Chapter 2: The General's Lady

"The Imperial Edict!" Eunuch Lig rushes over them with his head bow as they immediately fall on their knees to hear and accept the emperor's decree.

"Marquis Chu has brought up a wise, vibrant and gentle daughter thus the empress Dowager decided to bless Lady Churong with marriage between her and Prince Jin being General Jin".

"What!" Churong exclaims angrily and her mother quickly holds her hand with a stern expression, they all kowtow.

"We accept the emperor's decree" and Marquis sadly collects the scroll from Eunuch Lig.

"Congratulations" Eunuch Lig said happily and leaves the mansion with the soldiers that joined him, Churong sighs sadly.

"Impossible!"

"How can that old lady be this heartless" Churong complains sadly as she gulps the tea in anger.

"I can't get married to that demon, I detest him so much" she squeals in disbelief as Lin and Madame Chu console her sadly.

"The emperor can't disobey the empress Dowager's request thus we have to obey his decree to avoid death" Marquis Chu explains to them sadly.

"Is there nothing you can do? She is still my little baby" Madame Chu cries sadly while pleading with her husband, he shakes his head in disapproval.

"You shall be leaving tomorrow" he sniffles and leaves the air pavilion chamber sadly.

"Father! Father!" she calls out at the top of her voice but his decision is final.

Tap. Tap, tap. He touch the brush on the paint and slowly draws the person of Churong with a smile, he carves her beautiful eyebrows and tasty looking lips with his brush as his subordinate "Doubin" rushes into the library.

"Young master" he calls out looking anxious and worried, Prince Xie pause and drops the brush on it's position while facing Doubin, he haven a sign with his eyebrow.

"Empress Dowager granted marriage to Prince Jin and your --- Lady Churong" Doubin fret sadly.

"What!" Prince Xie stands up from the wooden comfortable armchair and rushes out of his mansion.

"Young master" Doubin calls sadly, sigh and runs out of the mansion in other to catch up with Prince Tang Xie.

The empress Dowager of Tang kingdom sits on her beautiful wooden armchair with Consort Fei, the barren wife of the emperor. They discuss in low tone while eating the ripe cherries. Empress Dowager is a beautiful woman of about sixty six (66) years old as her smile is so righteous and heartwarming; she is popularly referred to as the generous palace granny.

"Prince Tang Xie is here!" the door maid announces loudly and Prince Xie rushes over to his grandmother looking anxious.

"Xie'r" the empress Dowager calls softly and beacon him to come closer so she could embrace him.

"Greetings grandmother" he bows courteously while standing as he approaches his grandmother.

"How are you doing Xie'r" Empress Dowager asks anxiously while Prince Xie greets his aunty cautiously with a quick bow.

"Grandmother, did you grant my brother marriage?" Prince Xie asks cautiously and anxiously while empress dowager laughs softly.

"Yes. That's his gift for bringing peace and glory back to our precious Tang kingdom" empress Dowager explains happily while Prince Xie frowns.

"What? Do you want to get married too?" empress Dowager teases with seriousness.

"I admire this Lady Churong" he replies bluntly.

"He is now your brother's woman, except he doesn't need her" Empress Dowager warns cautiously and let out a loud laugh making Consort Fei to join nervously.

"I'll leave now, grandmother" Prince Tang Xie bows and leave the Dowager's chamber sadly.

Steward Zuo rides the horse carriage faster; Churong sits inside the carriage with Lin. Churong is dressed in a red beautiful wedding gown and a transparent light red veil showing her beautiful lips that are painted pink, judging by her countenance she is angry same as Lin who sadly reads one of Prince Xie novel collection to absentminded Churong.

"Why is steward Zuo so impatient? Is he the bride?" Churong snorts under the veil while Lin chuckles softly and continues reading.

"Stop it!"

"I am already getting married to a beast" Churong shuns and opens the veil hanging it at the top of her hair angrily.

"Sorry Lady Rong, I wanted to lighten up your mood" Lin pleads sarcastically as Churong roll her eyes.

"We are at Prince Jin's mansion" steward Zuo announces happily as the horse neigh stopping at a spot, Churong sadly covers the veil while Lin arranges it properly.

At the sitting room manor that consist of four open windows, five wild flowers separated in the corners of the room, four comfortable wooden armchairs and a long table containing small cups and a medium kettle.

General Jin takes the cup of tea and continues cleaning his sharp sword with a piece of white rag as his facial expression looks fearful, Yan runs in happily but pause at a distance after seeing his master's face.

"Master, your bride is here" he clears his throat cautiously.

General Jin smirks mockingly.

"Is she so impatient on getting married?" he roll his eyes mockingly and couples back his sword while standing up and leaves the manor.

"Yes, she is" Yan squeals happily as he follows General Jin from behind.

"Your highness" Churong and Lin bows courteously while standing, he beacon them with a stern reaction to stand which they did slowly.

"Take them to the guest room" he commands Yan and turns to leave.

"Guest room?" Churong asks surprisingly.

"Hello Mister General, I am your wife and not a visitor" she informs with an annoying air quote manner; he ignores and leaves to his chamber.

"What a rude husband!" Lin snorts angrily and turns to Churong with a small smile.

"Please join me Lady Jin" Yan said softly and leaves to another room while Churong fumes angrily and leaves the hall way following Yan.

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Churong gulps the water in the cup and hit it hardly on the table looking angry.

"Nonsense!"Lin rushes toward her side and turns water into the cup again.

"Lady Rong, please calm down. Prince Jin must be stressed out that's why he behaved rudely towards you" Lin said impulsively trying to console Churong.

"Impossible! I am his wife, why did he insist I stay in a guest room?" Churong asks angrily as she stands up and pace around the beautiful spacious room.

"Lady Chu, come to think of it. He is more handsome than Prince Xie" Lin said sheepishly.

"No! Prince Xie is warming, always smiling, kind and handsome. I like him not General Jin" she disagrees bluntly as she heads to the exits and tries to open the door.

"Why is it lock?" she asks anxiously with a scared look, Lin hurries to the door and push the door harder thus it breaks open.

"Absurd!"

"How dare he lock me in his mansion" Churong squeals angrily at the top of her voice as Quinlong approach her alongside her favorite maid "Tite".

"How did this rascal and characterless lady come into my brother's mansion?" Quinlong roll her eyes enviously as she stands at a distance referring to Churong, as annoying as Churong she turns back anxiously and faces Quinlong again.

"Me?" she asks anxiously making Quinlong to smirk mockingly.

"I am General Jin's Lady" Churong responds courageously as she walks close to Quinlong, Lin follows.

"My brother will never choose you over me!" Quinlong snorts meticulously and Churong to laugh softly.

"Uh-oh, sorry to disappoint you little sister" "He is mine!" Churong mocks annoyingly and boldly as she leaves Quinlong standing in awe.

"Never! I love Jin more" she squeals and stamp her feet angrily.

"Calm down Mistress Quin" Tite consoles as they leave the walk way sadly.

~~~~

"Lady Rong, you really did well by assuming your position as the Madame of this mansion" Lin praises Churong and smile happily as they walk on the compound grassy and rocky path leading to General Jin's private troop plotting pavilion.

"It was just an act, don't take it to heart" Churong warns cautiously and approach the closer door that is being guarded by two imperial soldiers.

"This place is out of bound for strangers" they informs Churong strictly and boldly as she is about opening the door, she steps backward and cross her arms slowly.

"I am General Jin's Lady, the Madame of this mansion" Churong points herself and informs courageously while Lin put her hands on her waist looking all majestic.

"Madame Jin?" the soldiers exchange confuse stare.

"What's happening here?" General Jin stands below them with an icy face with funny looking Yan.

"Tell the guards who I am" Churong commands bluntly as she stands aside patiently waiting for Jin's action.

"Who are you?" General Jin approaches the door slowly while Churong stare at him sadly, angrily and shamefully.

"She is my wife, my beloved Lady Jin" General Jin informs them strictly and winks at her, she blushes.

"Brother!" Prince Xie calls loudly from a near distance and approach them quickly.