The Nuptial chamber
When Long Dahai arrived at the nuptial chamber, he was taken back by the wedding nanny and other servants waiting outside. "Why are you not attending to the bride?"
The wedding nanny wanted to ask the same question.
She had been a wedding nanny for the past 20 years, but this wedding brought a few new experiences for her. It was the first time she walked a bride to the nuptial chamber after two maids left mid-way; no one knew where they went. The first time she had to wait outside instead of inside the nuptial chamber. It's also safe to say that it was also the first time she met such a vicious bride that dragged the servants out by the ear!
She wanted to tell the prince about these things but feared it would seem as if she was picking fault with the new bride who came for an alliance.
"Nanny, why are you waiting outside?" Long Dahai reiterated.
The wedding nanny bowed her head in defeat. "Replying to His highness, the new bride insisted we stay outside the room and only enter when you called for us."
Long Dahai's brows furrowed. His bride had a particular way of doing things - strange and a little obnoxious.
Nevertheless, he entered.
Through the widescreen, he could see the outline of his bride waiting for him.
"Benwang heard you asked everyone to wait outside," he slowly walked toward her. "Did you want to tell me something?"
She nodded her head and beckoned him over with her finger.
He frowned, stalking over to her with his armed crossed over his chest. So far, the bride wasn't acting in a way that would leave a favourable opinion.
The closer he got to the bride, he noticed that the design on her veil seemed different.
Wasn't there two cranes?
Just as Long Dahai was about to sit next to the bride... BAAM!
Someone stormed into the nuptial chamber, shouting, "Wangye, that's not the bride!"
Before his brain could even process the information, as a natural instinct Long Dahai stepped aside in time to avoid the vicious sword swinging at his neck.
Ripping the veil off her head, the fake bride grunted in annoyance. She lifted her sword again and thrust forward, aiming for his chest.
Long Dahai dropped into a low sweeping kick, forcing her to step back to avoid his attack. Whether it was pure luck or her lack of experience, her abrupt movement gave Long Dahai's bodyguard, Luo Li, an opening to strike her back with his scabbard.
The impact of the blow kept her on the floor. Luo Li took the chance and put distance between her and Long Dahai. He drew his sword at her, "Your accomplice is caught. Give in."
Her eyes widened, darting around the room. The exits were blocked by the servant, who crowded together after hearing the ruck inside. There was no way out.
She dropped to her head and raised her hands in surrender with no other option.
As strange as it was for an assassin to give in, the girl was too afraid to give up her life to swear secrecy. She was still young and wanted to live, even at the expense of exposing her master.
The little assassin girl doesn't say much as the guards apprehend her. Instead, she stared at Long Dahai with a sly look, challenging him with her eyes.
Long Dahai looked her down and suddenly realised something, "Luo Li! The bride?!"
Luo Li gave a start. His first priority was Long Dahai, so he didn't think twice before he left the bride where he found her. He led Long Dahai to the back of the abandoned north pavilion, where he found Han Aeng.
He felt terrible for leaving her in the same state the other assassin left her in, "I didn't dare touch Wangfei."
"You did well." Long Dahai could guess what Luo Li thought when he found the bride tied up and away from the nuptial chamber. He wasn't cruel enough to pick fault with him.
He crouched next to Han Aeng and placed his fingers just under her nose. Feeling the soft wind against his skin, he let out a sigh of relief before turning to Luo Li. "Let's take her in."
Luo Li nodded but made no effort to help out. As he stated, he didn't dare touch the new bride, much less on the wedding day before her husband. It was too improper.
Neither of them moved, so Luo Li nudged his head towards Han Aeng as if to say; she's your wife, not mine.
Long Dahai restlessly tapped his hands against his thighs before growing resolute, "Alright then, excuse my rudeness." In one swift motion, he carefully lifted Han Aeng into his arms and headed to the nuptial chamber.
The wedding nanny crying by the door, sprang to her feet at the sight of the two, following them inside.
Long Dahai was very careful with Han Aeng as he placed her on the bed.
He lifted her veil.
In the light of the flickering candles, she gently sank into his eyes like the moonlight. A warm fuzzy that made him feel comfortable even though they had yet to speak.
Quite instinctively, Long Dahai reached out his hand to brush against her pale skin but froze mid-action as Han Aeng's eyes flung open.
Her primitive instinct had her push against his chest to create some sort of distance between them. Both in shock and panic, she drew herself to the other side of the bed, hands clutching the blanket close to herself.
Long Dahai's voice was gentle as he explained, "Don't be afraid. You're safe now. Benwang was just checking if you were alright."
Han Aeng pressed her hands against her temple, whining in pain as she eyed him down. Noticing his red robes and the wedding nanny behind him, her face relaxed. "Your Highness…"
"This old woman has wronged My Lady. If only I didn't leave you alone, then this disarray wouldn't have happened," the wedding nanny cried, rushing to Han Aeng's side.
"Nanny, how could you have knowingly hurt me when you've been so good these two months. I'm okay." Han Aeng tried to pacify the wedding nanny's tears as her work tendency kicked in before she even processed what was happening.
The wedding nanny didn't believe her sweet words but thoroughly checked her from head to toe with a gentle hand. When the wedding nanny brushed the back of her head, Han Aeng winced in pain. The nanny began to panic all over again at the little sound of pain.
On top of recovering from her initial shock, Han Aeng was so out of it and didn't want to hear anything coming from anyone's mouth. So she only insisted, "Nanny, I'm really fine, just a little shocked but otherwise unharmed."
Long Dahai's eyes flickered between his bride and the table of traditions to fulfil.
He tapped his fingers beside him before asking, "If you're okay with it, let's get the rituals over with so you can rest."
Han Aeng meekly nodded in response.
By the time they finished the rituals, Han Aeng deeply regretted agreeing. She didn't expect there to be so many things to do to be married.
"Keep the servants at a distance and have our guard keep the premise. We don't know if we are to expect more uninvited guests," Dahai ordered Luo Li before closing the doors.
The ruck had helped calm his nerves -though it might be more accurate to say he's thoughts were preoccupied. His worries were eased to nothing as he sat beside her on the bed without hesitation.
"You can go to sleep. Benwang will stand guard for you."
"Your Highness doesn't have to."
"Benwang insist that you should sleep. Today was far too eventful for you."
"Then… Your Highness shouldn't stand guard and sleep too." Han Aeng shifted herself to one side of the bed and patted down the place next to her, "Your highness also had a long day."
She didn't have the capability to think about what she said or did. She hadn't slept for three days and was exhausted to contemplate fine details such as sleeping in the same bed.
Long Dahai leaned against the frame at the end of the bed, watching her squirm around before welcoming sleep with open arms. "You must have been exhausted."