Winter Blossom

A Good day for Pranking

Qing Qiu

Waking the next morning, Bai Qian could hear her mother bustling about the den which seemed odd, seeing as her mother never rose before dawn.  It was still dark out, but keeping her eyes closed, she allowed her mind to go back over everything that had happened the night before.  She knew her family would be angry, and she should have expected the backlash from her mother, only it came as such a shock that she was still reeling from it.

But today was her wedding day, and with a final prank to pull before she cut them all loose to live a happy life on Kunlun Mountain with a man she was madly in love with, she remained in bed unmoving to begin the biggest act of her life.

The sound of hushed voices entering her chamber, soon had her realizing that the maids had entered and though she had pulled the blankets up over her head, the thought that her mother was still going to force her into preparing for a wedding she had outright refused and even stated she was married to someone else had her quickly throwing them off her head.

"Get the hell out.  I am not marrying that old bastard, I am already married." she screamed and shocking herself along with the maids.  Not only was her face a mask of fury, but the way she had picked up a candle holder to throw it at them, soon had them all scurrying back out the door while she remained half reclined staring at their bent backs in admiration, because she honestly didn't think she had it in her to be so mean.

They were maids that the Celestial Palace had sent to Qing Qiu to assist her with the bathing and dressing rituals, and though she felt very guilty for causing upset, she waited until they had all left the chamber before throwing the candle holder as hard as she could at the door anyway.

Hearing her mother approaching, she quickly rose from her bed to snatch up a small carry case which she proceeded to throw whatever her hands fell on into it, to give her mother the impression she was packing and leaving for her secret husband.

Closing the door quietly behind her, Zhe Zhe leaned down to pick up the candle holder before placing it calmly on a low shelf.  It was a simple act, but it gave her a little time to calm herself down seeing as she had completely lost her temper the night before and wanting to talk to her daughter in a civilized manner was what she was aiming for as she gently took her arm and forced her away from the bag she was haphazardly filling with books and make up.

"Qian Qian.  Have you really married another man?" she asked looking at her daughter so close to tears, that Bai Qian was just as close to spilling her own secret.

"Mother.  Please don't worry about me.  I am happy and want to leave.  This marriage is a sham and I don't want it.  I never did." she replied calmly but firmly.

"You know that we can force you onto that mountain, but we cannot force you to bow.  But I am asking you to reconsider.  Mo Yuan is so revered and respected.  To turn him down flat on the day of his wedding will not only embarrass him, but the entire Celestial Palace." she said as a single teardrop fell.

"You are no longer a child Qian Qian, what you are doing will affect all of Qing Qiu.  You are bringing shame on us all, are you really this selfish that you would do this to me too?" she asked staring at the set of hardened eyes and thinned lips that were glaring back at her.

"How is wanting to choose my own husband selfish?  You chose father because you loved him, I want the same for me.  How is that so wrong?" she asked near tears herself.

"It isn't.  But you should have allowed us the time to end the marriage alliance properly, not wait for the wedding day." her mother replied.

Looking at her mother, Bai Qians heart broke.  She obviously didn't know about the prank her father and Zhe Yan were planning, but the look of utter devastation on her mothers face completely crumbled her inner reserve to continue with this sham.  Her mothers tears were few, she was the strongest woman she knew but to see her cry and feel such embarrassment, soon had her sitting heavily on the bed and dragging her mother down beside her.  Then throwing up a barrier around her entire chamber, she told her exactly what was happening and why she was going to such lengths to get back at those two men.