8 Ring the Wedding Bells

"Your majesty, this subject just found her destined man!"

The emperor, Wei Zhu, sat on his dragon throne as he rested his left cheek on one palm that rested on the armrest. His eyes glowed as he watched the sunset and the changing sky. It was a view that the previous emperors had requested to the imperial engineers from dynasties ago. A special request upon the opening of the thirty feet tall doors, a breathtaking view of the skies that can take away the pain of overwhelming reports and subjects who just can't get settled.

When his cousin's voice came barging in from below, he nodded but refused to look at the nuisance. For as long as he knew, she was the cousin he was supposed to avoid since the child was born, and yet here she is. The battle seemed to have not been able to rid him of his misery. So was his matchmaking plan. Wei Xia Ri was a powerful chess piece who was aware of her power and overused it for as long as she lived. She was a little troublemaker when young, a spoilt princess in her early teens, and a big-time tyrant the years after. She even lost three thousand men to an ambush!

Lately, his son, the fifth prince had been whispering many curious thoughts and ideas about Wei Xia Ri saying she had been behaving like usual yet at the same time, different than before. Moreover, she no longer chased after Zhong Lei. The emperor dropped his sight to his wonderful cousin who makes wonders in the empire. And much to his surprise, a beautiful yet familiar boy was standing beside the lady.

A smile finally graces his lips and lifted his spirits.

Her arms were wrapped around his waist as she cuddled with him like a monkey. Her bold way of showing her affection earned her contemptuous stares from the ministers on either side of the throne. But such behavior was easily pardoned by such good news.

"Zhen has thought it right. Princess Ruge needed such happiness!"

"Your majesty is always right," Wei Xia Ri agreed. Though Cai Jin was bad news, he was smoking hot.

"What is your name, boy?"

His beautiful and clear black eyes lowered to the sight of the emperor's golden, dragon robes. With a small bow, the handsome peacock reacted gracefully and followed with a respectful tone. "Your majesty, this subject is called Cai Jin."

Wei Xia Ri quickly furrowed her brows. 'Why would these ancient people belittle themselves this much! This is beyond self-respect. The emperor is only human with a higher authority!'

For a moment, there was a bit of silence as the emperor pretended to scan the man chosen by Wei Xia Ri. But upon hearing his name, he knew who he was exactly. He was among the sons of small-time imperial officer's many concubines. He was only as good as a commoner in terms of status. What good can he do but drag his official wife down from the ranks of authority? Especially since he was only just a worthless philanderer which will consume the almighty general's mind in the long run.

"Zhen has heard of Cai Jin, and wonders how General Wei found you?"

Though Cai Jin's favorite hobby was finding pleasure in women and his mind can calculate the quickest way to get a woman's interest, his brain processed a bit slower than usual when it was the emperor making a small conversation with him. His eyes turned to the woman who offered him a good dowry and the son of heavens seating on the dragon throne.

Before he was able to answer, Wei Xia Ri laughed. "It is love at first sight!"

"Guhhuuk!" The emperor's elbow accidentally slipped off the armchair. Yet he straightened his spine and coughed for a bit as if nothing happened. "There are many mysteries in this world and General Wei Xia Ri has brought one out."

'Was that a poem?' Thought the general. It sounded like one. . . anyway, who cares?

"Your majesty?"

"Zhen is simply thinking of your happiness. Cousin, Zhen shall bestow you the dragon's blessing. Why not have your wedding held within the week?"

Wei Xia Ri tilted her head. Now that she thought about it, to spend her life with the smoking hot peacock on her right was a fortuitous encounter. He seemed to be in trouble given his impulsiveness from a while ago as if something was troubling him. However, what can trouble him? Is it bigger than this emperor himself?

"His majesty is too gracious!" She accepted nevertheless.

Cai Jin gasped underneath his breath and gave her a side glance before mimicking the general and thanking the emperor.

When the new couple retreated, a smile fought to escape the man's ecstatic face. Who wouldn't be? In this society, women will bend to their husbands and their sons! Even the general will have to!

However, Wei Xia Ri thought otherwise. When they were freed from the imperial palace's watchful eyes and boarded the carriage heading to the General's mansion, she wasted no time being bashful. Thankfully, Wei Xia Ri has started showering every day, bathed in floral fragrances, and had her hair and makeup, as well as her robes, styled exquisitely by her hard-working, creative and persevering maids. 'Get the general a husband!' They had it written on their foreheads every morning since the emperor's order was announced. The royal edict was a signal that rendered that usually ragged woman to an attractive and mature woman fresh from the battlefield of the harem.

She brimmed with confidence and quickly slid next to Cai Jin's side. Compared to her, he was pale and breathed vulnerability. The very uke she liked.

'Do you need extra warmth? Or how about a temple massage? Are you comfortable? Is your back aching from last night's 18 plus scene with a prostitute? You should start practicing monogamy, it's too dangerous for a lamb to be too wild! Take some rest, here's my shoulder to lean on!'

Her thoughts had run amok deep inside that her breathing started getting heavy. As soon as Wei Xia Ri finally took notice, she shuddered at her self. 'Creep! Did you scare the young uke?'

A flash of worry had the general swinging her eyes from her lap towards the man. Fortunately or unfortunately, he had his body facing the window, away from her and as if he was avoiding her?

Wei Xia Ri sighed. She has been prettied up from head to toe. Even her breath smells like mint. Cai Jin, the boy is now hers! 'My precious fiance!'

"Cai Jin," she called out. Not that there was anything to say, even her head was empty. To show she had something for him, Wei Xia Ri surprised the man by catching a few strands of his long hair in her right palm and kissing it. They were so soft and silky. 'No split ends, wow!'

But to have a woman taking the initiative with intimacy, the ancient boy couldn't help but blush red, even worse than a shy tomato. "Eek!" he cried in a small voice. But his eyes couldn't leave her.

When the general lifted her head, her eyes caught his obsidian eyes. They were so pretty, especially with his bashful cheeks. Her eyes continued to linger at him that moment noticing the very small details. He has a small beauty mark on his neck, just under his red ears. A thin braid was also tucked behind his ear and if she squinted, that ear seemed to be pierced as if he wore earrings. Wait, what?

She tilted her head and smiled at the newly acquired fiance. He was in shock and not a word left his mouth as she moved closer. Though Cai Jin had unconsciously moved back, the narrow carriage walls have trapped him in place. Slowly, Wei Xia Ri got closer. Right now, she looked pretty and enough to seduce a man, even she fell for herself this morning.

"My dear," she blew a bit of air to his ear and felt him shudder when she put a rather cold hand on his neck. Her fingers, thin and long, made it into his hair and touched his warm scalp.

"Wha-what are you doing? It is improper for a young lady such as yourself to--"

"Well, is your little brother behaving politely then?" The general retorted. After spending so many nightly Rendevous in the red-light district, he dares say that?

"Eek! General, the rumors are you telling me that the rumors are indeed true?"

Wei Xia Ri removed her eyes from the tent beside his thigh and met his. "You mean my tyranny? Hmmm, what do you think?"

"Yes, I do. Please refrain from proceeding even further."

"Oh my, a week from now, that will not matter at all. But. . ." Wei Xia Ri thought about it. To have a playboy uke who has weak scholar quality is much too hard to find! The difficulty rate can be as high as 99% and it is hard to find another in a small amount of time. "If you prefer old romance, I will respect that. But watch out, you will regret it!"

Once again, Wei Xia Ri picked up a part of him. This time, his jade-like hand. It was heavy but pretty. She held it to her mouth and then placed a light kiss on it. Her sharp gaze softened at the sight of his blush. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. 'You will regret it.'