When The Cherry Blossom Fades

The Nuptial Chamber

When 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 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 like 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 flickered her eyes left and right before bowing 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, Dahai took a deep breath before entering.

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 hand.

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.

But the closer he got to the bride, he noticed that the design on her veil seemed different.

Weren't there two cranes decorating her veil?

Just as Long Dahai was about to approach the bride... BAAM!

Someone bragged into the nuptial chamber, shouting, "Wangye, that's not the bride!"

The atmosphere in the nuptial chamber grew tense as the unexpected intruder revealed herself as an assassin. Long Dahai's instincts kicked in, allowing him to dodge the assassin's initial strike aimed at his neck. His calm exterior transformed into a focused determination, swiftly countering with a low sweeping kick, forcing her to retreat momentarily.

Seizing the opportunity, Long Dahai's loyal bodyguard, Luo Li, struck the assassin's back with his scabbard, further disorienting her. The impact sent her crashing to the floor, momentarily stunned. Luo Li wasted no time creating distance between her and Long Dahai, drawing his sword and positioning himself as a formidable obstacle.

Luo Li, pointing his sword at the defeated assassin, demanded, "Give in. Your accomplice is caught."

A flicker of panic crossed the assassin's face. Frantically assessed her surroundings, realising that every possible exit was blocked by the crowded servants who had rushed in upon hearing the commotion. She had no escape.

Acknowledging her dire situation, the assassin begrudgingly dropped her head and raised her hands in surrender. Cornered and outnumbered, she had no other viable option. The tension in the room slowly eased as the guards cautiously approached and bound her up.

The little assassin 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 abandoning her at the back of the abandoned north pavilion.

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 beside Han Aeng and placed his fingers just under her nose. Feeling the soft wind against his skin, he sighed in 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 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 Long Dahai and Han Aeng following them inside.

Long Dahai was very careful with Han Aeng as he placed her on the bed.

He lifted her veil. She gently sank into his eyes like the moonlight in the light of the flickering candles. 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. Her encounter with the assassin had left her on edge. Finding it difficult to trust her surroundings, she drew herself to the other side of the bed, clutching the blanket close to herself.

Sensing her unease, Long Dahai approached her with gentle steps. His voice was soft as he comforted her, "Please rest assured. You are safe here. 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 months? I'm okay." Her work tendency kicked in, and Han Aeng attempted to pacify the wedding nanny's tears despite her confusion.

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 again at the slight sound of pain.

On top of recovering from her initial shock, Hang Aeng was so out of it and didn't want to hear anything from anyone's mouth. So she only insisted, "Nanny, I'm 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, "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 had regretted agreeing. She didn't expect 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 without hesitation.

"Rest assured and sleep. Benwang will stand guard for you," he reassured, his voice carrying a comforting tone.

"Your Highness doesn't have to."

"Benwang insists 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 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. His gaze softened as he watched Han Aeng struggle to find a comfortable position. The events of the day had undoubtedly taken a toll on her, both physically and emotionally. "Sleep well."