guards will escort you downstairs. I will gather your belongings.”

“Thank you.” Liyanne gave him a small nod of her head and stepped outside. The two guards waiting to escort her stood to attention as she appeared. She gave them a nod and followed behind one as the other followed behind her.

This inn was larger than any of the inns they’d stayed at previously. Its proximity to the capital and location just off the main road made it a convenient place for those who were coming and going to the city to stay. The clientele seemed mainly composed of wealthy individuals.

She should’ve expected that upon arriving and seeing the wide three-story manor in the center of a sprawling estate. It even had a pond in the back.

They reached the stairs that led them down to the lobby. The lobby also doubled as a restaurant for the inns patrons and there was a flurry of activity as guests hurried their meals so that they could leave before they wasted too much time. Liyanne had eaten breakfast in her room alone.

The Duke had come across an old friend heading out of the area and they wanted to have a meal before either man left.

Liyanne carefully went down the stairs, keeping up her posture and holding her head high with a look of casual indifference. She imagined that this is what a duke’s wife should appear like. She’d practiced small, graceful movements in preparation for her role upon entering the capital and hoped she’d pass.

She glanced towards the lobby as she walked down the stairs. Outside the open doors, she could see their carriage waiting.

“Yanyan.” She turned her head to the right and saw Duke Zhang standing by the bottom of the stairs with his eyes fixed on her. His eyes seemed to crinkle as he smiled.

“Good morning, Your Grace.” She greeted him with a slight bow, as Steward Peng had instructed. She reached the bottom of the stairs. “How was your breakfast?”

The Duke was staring at her with a wondrous expression and Liyanne began to wonder if he’d heard her. A tall old man beside him seemed to elbow him and Duke Zhang snapped out of his thoughts. He gave his head a small shake before extending his hand.

“You look beautiful, Yanyan.” His breathy voice was soft and she found herself smiling at the compliment. She put her hand on his.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“And breakfast was delicious,” the tall, old man beside him said with a chuckle. Liyanne looked to him and stepped to the side to get out of the way of anyone coming down the stairs before giving him a small bow of her head in greeting.

“Good morning, sir. I am Li Yan.”

“Good morning, as well,” the man chuckled. He looked at the Duke and let out a tired sigh. “Boy, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“What?” Duke Zhang turned his head towards the man, but his eyes remained on her.

“Introduce me to your young wife, Shenwei.”

“Yes, right!” Duke Zhang gently led her forward and, still holding her hand in his, introduced her to the old man. “Master, this is Li Yan. The consort I spoke of.” He smiled at her. “Yanyan, this is Master Dong Zhupei. He was my tutor when I was young.”

“Master Dong.” Liyanne bowed her head to him once more. “A pleasure.”

“Certainly, though I’m afraid our meeting will be short.” Master Dong gave them both disappointed looks. “I am heading north. One of my other pupils is getting married and I am attending. May I visit when I return?”

“Of course, Master Dong. We will wait patiently for your arrival,” Liyanne told him with a warm smile.

“Good, good,” he said, pleased. He looked at the Duke once more and gave him a slight glare. “Are you going to see me off or stare at your beautiful wife the entire time?”

Liyanne lifted her free hand to her mouth and covered it as she held back a laugh. Duke Zhang gave his master a look of surprise. His cheeks began to have a slight blush and he avoided her gaze. They walked out of the inn to the awaiting carriages. Master Dong’s carriage was just in front of theirs.

“Have a safe trip, Master. I will await your return.” the Duke said as he left her side to help his aging mentor into his carriage.

“I hope you’ll have your estate handled by then. Your relatives are wearing your poor brother down. He’ll likely be in tears when you return.”

“I will see him tonight.” The Duke bowed as his master’s driver pulled down the curtain. He stepped back to where she was standing.

“How difficult do you think it will be when you arrive?” Liyanne said as she leaned closer.

He kept his eyes on his master’s carriage. “Not so much difficult as annoying.” He took her arm in his. “I will tell you in the carriage.” He patted her hand and led her forward.

Once inside, she sat on her usual bench and once the curtain swung closed, she looked towards him. The Duke sat on the back bench and furrowed his brows.

“Let’s start with my family,” he said. “My father was the eldest of eight children: three sons, five daughters. He married late due to various circumstances.”

“And they were?” Liyanne asked. She wanted to hear all the gossip about this family.

“His fiancé ran off with a soldier. His second fiancé ran off with her cousin.” He seemed to pause to let it sink in. All Liyanne could do was scrunch her face.

“Oh....” She didn’t know what else to say. One was bad enough, but two...it’s amazing he dared to get married again.

“I know,” the Duke said. “He finally married my mother, who was in a similar situation. Her engagement fell through when her fiancé broke their engagement to be with their servant’s daughter. I think they married out of convenience, but whenever I think of them together, they seem to think the world of each other. My father took no one else, even after my mother died.”

Liyanne smiled a bit and nodded. “Did she only have you and your brother?”

The Duke chuckled. “There are five of us. I have only one brother and three younger sisters. We were all born one after the other.”

Liyanne’s brows rose. “Are you sure your parents married out of convenience?” She knew it was rude to say it, but the Duke laughed.

“My sisters all married before I left. My younger brother, Shenli, was engaged and married while I was at the border. I have yet to meet his wife, actually, but he was so smitten with her. I worried what would happen if her parents rejected him. Thankfully, they didn’t.”

“Any children?” Liyanne asked. The Duke opened his mouth and paused. He looked a bit lost and her mouth dropped. “You don’t know if you have any nephews or nieces?”

“We’ll find out when we arrive,” he said, brushing it off. She let out a little snort.

“Well, just in case, I hope ‘Uncle’ has prepared gifts.”

He lifted his chin proudly.

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“While I am impressed with the number of things you bought, it doesn’t feel very authentic when you purchased them in the city where they live.”

He threw his wife a dull look. “I’m coming from the border, what am I supposed to bring them? Sand? Dust?”

“There are towns on the way back,” Li Yan reminded him mercilessly.

“I don’t know what they want.” Shenwei frowned. He should’ve thought to ask Steward Peng. Then again, why didn’t Steward Peng remind him? He would have to have a talk with that man.

“I’m surprised you listened to me,” Li Yan told him with a bit of suspicion in her eyes. “All you’ve seen of my interests are plants.”

“I’m desperate.”

“Oh, that answers it.”

They climbed into the carriage, exhausted after rushing through the finest shopping district they could find on the way to the estate. They had even skipped a meal to try to get gifts for his sister-in-law and possible nieces and nephews. They were expected at the estate already, but it would take them another hour to reach it.

He sent one of the guards and valets ahead of them to let Steward Peng know and to come up with an excuse as to why they were late. He didn’t expect the reason to be ‘wanting to spend some more time with the new consort’.

They reached his family’s ancestral estate in the capital and Li Yan had been antsy, sitting on the edge of the bench while peering out the slats to get a good look at the thick stone walls surrounding the estate. The massive brown and black gate doors were open and a small row of people seemed to be waiting for them.

Shenwei glanced back at Li Yan. She didn’t seem nervous at all. “Yanyan.”

“Hmm?” She turned around to face him. He took a deep breath.

“Are you ready?” He didn’t know what else to say.

She grinned and nodded. “I will play my role so well; you’ll fall in love with me before you realize it.”

He snorted and leaned forward. His hands rose and gently grasped her chin. “My, look how humorous my wife is,” he said, deadpan.

She smirked. “Yes, you have good taste.”

The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the black gates and Steward Peng stepped forward. Shenwei collected himself and took a deep breath. He looked at Li Yan one last time before pushing aside the curtain and stepping outside.

There were several familiar faces, mainly from older servants who had come to welcome him. There were some faces he didn’t recognize, and figured they might have been new servants.

Almost immediately, he was greeted with boisterous cries, but his eyes searched for his younger brother first.

Zhang Shenli was a scholar at heart. His interests had always laid in scrolls and texts. He played three instruments, could recite epic ballads, and carefully studied policies and decrees passed. He was also shorter than Shenwei and had chubby, boyish cheeks well into his twenties.

“Brother!” Shenwei craned his neck upwards. He could hear his brother’s deep voice, but couldn’t see him in the crowd that gathered.

“Shenli?”

“Elder Brother, I’m here!” Shenwei turned his head and saw a man at least half a head taller than him. He had a slim build, a face with a few faint lines in the corners of his eyes and mouth, and hair swept up in a familiar topknot.

Shenwei’s eyes grew large. “Shenli?”

“Elder Brother!” The man’s arms wrapped around him and pulled him close. “Elder Brother, welcome home!”

Shenwei let out a small laugh and raised his arms slowly to embrace him. That was his brother’s voice. He heard a sniffle coming from the face awkwardly buried in his shoulder. If he had any doubts on who that man who raced to embrace him was, he didn’t any longer. That was definitely his brother’s cries.

“You’ve grown so tall and you’re still crying?” Shenwei chuckled as he gently pushed his sibling back. He tilted his head to try to meet his brother’s downturned face.

“I haven’t seen you for so long.” Shenli drew his head back and gave him a helpless smile as he wiped at the corner of his eyes. He turned around and called to a woman waiting by the gate. “Sun Mei, come and greet my brother! Bring the children!”

Shenwei held back his breath of relief. He was glad he brought toys. “So, you have children now? I have been away for too long!”

A petite woman in dark red- and mustard-colored robes stepped forward and bowed. “Welcome home, Elder Brother.”

“Sister-in-law, I’m glad to see you’re in good health,” he said, though his eyes had drifted to the two shaved heads peeking from around her legs. “And these are?”

“Elder Brother,” Shenli said, excited. “These are your nephews. Twins! Ga Feng, Ga Tong. Come and properly greet your uncle!”

The two little boys, looked up at him with wide terrified eyes. One of them looked as if he were about to cry, while the other buried his face in his mother’s robes.

“Elder Brother, my apologies,” Sun Mei lowered her head and flushed with embarrassment. She gave the twins a stern look. “Don’t be so scared. He is your uncle! The one from the army!”

“How old are they?” Li Yan appeared beside him and knelt down to get a look at the boys.

“They are three....” Shenli trailed off as he looked down. His eyes nearly doubled in size and Shenwei had to bite his lips to keep from laughing. “Are you...are you Sister-in-law?”

Li Yan looked up and smiled as she smoothly rose to her feet. “Hello, Brother. I am Li Yan.”

“She is my consort,” Shenwei said as he extended his arm and reached for hers. She smiled and took it, moving close to him as if it were the most natural movement to do.

“I saved his life.”

Shenwei gave her a look, but she turned her eyes to the side, innocently. Despite his attempts, a smile still reached his face. “Shenli,” he said, looking back at his brother. His voice became more solemn. “I should go to the shrine.”

His brother took in a sharp breath and nodded. “Yes, of course.” He looked to Steward Peng.

“Duke Zhang, please follow me,” Steward Peng said with a nod. “After the prayers are complete, I will take you to the main hall for a meal.”

Shenwei nodded. He looked at Li Yan, silently asking if she wanted to come. She gave him a small nod and he squeezed her hand. He gave her a soft smile and whispered. “Thank you.”

She squeezed his hand back. They crossed the familiar, yet now strangely unfamiliar sprawling Zhang Estate. If he were not going to pray and pay his respects, he would’ve slowed his pace or stopped to take in the changes since he’d left.

They passed his father’s courtyard and Shenwei forced himself not to look inside. He could do that later.

His family shrine was located past the main garden and across a wooden bridge that spanned a decorative pond. Li Yan released his arm and stood back. She looked at him and gave him a nod.

“You should enter first. I will wait a moment,” she said in a hushed voice. She wanted to give him time to grieve for his father’s death. He gave her a small, thankful nod and took a deep breath before going inside the shrine.

Incense could be smelled outside, but it was even heavier inside the shrine. It was filled with hazy smoke and stone tables bearing the names of generations of Zhangs. The newest one was placed right next to his mothers and for a moment, Shenwei couldn’t breathe.

When he left, his father had been in good health. He was a large man, fond of exercise and eating. What took him in the end was a heart attack over lunch. The letters told him that his father was eating outside, in a pavilion, when he suddenly grasped his chest. By the time they could summon a doctor, it was too late.

Shenwei’s knees hit a worn cushion at the foot of the altar and he looked at the table with red eyes.

“Father,” he said in a raspy breath. His eyes closed and he bent down, putting his hands in front of him and placing his forehead against the floor. “I’m home.”

He lit more incense and after bowing multiple times, a shadow fell over the entrance. The quiet footsteps he was familiar with shuffled in and Li Yan knelt down beside him. He glanced down and pulled the cushion out from underneath him.

“Sit on this,” he said.

Li Yan had clasped her hands together and paused to look down. She lifted one knee and then the other so he could maneuver the cushion beneath her.

“I’ve rarely done this.” She whispered and held out her hands awkwardly in front of her. “What do I do?”

He smiled softly and helped her through the motions.

They lingered in the shrine for some time before Steward Peng knocked and let them know that his extended family from the surrounding area had arrived and were waiting for him in the dining hall.

He stood up and looked down at Li Yan. She grimaced as she tried to move her leg. He tried not to laugh at her struggle as she stood up, wobbling, and rubbing her legs. “Were you seated for too long?”

“I’m not used to sitting like this,” she said. “Will we sit like this in the dining hall?”

“There are cushions on elevated seats,” he told her. “You’ll be fine.” He took her arm and they walked out.

“Your Grace, I must warn you about your relatives. A few of them have brought additional...guests with them,” Steward Peng said, clenching his teeth.

“That’s fine, Steward Peng. It is a celebration after all. I won’t turn anyone away today.”

As they approached the dining hall, he saw several more people waiting for him and narrowed his eyes. He recognized his uncles, aunts, and a few cousins. But he didn’t recognize the rest. He didn’t know that many young women in the capital.

“Who are these people?” He frowned.

“What happened to not turning anyone away today?” Li Yan asked as she raised a brow at him.

“I’d like to at least know who my guests are,” he said, his frown deepening. “Yanyan...don’t be afraid, all right?”

“Why would I be afraid?” she asked.

Steward Peng cringed with a slight look of pity. Shenwei took a deep breath.

“Uncles! Aunts! It’s good to see you after so long!” His voice filled the surrounding courtyard leading up to the main hall and as expected, Li Yan jumped beside him, startled.

“Shenwei!” A tall, round man threw his arms open as he let out a laugh. “Welcome home!”

“Welcome home, cousin!” A series of voices greeted him and he kept a stern, serious look on his face as he gave them each a curt nod.

“Thank you for coming this afternoon.” His voice was low and distant, yet full of authority; the way he sounded when he was giving orders in the army. It was always the way his father taught him to address his extended family.

If he was not firm, they would dare to take advantage. Now that he had become Duke Zhang, he had to make certain that they understood this.

“Your Grace, the meal will be served soon,” Steward Peng said from the side. “Let us enter. I’m sure the Madam wishes to rest, as well.”

No one had acknowledged Li Yan and while she stood there with a pleasant smile on her pink lips, he was annoyed.

“Of course,” Shenwei said. “Uncles, Aunts, cousins, I haven’t introduced you yet. This is my wife, Li Yan.”

Li Yan gave them an elegant bow of her head, just as Steward Peng had coached her on the trip. She didn’t open her mouth, but remained smiling as if never having been ignored to begin with. In return, she received a few awkward, if not hesitant greetings, but that didn’t seem to bother her.

Shenwei grasped her arm and led her forward. “I’m just going to keep quiet,” she whispered as they walked across the hall, to the elevated seats that were waiting for them at the other end.

“I’m sorry about this,” he said. “I didn’t think they’d bring other women with them.”

He tried not to clench his teeth as he held Li Yan’s arm in his. His dark eyes turned to Steward Peng, who seemed to take a deep breath, barely containing his own anger. They had sent messengers ahead to let them know that he was coming home and with a wife. What were his uncles thinking, bringing young women with them?

No, he knew what they were thinking. He wanted to know why they dared.

“Shenwei, are you all right?” Li Yan’s soft voice whispered in his ear. She had leaned closer to him and spoke into his ear as she put her hand over his. “You’re shaking.”

“I’m fine.” He forced a smile on his face. “I just didn’t expect this.”

“We’ll just finish the meal and then retire for the night,” she told him. “You’ll be rid of them soon.”

He gave her a nod as they climbed a few steps to an elevated seating area and sat down. Their tables had a few starter dishes ready. Once everyone was seated, Shenwei raised his drink.

“Thank you, everyone, for the warm welcome back!” He had an entire speech lined up that included thanking them for their support, for praying for his father, his regret for not being there when his father died or for coming sooner, and introducing Li Yan, but he lost his drive to speak. His speech ended up half the length he had planned, but no one seemed to complain.

Steward Peng gave the servants a nod and almost instantly, a row of similarly dressed servants streamed out from the side doors to bring trays to their guests.

A separate set of servants dressed in more elaborate uniforms brought his and Li Yan’s meals to their tables.

“Let me have a taste of your food,” he heard her say from beside him. He threw her a confused look. They had the same food on their plates. “Feed me.” Li Yan leaned forward with her lips parted.

Shenwei’s mind blanked for a moment. He didn’t think she’d be so daring, but considering that there were a half dozen young women who were uninvited guests below them, eyeing him like starving she-wolves, he decided to play along. This was what Li Yan was there for.

He picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and brought it to her mouth. Her pink lips closed as she drew her head back. He watched her eyes turn into sweet crescents as she chewed and nodded.

After she swallowed she leaned forward once more. “Delicious. Next one.”

Her words were quiet, but he heard her. He picked up food from a different dish and fed it to her. After she swallowed, she complimented the dish until finally she’d had a taste of each item.

“Elder Brother....” Shenli’s voice came from the row just in front of him and Shenwei looked down. Almost every set of eyes in the hall were fixed on them with either shock or stunned disgust. Shenli looked at a loss as to what to say.

Shenwei smiled a bit and made a show of reaching for Li Yan’s hand and squeezing it before throwing her an affectionate glance. “I have yet to introduce everyone to my wife. This is Li Yan.”

Beside him, she played the part of a quiet and attentive wife well as he told his guests and relatives their elaborate lie. From the glances at her face, he could tell she was trying not to laugh. It made the entire frustrating situation with his relatives and their guests a bit more bearable.

Every so often, she’d put a piece of food on his plate and he’d hurriedly eat it, even when an uncle or other elder approached them to share a drink with him. His voice remained firm and cold with them, but turned soft and gentle the moment he addressed Li Yan. If they didn’t see that he ‘loved’ his ‘wife’ at that point, he didn’t know what else to do to show them.

“I’ve had enough to drink for now,” he said as the last of his uncles approached. “Give me some tea.”

There were two servants who waited on either side of him and Li Yan, and they would come to pour tea when called. Shenwei had yet to have a taste and so a fresh pot was brought forward.

He lifted up his teacup and shared a drink with his uncle. It was getting late and several relatives had already left. Shenli’s wife and children had retired and Shenli looked as if he were ready to fall asleep at any moment.

Shenwei gave a nod to his guards before looking at his brother, amused. “Shenli, you have done much to prepare for today. Go and rest. We shall talk in the morning.”

Shenli nodded. “Yes. Goodnight, Elder Brother. Elder-Sister-in-law.”

“Goodnight, brother-in-law.” Li Yan gave him a small nod and smiled as a valet and two guards escorted Shenli out.

Shenwei had been relieved to see that wherever Shenli was, there was a guard with him. His brother didn’t do much martial arts and they worried he could be attacked, so as a precaution, Shenli was to have guards with him at all times. In addition, it would also keep unwanted strangers away, which, considering some of their guests, was a legitimate concern.

He was also escorted by guards and Steward Peng as he walked Li Yan to the courtyard she had been assigned. He had requested the one with the largest yard, as mulberry trees would be brought in so she could feed her silkworms without having to go far or depending on others.

“It has a pond?” Li Yan released his arm as she walked through the moon gate and marched over the manicured garden to get to the pond.

“There are a few courtyards with ponds. This one isn’t the largest pond, but it does have the largest yard. It also has a store house which I thought could be used for your silkworms,” he said as he followed behind her.

She looked over her shoulder and her face filled with a brilliant, pleased smile. Shenwei stopped where he stood and swallowed hard as his heart jumped. The last time he remembered seeing her under the moonlight, it had been for just a breath before he unceremoniously tackled her into water. He smiled softly. The moonlight off her pale skin and dark hair, the soft rippling fabric of her skirt, and that face that almost always seemed to want to laugh reminded him of the celestial maiden stories.

He lifted his hand and tugged at his collar as his face heated.

“Madam, your things have already been brought into the house,” Steward Peng said. “As instructed, two servants will come to clean and bring you food, but you will be left alone.”

“Thank you, Steward Peng.” Li Yan was brought over to the house. Lanterns had been lit and she explored a bit before letting out a heavy sigh. “I’ll look around some more in the morning. When do my silkworms come?”

“In the next few days,” Steward Peng said. “The Duke has requested eggs from a successful sericulturist just outside the city. They will produce fine silk for you, Madam.”

“Yanyan,” Shenwei said as he gave her a nod. “I’ll come in the morning, as well. There are guards stationed in your courtyard for your safety. If there is an emergency, call to them.”

She gave him a nod. “I will. Go and sleep. You’ve had a long day as well.”

Shenwei turned around and he and Steward Peng crossed the estate to get to his courtyard. Eventually, he would have to move to his father’s, which was the largest and most stately, but he would take his time doing so. As he walked through the spring night, his brisk pace began to warm him up.

He loosened his outer robe.

“Are you all right, Your Grace?” Steward Peng asked as his brows knit together.

“A bit warmer than usual tonight, isn’t it?” he asked as they reached the entrance of his courtyard. Two more guards were standing watch and Steward Peng had to unlock the gate to let them in. “I don’t remember the capital being this warm on spring nights.”

Steward Peng closed the gate behind him and seemed to come to a halt. “Is it very warm for you, Your Grace?”

“Perhaps it was all the alcohol that’s finally catching up to me,” Shenwei said. He’d always had a rather high tolerance. He didn’t think the amount he drank would affect him this much. He lifted his hands and tugged at his outer robes again. “Steward Peng, open the windows of the house. Let in the air.”

The old man frowned and walked towards him. “Your Grace, shall I get you a cold bath?”

Shenwei looked at him strangely. “Why would I need a cold bath?” His eyes widened and he brought his fingers to his neck. His pulse was nearly double what it usually was. In addition, he was starting to sweat. He looked at Steward Peng. “Is...is it a warm evening?”

Slowly, the older man shook his head with a look of dread.

Shenwei’s mind went through the meal, trying to isolate what could’ve caused this.

“Your Grace?” Steward Peng frowned.

Shenwei lifted his hand to his head and shut his eyes tight. “Take me to Li Yan’s courtyard. Immediately.”

Steward Peng nodded and went inside to get something to cover Shenwei. He rushed out with another robe and used it to cover head. He led Shenwei towards the front of the courtyard and Shenwei pulled back.

“No...take me out the side entrance. I don’t want anyone to see me like this,” he said. His voice was raspy and Steward Peng scrambled to redirect him. They cut through the garden to go through a small wooden gate that led to a narrow path between courtyards. Normally, only servants used these unseen paths.

Li Yan’s courtyard wasn’t far, though they had to hurry through open areas to get to her gate. Two of his guards who had escorted them were standing on either side of Li Yan’s courtyard and upon the sight of Steward Peng, they stepped to the side. The steward seemed to give them a signal to open the gate.

One of them quickly held open one of the doors and they rushed through. The lights inside the house were still lit.

“Madam!” Steward Peng called out.

“Don’t yell,” Shenwei hissed. “The entire estate doesn’t need to know.”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

Shenwei looked towards the house and saw a shadow cross one of the windows before the door opened and Li Yan’s familiar figure, wrapping a long cerulean robe around her, appeared.

“What’s going on? What’s wrong with him?” She ran to meet them and suddenly, Shenwei felt another arm under his, holding him up as they brought him inside.

“Madam, I fear he has been drugged,” Steward Peng said in a shaking voice.

“Drugged?” Li Yan frowned. “Bring him to the bedroom. Do you know what he’s been drugged with?”

“No, Madam. But he’s heating up. His skin is hot to the touch.”

Shenwei’s legs began to grow weak. His head clouded and he grimaced. He reached for her. “Yanyan....”

“Do you remember what you ate? What you drank?” Li Yan asked as she helped him to bed. “Did anything taste different?”

Shenwei shook his head from side to side. “No... I don’t remember. Yanyan...help me.”

“Steward Peng, please bring some cold water here,” she told the older man next to her. “And some thin cloth.”

“Yes, Madam!” He rushed out of the house and Liyanne leaned forward to remove Shenwei’s jacket and upper robes.

“We were eating the same things,” Li Yan said. He wasn’t sure if she was speaking to him or to herself. “I even took food off your plate to test it.”

He squinted at her. “Is that why you had me feed you?”

“I thought it was a good excuse,” she said. She lifted her hand and pressed it against his head. Her forehead creased as she shook her head. “You’re burning up.”

“Medicine?” He looked at her beseechingly.

“I don’t know what to give you if I don’t know what caused this,” she said. She stared at him for a moment and licked her lips. “I’m sorry, Shenwei.”

Before he could register what was going on, he felt a tongue slide into his mouth.

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