Many hours had gone by before two women, about 5 years older than Yu Mei came into the dark room with a lantern. She could see in one of the women's hand was a neatly folded red gown.
A wedding gown.
Yu Mei objected under loud mumbles.
The woman holding the wedding gown bent down to her and gave her a pitiful smile. "Miss, please don't be afraid of us. Master Huang isn't so bad after you get to know him." She said trying to calm Yu Mei down. But nothing in her voice was convincing. Even as the women spoke to Yu Mei, she herself was not convinced that this Master Huang was a nice guy.
The other woman also walked over. "So many of us have been in your situation. But since we're here, there's no going out. In the future, you can rely on us sisters." The two women spoke with such sadness. They had once felt what Yu Mei was going through now. But what could they do? They were from a poor rural family. A woman who was even slightly beautiful was captured and brought here as a gift to Master Huang. If they were to escape, they would put their family at risk.
Yu Mei did not want to sympathize with them. She couldn't. There was someone out there looking for her...waiting for her. Would she ever see him again? And then her heart hurt from the pain of separation.
One of the women started to untie her hands. She could read the look in Yu Mei's eyes. "Miss. I know that our lives do not matter to you but the moment you run out, it's our heads they will take." She reminded Yu Mei.
And she was right. The moment Yu Mei was unbounded, she wanted to rush out. But now hearing how she would be putting innocent people's lives at risk, she couldn't. Not now. Not after she has learned they've endured what she is going through right now.
Yu Mei grasped each of the woman's hand. "Run away with me then. My husband, he is a powerful man. As soon as I return, I can guarantee he will get rid of these bastards for you. There is no need to fear."
The two women looked at one another and shook their heads. "We cannot risk knowing that we will be the cause of our family's downfall."
***
Even as Yu Mei was coming down the aisle in her red gown, she prayed Pei Nan would be there.
But he was nowhere in sight. She could only hear the loud laughter coming from the room.
The red veil covering her head made it hard for her to tell just how many people were present. But judging by the number of feet and voices, there were a little over 20 of them.
Her heart leaped with fear the moment she got to the front. The man standing in front of her grabbed her hand. They were rough and full of callous. Probably from the years of wielding swords.
He smelled of sweat and alcohol. It was a repugnant smell. Almost enough to make her vomit.
Yu Mei tugged away but he forcefully held onto her hand. "Wife, don't be so impatient. The ceremony is only beginning." He coarsely spoke.
"I'm not your bride, you scoundrel. Go die!" She spit back at him. But he didn't find offense in her words. This wasn't the first bride he had taken like this. If she wasn't going to play nice during the ceremony, there was no need for one.
Master Huang slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her side to side with him. Then he turned to his men. "Boys! My woman is a little impatient. I shall skip the ceremony and end it here tonight. Tonight, drink until sunrise." He roared loudly.
Yu Mei threw her veil on the ground and spat at him. He was just as horrible as she had imagined him to be; a bulky man in his late thirties with a scar on his left cheek. "Bastard! I am not going anywhere with you." She aggressively tried to push away.
"I don't think you'll be saying that after tonight my lovely one." He smiled creepily before picking her up and tossing her on his shoulder. Yu Mei squealed, kicked and hit as hard as she could but he did not budge one inch. As he walked away with her, she could hear his men cheering and clashing their drinks together excitedly.
Her body hit the bed with a loud thud. Before she could move a muscle, the man had both his hands on each side of her. His yellow teeth smiled at her. And at that moment, Yu Mei wanted to die. "Let go of me. Do you know who my husband is? If you dare lay another finger on me, I'll make sure you die a slow death." She threatened.
Hearing her little threat, he snickered. And then his hand went to her waist where her waist belt was. "I, Master Huang will be glad to die after tonight."
Before he could pull her waist belt off, the door bust open. One of his men came rushing in. "My lord, not good! Our storage room is on fire."
Master Huang rolled his eyes annoyed. "Then put it out. Why are you bothering me?"
The man knelt on the ground. "My apologies but the fire is too big. I'm afraid it might be an attack."
"An attack? Who dares?" He quickly leaped off the bed and darted towards the door. Before he disappeared, he turned back to Yu Mei. "If I don't find you here when I get back, I'll make you pay."
His threat didn't register in her head. The only thing she could think of was Pei Nan. Surely this was his doing. He was coming to get her. Her eyes sparkled with hope.
She quickly ran towards the door but it was locked. After making multiple attempts at breaking the door, she ran around the room trying to find anything to break it down.
Minutes had gone by and suddenly she heard pounding at the door. She grabbed the nearest candleholder and hid behind the door.
The door was kicked open. With eyes closed, her arms raised high, ready to smash his head. It came down and missed the man who dodged. "Die you creep." She screamed loudly.
"It's me."
That voice. She knows it.
And in that moment she caught sight of him, the candleholder dropped onto the ground.
Pei Nan pulled her into his warm embrace. "Pan Yu Mei, don't be scared. I'm here now." His sweet manly sandalwood scent engulfed her nose. Nothing like that disgusting Master Huang, she thought.
This feeling…this sense of security. She never wanted it to disappear. She wrapped her arms tightly around his back as if he would vanish if she didn't hold on.
"Why did you come so late?" She tried hard to hold back her tears.
He planted a delicate kiss on the top of her head. "I'm sorry I've come too late."