The Colors of Fate's Threads - Chapter 2

Who would have thought it? The turn of events came without warning.

On his way to our house with the betrothal gifts, Xiao Rui was thrown from his horse and died. Mother and Father quietly went to the temple to burn incense in thanks. I breathed a long sigh of relief, too.

But only a few days later, Zheng Wu, the cruel-tempered son of the General Who Defends the Nation, used his military merits to obtain another decree of marriage.

There wasn’t a single thread of fate behind him. I felt a nagging unease.

Sure enough, a few days later, Zheng Wu went to deal with some roaming bandits on imperial orders and died inexplicably. His deputy said he’d let down his guard and been struck by an arrow. As it happened, the arrowhead was coated in a poison that killed on contact with blood. His death was swift.

Mother and Father’s mouths twitched. They weren’t quite able to smile this time.

For years afterward, no one dared come to propose. By eighteen, I was the only girl my age who remained unbetrothed.

Then Pei Qing, son of the director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, stepped forward to speak for me. People called him half an immortal, a man who understood the heavens above, the earth below, and human affairs in between.

“Miss Wei is blessed with exceptional fortune. She was born for great things. She cannot possibly be fated to kill her husbands,” he declared. “Unworthy as I am, I would like to ask for her hand.”

My imperial godfather paused. “Pei Qing, have you thought this through? If something does happen, you and your father mustn’t blame me.”

Pei Qing’s face was grave as he lowered his head. “I ask Your Majesty to grant my wish.”

Mother and Father received the decree with joy and worry in equal measure.

I looked at the teal thread behind Pei Qing. At its other end was his handsome manservant. Anger flared in me.

So that was your game, Pei Qing! You loved men and wanted to use me as a cover, wasting my whole life in the bargain? What a beast!

I didn’t resist. Defying an imperial decree would get me killed. Besides, I was curious to see whether Pei Qing could stand against fate.

He couldn’t.

Three days later, he and his manservant died together. The story was that they’d misused some medicines and been found in a rather indecorous state.

Mother and Father nearly fainted. Fortune-tellers around the city took to saying, “The eldest Miss Wei’s fate is so hard that if you put it on paper, you could cut down a tree with it! Drop it on the ground and it would leave a crater! Rub it on sandpaper and it would throw sparks!”

I had nothing to say to that. They really didn’t have to paint such a vivid picture!

I reached twenty without marrying. By then I knew every amorous secret in the capital’s great houses, and I had become the city’s most hopeless case.

My imperial godfather had a sudden inspiration: he would send me away in a marriage alliance.

“The King of Langya is older than I am,” he said, “but he’s distinguished and handsome. If he survives marrying you, Changning, you’ll have found a fine match. If he doesn’t, we’ll have rid the court of a dangerous enemy. Either way, we win!”

I was speechless. My imperial godfather certainly knew how to balance an account. He wasn’t the one who stood to lose.

The decree went to Langya all the same. The journey was long, and news didn’t return for two months. The king agreed to the match and sent a betrothal gift: the Jade Pillow of Boundless Fortune and Eternal Love.

My eyes lit up. What a treasure! I accepted it at once.

Three days later, more news arrived. The King of Langya had been assassinated a month earlier, on the very night he received the decree and accepted the match.

Mother’s hands shook as she packed my dowry. Then she fainted, with not a scrap of pretense about it.

While I was scrambling to revive her, another decree arrived.

“Wei Changning, eldest daughter of the Duke of Wei, has loyally served the realm by entering into a marriage alliance. Blessed with such fortune that she can subdue an enemy without a battle, she has rendered great service to the state. She is hereby granted the title Grand Princess Who Fells Kingdoms, with the stipend of a prince!”

I stared in disbelief. Mother had barely woken up. At the words “Fells Kingdoms,” she rolled her eyes and fainted again.

The young eunuch bearing the decree smiled ingratiatingly at me. “Your Highness! The court still has several hostile border lords in the northwest and southwest. His Majesty asks whether you might marry them all.”

“In ancient days, Lady Wang Zhaojun went north in a marriage alliance, and her pipa kept the frontier quiet for fifty years. Today, Your Highness can marry for the nation and slay enemy rulers without a battle. What immeasurable merit!”

I had no words. Imperial Godfather, had your good luck gone to your head? If I did all the conquering and expansion for you, what use would there be for an emperor? Should I boil you or stew you?

Holding the priceless Jade Pillow of Boundless Fortune and Eternal Love, I felt a hollow ache. Would I really have to give up such a fine treasure? Was this truly the fate I had been dealt? I couldn’t accept it. I simply couldn’t.

Old friend in Langya, what had you been doing all these years?

A few days later, things changed. Langya sent word that a new king, Chu Yu, had taken the throne. As for my marriage agreement… it still stood.

Only the groom had changed. Instead of Langya’s fifty-year-old former king, I was to marry its new king, aged five.

The jade pillow remained mine as a betrothal gift. And Langya’s new Prince Regent, Chu Heng, was coming to the capital in person to escort me. He would arrive soon.