The days leading up to the wedding had been a blur. Huixin's female attendants had whisked her from place to place - fitting her wedding gown, preparing hair ornaments, and reciting auspicious verses.
Their excited chatter was endearing to her. They had spent five long years dutifully tending to her residence in the capital. And now they left out no detail as they prepared for her wedding.
A servant had held up two hairpins, one jade, smooth and unadorned, while the other was golden with intricate designs. "My lady, which do you prefer between these hairpins? This jade hairpin will protect you from misfortune. However, the phoenix design on this one is more auspicious."
Another servant added. "My lady, while this plain red silk robe is magnificent, I'm afraid the hem is too long and you won't be able to move comfortably in it. This gold-threaded robe is lighter and allows you to walk more freely."
Huixin saw through them immediately; they acknowledged her preference for simplicity yet wanted her to choose more extravagantly. It was a fight she didn't mind losing. She had more important things to dwell on. She had waved her hand over her head dismissively, "Alright, alright, I will wear whatever you choose, ladies."
He concession was met with muffled squeals of glee.
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Days later, Huixin felt like she was another person. There was a version of her that would have been excited to be so finely adorned. She would have been excited to become a wife. But that version of her died along with her parents in the house fire seventeen years ago. Now she was not an official's daughter but a steel-hearted General.
As the couple performed the last of the wedding rites at the ceremony being held in her mansion, Huixin made a mental note of all the attendees and their reactions.
She assumed that who attended and who didn't would be a very clear indication of how much the Second Prince's influence had spread when she was away. She believed that those who were loyal to him would surely not attend.
To her relief, her allies in the capital were all present, the officials who had stood up for her years ago, and those who had remained in contact while she had been 'exiled' to the North had brought their families and blessings.
Gu Rulan, whom Huixin had connected with on her first visit to the capital and who had later married the Censor in chief, had taken both of Huixin's hands in her soft ones and pulled her aside. "I cannot believe you're finally getting married! I know you are so dutiful in your position to keep us safe, but I really worried that you were going to let duty consume you and die all alone." She had said dramatically.
Huixin had only squeezed her hands softly, thankful for the veil covering her face. If only Rulan knew that even this marriage was part of her duties of keeping everyone in the realm safe.
Surprisingly, a few of her foes were also present, probably by virtue of the Chen family. The Jiedushi of the East had even sent a representative with gifts and blessings.
The ceremony and banquet went smoothly. Even through her veil, Huixin had felt Ruiyu's attention on her. If she was an outsider she would be convinced he was smitten with her. It seemed he had already settled into his role as a doting husband, it was time Huixin did the same and settled into her own role.
The night grew darker, the wine jugs flowed, and crickets began to chirp. Huixin allowed herself to be led away first for the chamber ceremony.
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Huixin's head throbbed as she waited in the bridal chamber. The red veil was growing heavy as it rested on the countless ornaments on her head. The room wouldn afterward become Ruiyu's, close enough that she could keep an eye on him but far enough that he wouldn't have easy access to her.
The room was adorned with red candles, red silk sheets, and double happiness characters hung on the walls. The scent of sandalwood lingered in the air. A senior attendant was in the room. Silently in the corner to observe the last of the rites.
The heavy embroidered robe rested on Huixin's shoulders like armor. Underneath, the softer silk robe clung close to her skin, light enough to stay hidden and structured enough not to ruin the silhouette of the outer garment. She had changed in advance to avoid troubling her attendants later in the night.
Finally, Ruiyu entered the chamber. His feet faltered a little, and he hesitated before approaching Huixin. She had warned him to be afraid of her - perhaps he was finally listening.
The air was tense with silence and ceremony. The attendant handed Ruiyu the scale-stick made of sandalwood. She observed his manner as he approached her and wondered if the slight trembling of his hands was from fear or his illness. As soon as the veil was lifted, the couple's eyes met.
Huixin's gaze was daring and cold, and Ruiyu's eyes widened at the cold smile she flashed him. Time seemed to stand still as they held each other's gaze, daring the other to look away first.
The attendant had lost herself watching this exchange, and accidentally knocked over a gourd half. This caused them both to snap their attention to her while she scrambled to pour the Heijin wine into the two gourd halves.
The couple took the cups, faced each other, joined arms, and drank the wine silently. The flushed attendant wasted no time in collecting the cups and withdrawing from the room, finally leaving the couple alone for the first time.
The red candles cast an orange glow around the room. Huixin got up and walked over to the bronze mirror, removing her ceremonial hairpins one by one, her movements quick and efficient.
Ruiyu, reclined and leaning against the bed frame, observed her reflection in the bronze mirror. Neither spoke until every hairpin was taken off, and Huixin's hair cascaded down in long, thin strands.
"We will both sleep here tonight." She said matter-of-factly without turning around.
She rose and carefully put every candle out except for one. It cast eerie shadows across the room.
She continued in a low voice. "I'd like to avoid any gossiping or speculating. Tomorrow morning we will both go to give greetings to my parents' tablets in the ancestral hall. I'm sure you have guessed, but this room will be yours from now on. There's a study next door. I heard that you give lessons to some noble sons. They are free to meet you there."
Ruiyu gave a non-committal hum; he observed her carefully, something he was very good at. He took her monologuing as a sign of nervousness. He was aware that his looks were somewhat charming, but highly doubted that it would have any effect on her. However, Ruiyu was right Huixin was nervous, she wondered whether he would attempt to slit her throat while she slept as per either his father's or his own accord. She knew that if she had found herself forcefully married to a person like herself she would also strike without regret, but she sincerely hoped she could avoid any bloodshed on her first night as a married woman.
Finally, Huixin climbed onto the bed. Ruiyu slowly moved closer; she caught his eyes resting on the robes she was wearing, they suddenly felt too thin. She'd expected Ruiyu to be a conniving, scheming, two-faced snake or at least a spoilt money-loving noble but she hadn't even considered that he could just be a pervert.
"Alright Handsome, good looks are one thing - but not my flavour. You're like a flower," she leaned in mockingly, "pretty, but you won't last."
As she'd leaned forward, a stray lock of hair fell in front of her eyes. Ruiyu reached his hand out to push it back, but she caught it, instincts taking over, she threw her full weight onto him, forcing him onto his back, leaning on his elbows.
"Did you not hear a word I said?" She asked harshly. Still gripping his wrist.
Ruiyu looked up at her through his lashes, his eyes dark with intensity. He tilted his head, his breath catching subtly.
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were... inexperienced. "
His gaze lingered on her, waiting for a reaction. She only let go of his hand roughly.
"You're surprisingly audacious for your sickly frame. This battle is not between you and me; you are just a pawn to get to your father and the Second prince. Do not insist on making things difficult for yourself."
"I know you are only using me," Ruiyu replied, getting up and closer to her face, forcing her to lean back to maintain distance between them. "Yet, I am not resisting."
"Are you...some sort of masochist?" Huixin asked, bewildered, though in her heart, she was losing strength for this foolishness. She waited for no answer before she effortlessly swept him off her with one arm. He let himself fall onto the bed beside her so they were both lying side by side.
"I will not harm you if I don't need to. You and your family's safety depends entirely on your co-operation, and my tolerance." Huixin finally said.
"Then I shall treasure your tolerance above all things, General Liu," Ruiyu replied.
Silence lingered in the air for a few moments. Huixin adjusted herself on the bed to get comfortable. Ruiyu did the same, his moves slower and more careful until he was right beside her, not touching but close enough that if any moved, they would.
The lone lit candle, which had burned to the very end of the wick, fluttered violently before going out.
Neither slept a wink.