Xing Jiu

The night before the wedding was turbulent: the bride, unable to come to terms with her forced marriage, fled her parents' home under cover of darkness. Her parents, fearing shame and the end of their union, didn't raise a fuss—instead, they devised a desperate plan.

The young man was dressed in luxurious wedding attire, embroidered with pearls and gold thread. A thin veil was placed on him, concealing his face, and his hair was adorned with flowers, a custom reserved for a bride. He sat motionless, feeling the weight of the fabric on his shoulders, and the silence in the chambers became almost unbearable. Shame, confusion, and bitter resentment warred within him—but his parents' word was law, and he did not dare object.