Not Worthy to Be My Wife and Master
It was an awful dungeon that a.s.saulted the senses - overflowing with human excrement smelling of sweat, rust, and waste. All of it mixed together to create a rotten sour pungent smell. The constant screams of prisoners declaring their innocence and unwillingness to be there grated the ears like a cacophony of drums.
“Let me out!”
“I’m innocent, let me out of here!”
“What’s with all the shouting!?” yelled the jailor. “Dinner is here.” He violently banged the cell bars with an iron rod to emphasize his point. For a moment the prison quieted as everyone waited for their meal. They scrambled after the chunks of hard sour bread tossed haphazardly at them as though they were wolves feasting on plump sheep, their eyes bright and ruthless.
Xiao Wan thought it was a disgrace. She sat in a corner only looking at the scene for a moment before turning her head away in disgust. She was the eldest born daughter of her mother’s first husband, cherished since she was a baby, spoiled beyond belief. Whatever she wanted she would get. It was shameful she was here at all.
The official performing the investigation was her good sister [notes] the Empress’ third daughter Chu Muqing, so how could she not be exonerated soon? Once out she would personally deal with the grievances the Xiao House [notes] suffered. Just Wait.
Xiao Wan was full of confidence despite being in the damp dungeon and rooming with several mice. Wait. Are those Droppings? “Ahhh! Mouse! There’s a mouse! Someone come!”
“What?! So noisy. What the h.e.l.l’s the problem? It’s just a couple of mice.” The jailer frowned, then spoke again after thinking it over. “You from the Xiao House?”
“Yes yes!” Xiao Wan replied quickly. Finally these miscreants recognized her status. “The Xiao family is innocent. Let me see Her Royal Majesty [notes] and His Royal Highness. Let me see the Third Imperial Princess!”
“Ha! Every prisoner here says they’re innocent. If it’s true, there wouldn’t be anyone here. As for you, you’re currently just like any other prisoner. Nuthin’ special. Want to see Her Majesty and His Highness… tch! Dream on.”
He rubbed his chin in thought before speaking again. “I heard there was a good looking guy running around this morning gifting the guards with money so they’d treat you well. Yeah, before that I heard he knelt in front of the Ministry of Justice pleading for the Third Imperial Princess [notes] to speak to Her Majesty and His Highness on your behalf. But for an official like you?” He sighed shaking his head before going on. “Considering how heavy your crime is... it won’t do any good no matter how long he pleads or who he pleads to.”
The summer days were really hot in late June. Xiao Wan became distressed and her heart turned sour at the thought of her wonderful husband kneeling all day in the hot Sun. The ground would be scorching hot, surely burning that delicate skin of his. How could a pregnant man [notes]bear such a thing?
Xiao Wan couldn’t help but remember their last meeting. She had torn the doc.u.ment out and handed it to him. She had also severed his ties with her and the Xiao House, hoping he wouldn’t be dragged into the whole affair.
About a month and a half ago Imperial Prince Qi had led 200,000 troops to southern Xinjiang. Victory was a.s.sured as it was supposed to be an easy campaign. Instead the battles were fierce and the army lost ground - in just one month they lost three cities. The most devastating news was the death of Imperial Prince Qi and the subsequent attack on Eastern Wei. It was clearly coordinated and executed in one fell swoop. The enemy’s momentum was so strong that the entirety of Eastern Wei fell into a panic.
At that time Chu Muqing personally led a troop of 150,000 elite soldiers to defend against the southern Xinjiang invaders. They even took the initiative and left the city to attack the enemies beyond. Taking advantage of the uproar and the disorder in the enemy camps they were able to completely oust the Xinjiang troops from their territory. Afterwards the Third Imperial Princess’ reputation as a G.o.d of war spread like wildfire making the citizens appreciate her even more.
Eastern Wei’s victory came at a tremendous cost though. How did the Prince’s troop of 200,000 lose to the Xinjiang troops of 100,000? An investigation showed treachery was the cause, that intelligence was leaked about the army’s formation and its location. This allowed the enemy forces to ambush the troops resulting in his death. Unfortunately for Xiao Wan, the primary culprit was her mother, Xiao Yurong, thus the current situation.
Xiao Yurong’s defection made the Empress so angry she imprisoned all 120 members of the Xiao House and personally interrogated Xiao Yurong herself. The news of her betrayal was especially distressing because of the sensitive position she held. Xiao Yurong was head of the Ministry of War, was responsible for all military affairs and was essentially the chief administrator in charge of all the branches related to the nation’s defense. She held an incredibly important position.
If she was found guilty it would be inevitable that the entire House would be implicated. Surely the whole family down to the third generation would be executed.
She again remembered the last time she saw Ji Shumo. At that time, in order to keep him safe she had given him the marriage doc.u.ment [notes]
after tearing it out. She had also handed him a sealed letter addressed to the Third Imperial Princess. She and the princess were good friends; based on this friends.h.i.+p she was sure the other would initiate an investigation and be able to prove her House’s innocence. Now even more so since the princess had more sway given her reputation as the “G.o.d of war.”
By the fifth day Xiao Wan was no longer the same pristine looking eldest daughter of her House. Her current appearance was unkempt and she stank like she’d been rolling around in a barn, looking unwashed and dirty. She no longer looked on with disdain at the rations either, instead joining in the fray and fighting like her life depended on it. In her hand she held a piece of the c.r.a.ppy stale bread given at every mealtime.
She was used to eating and having whatever she wanted. But within a few days the lack of provisions in prison led her to feel a sense of food insecurity. It was especially acute when she saw how hard everyone fought in order to get their share.
The others started hara.s.sing her once they found out she was the eldest daughter of a wealthy house too. They united in their hatred for the rich and bullied her, while the prison guards ridiculed her from the side, even going so far as to make bets on if she’d be able to fight for any of the food.
Stuck in prison for the last few days gave her a taste of what it was like to be alienated. She was no longer surrounded by sycophants eager to please her as the eldest daughter of the Minister of War. Instead she was surrounded by people who wasted no opportunity to kick her while she was down.
Ji Shumo was the only one! He was the only one, regardless of the situation, who stayed by her side willing to suffer through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad times. She really didn’t love the wrong person! Ji Shumo didn’t abandon her despite her imprisonment. He was out there praying and pleading on her behalf, not hesitating even in the heat, despite his physical condition. These thoughts really made her heart warm. He was her driving force. She was going to stay alive to be with him and their baby. She really wanted to be there for the baby’s delivery!
Xiao Wan was just thinking how cold she felt, how parched her throat was, and how empty her stomach had been when she heard the sound of the gate opening. The movement brought a strong cold wind into her cell causing her single candle to flicker. She s.h.i.+vered huddling in a corner. “Has the truth been revealed? Are you here to let me go?”
“Go?” The guard laughed in a sinister voice. “When Xiao Yurong was interrogated by the Empress she was so afraid of her crime she committed suicide. But the arms of justice has a long reach and even death won’t stop it. It turns out Xiao Yurong was in league with the First Imperial Princess to a.s.sa.s.sinate the Imperial Prince to further her schemes for the throne later. Everyone related to the First Imperial Princess has already been gathered up. The Empress was so angry that she ordered the entire Xiao House be executed today at noon. You’ll be following along very shortly.”
Mother committed suicide by taking poison? Did she really aim to kill Prince Qi? Wasn’t the Xiao House framed?
“What are you doing? Hurry it up!” yelled her jailor as he dragged Xiao Wan’s stiffened and weak body up off the ground.
Her feet were bare and weighted down by manacles. The heavy chains pressed her down barely allowing her stand up. She was a little scared and had frozen up because of that fear. Before she could even properly balance herself she was shoved from behind straight out of the prison cell. The motion forced the heavy chains to scratch hard at her skin tearing a bit of flesh off.
“Ah!” She cried out in pain. As a pampered Young Miss, she really wasn’t used to this kind of treatment.
“Listen it’s hopeless for you.” Her jailor whispered to her. “Your young husband is really dedicated to you though. He was kneeling for five days straight. If it weren’t for the fact he got a fever and fainted during the crazy downpour we had last night, I’m pretty sure he’d still be kneeling out there right now.”
Xiao Wan was deeply touched that the gentle Ji Shumo would disregard his pregnant body in order to plead so desperately for her. Her eyes filled with tenderness and her heart was moved, but at the same time she was glad that she made the wise decision to tear his name out and give him the marriage doc.u.ment. At least this way even if the entire Xiao House perished, he and the baby would be spared and the Xiao family bloodline would still continue.
Ji Shumo was pregnant but still knelt for her for five days. Remembering this, Xiao Wan gritted her teeth and endured the pain in her ankles as she struggled forward one step at a time, leaving a trail of b.l.o.o.d.y footprints behind her.
Once outside, the fierce sunlight a.s.saulted her eyes leaving them quite pained. In a panic she shook her head and closed her eyes making her lashes quiver and cast a shadow on her pale weak face that hadn’t seen the Sun in days. She really did look sickly all over.
Just as she turned around she saw a youth of about eighteen bathed in the light of the Sun. He had on a loose white robe making him look cool and beautiful, clean and elegant. He was like a snow lotus with a complexion clear as jade, lips as crimson as hibiscus, and a head of long beautiful dark silky hair. He s.h.i.+ned like a golden b.u.t.terfly sunning in the Sun.
The youth’s belly was slightly swollen, like a person three or four months along in their pregnancy. His movements were flowing and smooth and made it seem like he just stepped out of an ink painting. The fluttering robe only served to bring out his best features and made him look like a fairy.
“Shumo, Shumo…” Xiao Wan’s eyes lit up when she saw him. Her feet moved toward him of their own accord. The tears rushed down her face unchecked. “Silly Shumo, you’re pregnant. How could you kneel for so long just to ask for them to intercede on my behalf… I heard you came down with a fever from the rain. Are you OK now?”
She extended her hand out to touch him. He’s so beautiful and pure. But he moved to the side and avoided it, leaving her hand hanging empty in the air. The confusion and embarra.s.sment showed on her face as she took back her hand awkwardly. Ji Shumo looked at her with a cold expression.