A/n:  dear readers, I'm only using pictures of real people to show how my imaginary character looks. It's not fan fiction about them but my original story.

•• YU MENG••

"Lady Yu Meng, it's time to leave," one of my maids informed me , increasing my heartbeats. I looked at my reflection in the mirror for the last time before covering my face with the red veil and leaving the room with my two maids.

Holding my hands together, I arrived at my father's mansion and waited outside to get his blessings. However, instead of my father, butler Wu, my father's personal assistant approached me and greeted, "Congratulations Lady Yu. You will soon become the official concubine of Duke Zixin."

"Thank you, Butler Wu," I politely answered and hesitantly asked. "Is father not going to see me off?"

"Oh, master is sleeping," he lied because I just heard Father and mother's voices coming from inside.

Forcing a pitiful smile on my lips, I nodded, "It's alright. I'll wait for my father, I can't leave without taking his and mother's blessings."

"No...no," butler Wu panicked, and quickly arrived downstairs. "It's already late 10 pm. You shouldn't waste anymore time Lady Yu." He then leaned close and whispered, "Lady Yu, I cherish you like my daughter and seeing you getting married to Duke Zixin, who is older than your father, pains me. It's likely your father sold you to him for his promotion in the royal court!"

"I'm aware of it, butler Wu," I ducked my face, and bit my lower lip to suppress my tears. "But how could I let him marry my younger sister to Duke Zixin?"

"You are too kind-hearted Lady Yu. I always thought your life would change after your marriage. I never expected it to only get worse," he said in tears and I couldn't help but hug him.

"It's alright. I'm just happy that I saved my dear sister from getting married into such a household," I sobbed and distanced myself from him. I held his hand and advised, " I don't know if I will ever get to see her or you. So, please take care of my sister in my place."

"I will, lady Yu."

"Now, I'll leave," I said and looked at my father's mansion, hoping that he would open the door and come to see me off.

As expected he didn't and I stepped out of the house. Crowds of people were waiting outside, gossiping and giving me judgemental glances. Probably because I was the illegitimate daughter of my father, who became lucky to be married in Duke Zixin's household.

In everyone's eyes my life is going to be prosperous. Ignoring their comments, I entered inside the palanquin carriage and the bearers carried it on their shoulders. As the palanquin moved, I still managed to peek through the red curtains and waited for my father's gaze.

"Hm, it's understandable. Father never thought of me as his daughter but a mistake of his drunken night," I murmured under my breath, and pulling the curtains of the palanquin, I sat quietly, waiting for my misfortune to begin.

Few hours later my maids lifted the curtains of my palanquin and informed me that we were out of the city and headed to Duke Zixin's duchy, Tianxia city.

I sighed, resting my face between my folded arms and closed my eyes. It is already midnight and we still have a long distance to cover before entering Tianxia city.

' I'm genuinely irritated by the auspicious timing of my marriage. Why did that fortune teller suggest that I must get married between 1:00 am and 3:00 am otherwise my groom will die before marriage vows?' I frowned, biting my lower lip in thoughts.

Suddenly my palanquin stopped, worried I called my maids, "What's going on? Why have we stopped in the middle of nowhere?" and to my surprise received no response.

...•• YU MENG •• ...

I pushed the curtains aside and looked outside. Apart from the lights of my palanquin's lanterns, the surroundings were pitch black and I couldn't even figure out anyone's shadows. All I could see were tall trees standing on either side of the road.

Panicking, I got out of my palanquin carriage and gasped in shock. The bearers who were previously carrying my palanquin have disappeared and my two maids who followed me were also nowhere to be seen.

My heart raced repeatedly in my chest as I called out their names in terror. I turned around, confused and scared of what was about to happen to me.

That very moment I heard the sound of rapid footsteps, followed by the crunching sounds of dry leaves grinding under the approaching footsteps.

The footsteps slowed down and I asked, getting concerned, "Is anyone there?" I murmured, staring blankly at the darkness in front of me, waiting anxiously for a reply. The only response I got was the creaking of trees and the distant hooting of owls.

Suddenly, the lanterns on the palanquin flickered and died, plunging me into complete darkness.

"Oh heavens!" I quickly ran into my palanquin, and hiding myself behind the curtains, I prayed to Buddha.

The palanquin lurches, lifting off the ground. Feeling relieved I peeked out and called, "Are you guys back? Where did you go?" As expected I received no answer because there was no one outside.

My palanquin was floating through the air, carried by unseen forces.

'Who the hell is carrying my palanquin? Ghosts? No, I don't want to die yet...,' I clasped my palms over my mouth to prevent myself from screaming.

I sat quietly, wondering what happened to my maids and palanquin bearers. Did the ghosts kill them and sucked out their life forces out of their bodies? No, that can't be.

What should I do? Was marrying the old Duke not enough that now I have to die by the hands of ghosts? I cursed my fate in irritation. I wasn't sad but scared, it's very unlucky to get hunted by ghosts on wedding night.

Even if somehow I get rescued by old Duke's men, I'll be sent back since I become a bad omen. I doubt my father will take me back to his household.

Tears welled in my eyes as I tried to question God, Why do you have to make my life so difficult? I was fine becoming 6th concubine of old Duke Zixin. Why now this...?

After a few minutes, the palanquin sits down in front of a grand pavilion. Trembling, I pushed the curtains and mumbled, "W-Where am I?"

a/n: I don't know if it's allowed to share pictures in novels chapter, but with pictures in story it creates great visualisation and helps with imagination. I hope this story will bring smiles on your faces. I love eastern fantasy romance very much ~~

...•• YU MENG ••...

Before my eyes unfolded the exquisite pavilion with lanterns hanging on the way inside. Feeling haunted, I stepped out of my palanquin and lifted my veil, I walked inside through the huge unfamiliar iron gates. It surprised me that there were no guards, only the marble statue of dragons sitting on either side of the gate.

Upon arriving inside, my eyes noticed the beautiful water foundation in the middle of the pavilion while the beautiful gazebos circled the fountain.

"Looks like this pavilion belongs to some elite businessman or high ranking official," I murmured under my breath in amazement and quietly tip-toed inside the mansion through the hallway gate.

My mind is blown away by the beauty of the interior of the mansion. Priceless artifacts, jade carvings, paintings and sculptures decorated the interior while the red ribbons and lanterns added burning sensation to the decoration.

I explored the mansion by myself when suddenly I heard footsteps following me. I stopped, and hid behind the pillar and pulled out my hairpin. Taking my stance, I waited for the footsteps to approach me.

SLASH

I pierced my sharp hairpin into the stomach of a man. Quickly removing my hand from the hairpin, I stepped back and raised my face to see the man I hurt.

"Oh no!" I gasped in shock because the man appeared familiar but still unfamiliar, I don't know how to explain. His hair was white and long to his waist while his eyes were heterochromia, right one being gray and other being crimson red.

He stood tall at 6 feet and was only wearing a robe which hung loosely over his broad shoulders while exposing his entire chest and abs. At the ending of his slim waist, a golden band was tied around and I could see his baggy trousers underneath his robe.

Strikingly, even in a dimly lit mansion, his skin glowed like a pearl and his features intoxicated me for a second before I realized he's the owner and I pushed my hairpin in his stomach.

Falling on my knees, I quickly apologized, "Please, forgive me. I thought you were an assassin. Are you severely injured?"

The man just looked at me with serious eyes and then looked down at his abdomen. And a wicked grin pulled his corner of lips as he snatched out my hairpin from his skin and to my surprise the blood vanished with wound healing almost instantly.

And his hair turned black as he asked, "How did you walk in here? Isn't this mansion a mirage to everyone?"

"A mirage?" I repeated, lowering my head even more because I was scared of facing him. His aura was too strong and dark for me, I couldn't stand it.

He didn't reply and rather stepped to where I was kneeling and squatted down before me. He lifted my chin with his sharp index finger's nail and repeated, "Yes, a mirage. This is my palace in my world."

"Your world? What are you talking about?"