A crowd huddled together, looking to their left and right with their heads, trying to take a peek at what was going on within the Han manor. A parade of people wearing red was down the road in front of the Han manor. People began to whisper to each other, wondering if the daughter of Han was finally getting married. In the red carriage, Suyin wanted to take a peek outside at what was going on. Again, just like when she entered the territory of Long, she tilted her head to see what was going on outside of the window.
"What is going on?"
"Is the daughter getting married?"
Suyin could hear side conversations outside of the window, and although she felt anxious that this was happening in reality, at least she knew that she wouldn't be married off to the old man that she had met before. She could only sigh in relief but had a sad, bitter smile afterward.
Was this the life of a woman in the past? Why was it that a man had to be there so that they would be "better off" rather than go on their own? Han Suyin felt like a bird in the cage. The feathers could only reach the beautiful, blue sky when its feathers were plucked.*
*Meaning: To achieve your desire, you have to give up something in return.
It was discussed previously the day before that Qin Fuhua wanted to have the wedding done as soon as possible at his mother's home. But... how in the world would Qin Fuhua have a "mother" here in the Long territory?
The parade continued on, with the trumpets playing while Suyin awaited her arrival at the groom's home. It seems like Suyin's parents had no hesitation for her to get married, worried that she would be too old to get married to an eligible bachelor.
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It felt like hours, years that Suyin impatiently waited in the carriage. Her father was so excited about Qin Fuhua's "fortune," enough for him to talk about the carriage instead of a sedan, something different that he (Suyin's father) has never seen in a very long time. It was apparently an honor that the son-in-law would show such respect, money, and status in such a short while, the parents immediately apologized about the incident about Suyin's arrangement with the old man.
Speaking about it, she never knew his name. Suyin's mind was full of random things popping up so suddenly. She's never gotten married... ever, and for Qin Fuhua to be the first (or second this time) to be her "fake" husband, it should have been something precious for her!
With her mind running around the carriage, the song played by the trumpet and drums immediately stopped, and the carriage halted as the horses cried out.
A crowd of curious onlookers clustered together, their heads swiveling left and right in a collective bid to catch a glimpse of the spectacle unfolding within the confines of the Han manor.
A procession of crimson-clad figures paraded down the thoroughfare, their vibrant hues igniting a flurry of speculation among the gathered crowd. Murmurs rippled through the air like a soft breeze, conjectures whispered on hushed breaths, each laden with the weight of anticipation.
"Is it the daughter's long-awaited marriage?"
"Could this be the day she becomes a bride?"
Within the confines of the crimson carriage, Han Suyin found herself unable to resist the allure of curiosity, her gaze drawn inexorably towards the window, much like a sailor lured by the siren song of the sea.
With a subtle tilt of her head, she sought to glean a glimpse of the unfolding spectacle outside, her heart fluttering.
"What is happening out there?" she wondered aloud, her voice a soft murmur amidst the flurry of activity.
Suyin caught snippets of conversation drifting in from outside the window. Though she felt a knot of anxiety in her stomach, she was glad that she wouldn't be forced into marriage with the elderly man she had encountered in the past.
Letting out a sigh of relief, she couldn't help but wear a bittersweet smile.
Was this the predetermined destiny of women in the old era?
Trapped by the chains of tradition, reduced to mere pieces in the game of marriage? These weighty thoughts weighed on Suyin's heart as she gazed out at the vast blue sky beyond the carriage window, a poignant symbol of the freedom she longed for.
Han Suyin felt like a bird in the cage.
The day before, Qin Fuhua had expressed his eagerness to hold the wedding ceremony as soon as possible, preferably at his mother's residence.
But there was a glaring discrepancy in this plan—how could Qin Fuhua possibly have a "mother" in the Long territory?
As the parade pressed on, the brass trumpets blared jubilantly, filling the air with an atmosphere of anticipation and festivity.
Suyin, adorned in her bridal attire, sat patiently in her ornate carriage, eagerly awaiting her arrival at the groom's home.
Suyin's parents, steadfast in their conviction, harbored no reservations about their daughter's impending marriage. Their decision to proceed with the marriage spoke volumes, a testament to their unwavering faith in the promise of a brighter future for their beloved daughter. Perhaps, in their hearts, they harbored fears that Suyin's advancing age might diminish her prospects of securing a suitable match.
Yet, in the face of such concerns, their unwavering support for her happiness remained the same.
And so, as the procession pressed onward, guided by the rhythmic cadence of marching feet and the triumphant strains of brass, Suyin's journey toward her marriage continued, her path illuminated by the flickering flames of hope that danced upon the horizon.
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Time seemed to stretch endlessly as Suyin fidgeted restlessly within the confines of the carriage.
Each passing moment felt like an eternity, the anticipation hanging heavy in the air.
Her father's excitement was palpable, evident in the animated chatter that filled the space, a stark departure from the usual solemnity of their sedan rides.
This deviation, marked by the novelty of a carriage, spoke volumes of the significance of Qin Fuhua's supposed "fortune" in her father's eyes, a departure from the norm that had become unfamiliar over the years.
The mere mention of Qin Fuhua's apparent wealth and status was enough to stir a whirlwind of emotions within the family.
Suyin observed her parents' hurried apologies regarding the arrangements made with the old man, a clear indication of the importance placed on preserving social decorum in the face of such unexpected developments.
Amidst the flurry of thoughts, she couldn't shake the sudden realization that this would mark her second marriage with Qin Fuhua. It should have been a momentous occasion, imbued with a sense of significance and sentimentality.
Thinking about the marriage, the rhythmic melody of the trumpet and drums abruptly ceased, shattering the reverie. The sudden silence was accompanied by the strangled cries of the horses as the carriage lurched to a halt, bringing an abrupt end to the journey.
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"Hm? What's going on?" Suyin's voice quivered with uncertainty as she peered out of the window once more, only to find the landscape transformed into a dense forest, the town now distant.
The sudden cessation of movement was disconcerting, prompting her to scan her surroundings for any sign of disturbance.
Her gaze caught sight of a peculiar sight—a light-purple mist billowing around the carriage, swirling and rising from the forest floor.
An instinctive unease crept over her, compelling her to shield her nose with the fabric of her sleeves, a feeble attempt to ward off the mysterious vapor.
"Everyone knocked out?" The voice pierced through the eerie stillness, its source shrouded in uncertainty.
Suyin's mind raced with apprehension, unable to discern whether it was Qin Fuhua or someone else behind the unsettling turn of events.
Something felt distinctly amiss, her intuition prickling with suspicion.
With a calculated move, Suyin feigned unconsciousness, her body going limp as she laid herself down in the carriage. She strained her ears to catch any hint of movement outside, the tension palpable as the seconds stretched into an agonizing silence.
"Ba, I found it, she's here." The sound of a young girl's voice echoed through the air, drawing closer to the carriage with each passing moment.
Suyin's heart pounded in her chest, a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins as she awaited the inevitable confrontation.
"She's here. I knew I would find her." The words hung heavy in the air, laden with a sense of foreboding that sent shivers down Suyin's spine.