Shards

Chapter 67 - Allegations Part 2

Filled with righteous anger, Lady Shuang balled her small fists and lifted her chin. The beauty of Zinnu glared at the young noble of House Yuan trembling with rage. She was the beloved daughter of House Zhai, the most precious treasure of the Ruling House. He was only the younger son of a lesser House. How dare he speak to her that way!!

"How dare you! Not marry me? Who do you think you are?" she shrieked.

Her furious outburst wiped the smile off his face. Shun Xi took an involuntary step backwards bewildered the lady dared to oppose him. He was used to having his women meek and docile. He had forgotten Lady Shuang was not a common courtesan at a pleasure house who was paid to humour and serve him.

"Father! I change my mind. I will not marry Lord Yuan. I'll marry Lord Zhang instead!!"

"Lord Zhang!" Shuang called shrilly. "I'll take you back if you want. I'll marry you. Ghost did nothing to me, I swear on my House!"

"What?!!" shouted Lord Yuan but all eyes had turned to the Lord of House Zhang.

Xi Xuan had tried to fade into the background after his issue was settled but now that was impossible. Shuang had trusted him back into the spotlight with her outburst. Most expected him to jump at this opportunity to get back with the beautiful maiden he had been pining over since her choice a few nights ago. This was his chance to regain what he had lost, his precious fiancee and his face (dignity).

Lord Zhang Xi Xuan drew himself up to utter a single word.

"No."

The moment the Lord of the second most powerful House in Zinnu rejected Lady Shuang, her desirability, value and prestige plummeted. Blood drained from her face as she stood mortified surrounded by judgemental stares.

"No? What do you mean no? Don't you love me?" asked Shuang dumbfounded. "Aren't you crying and drinking yourself senseless every night because of me? Aren't you pining over our lost love? Don't you want to marry me? I'm still pure!! I'm still a maiden!!"

Lord Zhang seem to transform before them. With straightened back and head held high, he seemed to grow taller. His gentle confidence and grace seemed to enhance settling onto is slender shoulders like a shroud, his features changed from depressed embarrassment to a calm disinterest. The 'lovesick' man was replaced by the Lord of House Zhang.

"Our lost love?" he asked with genuine surprised. "You never loved me. We are practically strangers. You didn't even grant me an audience to get to know you before the Engagement Feast."

"I do now! I want to marry you!"

"Ahhh, but I don't," replied Xi Xuan. "I cannot, I'm sorry."

"Why don't you want me back?" her voice trembled as tears started splashing down her rosy cheeks. "You were my fiance before Lord Yuan. I'm the most beautiful maiden in the land! I'm a daughter of the Ruling House!"

Lady Shuang stared at Lord Zhang in disbelief. How could he not want her. "I'm a prize any man would die for. Why won't you fight for me? I know you want me!"

"My feelings are irrelevant. My House have rules even I have to abide by."

"Rules? What rules?" The beautiful maiden could not believe Lord Zhang was denying her.

"Family, loyalty, trust and common courtesy ... among others."

"What has that got to do with not marrying me?"

"I'm sorry but I cannot take another man's promised to be my wife. I have that much integrity," Xi Xuan replied, his open handheld fan waving slowly against his chest. Lord Zhang locked eyes with Lord Yuan until the younger man looked away. He had taken another man's promised to be his wife.