Vows

I looked at the mirror as people flew around me, doing the last touches. I was wearing a white empire-type wedding dress with high hips and a long airy skirt from my bust down to the hem. The design highlighted my small B-cup, making it seem bigger while the covering of my lower figure made the illusion of me being taller.

There was only light makeup over my face, making it shinier with longer eyelashes that strengthen my deep blue eyes' impression with my hair released, flowing over my shoulders. It truly gave me a new image, it could even be wronged as I was alive, giving me a more lively image.

The preparations had all been finished during the Tè Clan's stay. The gift and dowry had been interchanged and all the prefaces had been completed, from the deal of the clans to the tea and hair combing ceremony. The Xie and Tè Clan had officially joined their forces.

Now, I only need to walk over the aisle and exchange the vows with Yuan and finish it all with the last banquet. My new place and cage waiting for me.

Having finished preparing me, the maids left my room, Xie Xiu being the only one to stay.

"You are quite lucky, doll" Xie Xiu said with nerve, anger and pissing could be sense from her voice "For you to marry young master Yuan, you sure are blessed. He is not only strong and had a limitless future, but he is so handsome and valiant" She said the last part with a dreamy voice, her face gaining a tint of red.

"You should have married an old and fat bastard instead. It would be a much better match with a broken doll-like you!" Xie Xiu spat.

So that's what Xiu thinks. It's not like it matters to me. For what I could observe, all the clan is rotted, Yuan not being any exemption. So it won't make much difference with whom I was.

"Did you see that elders' gazes upon us girls? I bet they would take some of us in their bed. Even I might become a concubine of some of them" She said angrily "But you, like always, are different. You, a country bumpkin that knows nothing, are special for only having the Nine Heart Flowering Apple, making you the center of all. I really hate you"

Xie Xiu lifted her hand, seeming to prepare to hit me, but thought about it better, shaking her head and lowering "I can't let our doll look bad."

Yes, the image was the most important. In the end, I was simply that, an image and projection of the clan.

Xiu approached me and lifted my face from my chin, looking straight at my eyes "Don't even think that anything would change. Your hell would still be there, it would only change a little" She turned around, turning to leave the room "I bet that you would be even given as a plaything, being used and damaged by all that geezers" She laughed before leaving.

"I really doubt it" I whispered as she left. From what I learned, the Tè clan was quite interested in the spirits' inheritance and their evolution, putting much focus on it that could graze or had already gone further than madness. Would such people let me be touched by anyone, risking pregnancy? No, if I have a child, it must be from Yuan. So in that sense, I'm his and his alone.

...

"Enters the bride"

The door in front of me opened and I entered the big room, grandly decorated, Yuan waiting for me at the end of the aisle with an impeccable suit.

Even at such a time, my parents weren't here, not being permitted to assist my own wedding. So instead of my father, an elder took my arm, guiding me over the aisle, stepping onwards following the music's rhythm.

Arriving at the altar, the elder released me and I stood in front of Yuan, Xie Xiu at my side as my maidservant. Yuan analyzed me before nodded affirmatively looking at me.

The ceremony finally started with Xie Xiu's grandfather officing it.

"When two people are at one in their inmost hearts. They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze. And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts, their words are sweet and strong like the fragrance of orchids." The officer started the prayers and hymns finally reaching the last part.

"Tè Yuan, you are willing to marry Lingling as your wife, in sacred marriage together for life?

Whether she has sickness or health, poverty or wealth, beauty or is plain, in good times and in bad, you are willing to love her, to comfort her, to respect her, and protect her? And willing to be forever loyal to her? "

"I do." Yuan answered, clearly not thinking of respecting me.

"Lingling, you are willing to marry Tè Yuan as your husband, in sacred marriage together for life?

Whether he has sickness or health, poverty or wealth, beauty or is plain, in good times and in bad, you are willing to love him, to comfort him, to respect him, and protect him? And willing to be forever loyal to him?"

I opened my mouth and was about to answer when suddenly a warmth feeling flooded over my body, my spirit wriggled in happiness basking in that feeling, causing me to swiftly turn over my face towards the left, from where that feeling came.

"I'm not willing!" A powerful shout sounded all over from outside the room.

"Clank!" From where I was looking the window broke, the glass shattered as a person passed through it, all the attention going towards him.

"How you dare to interrupt?!" The first to react was Yuan's brother, Huoyi, who was next to Yuan and the nearest to the window as he was Yuan's best man. Huoyi stepped forward, his big body towering the intruder as he extended his right arm, preparing to catch him.

"Huh?!" However, under the shock of everyone, Huoyi's body flew over "Bang!" the intruder effortlessly lifting him and crashed him to the ground before starting walking towards the alter.

He was quickly surrounded by Xie and Tè clansmen.

However, he didn't seem worried as he stood valiant against the crowd while wearing a black hooded cape that hid all his body, making it impossible to decipher who he was. But it was very clear who he was, but I could help to be surprised for him being here, unconsciously whispering his name.

"Haot-" However, I was silenced by him who pointed at Yuan "Yuan, I challenge you!"

"Who do you think you are to challenge me?" Yuan arrogantly said as he gestured to his clansmen to attack the intruder.

The intruder took out his hood, causing Yuan's eyes to go wide with shock. Black hair and deep purple eyes with a face really resembling Yuan. It was very clear who he was.

"I'm Tè Shenti."