Ch 1: Haunted Palanquin

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.

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