Miaomiao, You Have My Heart - Chapter 1

“Wasn’t the Tan girl betrothed to the Rong family’s Third Young Master? How did she end up marrying Lord Rong?”

“I hear Miss Tan is plain as anything, spoiled and overbearing. I wouldn’t want to marry her either.”

The other man laughed loudly. “Exactly. Who’d want to bring a shrew into his home?”

His laughter cut off. Frantic pleas for mercy took its place.

“Madam, it’s time to leave the bridal sedan.”

The curtain lifted, and a hand with long, well-defined fingers reached inside.

My heart fluttering, I placed my hand in his palm.

Rong Huai’an’s broad hand closed firmly around mine, as though he feared I might run from the wedding.

The wedding attendant called out, “The bride steps over the fire basin!”

The flames leaped so high I felt their heat from several paces away. Fear made me hesitate.

Rong Huai’an said softly, “Forgive me, my lady.”

The next instant, my feet left the ground. He had swept me into his arms and carried me calmly over the flames.

The attendant tried to stop him. “Third Young Master, th-this isn’t proper.”

Someone behind us held her back. “My master makes the rules.”

Rong Huai’an paid her no attention and carried me into the main hall. Old Master Rong and Madam Rong, seated at the front, showed no displeasure either.

We bowed to Heaven and Earth, to our elders, then to each other. The ceremony was complete.

The attendant led me to the bridal chamber. When the door closed, the noise outside fell away.

“Leave us,” Rong Huai’an said in his clear voice beside me.

Long fingers caught a corner of my red veil and slowly raised it. I looked up and met his beautiful, almond-shaped eyes.

He was handsome to begin with. In his bright red wedding robes, he looked more striking than ever. A thin film of sweat formed on my palms.

“Th-Third Uncle,” I whispered, too nervous to help myself.

Rong Huai’an paused. “We’re married now. You should call me husband.”

I cursed myself under my breath. “Husband,” I murmured, scarcely louder than a mosquito.

He bent down and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. “I still have guests to entertain outside. You needn’t wait up for me.”

I nodded. As soon as he was gone, I called for Xiaocui.

“Quick, help me get this phoenix crown off. It’s about to break my neck.”

Xiaocui hurried over in tiny steps and lifted the crown from my head. The sudden lightness made me feel alive again.

“Is there anything to eat? I’m starving.”

“The young master had a food box brought in. Please have some, miss.”

After I had eaten, the maids had hot water ready. I sank into the bathing tub, and the warmth enveloped me. Once again, I felt as if I had come back to life.

Even with my eyes closed, everything seemed like a dream.

I had actually married Rong Huai’an. The man I loved.

Last night, when I heard Rong Che had run away from our wedding, I clapped a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.

Three years earlier, at a flower-viewing banquet, I had seen a young man standing on a bridge in the distance. He was tall and slender, so breathtakingly handsome he could have outshone even the legendary beauty Pan An.

A servant called him Third Young Master.

Before long, the Rong family sent a matchmaker to propose a marriage between me and their Third Young Master. I agreed without a second thought.

On the day of the betrothal, I was dumbfounded. Only then did I learn that my fiancé was Rong Che. The man I had seen on the bridge was Rong Huai’an.

He was the Rong family’s Third Master: a scholar who had placed first in the imperial examinations at sixteen, entered the Grand Secretariat at twenty, and by twenty-three had risen to Chief Grand Secretary. He was Rong Che’s third uncle.

I hid away and cried for three days and nights, convinced the man I loved and I were never meant to be.

Thank goodness Rong Che ran away.

Old Master Rong came to our house with every one of his descendants, even his eight-year-old grandson. I gathered my courage and pointed to Rong Huai’an, standing behind him.

“Qiumiao,” the old master said, troubled, “won’t you look at the others? Huai’an is seven years older than you.”

“No,” I said firmly. “He’s the one I want.”