The day of her wedding, she wakes up earlier than usual. The royal match maker wakes her up gently as she is afraid of the eldest princess. The Eldest princess suddenly open her eyes and stare at the older lady. The make maker immediately goes on her knees and informed her that she needs to wake up and prepare to get married. Without a word, the eldest princess swing her legs over to the ground. She sit there with a stands like a man who is in court. She lean over and stare at the older lady.
"Mei Xue … go get my tooth brush and water…"
The servants hurry to rush off to get her daily supplies for the start of the day. She sketch her head and look at the book at the edge of her bed. She pick it up and cross her legs.
"Have you had your breakfast, match maker?"
"Your highness, no."
She reply with her head still touching the ground. Phoenix wonder why people are so afraid of her but she got used to this. She is the eldest princess of this nation. Everyone should fear her.
"Go and eat something while i clean up. I don't want to see an old lady faint halfway during the ceremony."
"Yes your highness. I will obey your command. This old servant will eat and not fall halfway through the ceremony."
After the eldest princess eat her breakfast, there is no time to waste. Everyone pick up their speed and work fast. Phoenix sit at her vanity table like a doll. They all get busy fixing her hair, makeup and perfume. She have no saying in this. Her wedding gown is red and green with golden thread embroidery of a phoenix sounded by pearls. Her eyes move around the room in boredom. She is wondering when can she move. They remove all her normal clothes and put on her wedding gown on her. Tightening the belt that is design with pearls. She is not fat but somehow it feels very tight on her. She have to hold some of her breath.
Before she leave, she ask Mei Xue about her men.
"Don't worry your highness, they have all left the palace over night. They are all moving into the Bai mansion."
"Have you check where they are staying? Not some shabby courtyard…"
"Your highness, they will be staying next to your courtyard."
She sigh and nod her head. While the make maker respectfully ask if the eldest princess would like to start the ceremony as the rest of the royal family members are waiting at the ancestor hall.
Inside the ancestor hall, she kneel and pray asking for blessings. Soon her husband arrives. Dress in a matching red and green gown. He kneel down too and inform the decrees royal members that he is marrying the eldest princess. After the minister of rites read the traditional ritual memorials, the couple starts to get up and depart for the royal carriage. The walk is long and tiring. Ending of corridors and she cannot walk fast with those pearls weighing down on her. Her head piece which is also made of pearls are beginning to give her headache. She look at the side of her new husband. He is not smiling but looks like a walking doll.
The moment she can see the carriage, she feels that she is having some strength to get to there, she speed up her walking. The sun is blazing hot as she walk. She nearly falls as she climb up the stool to get into the carriage. Inside, her head is spinning. Luckily there is a small table with tea and dry biscuits. She hurry to drink the tea. In fact she drink the whole pot. Marquis Bai who is on his horse look at her through the window. He is amused to see her doing things that is unladylike. She never fail to amuse him. In this nation, there won't be another princess alike her.
After the ceremony in the Bai mansion, she is shown to her room. Immediately she yell for Mei Xue.
"Help me get rid of these… so heavy and annoying!"
"Yes your highness. Please be patience awhile. I will get this head piece off."
She sits on the couch while Mei Xue work to remove all the hair pins that is holding the head piece. The eldest princess is trying to be patience but the rumbling noises from her stomach is not helping. She yell for another maid. That poor girl comes running in as fast as she can.
"Feed me that!"
She point to the crunchy biscuits that is in front of her yet she is not able to reach it. The maid hurry to wipe her hands and feed the hungry eldest princess. That young girl is also pouring tea for the eldest princess. By the time her head piece is undone, he hair looks like a mess. Thus the maids begin to comb her long hair while she help herself to the food in front of her. She finally can reach whatever she wants to eat.
After mid night, her new husband appear at the bedroom. He is half drunk and not able to walk straight but he looks clear in his mind. Everyone leaves the bedroom. Silence is within them. The eldest princess sigh. Suddenly the Marquis stand up and walk to the bed. He collapse on it.
"Hey… Young master… you shouldn't sleep here. Where am i going to sleep?"
His arm raise up and she look at he direction that he is point at. It is the couch by the window. She is angry now but she is not going to make a scene. She lean down and whisper into his ear.
"Young master … sleep well. I am going to find my men."
Before she straighten her back, he catch her arm and slowly push himself up on the bed. With his pinkish face, she stare at him and wonder what is he thinking now.
"You cannot go anywhere. Not least tonite. People will gossip if you … are not in this room."
"Well … i just crave for some …"
"I can!"
"Can? Can what?"
"You need a man, i can provide you that. Look, i have muscles and a nice body to touch. Those women said i have a body that a man should have."
"I don't need a man for … that! I am not some …. harlot!"
"So why do you need them? Tell me?"
"They … can keep me company when i am lonely."
"Lonely?"
"Yes lonely. Growing up in that big palace, don't you think that i get bored and lonely?"
"There are maids and eunuch to talk to."
"Well they can't converse with me on the world today, can they. When i talk about maths formulas or scientific research they cannot understand. While those men, they understand! They can tell me things that i don't know. Things that i haven't heard before. Thus those cannot be compare."
Bai Yi Shao look at his new wife as he lay on his bed. He did not realise that she is lonely. She is known to be a smart woman of her times but she is lonely and seek company in this way.
"So you are saying that your harem of men is not for pleasure of the skin but the company that they provide you…"
"Yes and no. … They provide the company that i need. Some times, the flesh is weak …"
"Is your flesh weak … now?"
He tighten his grip on her arm and pull near him.
"I think my flesh is weak to night. I can provide you the company you want."
She look into his eyes which is red. His strong arm circle her waist. While letting go of his grip, his hand grope her breast and squeeze it.
"Both you and i are not virgin. So there isn't much to hide. This marriage is not built on love. However this marriage can be built on trust and royal to the flesh of wanting. When i need a good fuck… i will come to you. You can do the same to me as well. I will not betray you. "
She struggle to break free and landed on the floor. She stands up and look at him.
"I said before this marriage only takes place when you and i have nothing on each other. Our marriage is just a paper contract. I will continue to live as before, i suggest that you do that too. You can continue to see the mother of your sons. She can provide you the sexual relieve that you need."
"Why are you rejecting me? Am i not good enough?"
"Master Bai. You are good enough but … the night is long go to sleep. We will talk another day."
The eldest princess wakes up in the mid day the next day. The Marquis doesn't have any parents for her to pay respect to. Thus she goes off to the Bai ancestor hall to pay her respect. The only elder that is living in the mansion is the aunt. Her name is Bai Jun Lin and she is a widow with a son. The eldest princess pay her respect to the aunt.
"You can call me Bai Yee like the rest of the boys."
"Yes Bai Yee."
"In this mansion, only i live here but now Yi Shao and … that Han Ping along with that two small boys have just come back from the borders and now you, eldest princess. I am a widow and i have a son. He is now staying in school. His is fourteen. His name is Dong Wan Ning. When he is back from school, i will introduce him to you. For now, there is nothing much to do in this mansion. I have managed the accounts for this mansion since my parents are around. My late husband moved in here and die of sickness a few years back. Ever since then, i am a lone. Now you are here, i don't think i will be lonely anymore."
That evening a family dinner is organised. The eldest princess arrived on time and she see a table fill wth food. Aunt Bai Yee is siting laughing at the little one's giggling. That is because Yi Shao is carrying the older son on his lap. bouncing him that is causing him to laugh. While another woman is carrying a new born, the child seems to be asleep. They stand up looking at the eldest princess.
"Your highness."
Phoenix sit down and request them to sit as well. She look at the woman. She looks like any other female generals that she have seen. Not too pretty nor she display any manly traits. She looks like any other home maker. She look at Yi Siao.
"Hmm this is Han Ping… the mother of these two boys. This is Bai Wen six years old and Bai Men five months old now. "
The eldest princess don't know how to react but she smile gently and nod her head. Han Ping bow while carrying the baby. The family starts to have their meal. Thought out the meal, it feels like she is an outsider and watching an opera show now. Yi Siao is feeding the older son. While the boy is avoiding to be feed so he hid behind aunt Bai. While Han Ping try to eat before the baby wakes up. The eldest princess feels like she is an extra siting at this table.
That night, she goes to the courtyard where her favourite men are at. They surround her and begin to talk. Ask her questions and soon there are laughters. That night they drink and play card games. Till mid night, Yi Siao appear. He carry off his new wife. The men protest and watch their princess carried away. Chen Liang is most upset, he feel that his plans are now haywire. He need to rethink how he should go about it. He wants to have a child soon.