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Throughout the years, either in palace or military camps, there were times when Zisheng would dream of his happiest days in his life; these days back in Gu City. Days when he was Huo Wushang, who lived a happy and quiet life surrounded by his parents, siblings, people of Huo Manor and Gu City. Though, it had been so long that his dreams now only consisted of his siblings' happy laughters and his parents being affectionate with each other.
To Zisheng, his most fond memory of his parents was when they were simply by each other's side doing things together. Zisheng remembered the time when his father reading while his mother would be knitting or playing music instruments beside him, sometimes his mother would asked his father about the scrolls he was reading, and his father would ask her what was she knitted or played at that time.
He still remembered his father's big hearty laughters when Zisheng, who just started to learn reading, sat by him so Zisheng could read together with him. His father would make space for him and Zisheng remembered how patient he was when Zisheng encountered characters he could not read and asked his father how to read them.
Zisheng remembered his mother was a woman of many talents. Being a wife to an infamous general did not diminish her own light, she was good with the four arts, and she was also especially well-known in the city for her beautiful zither playing. Zisheng remembered he would sat by her side just reading his books while she played for Zisheng and his siblings.
Together, his parents were happy. His father had no concubines, and everyone knew how loyal of a husband he was to Zisheng's mother. General Huo and Madam Huo were happy together and they were always the talk of the city as the exemplary of a harmonious couple. They were even the object of envy of his own aunt, Huo Junhua who thought no other man was on the same level as her own brother when it came to familial love, not even her own husband, Ling Yi.
Before Huo Chong married his wife, for so long, the Huo family was just the two of them. Therefore, Huo Chong really doted on his one and only little sister. It did not matter that she grew up to be pampered and arrogant, Huo Chong really adored this little sister of his. When Huo Junhua wished to marry Ling Yi, although deep inside Huo Chong was against that man, his love for his sister was bigger and he gave in. And he gave Ling Yi every resources so Ling Yi could raise his own family's name and gathered merit of his own for his Ling family. Huo Chong did it all for his sister.
Huo Junhua was born prematured and she had a weak constitution, thus it was hard for her to conceive. Huo Chong was the one that spent his own wealth and effort to find the best medicines and physicians to make Huo Junhua's wish of having a child of her own came true. Even more effort than her own husband, Ling Yi, and this made people around sighed in their hearts. Indeed, there were times when the love of family members was greater than your partner.
Ling Buyi and Huo Wushang were born a few months apart, and they grew up together. They got along very well, and they looked so similar that some people would mistaken them either as twins or as each other. Huo Junhua loved dressing them in similar clothes and let Huo Chong guessed who was A-Li and who was A-Zheng. Of course, the attentive Huo Chong always got them right every time. While Ling Yi, who, everyone knew, rarely even held A-Li and most of the times even mistook A-Li for A-Zheng and the other way round.
Zisheng always thought nothing would break up his happiness and he would be forever with his family, that he could see his parents grew old together, and passed away in content knowing they left the Huo family to Zisheng and his siblings.
But everything has changed.
Everytime Zisheng thought about that fateful tragic day, his chest felt an unbearable pain that it suffocated him so much he could not breathe. Zisheng watched Ling Yi killed his own father, and he felt useless when he thought back at that time. If only he did something, just something...
But Zisheng also knew even if he did try to do something, he was just a small young boy back then. He would die by Ling Yi's hands right there with his father.
And if he did not change clothes with A-Li... he would be the one accompanying his dead family members.
There were times when his revenge eating him out in the worst possible way and he thought it would be better if he died in battlefields because he was exhausted of his life, but when he closed his eyes and his mind brought him back to these bloody nights when he had to hide with Huo Junhua for their lives, when he remembered the heads of their family members hung high in the city, he was determined he would not die until he avenged for the innocent souls of Gu City.
His strong urge for vengeance fueled when he thought of Ling Yi, the greedy traitor who had done his family wrong.
Ling Yi had made his Aunt Junhua the way she was, who had rather everyone thought she was crazy and had lost her mind from losing her own brother and coming back to the capital only to discover that her husband has married another female, one that she actually thought as close family, but actually was a snake that stabbed her from behind. But Huo Junhua, the ever so proud lady of the Huo family, put aside her arrogance and pride for the sake of Zisheng and herself, so they could survive. So Zisheng could survive and avenged their family, and did not let her son who died in his own father's hands, did not go to vain.
"Child, tell me, what is your name?"
"My name is," he glanced at Huo Junhua, who gave him a subtle nod. "Ling Buyi."
"Young Master," Zisheng opened his eyes. "Young Master, are you awake?" A-Fei's voice calling for him as he knocked slightly on the door. "It is your important day today, Young Master, we should hurry to prepare you. The fortune teller said we should not miss the auspicious hour." A-Fei added.
Zisheng slowly woke up from his bed. "I am awake." He took a deep breathe and got off the bed. "Come in." The door was opened then and his ever loyal subordinates A-Qi and A-Fei stepped in, A-Fei was all smiling and cheerful, and in his hands were Zisheng's wedding clothes. "Is everything done?"
"We have made sure that everything is perfect, Young Master." A-Fei said proudly. Zisheng knew better though, while Liang Qiufei did help around, the one that made sure everything was smooth actually was Liang Qiuqi. A-Qi just nodded, agreeing with his brother.
Zisheng smirked slightly. "Was it not the palace servants His Majesty send that get everything done?" He asked.
"Yeah, but we are the one that shows them around!" A-Fei protested. Zisheng shook his head. "Anyway, it is time to prepare you for the ceremony. His Majesty, Her Majesty and Consort Yue will be here soon, and then Lady Cheng and her family too." A-Fei continued as he fussed over his Young Master, ushering the servants in to prepare a bath for their Young Master. He sighed happily in his heart, his Young Master would be getting married afterall. No more running away from the emperor and braved their way through war expeditions after war expeditions, just because His Majesty tried to marry his Young Master off to any eligible young lady from noble families, like how His Majesty tried with Princess Yuchang four years ago.
And the future matriarch of the Ling Manor was a force to be reckoned with. And very reckless too, in his opinion. A-Fei remembered things that had happened and he thought that the Fourth Lady Cheng did not place Young Master in her heart, while Young Master has gone out of his ways for her and has done a lot of things for her too, and that was even before they got betrothed. But when he told A-Qi this, A-Qi smacked his head hard and reminded him to never said it out loud especially in front of their Young Master.
"But I am right, you know that too!" A-Fei hissed as he rubbed the back of his head, where A-Qi hit him just now.
A-Qi narrowed his eyes at him. "You have eyes, yet you does not see what she has done for our Young Master too?" A-Qi shook his head. "Does Young Master has anyone aside from us that ever ask him if he feels hurt from his injuries? Preparing a warm bowl of soup that is always ready for Young Master every morning after the court assembly adjourned? Even going against His Majesty's imperial decree to flog Young Master?" A-Fei was quiet. "Fourth Lady Cheng makes Young Master happy, that is all we as his comrades need to know." A-Qi added.
A-Fei pondered before he slowly nodded. "You are right, my brother. I see it now."
A-Qi did not have to tell him about that one day A-Qi actually caught their Young Master sneakily entered the manor early in the morning, and he looked bewildered at the fact that A-Qi had seen him. Instead of asking where did he spend the night, A-Qi just greeted him and made his way to the training ground for his morning training session. He knew Young Master was at the palace the day before because he had a meeting the crown prince, and he would surely spent time to visit his fiancee. Therefore, A-Qi actually had an inkling about Young Master's whereabout, hence why he did not ask him anything.
"A-Qi," A-Qi looked at his Young Master. "Make sure everything goes accordingly to what we have discussed." Zisheng said seriously.
A-Qi bowed deeply. "Everything is in order, Young Master." He reassured Zisheng.
While in the Marquis Quling residence, everyone was fussing over the only daughter of General Cheng. The emperor and empress had people sent over to the Cheng household too, to help the Cheng with the wedding day preparation. In a few hours, they would be on their way to Ling Manor and Cheng Shaoshang would be the wife of the formidable General Ling Buyi and the one and only Madam of the house.
"Niaoniao, you should drink and eat a bit. Today will be long and you will need some energy." Cheng Yang said in concern as Liangfang nodded and she put a tray of porridge and tea beside her Young Lady. Shaoshang had been up from dawn, these servants from the palace had been having her in the bath for hours, they rubbed her clean that Shaoshang felt like all dirts on her body had gone and she was lighter than the day before. But the water was too fragrant she had to hold back from retching out her stomach content. She did not have any appetite after that, thus Xiao Yuanyi had Lianfang made light porridge for her.
Lianfang helped her to eat the porridge as the servants were polishing her nails clean. "No more." Shaoshang shook her head after just a few spoons.
"Young Lady, you need to eat so you will have energy. Today will be tiring for you." And the child inside you too, but Lianfang left that unsaid. It was a secret and who knew if these servants were listening in. Cheng Yang nodded worriedly.
Shaoshang sighed in her heart, they were worrying about her, she knew. "Fine. But I want these candy you bring the other day after I finish this." Shaoshang smiled.
"No problem, Young Lady!" Lianfang smiled back and continued to feed her.
Cheng Yang smiled too. "Shaoshang, are you nervous?" She asked.
"Maybe?" She grinned at her cousin. Shaoshang was not nervous, actually. Not really. Maybe she was nervous, but not for the wedding. But for what would come after the wedding.
Zisheng and her, they both agreed they should strike the iron while it was hot. They might be thinking that Zisheng was busy with his wedding preparation and would halt his investigation, but he was actually busy too, arranging and planning the last of his plan that he and Shaoshang had put together.
"Young Lady, Madam said General Ling's soldiers have moved our things into the Ling Manor, but if you have anything you want to bring with you, you can do so." Lianfang informed her. Shaoshang nodded, and suddenly she remembered the day Marquis Chengyang made a formal complaint to the emperor the day he ordered out the imperial decree announcing Zisheng and her wedding.
"Your Majesty," Ling Yi bowed deeply to Emperor Wen before he dared to look at the emperor. "Zisheng is the one and only child of the Ling family. This subject is disheartened that the wedding is not being held at the Ling main family manor." Ling Yi sighed as he looked at Zisheng and his fiance, Cheng Shaoshang who was there too when he complained about where Zisheng and Shaoshang's wedding would take place.
Zisheng and Cheng Shaoshang did not even look at him, Shaoshang clenched her fist, she now understood why Zisheng looked like he loathed the man whenever they interacted. It was because Zisheng really, really detested him. When Shaoshang thought that the man killed Zisheng's father and Zisheng even witnessed the murder, her heart ached in pain for all these years her fiance had suffered. All due to this man in front of them.
And she admired Zisheng, because if she was him, she would not be able to restraint herself and instead of making years of plan she would try to get him convicted in one swipe. But she could not do that now, she had a lot of things at stake and Zisheng was right, the man in front of them was slick and able to manipulate people and evidence, he could put a stop to their plan. They had to do this step by step carefully.
The emperor looked at Ling Yi, he also, sighed deeply in his heart. "Zhen knows it is not the usual tradition for a wedding." He said. "But it is Zisheng's wish. Zhen has promised Zisheng to grant him his wish." He added. "But it is not weird too, seeing that Zisheng has his own residence now. This only shows that Zisheng is already a capable man to provide for his bride and the family they will build together." No one knew Shaoshang's current condition, except for few trusted people. And definitely not Marquis Chengyang.
Shaoshang had to hold back herself from smiling. The emperor really favored Zisheng, he would say anything to excuse Zisheng's actions. And even if Zisheng got punished, they were all light punishments, nothing he could not take. Everyone knew this.
"But, still..." Ling Yi glanced toward the Crown Prince, and Crown Prince immediately made his way forward to bow to the emperor.
Shaoshang saw it and wondered if they were in cahoot or Ling Yi was just manipulating Crown Prince's benevolence for his own gain.
"Father, Marquis Chengyang's worry is understandable." He bowed deeply. "It will be worrisome if rumors were to spread that Zisheng is being unfilial toward his father." He continued.
Shaoshang glanced at her fiance, Zisheng was quiet but Shaoshang knew he was obviously finding that the Crown Prince's words was distasteful, with the way he slightly frowned. "Your Majesty, Your Highness," everyone's eyes were on her, including Zisheng. "If we are arguing about our wedding matter and delays it until the mourning period is over, Zisheng and I will have to wait for a few more years before we can marry. By moving up the wedding quickly, Zisheng is already showing and fulfilling his filial duty as his mother's son. We will have a family to burn offering to Madam Huo and the rest of Huo Clan."
Zisheng looked at her proudly.
Everyone else were too baffled to speak, but Emperor Wen felt like his eyes were going to be wet. He knew Cheng Shaoshang always had her ways with words, but usually she used it so she could escape out of copying manuscripts. Yet today, she spoke firmly for herself and Zisheng against Marquis Chengyang, thinking of Zisheng as the last family member of Huo after his mother passed away. He was glad Zisheng took in the right bride (Emperor Wen was sure Zisheng would disagree and said that he was the lucky one that Cheng Shaoshang agreed to marry him).
Not to mention if the wedding was delayed because of this mere issue, he was sure these two hot-blooded youngsters would act on impulse and eloped, and if that happened he would be deprived of seeing Zisheng having offsprings of his own. He, as someone who had been raising Zisheng since he was a child, would not let it happened.
"Lady Cheng is right, Zhen do not think we should be arguing about this matter anymore." He cleared his throat, his voice was thickened with emotions just now. "To compensate Marquis Chengyang, Zhen will hold a private banquet for you, the next day after their wedding day. How is that? Zisheng?" He asked Zisheng especially.
Hearing that, Zisheng unhurriedly bowed deeply. "Thanking Your Majesty for resolving this matter." He replied, then he and Shaoshang looked at each other for a few moments. An opportunity showed itself was like a gift bestowed upon them.
"This subject thanking Your Majesty's benevolence." Ling Yi bowed deeply. If he was disatisfied he did not show it on his face, afterall there was nothing he could do anymore.
Shaoshang sighed in her heart, maybe Zisheng was right. Crown Prince was not suitable to ascend the throne, he was too kind and forgiving, especially with family members. Someone like him, if he ascended to be the emperor, would not be able to decide firmly on matters that would implicate the subjects under the Heaven. The Crown Prince was similar to Empress Xuan, Shaoshang thought, and while they were kind and gentle people, they could not help but at times not noticing they had been used for other people's gain.
She was exasperated when she learnt the truth about the tiger seal, but Shaoshang told Zisheng she was willing to put aside the matter and that she would settle the score with him after everything. Cheng Shaoshang was petty and would not let go of matters easily, and she would make sure Zisheng would have to grovel at her feet to redeem himself.
"Niaoniao," Shaoshang snapped out of her trance when she heard her mother calling her. Xiao Yuanyi was looking at her reflection through the bronze mirror, before she sat by Shaoshang's side. Shaoshang did not realize that the servants have finished preparing her and that she was all done in her wedding attire. "How... are you feeling?" Xiao Yuanyi asked, the atmosphere was awkward, but Xiao Yuanyi was trying her best to try to reconcile with her daughter who had been strayed far from her.
Shaoshang did not know what to feel about Xiao Yuanyi. In one hand, she felt almost close to nothing regarding her mother. But on the other hand, this was the woman that gave birth to her and she was her family. "I am fine, A-Mu." Shaoshang smiled at her.
"Niaoniao," she held Shaoshang's hands and smiled at how beautiful her daughter was. "You are my daughter, and while I always tell you bad things, comparing you to YangYang, I want you to know that I love and care for you." Her voice thickened with emotions. "If I..." she cleared her throat, Shaoshang saw her mother's eyes started to water. "If I can turn back the time, I would bring you with me instead of leaving you here to suffer alone all these years." Xiao Yuanyi breathed deeply. "Then I could spend more time with you and taught you everything."
Shaoshang watched her mother tried to hold back her tears. "A-Mu, I understand... and.. I am sorry I am not the daughter you wanted." Blamed her condition, Shaoshang thought she would start crying right there and then too.
"Niaoniao," Xiao Yuanyi shook her head. "You are my daughter. I should love you however you are." She patted Shaoshang's hands. "I am sorry for making you feel you are not loved." Tears streamed down her face.
Shaoshang wiped her mother's tears with her sleeve. "It is my wedding day, but if people see you cry they are going to assume the Cheng family is being forced to marry their daughter off to the stone cold General Ling." She and Xiao Yuanyi laughed in tears.
"If anything, you can count on us. We are a family." Xiao Yuanyi looked at her. Shaoshang nodded. "If he bullies you, you can always come home." Shaoshang laughed. If Zisheng bullied her, she would retaliate and gave it back to him, they knew that. "And... I do not think I should talk to you about this," Xiao Yuanyi took out a small book, Shaoshang blinked a few times before she realized what it was. "But still, I want you to have it." Xiao Yuanyi's face flushed a bit. "I pray your marriage is a happy one and he will treat you right."
Shaoshang smiled sincerely at her mother, and then Xiao Yuanyi made her kept the book with her, to which Shaoshang just went along.
It was then Lianfang came and informing them the auspicious hour has arrived and they had to move fast. Shaoshang walked out of her chamber she lived in as the daughter of the Cheng family, and knowing the next time she came here, she would still be the daughter of her family. The thought was affirmed when she saw how her father, the general who had braved through wars expeditions, had red eyes when he saw her in her wedding attire. Shaoshang held his hands tight, and Cheng Shi whispered the same thing Xiao Yuanyi just told her, that she would forever be his daughter and she would always have a place in their house. When she reached her brothers and Cheng Yang, they smiled encouragingly at her.
It felt like a flash, everything that happened, because the next thing Shaoshang remembered was finally seeing Zisheng's face as they were finally alone in their chamber. The memorable memory she could recall was of her own father and Emperor Wen, both were so drunk together and almost exposed the matter about her carrying to the other guests, which included Marquis and Marchioness Chengyang. But her mother, Empress Xuan and Consort Yue were so quick to act and the banquet ended smoothly.
"Furen." Zisheng lifted up the red veil, smiling affectionately when Shaoshang's face came into his full view. He took Shaoshang's hands into his and kissed the back of her palms.
Shaoshang smiled and let Zisheng caressed her hands as she watched him. "Do not call me Furen, it is so awkward to hear." She scrunched her nose adorably. Zisheng's lips hooked up.
"Shaoshang." Zisheng corrected himself.
Shaoshang beamed. "Call me by my name so I can still be Cheng Shaoshang." She said. Her fear about marrying him manifested, she was afraid of losing her own identity, she did not want to be viewed only as the wife of General Ling Buyi.
"You are Cheng Shaoshang. The smart, intelligent woman who are loyal to her family but also would not hesitate to hand over her relatives for their own wrongdoings, who is strong enough to let go of matters you could not have but not before you fight for them to the best you can." Zisheng stroked her face. "You are an inventor whose inventions able to help people-"
Shaoshang had her palm on his mouth. "I get it, I get it... It is embarassing when you speak it out like that." She pulled away but Zisheng reached out for her hands and looked at her affectionately.
"All I want is for you to be who you are," Zisheng said. "You are free to do anything and be anything you want." He added. "You are the Madam of this manor, you are my equal. Your words are my words."
Shaoshang smiled, although she knew Zisheng meant every words he just said, she also knew she had a big responsibility on her shoulders as Zisheng's wife. Like what Emperor Wen once said, if she did not do her duty properly, people would look down on Zisheng too, no matter how much formidable he was in battlefields.
"Have you eaten anything? You did not eat much during the banquet." Zisheng asked, suddenly remembered that Shaoshang barely finished her meal during their wedding banquet. For someone who loved food and would even pulled face at him when he reprimanded her not to eat too much, it was odd not to see her trying every dishes and drinks in front of her.
Shaoshang put her hand on her still flat stomach. "You ask your child here why is he or she is making me losing appetite and unable to enjoy delicious food." She huffed at Zisheng. Zisheng smiled fondly, his hand reached out for Shaoshang's stomach. She looked at her now husband, the young general who always appeared serious, yet he had the softest smile on his face right at this moment. It made her heart warm. This was their family, and Shaoshang swore she would do anything to protect them.
"I wonder," Zisheng glanced up from her stomach to her face. "Was it that night at Changqiu Palace when you wanted me to stay, or that one time when we sneaked out somewhere after His Majesty summoned us?" Shaoshang's eyes widened at his teasing expression. "Or, was it when we were at Tongniu County? Or-" Shaoshang's face reddened and she reached out her hand to pinch Zisheng's arm hard, he smiled as he let Shaoshang pinched and slapped his arm.
She glared at Zisheng, but her face still had a faint tinge of red from his teasing. "Anyway," Shaoshang cleared her throat. "Is everything ready for tomorrow?" She asked in hushed tone.
"Yes. Everything is ready." Zisheng nodded. "We have his family, and the gardener agreed to be our witness." He replied in low voice. "And the letters are safe too." He added.
Shaoshang held his hands and Zisheng relished in the warmth she offered, he felt like it seeped into his skin and warmed his inside. Zisheng could not remember the last time he felt this warm before meeting Shaoshang.
"We will be fine." Shaoshang reassured him.
Their eyes locked and Zisheng saw a hint of fearfulness in her eyes, yet she tried her best to comfort him. Zisheng held her hands firmly, before he slowly nodded. "We will be fine." He said affirmatively.
They would be fine, because they had each other.