Slowly, Zhan lifted his heavy eyes, their color altered since the night before. Just hours had passed since the binding of his marriage, and now he found himself watching someone enter the vast, luxurious chamber where he had been placed.... one filled with every imaginable comfort.
The woman who entered was graceful and composed, likely no older than forty-eight. She had a slightly rounded figure....not enough to be called heavy...and an average height that her soft curves seemed to conceal. One glance told Zhan that she, too, was part of the royal household maid in Tianjin, though he had never seen her before.
And yet, at this first meeting, something about her made an impression. She didn't give off the same energy as others who served him from the palace. She had a presence.... quiet but powerful.
"Greetings your highness," she said gently, carrying a bundle of garments in her arms. Her voice brought a rare peace to Zhan's heart, something he hadn't felt in a long time. For the first time since his arrival in Henan, he responded, his lips parting to acknowledge her. She approached calmly, set the clothes near him, and took a seat on a chair directly facing him.
"Zhan, is it?" she asked, her eyes steady. He lifted his head to look at her. A part of him didn't want to answer. Everyone here already knew his name....or so he thought. But something about her manner, her quiet dignity, made him nod in response. She, too, nodded back.
"Zhan... Every life has its course written long before we ever breathe our first breath," she began gently. "Everyone carries at least one or two burdens they wish they didn't have to bear. But they carry them anyway, because they were written into the story of their life. Some even come to live as though those burdens never existed at all. People like us…"
She touched her chest lightly.
"We were all created the same, but some were born into lines where service, not sovereignty, marked our lineage. Not because we were hated or rejected....but because we were trusted not to run. We were bound to serve not out of cruelty, but order. And no matter how well we are treated, a servant remains a servant....until the day they are freed. Even then, the memory of service never fully fades from the pages of our history."
"Nonsense," Zhan thought to himself, glancing up at her again. A woman like her....so composed, refined...born into servitude? Slavery was something he had only read about in ancient history, yet here was its remnant, alive and breathing in front of him.
Almost as if she read his thoughts, she smiled faintly.
"You're not grateful you weren't born into a servant's fate like mine?" she asked. "We aren't mistreated, not anymore. But it changes nothing. The title remains with us, unless we're released. And even then… the stain of it lingers."
She leaned a little closer to him and added, "My name is Wuxia, though nearly everyone in the Tianjin Palace calls me Bai Wuxia. I'm Prince Yibo's attendant. But I was born free. My parents and grandparents were all freed before me. In our tradition, every prince expected to become king has one personal attendant who serves almost as a second mother, guiding him through his youth and into his rule."
"I inherited this duty from my grandmother.... she served the grandfather of Prince Yibo. My mother, may she rest peacefully, served his father, King Mo Yi. And now, I serve Prince Yibo."
She paused, then said, "I've been ordered to accompany you to the United States. I'll remain with you until your term of residence is completed. Zhan... I know your life has been upended, and that choices were made without your knowledge. The decision was Queen Zaiye's.... made while I was away from her. Even if I'd been there, I don't know if I could've stopped her."
She lowered her head slightly, her tone quiet.
"But I promise you, with my guidance, things will be easier. I know it's not my place to say this… but I fear the day when everything is revealed."
She looked up at him again and gently added, "Please... bear this trial with strength. Believe that peace will come. And just one thing...I ask of you, please help me carry out my duty."
Something in Wuxia's words reached Zhan, as if her voice itself carried a balm. Her wisdom, her kindness, her calm....it all settled over him like a soft blanket. He began to see her differently....with admiration, even respect.
"I've been given full responsibility for your welfare and every instruction regarding you," she continued. "It's my job to ensure everything proceeds as planned, until the very end. Please, for both our sakes, follow my guidance."
She folded her hands in a quiet gesture of plea. Her request felt heavier than any order he'd received so far, and before he could think twice, Zhan responded without hesitation.
"I will do it, Mama."
"No," she said softly. "Call me by the name others use. Right now, your rank is above mine. Some may even call you the consort to the crown prince... even if only temporarily."
Zhan dipped his head in acknowledgment.
"I can't help it... I'll keep calling you 'Mama' unless it's truly wrong," Zhan said softly. Bai Wuxia only smiled, then reached for the garments she had brought in and handed them to him.
"I hope you'll relax around me. You might even come to see me as a sort of aunt," she said kindly. For the first time, an unexpected smile tugged at Zhan's lips....even if it barely reached the corners.
"Put these on. We'll be leaving for the US shortly," she instructed. "Since you insisted that no one attend to you...just like your partner did....then it's only fitting. He preferred doing things himself, didn't like being touched or fussed over. Before that, your father wants a word with you. When you're done, I'll be waiting in the sitting room to lead you out. If you need help getting ready, there's an assistant outside your door. Just say the word."
With that, she stood and exited the room.
Zhan watched her go, then turned to the clothes she had left. Strangely, something inside him softened a little toward this woman...just ten percent, perhaps....but he didn't even know why.
_________________________________
He knelt before his father like a servant before his master... except this was no ordinary servant. Xiao Yun was the man who sale him and bestowed upon him the title of an esteemed servant. Dressed in an elaborate traditional robe tailored in regal fashion, Xiao Yun filled the ornate chair he sat in, his posture bearing the confidence of a ruler.
Clearing his throat, he finally spoke.
"First of all, Zhan, I have nothing to say but this: my blessings will always be with you. You've shown me loyalty, and I pray it guides your path forward. May your mother rest in peace... I truly wish she had lived to see this day," he said, dabbing at his eyes, though not a single tear fell.
"What I expect from you, Zhan, is obedience. I will not forgive you if you defy any of the orders you are given. Follow every instruction, no matter who it comes from. I wish you well in all things. May this union be what fate intends it to be."
These words echoed in Zhan's mind as he sat aboard the plane later. It was possibly the last proper farewell he would ever recall from his father. But instead of fear or nervousness... a common response from anyone flying for the first time.... Zhan felt only the weight of his father's words repeating themselves in his thoughts.
Only three of them were on the flight together: Zhan, Bai Wuxia, and a young woman about his age whom Wuxia referred to as Lao.
🔹🔸▪️▫️
After hours of travel, they arrived in the US....New York City. The car meant to pick them up was already waiting, clearly scheduled to arrive before their flight landed.
It was a luxurious vehicle. Their luggage was loaded quickly, and they left the bustling airport terminal behind.
Though Zhan's heart was heavy, it didn't stop his eyes from wandering across the city streets and admiring the architecture around them. The car ride was mostly silent, except for some occasional casual banter between Bai Wuxia and the dark-skinned driver, who seemed to be Nigerian. It was clear from their ease that this wasn't their first encounter.
Eventually, they arrived at a neighborhood unlike any he'd seen before....its design and beauty beyond anything he had imagined. He didn't quite believe it until they entered the actual residence.
Zhan followed Bai Wuxia, who led confidently like a guide. Her familiarity with the house suggested she wasn't a guest here....she knew it well.
She first led him to a bedroom, and the moment Zhan stepped inside, he stopped in his tracks, overtaken by a mix of awe and uncertainty. The room was a harmony of red, black, and subtle hints of gold. Everything inside it...from the layout to the color palette....matched the preferences Prince Yibo had shared. Coincidentally, these were also Zhan's favorite colors.

The room wasn't cluttered, but it exuded quiet opulence. It was spacious, with a wall-to-wall wardrobe, a dressing mirror, and a large, luxuriously canopied bed draped in fine netting. There were bedside tables on both sides, each with its own lamp. In a corner stood a small bookshelf filled with English novels, next to a reading light taller and brighter than the others. A soft single-seater sofa stood just beside the bed, and beneath it lay a plush rug that complemented a small bedside table. The floor wasn't tiled, nor carpeted....it was covered in some elegant material Zhan didn't recognize. The thick red curtains, adorned with golden crowns, framed the room in an aura of refined power. Despite the elegance, the lighting was soft... not dark, but dim enough to hint at tranquility.
He exhaled deeply and sat at the edge of the bed, whispering to himself. Thoughts of home crept in. Not just his house, but his homeland. This was his first time ever leaving his country.
An hour passed before there was a knock at his door. It was Lao. She politely asked to come in, then offered to help arrange his wardrobe and tidy up the room... though it was barely dusty.
Zhan didn't object and let her do as she pleased. He sat quietly, watching her now and then. When she finished, she disappeared into the bathroom for a few minutes and returned, seemingly having cleaned it as well.
Twenty minutes later, Bai Wuxia entered the room with a gentle smile on her face. She looked at Zhan and said,
"It's time for a bath. After that, there'll be food... if you feel like eating."
He shook his head; he wasn't hungry. As for bathing, he was already growing used to it. The luxurious bath oils, soaps, and body creams he had been using were unlike anything he'd seen before. They brought out the natural glow of his skin, leaving it smooth, radiant, and refreshed.... like he was being polished by a machine. Without another word, he stood up and headed to the bathroom.
🔹🔸▪️▫️
Zhan spent an entire week in the house without ever seeing anyone who could be called the master of it. Even Bai Wuxia never once mentioned anything about marriage or the reason for bringing him there.
For that whole week, his life was a routine of solitude. He remained in his room from morning to night...bathing, sleeping, eating. He didn't do anything else. Not even watching TV.
Eventually, out of boredom, he began reading....first, novels and stories, then other books he had once memorized and studied. Whenever he grew tired, he would lie down again and let his mind drift into thoughts about life.
Ever since Bai Wuxia had gently suggested he could join them in the sitting room or come out for a chat, Zhan had politely declined. She never pushed him after that, never brought it up again. Occasionally, he would overhear her chatting with Lao....sometimes about royal affairs, sometimes about world matters. Other times, their voices drifted in from the kitchen as they prepared meals.
The house lacked nothing. Everything one might need or want was there....even down to the smallest needle, all neatly stored and ready for use. Any time Zhan showed interest in something, it mysteriously appeared for him, as though the house had been reading his thoughts.
And yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that his being there had no clear purpose. He asked himself often....Was I brought here to be hidden away? To be isolated from the world?
The shift in lifestyle...from a life of constant motion and responsibility to absolute stillness....began to take a toll. Within just eight days, the silence and inactivity left him feverish, his body aching. He had grown up fighting his way through life, walking long distances to school, doing chores for Ms. Bao, washing his younger siblings clothes....sometimes even his father's...and taking care of the household. Now, there was nothing. No one around him. No tasks. No noise.
On the tenth day, Zhan reached his limit.
He slipped on his slippers, determined to leave the room. But when he reached the door, something in him hesitated. He couldn't do it. He turned around and sat at the edge of the sofa, hands resting on its arms, gently rocking his foot back and forth, mind spinning as he tried to figure out just how he would leave.
Zhan could hear voices drifting from the sitting room. It was Bai Wuxia's voice at first, then silence followed. About ten minutes later, the knock on the door, asking permission to enter.... Then the door creaked open and she stepped into the room.
As always, she wore a gentle smile, the kind that made Zhan feel awkward. It didn't feel right that she always greeted him so warmly while he responded with a stiff expression. Out of guilt, he often forced himself to return her smile.
"Your Highness, so today you're finally coming out?" she said playfully. "Good. You should get used to being around people. At least take a walk around the house.... you haven't even seen all of it, let alone the city."
Zhan smiled at her tone. She spoke to him like an old friend, with no trace of formality. Bai Wuxia was relaxed and easygoing, especially with those close to her. Just from hearing her chats with Lao, he had figured that out.
She turned to leave, and he stood to follow her. They walked together into the sitting room, where Lao was seated on the carpet, her eyes glued to the TV. She seemed to be enjoying the show.
When she noticed Zhan entering, she jumped to her feet and greeted him with respect.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
Her sudden formality surprised him.
"Well done, Lao," he replied with a relaxed face, hoping it would ease her nerves. He saw no reason to create distance between them. In fact, he thought she might be more experienced in this house than he was.
Instead of taking a seat on the couch, he sat down right there on the carpet with them. Both women shot to their feet in shock.
"Your Highness, are you really going to sit on the floor?" Bai Wuxia asked in disbelief.
Zhan nodded. "I prefer it."
Seeing he was firm in his choice, she let him be. But neither she nor Lao sat back down right away. Eventually, Zhan glanced at them and gave a small smile, gesturing for them to join him. Only then did they cautiously sit again, their eyes low and bodies stiff with nervousness.
The room almost fell into silence until Bai Wuxia began a conversation. Lao joined her shortly, and soon they were chatting like always. They didn't include Zhan, and he didn't try to join in....he had nothing to add, no knowledge about the topics they discussed. He simply listened, half his attention on them and the other half on a film playing on one of the New York channels.
About an hour and a half passed before Bai Wuxia's phone rang. She answered quickly, her tone respectful.
"Yes, all is well… He came out today, we're together right now."
She paused for a moment, listening, then continued: "Yes, the prince arrived at the house about an hour ago. He apologizes for not coming earlier...he's resting upstairs at the moment."
That was when Zhan realized who she was speaking to. So that was the unfamiliar, soft scent he'd noticed when he entered the room. The prince had returned.
The realization hit him hard, like a punch to the chest. He stood abruptly and made for his room without a word. Bai Wuxia followed him with her eyes, puzzled by his sudden exit.
Zhan didn't return for the rest of the evening. He kept to himself, tension pulling at every thought. The prince could ask to see him at any moment. He could demand an explanation for the marriage.
Zhan's mind whirled....Who is he? Is he a decent man or someone dangerous? Young or old? Kind or cruel?
He doubted he was a good man. After all, what decent person would agree to such an arrangement?
Then Zhan grew angry....with himself. What use was all this speculation? The prince was who he was. Nothing Zhan thought would change what had already happened. His fate was sealed.
At exactly 7:00 p.m., the prince descended from upstairs.
He was dressed in light green, well-fitted clothes that highlighted his youthful build. His presence was unmistakable, even from a distance, thanks to the fresh, luxurious scent he carried with him.... announcing his arrival before he even entered the room.
He came down with quick steps, checking the time on his wristwatch. It seemed he was in a hurry to go somewhere. Bai Wuxia, seated in the sitting room, turned at the sound of his footsteps.
"Your Highness, heading out?" she asked casually, her tone respectful but familiar.
"Yeah," he said lazyly, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Just stepping out for a while. Might be late getting back, so don't worry if I'm not in early."
"You haven't eaten… and," she hesitated, bowing her head slightly in deference, "you haven't asked to see him. Her Majesty called earlier. I granted you all the protection and permission you need…"
He shifted his lips slightly as if about to smile. Bai Wuxia was like a mother to him.... only she could speak to him that way. No one else would dare.
"Don't worry about any of that. She gave me her plan....I've accepted it. I've done the hard part, haven't I?"
Bai Wuxia said nothing. Besides his mother, she was the only one who truly understood him.
As he neared the door, he paused briefly. "Have a salad ready for me before you sleep. I'll eat when I return."
And with that, he stepped out of the house.
Bai Wuxia let out a deep sigh. She had witnessed how this marriage came to be, and while she had her reservations, she couldn't deny the Prince's determination and his unwavering obedience to his mother. He hadn't once voiced any objection. Instead, he had accepted all of the Queen's plans exactly as she laid them out.
It was nearly midnight, and Zhan sat stiffly in the darkness of his room, unable to find the peace to sleep. Every sound in the house reached his ears. Bai Wuxia was the last person to go to bed after preparing a salad and arranging everything the Prince might need. She knew well he would never eat anything prepared by Lao. In fact, Lao didn't even dare to consider herself someone who could cook for him. She could swear he had never seen the Prince speak a word to her, even though she worked under the Queen's household.
Zhan only managed to fall asleep once the entire house had gone completely silent.
Despite his growing restlessness and the suffocating boredom of being confined to his room, Zhan remained there. Ever since the day he learned the Prince had returned to the house, something inside him refused to step outside again. He assumed the Prince might be around at any moment, unaware that the man was hardly ever home. The Prince usually left early in the morning and only returned late at night...sometimes only to head out again after finishing whatever brought him back.
💚🦁❤️🐰💛🐢
Zhan spent a full month like this. His skin had grown pale and delicate from staying indoors, glowing like that of a newborn, though the stress and constant worry had left him thin as ever.
One night, a month and three days later, Zhan stood by his window, eavesdropping on a casual conversation between Bai Wuxia and Lao. They were unknowingly revealing the Prince's usual return hours. A quiet breath escaped him as he sat back down, beginning to plan how he could start timing his outings to the sitting room without crossing paths with the Prince. A faint smile tugged at his lips....he felt like a prisoner who had just discovered a hidden path to freedom.
The next morning, Zhan was up early, prepared and quietly eager. The moment he heard the Prince leaving his room, his heart skipped with relief. The Prince stepped out as though he were traveling abroad, adjusting his clothing and checking his watch constantly. Zhan, sitting on the edge of his bed, watched the clock until it struck the right moment. Then he stood up, straightened his clothes, and gently opened his door.
The sitting room was empty, but he could hear faint voices and movement from the kitchen. Without hesitation, he changed direction and walked toward the kitchen, observing everything around him. Even without being told, anyone could tell the architecture and décor of the house had a distinctly Western design.
His soft knock drew immediate attention....both Bai Wuxia and Lao turned toward him in surprise, quickly bowing with polite greetings. They were clearly shocked to see him in the kitchen. Bai Wuxia beamed and pulled out a chair. "Please, have a seat. You rarely stay long in the sitting room, Your Highness."
Zhan smiled faintly and took the seat, greeting her respectfully. Bai Wuxia had developed a quiet affection for Zhan and often worried about the way he had isolated himself. She wished she could do more for him but didn't want to overstep her role. All she could do was hope things would work out. She had realized Zhan's actions came from genuine devotion....but to someone who seemed completely unaware, or perhaps indifferent.
"I'm sorry, the breakfast is delay," she said kindly. "I started with the Prince's meal first, since he was heading out. I was actually quite happy when he asked for food....he rarely does that."
Zhan remained quiet. It didn't feel right that Bai Wuxia was speaking to him about their Prince....he were the guest and who truly not belonged here.
Still, the warmth of the kitchen was comforting. He didn't say much, but he listened to their chatter and the rhythm of their morning preparations. When breakfast was ready, Bai Wuxia served him his own portion. For the first time in a long while, Zhan found himself genuinely wanting to eat among others. He had forgotten what it felt like to share a meal.
At first, Bai Wuxia and Lao were hesitant to sit, watching him with uncertainty. But as Zhan relaxed, they gradually joined him. He ate more than he had in weeks, surprising even himself. To them, it might not have seemed like much food, but to him it was plenty....his stomach had grown used to going without.
The pleasant experience made him linger. He didn't return to his room right away, instead spending most of the day with them in the sitting room. Though he didn't join their conversations at first, he eventually began smiling at their jokes and noting the deep camaraderie between Bai Wuxia and Lao. Perhaps it was this shared bond that made them so comfortable working together.
He only returned to his room when he was sure the Prince might be on his way back. With a polite farewell, he slipped away inside.
From that moment on, it became a routine for Zhan. The moment he was sure the Prince had left the house, he would come out and spend the day with Bai Wuxia and Lao. Throughout his time there, he neither heard the Prince's voice nor saw a glimpse of him....likely because Zhan went to great lengths to avoid any chance of a meeting.
Time passed in this quiet rhythm. Slowly, Zhan began to ease up around Bai Wuxia and Lao. At first, he would respond to their conversations with a word or two, but eventually, he started helping with kitchen tasks....blending spices, chopping vegetables, cleaning fish or meat....anything he could lend a hand with. Bai Wuxia was the main cook in the household, and he gradually became part of her routine.
As the days stretched on, familiarity grew between them. Zhan began to understand their personalities, just as they learned to understand his. He started to see Bai Wuxia as a mother figure; her tone, her care, her words....all carried a maternal warmth he hadn't felt in a long time. And Lao felt like a new little sister, filling the ache left by the siblings he'd left behind. Without realizing it, parts of his personality he thought he have....his reserve, his silence, his guarded nature...began to soften.
Back at home and in school, Zhan had always kept to himself unless he was with his siblings. But now, he could chat with Bai Wuxia and even Lao. They knew how to draw him into conversation without making him uncomfortable. He never once talked about his past or his family directly, but he often brought up his siblings....sharing stories and how deeply he missed them. Bai Wuxia took note of this and decided to do something about it.
She approached Queen Zaiye with a suggestion: Zhan should be given a phone, especially since he didn't own one and clearly longed to hear from his family. The Queen agreed and asked Yibo to purchase a phone. He handed it over to Bai Wuxia, who brought it to Zhan herself. She told him that she had picked it up while out shopping for the household, saying she had paid for it on his behalf so he could reach out to his siblings. She avoided telling him it came from Prince Yibo.....she knew Zhan well enough to know that he would have rejected it outright.
Zhan was overwhelmed. Holding the phone in his hands, the first person who came to mind was Anu....his beloved aunt. Tears welled in his eyes as he remembered her promise to buy him a phone once he finished high school. She had told him it would be her graduation gift. But fate had other plans. He hadn't finished school, and he hadn't seen her since. That dream had died along with so many others.
He stared at the phone, feeling as if it was too grand for him, as though it belonged to a world higher than his status. It felt almost wrong to hold something so fine. He quietly returned it to Bai Wuxia, explaining that he would prefer something simpler, something more suited to him. She smiled, her heart aching a little, silently thinking, If only he knew the kind of royal blood that runs through the Tianjin household, he wouldn't feel unworthy of something as small as this phone.
Still, she coaxed him gently, persuading him to keep it. Eventually, he agreed.
Despite this, the phone barely saw any use. Zhan didn't have anyone's number....no one to call, no way to reach his father, and no contact for his siblings. This left him disheartened. He set the phone aside, laid his head on the pillow, and turned onto his stomach, sinking into quiet disappointment.
That's how Bai Wuxia found him. She had come to check on him when he didn't show up as usual.
"I thought maybe you were on the phone with your family," she said gently.
Zhan sat up, her voice reaching the part of him that ached. "I don't have anyone's number, Mama."
Bai Wuxia paused, thinking for a moment. Then she suddenly asked, "What about Ms. Bao?"
He thought to herself....Even her number he doesn't have? Even if he did, he doubted he would ever call. Zhan was pulled from his thoughts when she spoke again:
"I have her number. Let me call and ask if she has your father's. If not, I'll have her get it for you.... how does that sound?"
Zhan nodded, warmth spreading through him. His affection for Bai Wuxia deepened.
"Thank you," he said as she turned to leave. She looked back with a smile.
"There's no need to thank me. This is your home, and I'll do anything I can to make you feel that."
Less than an hour later, Bai Wuxia returned with his father's number. Zhan couldn't sit still. As soon as the call was ringing, he stood in front of the mirror, holding the phone to his ear, heart pounding, desperate to hear a familiar voice.
Zhanxianyibo💚❤️💛