As the month of October arrives, the cool autumn breeze begins to blow, scattering white snowflakes from the cerulean sky. A large red palanquin, contrasting with the greenery of the surrounding landscape, is carried rhythmically by eight sturdy men. A bridal procession, including a bride complete with grace and dignity befitting her status, advances towards their destination with smiles on their faces.

    Inside the palanquin, a beautiful bride sits calmly, surrounded by an atmosphere imbued with the scene of auspicious ceremonies. The sound of wind instruments alternates with rhythmic drumbeats, yet the expression on the bride’s face is filled with concern.

    The sway of the large red palanquin induces a slight feeling of discomfort. The young woman tries to suppress these feelings while steadying her mind. This is her wedding, and she cannot allow fear and anxiety to mar it. Today is the most important day of her life, and nothing must go wrong.

    Today, she is to become the Furen, stepping into the path of the principal wife responsible for both her husband and other concubines under her care.

    She is Yun Si, the only daughter of The Minister of Treasury Department, Master Yun and his Furen Zhang Si Being the only daughter does not mean her father had no other children, but rather, she is the sole child of her mother, the Furen Zhang Si. For Yun Si’s father has other three concubines, not counting the numerous bed-warming servants.

    The Furen Zhang Si had only Yun Si as a daughter and was unable to give birth to a male heir to continue the family lineage, making her status as the Furen in the household insignificant. The true power in the household lies with the Third Furen, who has two sons. However, recently, the Second Furen Jiang also gave birth to another male heir, intensifying the struggle for power within the household.

    Yun Si is indifferent to the power struggles. Having grown up in The Minister of Treasury’s manor for fifteen years, all she has seen is her mother bearing the emotional burden of her father, serving the other Furens, and caring for  his favored concubines. This is the duty of the Furen, yet her work is no different from a servant, and the importance of her mother in her father’s heart is less than any other concubines.

    Huh! The fate of the Furen, the principal wife  whose husband has to marry in order to elevate his own status is so pathetic.

    Amid the snowflakes and the autumn breeze, the bridal procession finally reaches its destination. The bridal palanquin is set down, and the matchmaker announces the start of the ceremony for the groom to 'kick' the palanquin, a traditional custom.to express the power of the groom over the bride.

    Yun Si slightly smiles beneath her ornately embroidered veil, finding the tradition ridiculous. In this custom, men are valued over women, the husband is seen as the sky, and the wife as the ground. Correctly following the ceremony denotes the principal wife status, and anything less signifies a concubine or a lower status. But regardless of the status, a wife must always highly respect and see her husband as high as the sky, mustn't she?

    As she contemplates this, the ceremony outside concludes, and the groom extends his beautifully shaped hand to her. Yun Si takes a gentle breath before placing her soft hand over his, feeling the contrasting sensations of their touch. He guides her inside, their hands intertwined, offering a novel feeling to both. One feels the softness of the woman’s hand, while the other senses the rugged strength of a man. Yun Si lowers her eyes as she steps in, guided by his pull.

    He is the first man, aside from her father, whom she has held the hand, and he will be the first in any other things as well. She hopes that in the future, they can at least respect each other and, that would be enough for her.

    In the end, each phase of the ceremony was completed, and a precious, tranquil night unfolded. The maids and the matchmaker had all departed. The slender figure sat tensely. Her hands clasped together, damp with sweat. Her tall, newlywed stepped beside her, his elegant hands, like carved jade, gently removing her head ornaments. The young woman pressed her lips together, concealing her inner discomfort until he had removed everything from her hair.

    "Are you hungry?"

    he asked in a deep, gentle voice, resonant yet tender, making YunYun Si irresistibly lift her gaze to him. His face conveyed the same beauty, sharpness, and brightness as his voice, like a refreshing stream. His sharp eyes radiated warmth, mesmerizing people at a glance. His red lips and white teeth, coupled with a slight smile, were utterly captivating.

    Seeing his bride in a daze as if under a spell, Lan Qing smiled pleasantly. He laughed softly, a sound pleasing to the ear, and reached for a jug of liquor on the table, offering her a cup. Once Yun Si took it, he interlocked his arm with hers and drank immediately.

    The strong liquor stung her throat; Yun Si Yun emptied the cup in one go, and then her beautiful face flushed to her neck. She blinked rapidly while feeling tipsy. Lan Qing laughed affectionately at his wife's naivety and led her to the dining table, urging her to eat.

    After the savory meal, dessert was in order, and for Lan Qing, Yun Si  was the dessert for him.

    The strong liquor and the picturesque handsome man intensified her dizziness. Before she fully realized it, her bare back was already against the cool bedding.

    The inexperienced fifteen-year-old girl could only awkwardly respond as the skilled young man cunningly enticed her into carelessness, leading to her sharp cry when she felt intense pain.

    However, it wasn't long before Lan Qing's adeptness evoked her response once again. As the pain eased, a new sensation that she had never felt before urged her on, causing Yun Si to involuntarily release a fervent moan that surprised even herself.

    Outside, the fierce wind blew, scattering snowflakes onto the ground to form a pristine white carpet, contrasting with the bright red of fallen plum petals, like a spread on the newlyweds' bed.

    In the bedroom, heated to the extent that even the wind and frost seemed to retreat, two bodies clung tightly, entangled. The large bed swayed and creaked loudly, yet the man did not seem to care.

    Yun Si glanced at the window and felt the invigorating cold breeze passing through. The final image she saw outside was the white snow accented by vibrant red plum petals. Then, the figure above her pressed a kiss upon her, along with the enchanting allure he emanated. Her bright and lucid eyes began to mist, blurring her vision, as a voice echoed in her mind:

    ‘Yearning for a love that’s steadfast and true, like waterfowl that mate for life, aging together too.’  

    The crystal-clear tears quickly flowed from her eyes, embodying the enduring love of the mandarin ducks, a verse she had often recited.

    But which girl, filled with dreams, would not seek such a true love?