Wu Sanniang was grateful for the blush that lightly dusted her cheeks, preventing them from turning a bright, embarrassing red.

    The man approaching through the hall was strikingly handsome, with a sharply defined jawline and well-shaped lips that matched his prominent nose. His dark eyes were as sharp as steel, radiating intelligence. Even his frown seemed attractively sculpted. Wu Sanniang tilted her head back to meet his formidable gaze, finding his beauty astonishingly profound—too profound to merely be described as handsome.

    The elegant man was dressed in a white robe embroidered with dragons…

    An awe-inspiring choice for his own wedding ceremony? His audacity to wear white left Wu Sanniang momentarily speechless, her own internal exclamation underscoring how she could never have thought to do something so bold herself. It was far superior to simply smearing red all over her face.

    In that brief encounter, the icy demeanor and the penetrating gaze of Yan Shen convinced her more than ever that this man was indeed her intended husband, a prince carved by the gods themselves, standing out in white amidst a sea of red, exuding a manly aura that could not be ignored.

    And he looked at her with disdain.

    Wu Sanniang felt a chill when she became the target of that fierce gaze, even if it was only for a moment before his eyes shifted away. It was clear that her groom was not pleased to welcome her.

    That demeanor tempted Wu Sanniang to slap that perfect face and shout, ‘I don’t want to marry you either!’

    Though their first meeting was far from pleasant, Wu Sanniang couldn’t help but be drawn to the fierce force of nature that he represented, dangerously alluring. She had never encountered anyone whose eyes commanded such power, compelling every woman of flesh and blood to sigh with fluttering hearts. His straightforward look seemed to transform him into a desirable beast, captivating hundreds with just his presence.

    He moved to greet his sister, his voice as soft and dreamy as his sharp features, deep and melodious like music. Wu Sanniang froze, absorbing every detail, but the indifference that radiated from him made her stomach churn.

    "The most responsible person is always the eldest brother. I knew he would come... Second brother, third brother... Pay up."

    Princess Yong An spread her hands, and the two brothers, previously lively with their drinking competition, laid down their cups as if the liquor had soured. The third brother, Yan Shijin, had just received a top-tier bow as a trophy and hadn’t even had a chance to shoot it before his clever sister snatched it away. Similarly, the second brother, Yan Shanqi, who had bet on a glossy gray horse that he cherished and groomed himself, watched as his sister spirited it away too.

    Yan Shen sat at his banquet table, raising his glass and muttering something to the Lian diplomats about agreements, supplies, borders... revolving around war, without a single mention of this wedding. Completely irrelevant.

    A woman’s life is married once, with one husband until death, remaining part of her husband’s family even after her last breath. But this wasn’t his first marriage. Someone had told her he had been married, had a child... which meant they were no longer present. His first wife had died accused of espionage for the enemy, and the innocent child—Wu Sanniang wasn’t sure what had become of his child.

    "Where would the princess like to go now?"

    "I..." Wu Sanniang wished for a moment alone before she no longer had the chance. She felt like she was drowning. "I feel dizzy. I need some fresh air."

    Li Cuipin and Ping Ping accompanied Wu Sanniang to the moon-viewing balcony. The exterior of the palace was adorned with various colorful winter flowers in pots. Along the roofline, festive lanterns twinkled brightly, and the expansive view of Jian Yang City stretched endlessly.

    A chilly breeze swept over them, caressing her skin. Was the earth calling out her name?

    As Wu Sanniang turned around, her intended husband emerged from a shadowy corner. The legendary figure, looking like a celestial general ready to capture a demon, stood tall and imposing against a pillar, arms crossed, his haughty stance emanating a breath of disdain. What did that mean? Wu Sanniang felt an immediate clash of destinies.

    "Princess, ah, His Majesty has instructed that the bride and groom should have a quiet moment alone," an old steward smiled broadly, gesturing for Li Cuipin and Ping Ping to leave. Left alone with him, Wu Sanniang thought she should say something to break the ice.

    Before she could speak, he spat on the ground.

    Wu Sanniang froze, her brain short-circuiting. How should a real princess handle such a situation? She should walk, smile, speak sweetly, elegantly... What would make this man feel ashamed of his rude behavior? Yes... A real princess would cry, sob, and then...

    But instead, Wu Sanniang found herself spitting back.

    It worked. Yan Shen was furious, his eyes bulging with anger. Yet, she wrinkled her nose at him and defiantly raised her fist before proudly returning to the banquet. Just being bartered in marriage like an object was intolerable enough, let alone being treated terribly by her supposed husband-to-be. Dream on if he thought she would just endure being bullied.

    Oh...

    After forcing down a few more bites at the banquet, Wu Sanniang suddenly felt unwell. But she endured until it was time to retire to the bridal chamber. Her face paled, her hands went limp, nearly dropping her glass. She clung to the edge of her table, struggling to breathe. Her vision began to blur, and her stomach churned violently.

    Could it be poison? Wu Sanniang tried to remember what she had eaten and attempted to call for help.

    Her groom-to-be was the first to notice her distress. Even from across the hall, his keen eyes missed no detail. His stern face softened in a comforting smile, easing Wu Sanniang's distress slightly before he spoke to his bride for the first time, saying:

    "If you're going to die, hurry up and do it. Don't die in my mansion; I don't want to deal with the aftermath."

    Wu Sanniang stared in disbelief... What a cruel man.

    ............

    "Jing Sui[14]?"

    "Yes, my prince. The royal doctor has checked her condition. She is in good health. The stomach pain she experienced is temporary, and the doctor recommends using a hot water bottle to soothe it. It should relieve her discomfort soon."

    The maidservant respectfully reported before bowing and leaving the bridal chamber. Li Cuipin and the group of maidservants from Lian Region also bowed their heads in silence and retreated as well. Before exiting, they expressed wishes of happiness and fulfillment to the newlyweds. Although Wu Sanniang conveyed a desire through her eyes for them to stay a bit longer, traditions had to be honored. Li Cuipin closed the door to the bridal chamber, sighing deeply, hoping that Wu Sanniang would endure and pass through this night in good stead.

    The blessings received by the bride and groom seemed almost a cruel joke. The beautifully adorned room contained six ceremonial items according to tradition: measuring instruments, a ruler, a scale, scissors, a mirror, and an abacus. A round table draped in red cloth bore ten types of blessed foods and alcohol, and a pair of bright red candles were lit. All that was missing was for the groom to lift the bride's veil.

    Wu Sanniang was half-sitting, half-lying on the bed, her face flushed naturally without the need for any rouge. Who would have thought she would suffer from menstrual cramps at the feast? Just the thought could make her choke with embarrassment and die.

    The stately figure sat not too far away, slowly rubbing his hands in front of a lamp, casting an unflattering shadow that didn't sit well with her at all. His strong hand picked up a stick to lift the bride's head covering—not to admire her beauty, but to clearly see the face of the princess who dared to insult him in front of the attendants.

    "A clever trick indeed. If you planned to poison yourself to frame the Yan Region, at least make it look more seamless."

    Wu Sanniang gaped in disbelief. Damn him! He was such a fantasist. She wasn't so skilled as to command her menstrual cycle to suit her whims! And if he was going to be arrogant, believing himself superior to women just because he spilled blood on the battlefield, let it be known that women deal with blood more frequently than he could imagine!

    She bowed her head in silence, cursing in her mind. Stay cool... stay cool... Don't climb onto the table and curse him out. If only his character were as perfect as his chiseled face, she might have been happier.

    Wu Sanniang held back tears. "Hmph... You also wore a white suit to the wedding ceremony... You're also assaulting my honor and dignity, you know."

    "We are even then. Be careful."

    The man dressed in the white wedding suit banged his heel on the table, stretching out defiantly and began a drinking game to pass the time. The harsh words that slipped from his desirable lips made Wu Sanniang turn her face sharply. Inside, she cursed the morally corrupt man a hundred and eight times, but as Princess Wen Cheng, all she could do was lift her garment to dab at her eyes, sobbing softly.

    "I'll be careful. I'll wear multiple layers of undergarments so as not to embarrass you further."

    "Straw sack.[15]"

    "I've never used a straw sack," Wu Sanniang quickly replied. "It's too irritating."

    His stern, hardened face scowled, while his piercing eyes reproached her, seemingly praying for her to get out of his sight—which, oddly enough, both of them secretly agreed on. Wu Sanniang thought to irritate him further, but misfortune often comes from the mouth, so she decided to keep a dignified, easy-going, and harmless demeanor.

    However, this noble man never trusted her.

    "I need to return to the battlefield," he declared imperiously.

    "But the war will only cause..."

    "I intend to divorce you quickly. And you... Princess Wen Cheng of Lian Region, you must be ready to return at any moment. Or if you don't wish to go home, I'd gladly support you to become a Buddhist nun."

    "I will never divorce," Wu Sanniang retorted immediately. If she were truly sent back, her father's life would turn to ashes. "According to the seven outs[16], I have done no wrong."

    Yan Shen smirked, having anticipated such a defiant response from the cunning young woman. With a strong hand, he lifted his cup of wine, poured it into his glass, and raised it as if to celebrate victory. "I have ways to make you agree to divorce willingly unless you shamelessly choose to stay where you are unwanted. Oh, I need not speculate; like father, like daughter."

    Wu Sanniang's face went numb as the maids and servants standing outside could surely hear every heartless word he said. Thus, she maintained her gaze firmly on the strong fingers of her perfect husband, recalling the Yan Wang's blessing before she was sent out to avoid the banquet hall: 'You may argue, but do not harm each other.'

    The blessing from Yan Wang was deeply unsettling. Wu Sanniang clenched her fists tightly. If he dared to strike her, she swore to throw that wine at him, making his rotten brain burst open and then stuffing it with scriptures. Her imagination ran wild as the young man also glared back with eyes as fierce as a hawk.

    "Sit down; we need to talk," he gestured with his impressively strong hand.

    "No, I refuse to be unjustly accused any further. Thus, it is better I keep my distance from you."

    She lifted her head with confidence almost regal in its bearing, her piercing eyes boldly meeting his gaze, her face sweet yet unsmiling, proud and aloof, with only a chill of indifference reflecting back at him. The first thought that came to Yan Shen's mind was 'dramatic child.' The moment their eyes met; Yan Shen instantly knew she was tense with fear.

    Yan Shen chuckled and took another drink of his wine. What could she possibly fear, except perhaps that her father would be at a disadvantage? The Lian Region demanded a dowry of border towns he had conquered, along with a share of supplies, while vainly hoping he, as a royal son-in-law, would eventually rule Lian. Just the thought made him want to vomit.

    Wu Sanniang had been playing the role of Princess Wen Cheng for a while now, but still, she found it incredibly challenging. How could she possibly make this white-dressed devil favor her again?

    Favor? Ha! She'd rather carry a toilet tank than try. Their eyes clashed, each cautiously gauging the other, and although Yan Shen had never met any woman who dared to withstand him like this, he remained indifferent. He had sworn never to deal with her again, this foolish woman was worth no more than a fish in a pond to him.

    Yet his reaction was quite the opposite. He behaved as if she mattered, observing her every gesture, hanging on her every word, and never letting her win. Yan Shen frowned, telling himself that as soon as their conversation was over, he would leave and never see her face again.

    "My beloved wife... the first thing you should know is that I detest you."

    Of course... She knew without needing him to reiterate. Wu Sanniang bit her lip, careful not to let her tongue lash out in anger.

    "Rule number two: I forbid you from contacting Lian Region ever again. If I catch you, you will die," Yan Shen exerted full pressure, viewing her as an enemy. "Do not let your loyalty to your homeland anger me. And if there's even a suspicion that you're endangering Yan Region, you will suffer terribly because all I want is for you and your father to disappear from my life."

    The cup in the young woman's hand flew instantly, crashing against the wall and shattering loudly, yet he didn’t even blink.

    "Ah... Showing your true colors now, aren’t you? Your volatile nature causes me pain. My dear wife, I am saving your life."

    Wu Sanniang tried to keep her voice as calm as possible, "Much thunder, little rain. Please keep your mouth and tongue to yourself. I don't need it. I can take care of my own life. No matter how much you despise me as the princess of Lian Region, I too have my dignity. Remember this, you are the most dishonorable and vile prince I have ever encountered."

    Hate him! Hate him!! Hate him!!!

    "I hate war the most, and you must stop. No more wars."

    Yan Shen curled his lips into a smirk, "You have no right to order me. Go back to Lian Region whenever and tell your father yourself."

    "I am talking to you! A warmonger like you, apart from your noble status, you have nothing else good about you. I'm not afraid of you," Wu Sanniang got off the bed and stepped forward, snatching the liquor flask from his strong hand, lifting it to her lips, and drinking fiercely. Her fiery action surprised him before he scoffed mockingly. The tall figure straightened up, his expression harsh.

    "My beloved wife," he called her sweetly, his body motionless.

    "I am the commander who ordered the burying of hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers alive, killed soldiers who surrendered without feeling a thing. Do you know the secret to my victories? It's impaling human bodies on spikes, creating forests of corpses along the marching routes. And those enemies brave enough to anger me get chopped into pieces and salted in jars."

    He pointed to a large white vase in the corner of the room. "The oldest jar of corpses might be from my first wife. I don't mind if you choose a pretty jar you like."

    Wu Sanniang's mouth hung open, stunned by the horrific past he spewed out. Yan Shen sipped his drink, a sneer stretching across his face. His icy, cold-blooded gaze was overwhelming. This man spoke of his wickedness without changing his expression. His intimidating tone left her dizzy and goosebumps forming. Were the gods allowing such a demon to be born in the human world? This man was not the honorable and admirable prince people praised. He was a living nightmare.

    "I'll give you a chance. Confess what plans old Lian Wang has laid out. What has he instructed you to do behind my back?"

    "I have absolutely no plans whatsoever! Please indulge your paranoia by yourself," she said emphatically. As soon as the slender figure finished speaking, Yan Shen smiled in a way he never had before. The tall figure clapped his hands three times, prompting the maids along with the female servants to line up and enter.

    "Bring my concubines in," Yan Shen ordered plainly before giving her a challenging look. "Since the wedding night was interrupted by your embarrassing condition, let me introduce you to my other wives. Don't get too jealous, or I might find a reason to divorce you."

    Wu Sanniang took a deep breath, her smile tight. Alright... she would stand up to him. Damn him!

[14] It refers to the regularly occurring bodily fluids, which means the menstrual cycle.

[15] The phrase means ‘stupid’ or ‘dull-witted’.

[16] The Seven Outs or Qi Chu are grounds under which a husband can divorce his wife if she commits any of the following:

1. Fails to care for her husband's parents.

2. Is childless.

3. Is unfaithful.

4. Is jealous.

5. Suffers from a severe illness.

6. Is excessively talkative.

7. Steals.