Temptation of the Butterfly, page 17
Shing let go of her hand when she didn’t answer and she pulled away from him to take her seat. Fen avoided his eyes, not wanting to see his disappointment. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings.
Francesca was near, though not close enough to talk to. Jin was beside her, and Haun beside him, then Shen and Lian. Servants came to deliver the food, but she didn’t think she could eat anything. The light murmur of conversation sounded over the table. Shing said something, repeating himself three times, and still his words didn’t register.
Time inched along and Fen felt as if she’d been emotionally beat up by the time after-dinner tea was served. The shui guo cha blend was a little too spicy, but she forced herself to drink it.
“I can’t believe I wasn’t informed of this,” An’s voice came down from above. Fen resisted the urge to look up. “You would think it was enough that I sent the signs to Madame Eng about Deng Li, but now your mother presumes to try this again without first consulting me? I can’t believe it. The woman is too much.”
Fen stopped moving. Did her great-grandmother just admit to fixing the first marriage proposal?
“You shouldn’t be back here,” An continued. “I whispered in the astrologers’ ears that there was a cold presence in Honorable City. I knew your mother would listen to them, and not to me if I was to warn her. The palace grows colder with each passing day. Some of the ancestors refuse to leave the burial chamber for fear the strange force will exorcise them. I was happy to see you leave until we could figure out who brought the shadow into our home.” Fen stiffened as An’s face suddenly appeared upside down before hers. She could see through the woman’s eyes to look at her parents on the other side. “Are you listening to me?”
“Shi,” Fen whispered into her cup as she lifted it to her mouth. An was so close that the rim of the cup slipped through her transparent nose. Her great-grandmother’s expression wrinkled and pulled away, until Fen could only presume the ancestor once more floated above her head where she couldn’t see her. Fen lifted her cup again, saying very quietly. “An, check Ye Yuan. He was acting strange.”
“What?” An demanded, her voice carrying.
“Ye Yuan,” Fen stressed, trying not to be noticeable.
“What about my brother?” Shing asked.
“Maybe we should send someone to check on him. Make sure he is well,” Fen said, weakly. “I’m worried he didn’t look in the best of health.”
“Oh, you want me to check on Yuan,” An said. “Why didn’t you just say so?”
Fen sighed.
“I’m sure he’s fine,” Shing said, dismissing the words. “Let him pout.”
“Pout?” Fen asked, catching the word.
“I meant brood,” Shing said. That word was little better.
“Shing, there is something I should tell you,” Fen said.
“Ah, here come the astrologers, Princess,” Shing said, changing the subject and not letting her talk. The empress stood. Fen looked at Francesca. Her sister-by-marriage motioned that she should get up, her eyes steadily telling her to take a stand. Jin glanced at his wife, his brow wrinkled as he leaned in to whisper in Francesca’s ear.
Fen didn’t stand. Her mother came to her side, expectantly. She was aware of the eyes on her, of those who watched, ready for the match to be proclaimed.
“Fen,” the empress ordered in a whisper.
Fen shook her head slightly in denial, trying to find her voice. Did she have the strength to openly defy the woman’s will?
The empress made a strange noise. Fen looked at her mother, slowly standing.
* * *
“Blessed ancestors, don’t let her marry Shing. Don’t let her marry my brother.”
Yuan rocked back and forth, repeating the same words over and over in desperation. An watched him from above, frowning at the way he clutched his arms and mumbled the nearly incoherent words. Her eyes widened to see the candles set up on the low makeshift altar in the guest room. It was simple, easily covered by shoving it under the bed. That must have been why she didn’t see it before as she’d glided through the rooms to see Fen’s intended.
Fading, she sped toward the hall. The emperor needed to know the trouble that stirred within the palace walls. It was more serious than she’d first thought, for this was no natural force that Yuan’s altar was set up to receive, and it was no ancestor that would hear his call for help.
No, Yuan called to something much older and much darker—an ancient power that had lived on Lintian long before they’d arrived. Some of the first settlers had discovered the tomb in a cave, had learned to work the magic for themselves. The cave had been destroyed and all the followers were to have been killed.
If Yaun was trained at all in what he was doing, it might already be too late to stop the force that he called upon her great-granddaughter.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aaron closed his eyes, hating the empress for ordering him to watch Fen engage herself yet again to another nobleman. He was hidden in the corner, concealed by darkness but able to see. The dinner seemed to last forever. He noticed Fen didn’t eat.
He cursed himself for making her turn the land craft back, even though he knew that wasn’t the life he would ask of her. When the man, Shing, touched her, Aaron felt a deep heat rise up inside him. He wanted to fight, to scream, but what good would that do him? He’d only embarrass Fen and injure himself as the palace guards came tumbling down upon him to make him stop.
Blessed ancestors, he prayed, make her happy. No matter what happens to me, let her be blessed with a long and happy life.
When he again opened his eyes, it was to see Fen standing. She was beautiful in the dark silk, just as he knew she would be when they’d picked out the dress design together. The gown must have been finished by Lady Hsin’s workers the night before because he didn’t remember seeing the final garment.
Fen stood as the empress called forth the astrologers. The old women in green came forward, holding their mystical items ready.
“Madame Eng,” the empress said. The hall was quiet. Aaron stared at Fen. She didn’t move. “It is the wish of my daughter to—”
Fen put her hand on her mother’s arm. Aaron stood a little taller.
“It is my wish to marry,” Fen said, lifting her chin. Shing stepped forward behind her.
Aaron felt his heart stop beating. He couldn’t do it. He had to say something.
“Many blessings,” Madame Eng said. Her words were followed by the exact same phrase being repeated in unison by the other astrologers.
“It is my wish to marry—” Fen repeated.
“No,” Aaron yelled, stepping forward into the light. “Fen, no, you can’t!”
Just as he said the words in protest, Fen said, “Piers Aaron.”
Aaron stopped. Fen smiled at him. The empress gasped, and the suitors stood from their chairs. Only the emperor remained seated.
“Aaron,” Fen said, moving to come to him.
“Princess,” Shing said, reaching to stop her.
“Fen,” the empress scolded.
“Bi zui,” Fen growled. Aaron was proud of her. It was clear by the empress’ face that her children never told her to shut her mouth. “I said I wish to marry Piers Aaron.”
* * *
Fen’s heart filled to hear Aaron’s defiance. She knew what it took for him to speak up like he did, just as she knew he thought his silence was the best thing for her.
“Whoo-hoo, Fen,” Francesca yelled, clapping. She was the only one in the hall showing such enthusiasm. The empress groaned at the sound but didn’t bother to correct her daughter-by-marriage. They all knew Francesca did things on her own terms and wouldn’t be controlled. Fen was glad. She smiled at the woman, nodding her thanks.
Her brothers grinned at her, all but Haun, who slowly nodded his head in approval.
“Please tell us if it is to be a blessed and happy match,” Fen commanded the astrologers when they didn’t readily offer their blessing on her choice. “And mind you, I call forth my ancestors to verify the accuracy of the reading.”
“We would never read false,” Madame Eng said in affront.
“It would be a great honor, Princess,” Madame Cong inserted, pulling Madame Eng back.
“A true honor,” Madame Bing assured her, raising her hand as if to pat her calmingly through the air.
“Fen,” Shing said, his face red in upset.
“Shing, I’m sorry, but I don’t love you,” Fen said. “The empress should not have spoken on my behalf. I do not ask you to marry me.”
“But…” Shing shook his head, storming from the hall the way his brother had left.
Fen looked at the astrologers as she crossed the floor toward Aaron. “If you would, please, Madame Eng.”
Aaron met her halfway, crushing her to his chest. It felt right being in his arms, good to be held by him for all to see. She knew her mother was angry, and it hurt that the woman couldn’t be happy for her, but this is what she wanted. Aaron was who she needed. Without him, she wouldn’t be whole, and she had every confidence that the astrologers would discover the same when they read their future together.
“It’ll take time,” Madame Eng said.
“Then you’d better start,” Fen answered, not taking her eyes off him. “Otherwise, you’ll miss your chance to be in the history scrolls on this one. Because with or without your consent, I will marry him. I’ll take my chance with fate.”
“I love you, Fen,” he said. “I should have fought for you earlier. I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. I should have proclaimed my love for you right from the start, the wishes of others be damned,” she said.
“Be damned?” Aaron arched a brow.
“Oh, ah, Francesca.” Fen gave a small laugh, as she indicated where she’d gotten the phrase. “She was on a rant earlier.”
“It’s Yuan!”
Fen blinked, looking around the hall for An. The spirit rushed into the room.
“Everyone, out,” the emperor yelled, finally standing from his throne. Her suitors instantly obeyed, silently filing out of the hall. Her family remained. To the astrologers, he said, “Go see to my daughter’s choice.”
“But we must consult with Pier—” Madame Eng began.
“Then do what you can without him,” the emperor ordered. “And get his birth date and such from him later. Now go.”
The astrologers bowed, quickly shuffling from the hall.
“Should I—?” Aaron began.
“Grandmother,” the emperor said, “show yourself to all.”
“Grandmother?” Aaron whispered.
Fen nodded at An. She must’ve appeared to Aaron, because he stiffened.
“Aaron, this is my great-grandmother, Zhang An,” Fen introduced. An nodded her head in distracted acknowledgement as she rushed forward, her body fluttering wildly in her haste.
“Ye Yuan,” An said. “He practices The Ancient Way.”
“What?” the empress asked in shock.
“You are certain?” the emperor demanded.
“You cannot be listening to her,” the empress said. “She is merely trying to distract us from,” she paused to wave at Fen and Aaron, “this. She’s making it up. She always does this. She meddles—”
“I have had enough,” the emperor said. He crossed to his wife. “I understand your heart, but enough. Mei chose her fate. The battle between you and An is finished. I will have no more of it. This is not how family should be.”
The empress opened her mouth to protest, but his look stopped her.
“Finished,” he repeated. Then to An, he said, “Blessed ancestor, it is finished between you two. No more scheming. I have enough problems with the world without there being problems in my hall.”
“I never scheme,” An said, looking up and away.
“Finished,” the emperor asserted.
An nodded once, her lips tight. “Shi. Finished.”
“But what of…” The empress motioned to Fen and Aaron.
Fen patted Aaron’s arm and pulled away to face her father.
“I love him,” Fen said to the emperor. “And I believe if you only talk to him, you will come to love him as a son.”
“I agree with Fen’s choice,” Lian said. “I feel he’s best for her.”
“As do I,” Shen agreed.
“But he is disowned,” the empress said between clenched teeth. “A dishonorable man will not… He cannot… Fen…”
“Ask him,” Fen told her father. “Please, talk to him. Ask him why, before you judge him for it. Ask him who his family is.”
“But he’s not…” the empress tried again, not sounding as confident since her husband’s stern announcement.
“What? Noble?” Fen asked. “No, not technically. But by blood, he is the grandson to Lady Hsin. Her family line is as old as any on this planet. If blood is what you are worried about, then make her take back her disownment. Surely, if she was the one to disclaim him, she would be the one to take it back.”
“But…?” the empress’ lips trembled. “It doesn’t work that way.”
“There’s a first time for everything,” Fen declared. “Some laws are just plain stupid.”
“Stupid?” the empress repeated.
“Shi, stupid,” Francesca asserted as she lifted her chin. “You’re the Zhang emperor and empress. If you cannot make it so, then who? Besides, if you don’t, your daughter will marry a peasant and still be completely and utterly happy, whether you like it or not.”
“Jin,” the empress warned.
“What? You think my husband can still my tongue? Not in this, Empress,” Francesca argued. “Like it or not, we foreigners are diluting your family line.”
The empress gasped, her mouth working again but no sound coming out.
“Now, leave Fen alone so she can be happy with the man she obviously loves, or I will never let you see the grandbaby I’m carrying.” Francesca folded her arms over her chest.
Jin merely looked at her, smiling like a fool in love. Fen had never seen her brother so relaxed, especially when it came to tradition and honor. Francesca was definitely the best thing that had ever happened to him.
“She’s right,” Jin said. “All we want is for Fen to be happy.”
“I never said I didn’t want you to be happy.” The empress’ voice was a mere whisper as she stared at her daughter. “I’ve only been thinking of your future happiness.” Suddenly, she stopped, turning to Francesca. “You’re giving us a baby?”
Francesca nodded. The empress started to smile, shook her head in confusion, and then turned back to the matter at hand.
The emperor sighed. “This all will work itself out. We will see what the astrologers have to say. First, I would have my family safe. Grandmother, what of Ye Yaun? What did you see?”
“He’s at an altar in his guest chamber, begging that Fen doesn’t marry Shing,” An said. “He looks crazed.”
Fen reached behind her for Aaron and felt his hand instantly fold into hers. He came next to her back and she drew comfort from his presence.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt you,” Aaron said softly.
The emperor looked at him but said nothing. He turned to An. “Go keep an eye on him.”
“What are you going to do?” Fen asked.
“We’re going to confront him.” As the emperor walked toward the door, his steps were quick and angry. He shouted an order for the guards and instantly three were following behind him.
Fen stayed close to Aaron, her body trembling as she forced her legs to move.
Suddenly, her father stopped. Turning to Aaron, he said, “Keep her here.”
Aaron bowed his head. Fen glanced between the two men, then her father continued on, followed by the rest of her family.
“Come, Fen, sit,” Aaron urged, leading her to the Hall of Infinite Wisdom’s front steps.
“Here?”
“Why not?” he answered. They sat on the steps. Aaron pulled her close to his chest, holding her tight. “They’ll get him, don’t worry.”
“I love you,” Fen said, needing him to know. “I meant what I said. Either I’ll marry you or no one. I don’t love Shing. I can’t be happy with him. I won’t be happy with anyone but you.”
He hugged her tighter and didn’t answer. His silence didn’t bother her like it had before. She knew he loved her, was willing to risk angering an emperor to prove it, that’s all she needed to know. Some things really didn’t need to be said.
“I have to see what’s happening,” Fen said, pulling away.
“Your father told me to keep you here,” Aaron protested. “I don’t want to disappoint him.”
“This is my threat,” Fen said. “I need to know.”
Aaron hesitated. Fen pulled his hand, leading him toward Péng You Hall. “Tell him I ordered you. No one would expect you to deny a royal princess.”
“No, you don’t understand,” Yuan was yelling at the top of his lungs when they arrived. He was being dragged by two guards. The third guard held pieces of a broken altar in his hands. “I only want what’s best for the princess. I can protect her. I love her. She should marry me, not Shing. He’s not right for her. Please—”
Fen shivered. Yuan’s eyes met hers and he stopped fighting. He was crying. Blood trickled down a deep gash in his arm.
“Please, I’d never hurt you,” Yuan said to her. “I swear on my blood, I’d never hurt you.”
“Fen.” Aaron tried to pull her away.
Fen didn’t move as she watched the guards haul Yuan off to the prison hold. She felt sorry for the man, even as she feared the wildness in him.
The emperor eyed her warily as he came to them. To Aaron, he said, “She ordered you, didn’t she?”
