The order came just before sunset.
"Princess Lian Zhi," the maid lowered her head and folded her hands in front of her, "Prince Kabil commands your presence at the feast tonight."
Xiao Zhi paused, her fingers tightening slightly where they rested against her sleeve.
"Commands?" she repeated.
The maid hesitated, then gave a small nod. "You are to serve wine."
Serve.
Not attend. Not sit beside him. Not be acknowledged as his wife in any way that carried dignity.
Xiao Zhi inclined her head once. "I understand."
What now?
***
When she entered the banquet hall, conversation paused for a brief moment, as if her presence had disrupted the flow of the room, before resuming louder than before. Laughter followed, cups clinked against each other, and somewhere among the guests, a man sang openly.
Kabil sat at the head of the hall, completely at ease, one arm resting along the back of his seat. When he noticed her, his lips curved into a smile she had already learned to recognize.
The one that meant trouble.
"Ah," he said, raising his cup. "My beloved wife has arrived."
A ripple of laughter followed. Xiao Zhi stepped forward, and a servant placed a wine jug into her hands.
"Pour," Kabil said casually, as if he were asking for something trivial.
She moved as instructed, stopping before each guest, keeping her gaze down, already bracing herself for the humiliation the feast would bring.
"Careful," one nobleman remarked, his eyes lingering far too long as she approached. "That jug looks heavy."
"I can manage," she replied quietly, forcing steadiness into her voice.
She poured, bowed, and moved on, repeating the same motions until her shoulders ached and her fingers burned from gripping the jug. Behind her, the whispers never quite stopped.
"So that's her?"
"She doesn't look very strong."
"Prince Kabil married this?"
Xiao Zhi focused on the floor beneath her feet, telling herself not to react, not to listen, not to give them the satisfaction of seeing her falter.
Then someone shifted their foot.
Her heel caught, her balance tilted, and the jug tipped just enough for red wine to spill down her sleeve.
The hall burst into laughter.
"Oh no," someone said, amused. "Looks like the Hua bride is very fragile."
"I'm sorry," Xiao Zhi said quickly, bowing. "Please forgive my clumsiness."
The words came out smooth and obedient, just as they expected. What they did not see was the slight roll of her eyes, quick and hidden, like a child indulging a foolish game.
Kabil stood, and the laughter stopped abruptly. He walked toward her slowly, inspecting the stained sleeve.
For a moment, Xiao Zhi felt hopeful. She expected him to help her, maybe steady her, or offer a hand.
Oh boy, was she wrong.
"You embarrassed me," he said lightly, but a hint of anger flickered in his eyes.
"I'll change immediately," she said.
"Sit."
She didn't move.
"Sit!" he repeated. His voice thundered, causing the rest of the feast to tremble with her.
The musicians fell silent. Every eye turned toward her.
Not wanting to provoke him further, Xiao Zhi lowered herself onto the cushion he pointed.
For a brief, foolish moment, she thought he was ending it there.
Then Kabil picked up the wine jug.
He filled a cup and set it down in front of her with a dull thud.
"Drink."
It wasn't an offer. It was a command.
Xiao Zhi closed her eyes for a single heartbeat before lifting the cup to her lips. She drank, forcing herself not to hesitate, because she did not want to learn what would happen if she did.
Kabil's lips curved in satisfaction. He turned back to the guests and raised his voice.
"Everyone," he said, spreading his arms, "isn't my wife lovely?"
Laughter and cheers erupted.
"Truly," one of his aides added, stepping closer with a wide smile on his face. "As beautiful as a flower from Hua."
Kabil smiled, his fingers brushing against her cheek in a touch that was intentional and cold.
"Really?" a voice said from the crowd.
A nobleman rose from his seat and walked toward her, his steps unsteady with drink. He stopped in front of her and poured wine into a cup.
"Then let me see for myself."
He linked his arm through hers, pulling her closer before she could react.
"Come," he said. "Let us share a drink."
Xiao Zhi stiffened, her eyes flying instinctively to Kabil, hoping, somehow, he would find this disturbing as she did.
He only smiled back at her.
"Do as you're told." He looked at her as though daring her to disobey.
Her hand trembled as she raised the cup. The man drank first, laughing loudly, wine spilling down his chin. Then his hand slid up, fingers grazing her face.
Something inside her snapped.
Xiao Zhi shoved him away and slapped him. The sound echoed through the hall. For a split second, there was stunned silence.
Then Kabil moved.
His palm struck her face, hard enough to send her reeling. "How dare you disrespect my guest?" he roared.
No one intervened. No one spoke.
"Do it again," Kabil whispered, leaning close, "and you'll regret it."
She nodded, steadying her breath before speaking. "I won't."
He shoved her away and turned his back as though she were no longer worth acknowledging.
That night should have ended there.
It did not.
"You think you're above this?" he snapped. "Standing there like you're judging everyone."
"I wasn't—"
"Liar." He laughed. "You Hua women love pretending you're pure."
Her heart pounded violently in her chest.
Before Kabil could say another word of hate, the doors slammed open.
Silence crashed through the room.
Everyone turned.
The Khan stood in the doorway.
No one spoke.
Kabil barely had time to speak before the Khan moved.
One punch.
Kabil hit the floor.
"Leave," the Khan said to the entire attendance. No one waited for a second command.
Arkan was already beside Xiao Zhi, draping a cloak over her shoulders with steady hands. "Come," he said quietly.
Kabil stared frozen, his hands clenched at his sides.
Xiao Zhi didn't remember walking, only that the noise of the hall faded behind her.
She could faintly hear Kabil arguing with the Khan, but the words grew distant as Arkan guided her away.
When the door to her chamber finally closed, Xiao Zhi sank onto the bed, her body trembling uncontrollably.
She was wrong.
She had thought Kabil was the villain she understood, the cruelty she could predict.
But the Khan, the man she feared most, had been the one who stopped it.
"I thought you were the monster," she whispered, clutching the fabric beneath her fingers. "But you weren't."
The words felt premature the moment they left her lips.
Maybe he wasn't kind. Maybe he wasn't merciful.
But for reasons she didn't yet understand, he had intervened.
And that alone was enough to unsettle everything she thought she knew.