Chapter 002: Forced Marriage
At present, it is the eighteenth year of the Kaihuang era of the Great Sui, marking the eighteenth year since Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, usurped the Zhou dynasty and established the Sui dynasty
The warrior Gao Ding furrowed his brow and reported: "Miss, he has knife and arrow wounds on his back, fresh injuries, and..." He hesitated for a moment but decided to speak the truth, "Moreover, based on my experience, these are not ordinary arrow wounds; they are arrows shot from a strong bow, certainly not from the bows of common mountain bandits. They are military-grade bows and arrows."
The young girl appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, petite and adorable, yet somewhat bold and straightforward. She draped one of her arms over his shoulder while supporting his waist with the other, her head just reaching his chest. The pair of hair buns on her head stood upright like two ram's horns. Lingyun couldn't help but reach out to tug at them a few times, causing the girl to let out a small yelp of pain, confirming to him that her hair was indeed real. This discovery inevitably left him feeling a bit disappointed, yet there was also a faint sense of excitement.
Miss, this person was injured not long ago, and it is likely that the one who harmed him is the government army, who may still be nearby. This person could be a trouble, and I suggest leaving this place immediately to avoid getting involved in this mess
While lost in thought, the door was knocked upon, and Gao Mingyue entered with two matrons and several maidservants. The matrons and maidservants were carrying numerous trays, each covered with a red cloth.
This is the great Sui, over 1,400 years ago, the Sui Dynasty that ended nearly 400 years of division since the Western Jin and the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and reestablished the great unity of the Huaxia. This empire, which was both a civilization of prosperity and yet perished in two generations, possessed a total of only 38 years of rule.
As soon as he stepped out, the door slammed shut with a bang, and it even locked itself!
You must agree, whether you want to or not. The way you have treated my sister has already tarnished her reputation, and you still want to back out? Moreover, my sister has already accepted your token of affection; do you really think you can go back on your word now?
We are about to become one family, so there is no need to be so polite. It is good that you have awakened, Mulan. Please invite Doctor Qian to come over and conduct another examination; we cannot afford any relapses. If you were to faint again during the wedding ceremony, it would certainly be a laughingstock. Gao Mingyue said triumphantly to Mulan beside her, her eyes seemingly speaking to Lingyun: "Aren't you determined to die rather than submit? You even wanted to jump into the river. Now, where will you run to?"
Only Lingyun remained, standing in a daze before the wedding items in the room, such as the bright red wedding garments, jade belts, crowns, and hats
The room fell silent again, and Lingyun lay back, somewhat lost in thought
Whoever agreed to marry into the Gao family should go ahead and do so, but I certainly did not agree! A man of honor being forced into marriage, there is no such thing anywhere. Although Gao Qianxue is very beautiful, no one is willing to be coerced into such a situation.
Twenty-two years ago, the Northern Zhou destroyed the Qi; eighteen years ago, Yang Jian usurped the Zhou and established the Sui; eleven years ago, the Sui annexed the Western Liang; nine years ago, the Sui defeated the Southern Chen
... ...
The young girl looked at Ling Yun with a hint of shyness, "Young Master Yi, why are you out? You have just sustained such a serious injury and are suffering from a cold. You have only just woken up; how can you be exposed to the wind? Quickly go back and lie down." As she spoke, her eyes lingered on Ling Yun's exposed chest for a moment. Then she went inside to set down the medicine bowl before turning around to help him back into the house.
Pushing open the door, a blinding white light shone in, and Ling Yun instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes. Once he adapted to the light outside and lowered his hand, he found himself in a mountain villa filled with ancient charm. Courtyards were arranged one after another, with blue bricks, green tiles, and wooden buildings, as well as rockeries, ponds, corridors, and pavilions. Yet, there was still not a trace of modernity—no power lines, no streetlights, no concrete—only an atmosphere steeped in antiquity.
I can't believe it, Ling Yun couldn't help but curse inwardly, it really seems never-ending. "Who agreed to marry your sister!"
Several burly men, who were poised to pounce, were momentarily taken aback. One of them stepped forward, examined closely, and then stood up saying: "There are injuries on the back"
However, Ling Yun always felt that the girl's words were not entirely true. Just the scene he witnessed by the river that day, with Gao Qianxue's family owning such a large estate and having those strong servants, how could it be so simple? Ordinary estate landlords cannot possess such fierce servants, and moreover, each one of them was armed and riding horses.
What is a token of love
"Yi Feng, you have finally awakened," Gao Mingyue said with a smile as she looked at Ling Yun. However, this smile made Ling Yun feel a sense of ill intent, as if a weasel were wishing a chicken a happy new year
He took a deep breath and stepped out of the room with one foot
What are we waiting for? Let's take him back to the manor for treatment immediately said Gao Qianxue
He closed his eyes, pinched himself, and felt a sharp pain. Then he immediately recalled his previous memories, realizing that this was not a dream
It is not a fatal injury, but having remained unbandaged for so long, and after being soaked in the river and exposed to the cold wind for such an extended period, it has worsened significantly. Immediate treatment is necessary; otherwise, there is a risk to life.
Mulan served him in the room until he finished his medicine, then she chatted with him for a while before leaving, intending to inform the young lady that he had awakened
What is your name
He is currently staying in Gaojia Village, not far from Jiangdu City in Yangzhou, Jiangnan, where the owner is the beautiful white-haired woman he saved that day. She has a lovely name, Gao Qianxue. Moreover, he learned from the little girl that Gao Qianxue has had snow-white skin since childhood, and even her hair was white from the moment she was born. The arrogant Gao Mingyue is not Gao Qianxue's biological sister; it is said that she is a distant cousin of Gao Qianxue. The Gao family was said to have originally lived in Hebei, north of the Yellow River, but later migrated to Jiangnan to escape the chaos of war. However, it is said that Gao Qianxue's parents perished in the flames of war when they moved south, and the sisters were brought to the south by relatives from their hometown, eventually purchasing a piece of land in Yangzhou to settle down.
A white cloth was draped diagonally over his shoulder, subtly emanating the scent of traditional Chinese medicine from the village. He reached out to touch it, and the bandaged area felt faintly painful.
"Incorrect!" Gao Mingyue immediately corrected, "It is not you marrying me, sister, but rather you joining our Gao family. The distinction here is quite significant."
Recalling the day when she forced him to marry into her family, threatening to kill him and dispose of his body if he refused, Ling Yun could not bring himself to smile, and with a wary nod, he said: "Thank you, Miss Gao, for saving me; I am deeply grateful."
Of course, it is the grand occasion of you and your sister, the bride. The village has already made all the preparations. Uncle Gao has specifically gone to Jiangdu City to consult someone about the auspicious date. Tomorrow is the chosen day, most suitable for marriage. Look, I have already brought the items you will need for the celebration tomorrow. You should get ready, and when the auspicious time arrives, you will marry your sister and enter the bridal chamber.
"Your jade pendant!" Gao Mingyue said with satisfaction. "Yifeng, don't take advantage and act coy. My sister is a celestial being, and for her to take a liking to you is a blessing you have earned over several lifetimes; do not be ungrateful. Make sure to rest well, and do not let tomorrow's auspicious occasion go to waste!" After saying this, she lifted the hem of her skirt, the sound of her jade ornaments jingling as she led the group of maids and servants who had set down the trays of celebratory items out of the room.
He lifted the quilt and sat up. There was no bed in the room, nor any tables or chairs. Instead, there was a small side table nearby, on which lay a neatly folded set of clothes, a white long robe. He could roughly tell that this seemed to be a shenyi from Han clothing. On the table was also a bronze mirror, and the reflection in the mirror made him sigh deeply; it was no longer the familiar self he had seen by the river.
No way! Gao Qianxue shook her head, stating that she could not do such a thing
Ling Yun had just taken two steps when, before a few burly men could catch up, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness and collapsed to the ground
"What is the wedding ceremony?"
"Take him with you and leave immediately, Gao Ding, you are responsible for cleaning up, and do not leave any traces." Gao Qianxue made the decision unequivocally
As soon as these words were spoken, both Gao Qianxue and Gao Mingyue's expressions changed slightly. They understood very well the implications behind the mention of military bows and arrows. After the establishment of the Sui Dynasty, the current emperor had issued an edict prohibiting individuals from privately possessing large swords, spears, powerful bows, strong crossbows, and armor, with severe penalties for violators, including the punishment of nine generations. Generally, the hunting bows used by mountain hunters are soft bows, and the arrows are also ordinary items. Even some bandits and strongmen find it extremely difficult to possess standard military bows and arrows. However, the arrow wound on Yifeng's body was precisely inflicted by military arrows, which indicates that his identity is somewhat extraordinary.
Ling Yun opened his eyes to find himself in a room adorned with ancient charm. To his surprise, he was not lying on a bed; instead, the room had wooden flooring covered with straw mats, resembling tatami. A dull ache throbbed in his head, and there was not a trace of modernity in the room. Looking down at himself, he noticed he was dressed in a set of white, form-fitting garments, featuring a cross-collared design, entirely reminiscent of ancient attire.
Gao Mingyue felt a struggle within her; reason told her that this Yi Feng was a troublemaker and would be a significant one at that. However, she also perceived her sister's attitude and was well aware that her sister had not simply fallen into the river today. After being rescued by Yi Feng, Qianxue's mindset had changed dramatically, which was clearly related to Yi Feng. Otherwise, she would not have been so insistent on forcing Yi Feng to marry Qianxue. Moreover, it was evident that Qianxue was not entirely opposed to this matter. Caught in a dilemma, she said, "Sister, bringing him back may ignite a fire that burns us, and we could be implicated, exposing our identities."
Mulan! After the young girl helped Lingyun lie back down on the mat, her face turned slightly red. It was unclear whether it was due to the effort of helping him, because she had stolen a glance at Lingyun's half-naked, muscular physique, or because Lingyun had tugged at her hair and was brazenly scrutinizing her. When she responded, her tone became more pronounced, and she even widened her eyes to glare back at him.
This is no longer the familiar world, just as he is no longer the person he once was.
With a long sigh, Ling Yun has finally gained some understanding of his situation, no longer in the dark and confused.
"Young Master Yi, you are awake!" A somewhat familiar voice sounded. At this moment, Ling Yun realized that the bold and straightforward little girl who had said he was hugging and kissing their young lady by the river last time was standing in front of him, holding a tray. On the tray was a bowl of steaming medicine, emitting a distinctive aroma of traditional Chinese medicine.
The silver-haired Gao Qianxue turned her head back anxiously and asked, "Is Young Master Yi going to be alright?"