Ever since Qian Lan's last encounter with the king; he went silent and hasn't visited her once since. Not that Qian Lan minded of course. Although she was a bit bored not having someone talk to her, she enjoyed her time alone as the destined day had arrived.
As Qian Lan was sitting outside under the shade of the large willow tree in front of her court yard; Qian Lan couldn't help but wonder how her life would've been if she was still back in her real time. As the day drew closer and closer, the maids all eventually stopped coming; leaving only the head maid to tend to Qian Lan.
"Hey, Sue."
"Yes, my lady?"
"Where has everyone gone lately?"
"I…. I'm sure you're aware that tomorrow is the destined day, my lady."
"And?"
"Everyone has gone to help with preparations."
"Hah...I see."
"My lady, are you not scared?"
"Everyone always wonders about that, but they never exactly tell me what I'm supposed to be scared of. Is it death I should be scared of, or is it the water god I'm supposed to be scared of? What makes everyone so sure the water god would even give everyone rain with my sacrifice? I mean it's been raining fine for centuries but all of a sudden it stops raining for two years in a row."
"I don't have much knowledge on that myself, my lady. But…. people from my tribe, we believe it's because the water god is still mourning for his first wife."
"It's been more than two hundred years and he's still not over it?"
"Well, gods are different from humans. We believe they only have one life partner throughout their life time."
"A humans life span is different from a god. How can they expect a human to live as long as them?"
"My lady, should I tell you a story?"
Sue smiles at Qian Lan as she pours her a cup of tea. Slowly placing the kettle back down she waits for Qian Lan's curiosity to get the best of her.
"Gah! Alright fine! What is this story about?"
"Do you believe there is a heaven above us, my lady?"
"I don't see why not. Everyone believes in a water god, so why wouldn't there be a heaven?"
"Good point, I'll give you that."
"Just get to the story Sue. My time is limited."
"Of course, my lady. There is a saying that when a god or goddess is born a magical fruit is born as well. Every god and goddess is born with their own special tree that only bores one fruit. That fruit grants immortality to humans. There have been stories of gods or goddess marrying humans and having them eat that fruit to maintain their forms."
"So, you're saying if human eats that fruit, they stop aging. Is that it?"
"Yes, my lady. The humans only learned of this tree when a goddess fell in love with a human scholar and offered him the fruit from her tree. However, the human man couldn't go through with it. Soon, the human king learned of the fruit and threatened to kill the human man if the goddess didn't give him the fruit. After waiting three days, the king became impatient and killed the human man. The goddess and her army descended from the heaven's and wiped out humanity. Everything died and nothing could grow. It was nothing but barren land until heaven's king had the water god descend, and with his blessing life could grow and soon the heavenly king was able to create humans once more."
"Holy crap. That's one story."
"Well, whether you believe it or not, is up to you my lady."
Once Sue finished her story, Qian Lan listened as the palace horns go off. Within a few minutes Qian Lan could see numerous maids enter her sleeping quarters. Leading the people was the old shaman who had come to see Qian Lan.
"It is time. Get her cleaned up and ready."
The maids all quickly cleaned Qian Lan from head to toe. Scrubbing at her skin like there was no tomorrow. With the help of every maid present, Qian Lan stood silently as everyone helped her into a red wedding dress. Qian Lan couldn't help but stare at how beautiful it was from the movies she had seen. With its beautiful designs and the red sheer veil. It was definitely breath taking to Qian Lan.
One by one, everyone changed Qian Lan into the wedding dress and motioned for her to sit at her makeup table as they did her makeup and hair. Qian Lan watched as Sue braided her hair and formed a bun with it; clipping up her hair with hairpins and gold jewelry, Sue goes onto doing Qian Lan's makeup. Adding in red lipsticks, a dash of blush, red eye shadows for color and a red flower onto her forehead.
Once Sue was finished, she dismissed everyone as to give them space.
"My lady, you may open your eyes."
Qian Lan slowly opened her eyes and couldn't believe how different she looked. In her reflection she could see a blushing bride to be.
"Wow, you did great Sue."
"Not at all, my lady. You were already a beautiful girl to start with. I merely helped enhance it."
Just as Qian Lan was about to stand up to look at her dress in the mirror, the horns go off again. With no time left, Sue motions for Qian Lan to bend as she placed the veil over her head. Once Qian Lan had her veil on, Sue grabbed Qian Lan by the hand and helps lead her out of her bedroom as a carriage was waiting for her.
"Be careful my lady."
Sue helps Qian Lan into the carriage and enters after her; closing the door behind her. Once the ladies were in the carriage, Qian Lan lifts up her veil to look out the small window, that was blocked by a thin piece of cloth.
"My lady, be careful to not let a man see your face."
"Why?"
"It's not proper to let anyone other than your future husband see you before your wedding night."
Qian Lan rolls her eyes and stares out into the crowd of people that were surrounding the streets. Some were praying for her sake and some were celebrating as the end of the drought drew near. After sitting in silence for an hour, Qian Lan and Sue were finally at their destination.
Qian Lan glances outside to see nothing but a dying forest, and a nearly dried up waterfall. Sue quickly helps Qian Lan out and walks her to where the king and the old shaman were standing. Towards the edge of the fountain was a little circle with designs. The shaman quickly motions for Qian Lan to enter the circle and remain still as she chants her ancient spells.
Even with the veil on, Qian Lan could still make out faces of people who were close enough. With little to no time left, everything was finally hitting her. Qian Lan rubs her left hand on her grandma's bracelet to calm her nerves. Qian Lan whispers to herself to calm herself as the shaman continues to chant.
"Sigh, I'll be ok…. maybe this is just a bad dream and I'll wake up soon."
After fifteen minutes, the shaman was finally done chanting. Qian Lan watched as the circle she was standing on go red and disappear. The old woman walks towards Qian Lan and tells her it was time.
"It is time. You will have to jump into the waterfall and offer yourself to the water god."
"What? No one said anything about jumping."
"You can jump, or we'll have people toss you over. Your choice."
Qian Lan could see the kings face twist with worries. Qian Lan decided then and there that she was better off falling to her death than joining some harem. Unable to hold herself back, Qian Lan bursts into a laughter before lifting her veil up; revealing her face to the king.
"Looks like this is the end for me. I hope with my sacrifice the people can continue to live on and have hope of a tomorrow."
The king was shocked to find Qian Lan so beautiful and different from her usual self. Unable to mutter anything back, the king watched as Qian Lan jumped off the edge of the cliff and into the water fall. After a loud splash, the king finally snapped from his daze. He quickly ordered his men to head down the waterfall with the shaman to see if the ceremony worked or not. Should it fail, they will be able to retrieve Qian Lan's body, but should it work; there will be no traces of her.
The king quickly hops off his horse first and dives into the water in search of Qian Lan. Everyone soon quickly dived after the king as he was being reckless. After ten minutes of nothing but a bottomless pit, the king finally gives up.
With his now drenched clothing, the king crawls out of the water; gasping for air. With his right arm covering his eyes, the king suppresses his tears as he finally came to term that Qian Lan was now really gone and the bride of the water god.