Two weeks pass, there is no news from the Marquis Bai. The eldest princess is not able to read her book in peace. She wonder if Marquis Bai is accepting all the conditions that she had laid down. She repeated ask Mei Xue to go check on eunuch Li.
A month later, eunuch Li appears in front of the eldest princess. He hands over a letter to the eldest princess and stand aside to watch her expression turn ugly. She drops her hands on her lap.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"I believe he have written what he wants to say."
"This marriage cannot go on!"
He kneel down and said softy.
"Your highness… the dowager says your conditions are ridiculous and they are not what the royal family principles thus he can ignore it."
"So did he tell my Royal mother that he wants to marry his lover as well?"
"Yes … that girl agrees to be the secondary wife."
"Pffff! No! She … no i will not marry in this conditions!"
She put on her shoes and march off to the imperial boudoir that her mother lives at.
Arriving at the imperial palace where the dowager lives in. She is made to stay in the Grand hall to await for audience. She pace up and down with her fan in her hand. Finally a young eunuch appear, he request the eldest princess to follow him. She walk along a long passageway. Lights are beaming through each pillar. Curtains are moving gracefully as if they are dancing in the air. They reach the far end of another hall. Inside, the grand dowager and dowager is sitting together. Both look determine and they know why the eldest princess is here. The eldest princess greet her grandmother and mother respectfully even she is angry.
"Take a seat. We know why you are here."
"Royal grandmother! I really…"
"Enough! Phoenix! You of all people should know why we are pushing for this marriage!"
"Royal mother!"
"You have sit along side with the emperor all those years! Haven't you seen what is going on?! We need that marriage to stabilise the fraction in court."
"All those dynasty before us, they managed to outlive due to those marriages that helped to stabilise their courts and now, we need your marriage to do the same thing."
"Phoenix, marry Marquis Bai to help your brother! He is your flesh and blood. You don't want to see him in pain, do you? Don't you want him to rule over a peaceful court?"
The eldest princess frown as she sits. She fan herself slowly. Her eyes are cast down. She thinks hard how to get out of this unwanted marriage. She stand up.
"Then please arrange a meeting with Yi Shao. I need to talk to him."
The grand dowager and dowager look at each other and smile. The eldest princess bow and walk out. The eunuchs who are standing at each corner of the room can see and feel the fire burning from the eldest princess as she walk out of the hall.
The eldest princess is dress in her black and gold garment. Her hair is not pile up but let down with a ribbon tie at the back. White she still have hair accessories, she only have a gold hairpin that have golden flowers design on it. Her makeup is done naturally with no dramatic in anyway. However she plan to drama with her fiancée so that this marriage can be drop. From what she understands, he is a stoic man with immoral behaviour. A person with contradiction character is interesting to manipulate She wait quietly while watching the river that is raging. Soon, the sound of someone walking up the stairs ring loudly with every step. She look over to see a tall man walking towards her. He did not have a smile on his face. He have an almond shape face with a sharp chin. She wonder if he use his sharp chin to sharpen his sword. He bows and later sits down with much difficulty as his long legs looks like he is having a hard time crossing them on the cushion. Finally when he is done, he look at the eldest princess. They both remain quiet and drink their tea. She take a peek while sipping the hot tea. He is not bad looking. He have a long straight nose and a single eyelid eyes with straight neat eyebrows. That the scholars in every dynasty calls it classic Han beauty.
"Eldest princess, have you waited long?"
"No. I just arrive not long ago."
The conversation starts and end fast. Silence is again surrounding them. The only sound is coming from the raging river. After awhile, the eldest princess decided to best say what she wants to say and move on.
"General Bai, do you really want to proceed with the marriage in this… conditions?"
"I think it is … "
"I think, it is better that we cancel this …"
"Cancellation is not going to go away. .."
"We are engaged since when i was eight. Now i am twenty three, i don't see the need…. "
"I … My clan … cannot go against the wishes of the previous emperor. Thus i need to for fill this … contract. I am …"
"What about your lover? Are you going to leave her behind?"
"I will marry her, eventually. However currently, i would like you to accept the sons."
"As i have said in the letter before, i will not accept the children that your lover is having. I will not have any saying about the children that you are going to have in future. No matter how many you are going to have. I will never ever complain. However i will never list them under my name if i marry you. They will never be the children of the eldest princess. Like else, i will never have my own children."
"If we are are to marry, you have to produce children for my… "
"No means no. I am not planning to have any."
"What about those kept men?! Aren't you…"
"I am not going to have their children either. Everyone of them knows this. We are in for a fun time now. If should one day, they felt that they need to carry on the bloodline, they will leave my care. I will agree to it. I am not unreasonable."
"Why … "
She pause for a long time while looking at the river.
"Why? You should know why… a child from me means another one to have the ability to fight for the dragon throne. My brother should sit on that dragon throne in a stable situation. This country is to be rule by family name Xiao. Not other surnames. I don't intend to change the country rulers. Thus this is why i am not having any children."
"The other princess that have married off. Those children…."
"Their children. Will never have the chance. While my children will be the rights. That is why i am the eldest princess of this nation. My father, the late emperor have staple this condition on the edict. In order for my family to stay longer, these things have to be done."
"I too have to consider for my family. I need a legitimate heirs to continue on the family name. Thus i need my sons to be legitimate under your name."
She stare at him and smirk.
"Whether they are under my name or not. They are still your sons. They will still have the word Bai in their own names. If you still want to marry me. So be it. As long as the conditions i have set are done, i will marry and move into your mansion. If not …. let's just go to the palace and inform the grand dowager that we are cancelling this marriage."
Marquis Bai stare at her for awhile. His thin lips purse tightly. He wants his sons to be legalise so that they can move within the society that they are in. If not they will be listed as a second class nobles.
"You are just making everything harder than usual."
"If you have the gust then kill me here. Everything will end."
"You dislike me that much?"
"Well i don't dislike you. I just … don't click well with you. We are strangers who are force to put together. I don't want to but …"
"Do you think i really want to marry you? Do you know how much i have to put up to marry you? How people talk about me marry the eldest princess?"
"Since it's such a pain, then don't marry. Go and marry your love. She will marry you without conditions. Since she can give birth without getting marry in the first place, i guess she can put up without a grand wedding."
With that he slam his fist on the table. She look at his thin eye bows that are knitted together.
"That is a cruel thing to say Eldest princess."
"I can be even crueller. Now lets finalise this meeting and leave. I am bored with this place."
That night the eldest princess brings in Lee Dong Yao the 18 years old dancer to her bed as he request to have sex with her. Because he is still young and growing up, his body is scrawny however he have the strength and endurance of a grown man. His muscles are small and tight. The eldest princess did not like to touch him much thus Chen Liang who is on the side had his manhood suck by the eldest princess while her hands roam around him. Chen Liang watch Dong Yao pounce the eldest princess. The two men moans in her bedroom Dong Yao who enjoys having threesomes is excited. He is look forward to have the eldest princess sandwich between him and Chen Liang. He enjoys most is to have his manhood inside along with another manhood rubbing his. However tonite, the eldest princess have them sit close to each other with their penis standing up and touch each other. At first, she had them lick and later she suck the top of the head. Slowly, she move to sit down on one and the other slowly slip in. Both men sit with their body anchor back and the eldest princess in the center moving slowly to grind the pain and pleasure.
A week later, the eldest princess is ask to present herself at the imperial hall where the court officials have their daily meetings. She is given her seat this time is on the side of the emperor. The grand dowager and dowager is sitting behind the curtains. While Marquis Bai is standing within the officers. They are arguing about the state affairs. While the eldest princess is bringing her mind somewhere else. Marquis Bai watch his fiancée from a distance. She is indeed beautiful and graceful. Any man marrying her is really fortunate. However her title as the eldest princess brings a heavy weight upon the family. Not only they have to ensure that they are supporting the royal family till the end of the line. They have to uphold the lifestyle of the eldest princess. Moreover everyone in the family in terms of hierarchy is all underneath her. No one is above her unless they are her parents and the emperor. Besides that with her temper and unreasonable attitude sometimes can drive anyone up the wall.
While the officers are arguing, the emperor requesting them to think about it and submit a report for they need to move on to the next subject.
"My eldest princess and Bai Hou Ye, we need to move on about your engagement. It's stretching too long. I understand from Royal mother that this engagement is done when Royal father was alive. My eldest princess was eight at that time. Thus both of you are now in your twenties. We need to get this marriage be done. Do you, Bai Hou Ye have anything to say?"
The Marquis Bai step out and bow respectfully.
"Your majesty, i am most willing to marry the eldest princess anytime."
"I guess eldest princess…"
"No i don't want to marry."
Immediately the men in the room whisper loudly. The grand dowager and dowager is angry.
"Phoenix, watch what you are saying in the court hall!"
"Royal mother, i have said this many times."
"Phoenix, if you don't want to marry Bai Hou Ye … then choose any of the eligible men from the Bai family!"
The eldest princess stare at her grandmother. They are determined to get her marry into the Bai clan.
"Marquis Bai … how many eligible male can my eldest princess select from?"
"Your majesty, besides me, there is two men unmarried yet."
"Who are the two."
"General Bai Yi Bing and Commander Bai Yi Chen."
"Are they in the capital now?"
"Your majesty, yes they are in the capital now."
"Summon them to court now."
It takes an hour for the two men to appear in court. Both of them kneel before the emperor and ask to stand.
"Report your name."
"Your majesty, i am your humble servant Bai Yi Bing. "
"Your majesty, i am your humble servant Bai Yi Chen."
The eldest princess look at the two men. They are both equally good looking as Marquis Bai. Since they are family, tall and skinnies must be in their genetics. Yi Bing is closely a look alike with Yi Shao. However he have more a friendlier approach. While Yi Chen, looks like more a boy who is still growing up. The eldest princess continue to keep her silence behind the fan that she is holding. Her eyes are cast down and she is looking at the carpet with her thoughts suddenly she stand up.
"I will reply Royal mother and Royal grand mother within two days."
She bow to everyone and walk out of the hall. The rest of the officials begin to talk loudly. The men from the Bai family remain where they are. They did not talk nor move till the emperor dismiss everyone.
The eldest princess return to her boudoir without a word. She summon her personal maid Mei Xue to go out and enquire any gossips of the Bai family men. She wait patiently till night falls. Meanwhile the men in her harem remain quiet. It is rare that she does not interact with others. Instead of reading her books, she stands at the pavilion where she can see the river. The eldest princess is lost in her thoughts. Her mother and grandmother is pressing her to get marry. She have make her stand on this issue. The Bai family is not agreeing in her terms as well. Now the only choice is to choose between those men. Mei Xue return and walk into the study room. The eldest princess is sitting quietly with her head resting on her hand.
"Your highness…"
"You are back. How is it? Did you hear anything?"
"Yes. I have managed to asked around. I have verified with the guards."
"So … tell me."
"General Bai Yi Bing. He is the son of Bai Yan who is the third uncle of the Marquis Bai. He is the eldest son in his family. He had been in the army along side with Hou Ye from the start. They are only a year difference in age terms. He is a strict military man a like Hou Ye. He commands the army at the north to support Hou Ye. Personally. he doesn't have other strange habits except … that … it is rumour that … he likes men. He personally have a male lover who is an opera actor. That lover is kept in his mansion."
"Interesting… his family do they know?"
"I am not sure. This rumour is press down hard but taels make people talk. That's all i can dig out."
"Tell me about the other."
"Commander Bai Yi Chen is 23 years old. He had join the army not too long ago. He is working under General Bai Bing Yi. He is the second son of Bai Chun who is the fifth uncle of Marquis Bai. They all say that his personality is different from the other two. He acts older and strict to the rules. He is good at calculations and handling anything with money. It is said that he is a stingy person. Counting every cents in his pocket. He hates to spend money without a good reason. He is currently not engaged to anyone, yet."
"Stingy … what a character coming from a noble family."
"Your highness. What are your plans now…"
"There is no choice…. i am press to get marry whether am i happy or not what the royal family needs. What they wants are more important. Should i just marry? Can he accept my conditions again if i speak to him?"
"Should i … "
"Mei Xue, go and rest now. Tomorrow i will let you know what to do next."
That night the eldest princess pace up and down in her own study room. Occasionally she stop to look at the moon. She close her eyes and ask what she wanted is it so wrong that everyone is pressing her to take the other path. She pray to the moon quietly as the night listens.
The eldest princess wives a long letter over night. In the morning, she hands it over to Mei Xue. The faithful servant goes out of the palace to deliver the letter. in the late afternoon, The Marquis Bai appears at her inner palace. He is shown to the study room, he bow and take a seat opposite of her.
"I assume that you accept the conditions that i wrote on the letter."
"More or less. Yes … as long as you are wiling to accept my sons under the registration in the clan book, i am wiling to marry you."
"You are the first man that dare to make a condition from the eldest princess."
"And i won't be the last… "
"Hou Ye …"
"Don't address me as that, makes me sound so old besides that we are not in court. So drop those titles. Just call me Yi Shao or Yi ge ."
"Well you are the first master after all… Yi (first or the only one) Shao (master) … but i am the eldest princess of this nation. You can never override me."
"Yes of course. I will never override your authority …"
He look at the eldest princess in front of him who is sipping her cup of tea. She is actually friendly and nice to talk to. It is just her title and her beauty that makes her unapproachable. She is a classic beauty with phoenix eyes shape. Her long slander nose is slightly up turn with a pair of thin lips. It makes her look haughty and fierce. Her hair is long and somehow jet black. She rarely pile them up like the noble ladies do. Instead she pin her hair on the side with a hair accessory. Her long hair will be tie to the back with a ribbon or at the side. She is also a princess that rarely put on make up as she is confident that she is a natural beauty that don't need anything on her face. She is not as fair as those noble ladies he have seen, because of her love to be in the outdoors, she have a glow of sun-kissed skin tone. He knows that she is well skill in the art of horse riding and using of weapons that the army is using. She can be a solider on the battlefield but her title as a nation princess forbid her to step into that war zone. She is consider a treasure that the previous emperor loved. That is why she must marry into the Bai family. The late emperor's plan was that the Bai family to protect her for life and never to suffer. The Marquis Bai knows that she is a strong headed princess. There is nothing he can do but slowly mould her stubborn personality. He knows eventually she have to give in. It's just a matter of time.
"Have you inform your love about … you getting marrying?"
"Yes…"
"She did not take it well?"
"No… the opposite. She and i have a … understanding relationship. It's difficult to explain to you…"
"Nothing is difficult to explain. That is how the person says it."
He look at the eldest princess who is challenging him. She expected him to be a person who only knows how to fight with a sword in hand and not to know how the brush works. He smile and look at his tea cup.
"She and i … we just have a need at certain time. I don't lust for her body but i have my needs sometimes. She just happen to willing to sleep with me, when she is in the mood…"
"So she is in the mood to give birth to two sons for you?"
"She did not want to kill innocent lives. She is wiling to stay pregnant and not beg me to marry her. She was pregnant when the last war is ongoing. At seven month, she ride on her horse and slaughter the enemies. At eight months, i order her to command from the commanding post. After that we rush back to the capital for her to give birth and arrange the funeral of her mother."
"Didn't you take precaution for … pregnancy?"
"I am a man … i don't think i need to do that. It is her part … duty."
"Hmm, think without a head. So you just do it."
"Why not? Just like you. Two people who consent to eagerly do something to ease the yearning in the soul and flesh."
"In this case, after the marriage, you can continue whatever you are doing previously. I have no desire to do anything with you."
"You mean, not sharing the same bed …"
"Yes not even the same bed."
He look away and slowly nod his head. His fingers tap the table slowly.
"So when you said you are not going to have children with me, you mean it."
"Yes every word."
"what if one day, you break that …"
"I won't . Even if i did… i must be drunk. How long are you staying in the capital till you return to the borders?"
"I am not sure… the emperor will let me know after the wedding."
They both falls silence. The cricket begins to sing in the night. They both quietly hear the soft music play in the background.
"So what are you going to do with her … after the marriage?"
"She says that she will just … do as usual. She wants to see her sons. She needs to breastfeed too so… "
"That is why i say whoever gives birth to that child, she have to stay responsible. "
"You have to be responsible for our marriage too. "
"What do you mean? i have to? You have to, too!"
The young couple talk till Mei Xue comes over to inform them that dinner is ready. After dinner, they have another round of talks. The longer they talk, they can't seen to end the conversation. Till Mei Xue comes in to the study room and inform The Marquis Bai that the gates of the palace will be closing soon and he cannot leave the palace if he missing the timing. The Marquis Bai rush to the palace gates with the help of Mei Xue whom had the princess favourite horse loan for him to use. Unfortunately he miss my a few minutes and the imperial guards and the eunuch refused to open it. If it is to re-open they need to disturb the emperor and seek his permission. Not wanting to go to the imperial bedroom to disturb the emperor, he had no choice but to go back to the eldest princess. As his horse goes back, he see in a distance in the pavilion, a young man is dancing there. Under the moonlight, it is a beautiful sight. However seeing is fiancee drinking and laughing with another men in her arms makes him feel uncomfortable. Approaching the eldest princess, he can hear that person is telling her a joke and she is laughing heartily. She pause when she see her fiancee standing next to Mei Xue.
"With a horse you still miss the timing?"
"Your highness, we speed up but the gates are already close. Eunuch Hong refused to open it. He claimed that we need the permission from the emperor to re-open."
"Yes … the rules are ridge here in the palace. My husband-to-be you have no choice, you need to stay here for the night. Mei Xue, please go tidy up the guest room. Get him some warm blankets and pillow. If you need anything, do let Mei Xue know before she retire for the night. Anything after that … you have to deal it on your own."
The Marquis feeling defeated for once sit on the empty seat and look at the eldest princess having a good chat with the man beside her. Somehow that man is holding her hand while talking to her. His hair is untied. While he wears a long light green robe. He is talking in a gentle way. In the Marquis's mind, he is rolling his eyes. What is so great about these kept men in her harem. Once she is marry into his household, he will get rid of them one by one.
The next day he appear in court without walking up from the main streets. This got people talking behind his back. Before he left the eldest princess inner palace, he take a look at her in her boudoir. She is sleeping soundly with a book in her hand. He remember from the time they met when they were children. She is always hugging a book in her arms. There was once he asked her if she understand what she is reading and how many books per day does she read. A young nine year girl replied to him loudly that if she doesn't understand, there are many older men around that she can ask. How many books, she lost count but she knows at least she complete a book per day. She never stop reading it is her world to read and see what the writers are showing her. The only thing that will never change as she grows up.