Chapter 204 - Bride For Ryuu

Once Zhenyi ended reading the letter written by her late mother many years ago, her eyes stopped on her father's face, whose emotions were hard to categorize. 

His face was empty, devoid of any emotion, no one could decipher what he was thinking right now. 

"By the decree of late Tang Reine, the previous head of the Tang family, Xin family is bestowed with the task to arrange the wedding of the current head of the family with the bride chosen by the mistress herself," announced Tang Yuzhang, his eyes on Xin Yichen's face." Xin family is connected to the Tang family by matrimony, therefore, the Xin family is nearest to the Tang family apart from the three other families. And for this reason alone, the Xin family must arrange the wedding on the day specified. The information pertaining to the bride is kept  protected and hidden till now according to the orders of my mistress, Master Yichen." 

"Your mistress wants her only son to marry the girl she chose decades ago?" questioned Xin Yichen. 

Tang Reine was using only a letter to insinuate something much more complicated. The matter of Ryuu's marriage was not so simple as she was trying to make. 

As of yet, Ryuu had shown no interest in getting married to anyone, the family had tried to arrange for her. He was of the view that marriage was not for the wanderer such as him and now Xin Yichen was caught in a dilemma, how to lay forward the matter before his son relating to his marriage, the matter Ryuu despised the most. 

However, much to her father's distress, Zhenyi was of a different opinion, she had this feeling in her gut, which was telling her that there was something very cynical about this matter, it was not as simple and honorable as her mother was seeming to insinuate, but her doubts would be confirmed with whatever Ryuu's answer or reaction would be based on. 

She had another feeling in her heart that was clearly telling her to start accepting the fact that she would be getting a sister-in-law despite Ryuu's opinion. And that too soon. 

" My mistress wants the current head of the family to take the bride," came the answer. 

"Very well," Xin Yichen sneered. 

She was not arranging a bride for Ryuu's wedding but the head of the Tang family. So, Xin Yichen and no say in this matter as Ryuu had never taken Xin as his surname. And why it was so, it was the matter of another time. 

"What's your opinion, princess?" Tang Yuzhang's attention shifted to Zhenyi, who was too quiet for the storming circumstances.

Zhenyi found the name he used to call her as odd but didn't speak anything, because she knew it was Tang Yuzhang giving her the respect according to her status, but it appeared he seemed to have forgotten the fact that the country had no legitimate royal house. 

"Mr. Tang, I don't think the former head of the Tang family added anywhere in her letter that her daughter's opinion can change the aftermath of the matter that holds the high prestige in the Tang family presently," said Zhenyi. 

"Your opinion matters a lot to her, princess," was his humble reply. 

"I will have to trouble you to call me either Miss Xin or Mrs. Long, Mr. Tang." Zhenyi smiled. 

"Of course, Miss Xin." Tang Yuzhang was as capable as they had said. 

"I apologize for being the last one to congratulate you on your wedding. I pray that heaven blesses you with a long and blissful marriage." Tang Yuzhang added, sincerity naked in his eyes. 

Zhenyi nodded. "Would you like to join us for breakfast, Master Yuzhang?" 

Xin Yichen's eyes snapped towards Zhenyi, who just smiled in return. "Wouldn't want my mother's only sworn brother to leave our house  without food." She smiled and then glanced at her stone-cold father, "Or would we, Bà?" 

"No." Xin Yichen grunted.

Zhenyi turned to Tang Yuzhang who was standing stiff at the same place. Zhenyi gently smiled at him and so he just couldn't refuse her offer.

"Sure, princess!" 

----

At the breakfast table. 

Everyone who was once familiar with Tang Yuzhang felt their appetite disappear away. Elder Xin, who was busy plotting a move against his grandson had a suspicion that all his plans wouldn't function now that the not very anticipated guest was here. 

Why was he here? He was just thinking about it throughout the breakfast. 

"That's my husband, Master Yuzhang." Zhenyi introduced him to her husband, Long Jie." And Jie, he is Master Yuzhang. My mom's sworn brother." 

Even if Tang Yuzhang didn't like the way Zhenyi introduced him to her husband, he didn't show it on his face. He knew the brat was seeking revenge on him for calling him the princess. 

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Master Yuzhang." Long Jie respectfully greeted the man. 

He was surprised by the way Zhenyi had shown him respect. As her husband, he had seen that only a few persons on this planet were capable enough of getting Zhenyi's respect. Seeing this, he greeted him sincerely. 

Tang Yuzhang just nodded. He didn't care about the top aristocratic families of the country, nor did he ever respected them, given their status. He always felt that whoever was deserving of his respect, would get it, irrespective of their status. However, the man before him was Zhenyi's husband so he was polite and somewhat gracious. 

After breakfast, Tang Yuzhang and Elder Xin were talking over tea and Xin Yichen was busy seething, even his son was not picking his calls today. 

He had all the reasons to be angry. His wife was such a person who would leave no stone unturned in making their lives stormy. He wondered how could he fall for such a person, who even after so many years of her death was making his life difficult and problematic. 

Nonetheless, he was not angry at her. He was just angry at his circumstances. He was always aware of the dangers lurking around them. He knew that their lives had no guarantee for tomorrow. He had always wished that if something had to happen, it must happen to him rather than his family. 

But he forgot that fate is a cruel little thing. 

Yet, he had an idea that the wedding was just the alarm for the incoming storm that was going to hit this family. 

But, he was so wrong, the move Tang Reine planned many years from now would not affect one family but several and they wouldn't be able to stop the destruction awaiting for them.