4 #4: The Marriage

(Huang Lei's P.o.v)

*Night time*

The war was tiring already and this banquets, I wonder why they host them? It is a waste of taxes. But I have to attend.

I attended and got a really great decree. Pearls, ginseng and a woman. I did say to uncle Emperor that I won't get married till I turn 25. But no, He just decreed me who just turned 19, to be married with another lady of 16 years.

I know the reason why he abruptly decreed me to be wed. It is definitely because of Ying Yue, a woman I found in the woods, he was obviously afraid I would marry her. But what does he know?, No one suspected it till now, that Ying Yue is actually a spy.

Obviously, no one could ever suspect a weak and delicate lady like her to be a spy. But I could see clearly. She was far too well looking for the northern village where you can't get any food during this season. Unless she ate every other villager's food.

Second, the poem which my mom sang, was actually from the state Shen. Which had no way to travel up north. As they hated the dialect of south. Unless you were an enemy of the north.

Third, the second I looked into her eyes, I felt stuffy and a bit of aroused. It was the same aphrodisiac flower from two years back. It was a weird named flower, when applied to the body while bathing with hot water, attracts the attention of men and thus arousal.

Needless to say, that flower is quite rare, only found in islands. I don't think she just stumbled upon it and bathed with it, with hot water, which is quite rare and luxurious for her.

Fourth, she was too clean for a hostage. These Bandits when they attack females, don't bring them to their den. But humiliate them in front of the whole village and then kill them. She didn't have any markings of attack except for her clothes. Unless, the bandits suddenly turned gentlemen.

Fifth, she walked too perfectly, a normal commoner wouldn't walk seductively nor like a swan. Unless she has a leg problem causing her to stick out her back often.

The levels of stupidity of my enemies goes really high. Xiao Li understood she wasn't a common person by just a glance. I couldn't let him spoil my plan like always. This time I wanted to find out who's behind all this before I kill the spy.

*The general sat near the pond, with Yue and Xiao Li drinking sake*

"So, You're getting married, your grace?", a very sweet voice whispered into my ear, causing me to get goosebumps, it was the spy Yue.

"Yes, I shall, to the third daughter of Huo family.", I said, bending away from her annoying presence.

"But what about me? You will leave me?", she said, almost putting a hand on my shoulder when,

"Hey you! Stay away from my husband!", a girl came in between Yue and me, kind of like guarding me.

"Who're you? He isn't your husband!", cried Yue, and I could clearly see the face of the woman who came and called me her husband.

Her face was scarred near the forehead to the eye, she had nice cheeks, which made me want to touch them once, her eyes were black as the night.

It was Jia Li, I had only seen her once, when I had come to the palace for the marriage of my cousin, the crown prince. Well, now she is my fiancée? How did she even come here? Didn't she go home? The Marquis's carriage went back long ago! Didn't they check whether all have arrived?

"He's mine, my sweetie, my dearest! I am his Jia Li! back off Fake lady!", Jia Li cried while hugging me and sitting on my lap.

"Sorry General! I couldn't stop her from coming in!", Xiao Li said.

I was happy with this, at least she could keep away that Yue. But why is she acting as though we have met before? We aren't lovers or so.... When did I become her sweetie.... Don't tell me she fell for me as soon as they declared me to wed her.... I don't know why this made me smile.

"It doesn't matter, it seems as though she is drunk, Let's escort her to the crown princess, she might help us how to deal with her.", I said sternly, ignoring Yue and helped Jia Li walk with us to the crown princess who was near the other pond.

"Oh My God!! I had been searching for you Li Li!!!! Why did you even drink that much?", cried the crown princess as she took hold of her and thanked us for finding her.

Xiao Li and I went back to our rooms, Xiao Li would always guard my room. So, he followed me.

"General! when did you become my lady's sweetie?", asked Xiao Li.

" Since when was she 'your lady'?", I asked.

"Ooh~ I see~ Being possessive are we? since the emperor declared her to be your wife, from then she was my lady.", He said with a weird look in his eyes.

"I thought you never really accepted any girl."

"This is different my lord! By seeing her guts to sit on your lap and call you sweetie when you both haven't even exchanged greetings is what made me impressed!"

"I did exchange greetings... Now stop! Sleep... I will stay awake and finish the check of accounting.", I ordered him to go away.

"Fine Fine. Good night, hope you dream about your little girl."

That guy has some issues with his brain! I wouldn't do something that so disgraceful as to fantasize about a small girl.

Huh... I have to send betrothal gifts, inform my grandfather of the marriage, visit the Huo family, make preparations in my mansion. Seriously! its so much more irritating than a 100 enemies in war.

*Next day*

"General, Wake up! Its time to go back to the family mansion. Hello~.... Sweetie~ get up~..... Hey! Rise and shine !!!!!" Xiao Li banged on my door.

"Yes Yes! I am awake! Stop that annoying rooster sounds!", seriously! he's getting out of hand!

I changed my clothes, bath, breakfast and after a boring meeting with the scholars opposed of my marriage with Jia Li as the 'power' circle is disrupted and some classy words, sending Yue away to the detached mansion, I could finally leave for my mansion.

On the way out of the palace, I bumped into someone.

"Ow! See and walk mister.", said Jia li as she got up and dusted off her clothes, looked at me angrily and stomped away.

So she didn't recognize me, nor did she remember what she called me? It definitely made me angry.

"Ooh~ My Lady forgot her sweetie already, probably you look ugly today", Xiao Li said.

"One more word and you shall go back to training."

"Sorry~ My Lord", he chuckled.

I finally came home. Time for relax-

"Hey You! get all the things in the carriage!", shouted a servant.

"No! we need to get the golden one!", cried one servant who ran back.

"All of you come here! we need more hands! Go bring the furniture from there.."

Seriously? in home too? I don't get a day off? Save me!

"What is going on?", I asked the steward who ignored me.

"Oh! Here you are brother! Welcome home!", my brother welcomed me inside.

"What's up with all?", I asked bewildered.

"They are all orders of mother, from the time she heard of the decree, she has begun the preparations. It is unfair that you're getting married first, before your big brother...", he began teasing already.

"It wasn't by choice! It was a decree... Yours is gonna come soon.", I said.

*In the main hall*

"Yes, I want the best decorations, and please prepare the best", Mother was quite cheerful.

"Greetings mother, I have come back from war safe and-"

"Yeah Yeah, all right, get up and change your clothes into something more good, you need to go give betrothal presents and officially propose to Jia li. There's so much less time and so much work... Go fast and change!", she shouted at me

"Is this my mother? are you sure?", I asked my brother, because there was no way that a princess like her would forgo formalities.

"yes, she is, go make yourself handsome and visit your in laws. I have lot to discuss with you later.", he said going away to his room.

I changed many times. from white to blue to red to black and again blue. I finally wore blue one. I went with my mother to the Huo family.

The whole atmosphere was weird, they were a bit reluctant to offer their daughter but finally agreed, as Jia li was sixteen, the decision lied with her parents. I just had to sit quietly, My mother was the one who did all the talking.

The atmosphere grew warmer as the Huo's felt a bit comfortable with the thought of sending their daughter into my family. I saw the crown princess, and the second daughter of Huo Chen, but not Jia Li.

We soon left. I soon left to the detached unit where the spy was. I couldn't keep up the drama anymore so I straight out asked,

"Who sent you?"

Sadly enough, she retaliated and tried to kill me, in front of all she tried killing me with a sword, when I asked her who sent her, she killed herself. Thank god! she killed herself in front of witnesses! otherwise it would have taken a year to manage the rumors.

Finally clearing it all up, I went to the market, to buy the recent volume of the state examination. There I found Jia li, She was wearing a men's costume and buying erotic novels. I couldn't allow a kid like her to read them!

I followed her and pulled her to a deserted corner onto a wall and asked.

"What are you doing here?"

"Rude mister from the palace? I am here buying books! stop pushing me... I can't go back anymore! there's a wall". she squeaked as she struggled to be far from me.

"Why these books?", I asked by pulling away these books.

She turned totally red and said, "Mother said I needed to know how to satisfy my partner so..."

That made me feel like an idiot. Does she not know... I am her partner? This just turned a hundred times more embarrassing. I let her go.

"General, you're a lucky one.", said Xiao Li who was shadow tailing me since the detached house incident.

I forgot about him.

"Xiao Li, you are going to die if you ever mention this again."

"But general, milady said she had to learn, is she implying you can't please her?", he asked with an annoying voice.

I just ignored and went on walking. I have loads of work to do... Not just this marriage. I need to get to know about the spy's origins and who is plotting against me.

Brother will know. I hope I can avoid war for at least two years, otherwise, the borders will be strained. I wonder how father managed the security of the whole empire. I need to improve myself.

I went on to train myself, with my brother as my guide.

*This way, the day ended for Huang Lei*