"I, Yang Qui, take you, Lin Yingyue, to be my lawfully wedded wife. From this day until the end of my days, I am yours and you are mine."
"I, Lin Yingyue, take you, Yang Qui, to be my lawfully wedded husband. From this day until the end of my days, I am yours and you are mine."
A shiver ran through Tianshi Xue's spine. She was half-tempted to use the sword that they were holding and plunge it in her stomach.
The augur spoke again. "You may now bow to each other, as a sign of respect and love, for from this day on you are equal and one."
It was a pain to make her back bend, it was like her bones and muscles were straining to keep her upright. She could not believe she was bowing to the man she wanted to stab.
"You are now, husband and wife."
Tianshi Xue almost lost it. That was it. Her life was over. She was never going to find happiness again. She would never be able to go back to her own body.
Being a famous actress in her previous life, she had been to a lot of weddings. This one was incomplete. "Is that it?" she asked the augur.
It was Prince Qui who answered. "Why? Do you want to kiss me?"
Tianshi Xue had never had a stronger urge to slap someone. But she could never slap the prince. He could chop her head off if he wanted. Instead of answering, she turned her face away.
"That's what I thought," he sneered and sheathed the sword. "Pack up, Princess. We're going home tomorrow."
Home, she thought. Where was home?
Two weeks ago, she would've said 'the beautiful bungalow in an exclusive neighborhood'. But now, home meant the Heping Palace.
Two weeks ago, she was Tianshi Xue, the most hated actress according to the polls—which was her greatest achievement as she played the villainess in the top drama Ace of Hearts.
And two weeks ago... she died.
Now, she was in the body of Princess Lin Yingyue, the daughter of The Tyrant Emperor, the hostage of the Heping Empire, wife of the youngest general, Prince Yang Qui, The Conqueror.
Tianshi Xue cried in her mind. Of all the bodies she could get reincarnated to, it had to be this poor princess'. She wouldn't even called this reincarnation. It was like her soul got transfered to this body for some unknown reason.
"Don't worry," Prince Qui said, walking away. "I'll be the first to sign the divorce papers when we get back."
How dare this prince think like he was the one most aggravated in this situation? Tianshi Xue made the princess' lips smile. "Thank you, my prince."
Prince Qui looked back and lowered his face so he could see her eye-to-eye. There was a look of confusion and mirth in his eyes. "I don't know what the hell happened when I was gone for a year—"
"Oh believe me," she cut him off, "a lot of unbelievable things happened while you were outside the walls… my prince," she followed as an afterthought.
Prince Qui laughed but it sounded menacing. "Keep that attitude up and I MIGHT—just might—not let you come back to your precious Prince Xiaodan."
"Ooh," she said, daring him. She flicked a nonexistent dirt from his shoulder. "Didn't you hear what the augur said? I am now your equal."
Tianshi Xue was convinced she was out of her mind. What was she doing starting a fight with one of the greatest minds of the empire?
Prince Qui tugged her to him with a jerk. He stared down at her and she almost cowered. It took every last bit of will inside of her to not back down. His rough hand held her face in place. For a second, Tianshi Xue thought the prince was going to force himself on her but he remained in his place.
"I like you," he said, his eyebrow twitching in amusement, his eyes roaming her face. "I don't feel like returning you to my stupid brother now." He bared his teeth in a smile that resembled a lion's. "I think I'm going to keep you."
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Author's Note: