Chapter 21
The kiss meant nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Biyu kept telling herself that as she walked through the gardens with her sister. It was a one-time thing, she repeated like a mantra. A one-time release that rid herself of these strange, inappropriate desires she felt toward him. That was all there was to it.
It meant nothing.
Nikator was certainly acting like it meant nothing, and she could too.
So much had happened since she had last seen Liqin that it felt like years ago instead of only a few weeks.
Her sister looked as prim and proper as always—hair done immaculately, jade jewelry matching her similarly colored dress, and that perpetual sneer she always donned.
This time, it was even more severe than usual as Liqin glared at her fiancé, Guo Zihao, who walked with them in the gardens.
He was a simple man—a soldier—and had been rewarded with the opportunity to marry Liqin since he had done some great feats in a battle against the rebel forces.
He was also alarmingly tall—maybe an inch shorter than Nikator, but well above the average Huo man—and had a giant scar running up his neck and over his cheek, and another over one side of his mouth.
Biyu’s fiancé, Jian, was also with them. Liqin and Biyu strode ahead, while the two men spoke to one another a few paces behind. And behind them were the guards; Biyu could practically feel Nikator’s razored glare set at the back of Jian’s head. A furtive look over her shoulder revealed just that.
She tried not to think of Nikator too much.
Ever since their kiss three days ago, neither of them had spoken to the other.
Other than the awkward good mornings and good nights, there was no reason to speak.
Especially when Biyu was stuck in her room and Nikator guarded her from outside.
She didn’t know why he’d decided to guard from outside her room, but it disappointed her.
She actually wanted him in the bedroom, for some odd, unfathomable reason.
There was a distance between them that their shared kiss had lengthened.
Biyu should have been happy for it, but … but she couldn’t be.
No, she told herself. She was happy.
She didn’t need him, anyway.
The kiss meant nothing.
Liqin looped her arm around Biyu’s, snapping her out of her reverie of thoughts, and leaned closer. From afar, they likely looked like giggling, gossiping sisters. In truth, Liqin was glowering at her like she had done something horrible.
“Why is it that you get to marry a lord while I marry a lowly soldier?” her sister hissed.
Biyu blinked at her. Liqin made it sound like Biyu wanted to marry Jian.
Truthfully, Zihao appeared kinder and softer than Jian. Biyu would rather him than her nasty fiancé. But … could he even be called her fiancé if she was technically already married to Nikator?
“Did you say something to His Majesty?” Liqin’s fingernails dug into Biyu’s forearm. “Did you speak badly of me? Or perhaps you seduced him so he would give you a better husband? Are you trying to rise up in the ranks? Or live a better life than me?”
Biyu’s eyes widened and she almost stumbled over her leaden feet. “What? I wouldn’t seduce His Majesty! And I’m not playing any game—”
“Then why would he give you a lord?” Liqin clenched her jaw tight enough that her muscles were taut on her face.
“A lord of a small noble family—”
“He is still a lord. A noble!” she whisper-shouted.
Biyu glanced over at the two men once more.
Jian waved his hands and spoke loudly, self-importantly, while Zihao, dressed modestly in simple linen robes, quietly nodded along to whatever the rude man was saying to him.
She caught a few words about battles and how they should be won—nothing that interested her—and how Jian had secured his victory.
From behind them, Nikator strode with that half-bored, half-murderous look on his face.
Like he could gut Jian alive if he was in the mood for it, and he wasn’t even sure if that mood was now or later.
His long hair was pulled back and secured at the back of his head with a black ribbon.
He was dressed in dark leathers today, just like a few days ago, and they hugged his muscular figure in a way that made it hard to look away.
Biyu barely heard whatever scathing remark Liqin was saying as she remembered the way she had pressed her hands against his sculpted chest, back, and arms. How it had felt when he—
His sapphire eyes flicked to hers, nearly burning through her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Their shared kiss meant absolutely nothing!
She tore her attention away, her face heating up. Did he notice her admiring his physique? His beauty? She sure hoped not.
“Biyu.” Liqin’s hold on her tightened. She was practically fuming.
She sighed. “What is it, Liqin?”
“Are you listening to me right now? How did you manage—”
“I don’t know, and I don’t really care!” she whispered back with the same ire Liqin had used.
She didn’t know where this newfound strength had come from, but she straightened her spine and gave her a scowl that she hoped drove home her point.
“I don’t want to marry Jian and if it was up to me, you could have him!
You know better than me that I’m not going to do anything strange or manipulate my way to a better situation.
I don’t want him. I mean, just look at him. He's horrible!”
Her sister’s pretty face scrunched up in pure confusion; it was the first time Biyu had seen her shut up so fast. She likely hadn’t expected Biyu to ever talk back to her, or to ever stand up for herself.
And why would she? Biyu had gone her whole life as a stuttering, uncertain girl who wasn’t allowed to say anything rude to Liqin, or any of her siblings who were favored by their father.
But what did it matter anymore? They were both in the same situation, now.
“You—you can’t—” Liqin sputtered.
“I can’t what?” Biyu eased her sister’s claw-like hold on her arm. “We’re not in Father’s court anymore, where you can say or do whatever you want to me.”
“B-But—”
“Does it bother you that you have to marry a soldier? Or does it bother you that I have to marry a lord?” Biyu’s eyes narrowed and she hated the way Liqin’s black eyes grew like saucers; like she couldn’t believe what she was saying.
She had been unnecessarily cruel to her their whole lives.
Arrogant to think that she was better. Foolish to think that she could hold onto that superiority, that small bit of power, when it didn’t exist anymore.
Biyu had been fearful of her all this time, even when there wasn’t any hierarchy anymore.
“Most sisters would be happy for the other if they found out their sister is getting a chance at a better life! But you—you’ve always despised me and treated me cruelly. ”
“Is this what this is about?” A ray of sunlight filtered through the spotted canopy of cherry blossom trees they were passing by, and showcased Liqin’s reddening face. Her lower lip, painted with a deep red rouge, trembled. “You want to gloat that you’re going to have a happier life than me?”
“No, Liqin. I’m not gloating. But I have to ask this—are you more upset that I have a chance at happiness?
Or what you consider happiness?” Biyu’s hands trembled and she looked past Liqin to the swaying tree branches laden with tiny pink flowers.
She didn’t want to see her sister’s expression—to see her realize that Biyu’s words were true, because she was certain they were.
“You’ve always treated me like I don’t matter.
Like you’re better than me, just because Father favored your mother. Do you hate me that much?”
Silence.
Biyu finally glanced over at her, and for the first time ever, a flicker of doubt passed over her sister’s face. That and something deeper. Something akin to … guilt?
Biyu must have imagined it.
Liqin stared at the ground. “It’s not fair that you—that you have a chance at—at—”
“At what? A wealthy life?”
“Yes! He’s … he’s a lord—” Her words came out softer this time, less certain.
“He’s a horrible man, Liqin,” she said quietly. “And trust me when I say that you’ll live a happier life with a simple man than someone like Wu Jian.”
A deep sadness she couldn’t explain overcame her.
She turned her face away and blinked away the unexpected tears pricking the corner of her eyes.
She had always secretly hoped to have a relationship with her sister.
She had read stories of sisters who stuck together and loved one another fiercely, wished good onto one another, wanted the best for each other.
That wasn’t something she could see between her and Liqin, unfortunately, and that shattered a part of her heart that she didn’t even know existed.
Even imprisoned as they were, with no one on her side other than Biyu, Liqin still chose to make her an enemy—competition.
“I’ll be marrying him next week.”
Biyu’s head snapped in her direction. Liqin wasn’t looking at her, instead staring straight ahead. A tear rolled down her cheek, creating a streak over the powdery makeup she wore. She swiped her face with her sleeve, breathing out shakily.
“The emperor wishes to marry me to him so that I have no chance of ever obtaining importance. What other reason would he have to marry me to a … a …” She shook her head as if that could dispel her revulsion. “I suppose it’s better than a slow death here, but … I had hopes that …”
That they would one day be free.
One week wasn’t enough time for Biyu and Yat-sen’s plan to roll into effect. She tried to think of a way she could work faster toward their goal to spare Liqin of her fate, but she couldn’t come up with it. She still needed a deadly spell and a way to dispel the wards. Her heart sank.
“I’m sorry, Liqin.”
“For what?” She furiously wiped her tears away with her sleeve, her face pinched together.
“Because—”
“Is everything all right?” A quiet, calm voice called from behind them.
Biyu whirled to find Zihao, Liqin’s fiancé, behind them with a linen handkerchief in his hand. He held it out to Liqin, who stared at it with a look of disdain. His dark brows pulled together; his attention was entirely on his fiancée.
“Princess Liqin?” he asked when she didn’t say anything.
Jian folded his arms over his chest, sighing. “The sun probably got in her eyes, right?”
“Ah, yes.” Liqin didn’t bother sparing him another glance. “That’s what it was. Let’s get on our way, now.”
Zihao lowered the linen in his hand. “Are you certain? If you’re unwell, we can—”
“I’m sure,” she barked.
Biyu cringed at the venom in her sister’s tone, but Zihao seemed unaffected by it, judging by his stoic expression.
“Very well,” he said, quietly.
They all fell into an awkward silence soon after that.
Biyu laced her hands together to keep from fidgeting.
She didn’t even want to be here with Liqin, Jian, and Zihao.
She supposed the emperor had asked the men to take the sisters out for a walk so they could better acquaint themselves with one another, but she found it all unnecessary.
She especially didn’t want to be around Jian, who gave her head-to-toe glances every now and then, which made her skin crawl.
“Princess Biyu,” Jian suddenly called. “Come here a moment.”
Her body tensed and she looked over her shoulder at him. Why was he ordering her around? She was surprised he’d even bothered to use her title, but the way he said it almost sounded mocking.
“Let’s walk here.” He pointed to a different path than the one they were headed on.
“I’d rather not—”
“It’ll be good to have some alone time.”
“No—”
He strode forward and was about to grab her bicep, when Nikator suddenly appeared in front of her. He towered over her and Jian, who stumbled back in surprise.
“She said no.” Nikator strode forward until he loomed over the shorter man.
“W-what do you think you’re doing?” Jian sputtered. “It’s not wrong for me to take my betrothed—”
“She said no,” he repeated, stronger this time. He took another step toward the man, who flinched back.
They both stared at each other heatedly. Biyu’s chest clenched tightly and she couldn’t stop the warmth bursting in her heart, filling every broken crevice. She didn’t need him to stand up for her like this, but damn did it feel good to have someone there to threaten a rude man for her.
Jian pursed his lips together and was the first to rip his gaze away; Biyu could see his fists trembling, though she wasn’t sure if that was from fear, intimidation, or rage.
Jian didn’t seem like the type of person who accepted no for an answer and he likely wasn’t used to being forcibly backed away like that, either.
But he did look like the type who would cower away from anyone stronger than him—and it was clear to see that Nikator could kill him in seconds if he chose to.
She could feel Liqin’s questioning gaze on her—likely wondering what had just happened.
They all continued their stroll once more, this time even more quiet and awkward than before.
Nikator also chose to walk beside Biyu, creating a buffer between her and Jian, who stomped the entire way, crushing flowers and kicking buoying plants that were too close to the paved path.
Biyu’s relief was nearly palpable when the familiar exit of the gardens appeared, but her relief was short-lived as she noticed the woman standing there, seemingly waiting for them.
She was beautiful, with enchanting silver-white hair that reached down to her hips, secured by golden ruby-encrusted hairpins, and wearing a beautiful silken dress with gold accents. Her dark eyes flicked over to them.
Li-ling. The emperor’s cousin.
And the deadliest female warrior in his court.