Crimson Gold: Rebirths and Redemption

Chapter 3

After their conversation and her hesistant agreement, he discussed the matter with her parents but, this time, offered two times her bride price and three times as compensation if he did not marry her by the end of this year.

And while he did keep his promise to marry her that year, the moment the celebration ended, it was as if her marriage had been filled with despair ever since she crossed over into his household.

On the night of their wedding, he did not consummate their marriage, too drunk to do anything and fell asleep the moment he opened her veil and drank the marriage wine, leaving her in an awkward position. Still, she gave him an excuse, understanding that the weight of the ceremony and the revelry had taken its toll. She took off her clothes by herself and washed his face with her handkerchief before laying next to him, shrouded in the silence of the marital chamber.

Her struggles extended beyond the bedroom. Madam Wei who scrutinised her every choice. The moment their gazes met, Xunmi could feel theMadam Wei's disdain, as if she deemed Xunmi unworthy of her son. Tasked with overseeing her every decision, she nitpicked, mocked, and left Xunmi feeling like an intruder in her own home.

Once again, she was hurt by his action and this time, in the absence of her husband and the presence of pervasive gossip, she found herself navigating a turbulent sea of suspicion and mistrust but now deprived of sanctuary even within her own walls. Everywhere she goes whisper, sneers and eyes follow. The maids were quick to gossip, spreading tales of her every move.

As the Grand Marshall, he spent the majority of his days on the border, leaving Xunmi alone in a house where her position as his main wife went largely unrespected. The rumors circulating within the household, fueled by his prolonged absences and the absence of blood on their wedding bedding, painted a distorted picture of their marriage. The servants and maids, influenced by the whispers of society, speculated on the nature of their relationship.

They wondered if the lack of blood was a testament to impurity or if the General harbored disdain for his new wife. Perhaps, they whispered, it was a combination of both, weaving a narrative that further isolated Xunmi within the walls of her marital home. The weight of societal judgment quickly bore down on her shoulders even harder this time, exacerbating the challenges she faced as the Grand Marshall's wife, a position that should have commanded respect and reverence.

And when her maids attempted to defend her, she earned the title of being aggressive and unreasonable.

“How dare you say that about my lady!”, the sound of a slap ringing as is the frustrated voice of her childhood maid and friend, Feng Hua

“Calm down, Fenghua”, Xueyue, another of her maids, tried to stop her.

Feng Hua, a woman sculpted from years of unwavering loyalty, stood poised like a tigress defending her cub. The room held its breath as the echo of the slap lingered in the air, a tangible manifestation of the tension that had been simmering for weeks.

Xueyue, always the calming breeze in Xunmi's turbulent storm, rushed forward, her hand on Feng Hua's arm a silent plea for restraint. Yet, despite her quiet nature, there was a steely glint in Xueyue's eyes that warned the gathered maids to tread carefully.

"Leave. All of you," Xunmi's voice, though hoarse from pent-up emotions, held a chilling command. The maids hesitated, their gazes flicking between the fury of Feng Hua and the icy resolve of their mistress. Then, one by one, they scurried out of the room, leaving Xunmi, Feng Hua, and Xueyue in a tense tableau, Xunmi sighed and fell onto her chair, her head hurts and aches.

The room fell into a tense silence, punctuated only by Xunmi's heavy sigh as she sank into a nearby chair. Her head throbbed like a drum beaten by a relentless storm.

"My lady..." Xueyue's soft voice caressed the silence, laced with concern.

"You shouldn't have done that, Fenghua," Xunmi murmured, her fingers reaching for her aching temples. Cool hands intercepted hers, gently massaging away the tension. Fenghua, though only a few years younger, carried a wisdom in her touch that spoke of burdens beyond her years.

"And you shouldn't bear their insults with such patience, my lady," Fenghua retorted, her face flushed with righteous anger. "Their words are as vile as they are untrue. How dare they question your honor within your own walls?"

“Don’t worry, I’ll resolve it. I’ll call for people to fire them but in the future you can’t do that, they’ll blame you even more.” she said as she received the tea from Xueyue.

“But…”, Fenghua tried to protest.

“You are to be married soon, you’re 19 years old as old as me when I am married.”, she chuckled, causing Fengxue to redden even more and for Xueyue to giggle.

“I won’t marry, I’ll stay here and take care of your kids. Why should I marry and take care of some smelly men?”

“Hmm, if that’s what you want then”

“But still my lady, why don’t you try to ask General Jiang for help?”, Xueyue asked, putting her cup away.

“Really...As I said before please don’t worry, I’ll resolve it.”, she gives them a strained smile.

Too proud to ask for help, Xunmi tentatively implied her need for support from her husband, that she needed assistance in managing the house and lastly that he should return to consummate the marriage. However, the General, in his stoic demeanor, insisted that he can’t return as the war had taken turn for the worst, barbarian attacking every weeks, there are priority to be made and that she would learn from the stern guidance of his mother.

Giving up on his help and determined to prove her worth, she perseveres, adhering to unnecessary rules imposed by the Madam Wei and flawlessly manages the house. Despite her noble status, Xunmi exercised patience and resilience, enduring almost a year of mockery and snide comments to establish the control she rightfully deserved as the General's wife and finally, she gradually gained some semblance of control that was rightfully hers as a wife with the bregudging allowance of his mother.

Yet, the challenge persisted in penetrating the walls around the general's heart. While he is nice, she can't help but feels like a prized guest rather than his wife, the icy distance that lingered between them weighed heavily on Xunmi's heart. She dismissed the coldness between them, attributing it to the burdens he carried from the war and his undisclosed past. She believes strongly that if he had more time to spend with her, he would melt. Especially now, with their marriage sealed and his promise of a happy life. She endeavoured to bridge the emotional gap, attempting to understand him. On the short moment when he returns, She tried to ask him to do his cuties and when he refused, she implored for his reasons, but her earnest attempts were met with vague answers, avoidance and a sad smile. The chasm within their marriage seemed insurmountable, and as the days passed, the echoes of unspoken secrets reverberated through the corridors of their lives.