An exuberant cheer broke out from the guests. The smile that lit my face was unfeigned, my fingers threaded through Wenzhi’s in a hollow pretense of a harmonious couple. Wenzhi led me toward the king, for once not surrounded by his guards, his consorts seated alongside him. Prince Wenshuang was absent, I was relieved to find—perhaps in a pique from our last confrontation.

The king’s gaze speared me. For a moment I feared he had seen through our ruse, but then he nodded to an attendant, who hurried to us holding out a tray with a gilded porcelain tea set emblazoned with the symbol 囍, representing the twin joys of newlyweds embarking on their life together. In our situation, it could not have been less apt.

Kneeling on the ground, I picked up the cup and offered it to the king with both hands as tradition dictated. He accepted it, bringing it to his lips though he did not drink. I waited for him to reach for the bridal gift as was customary—typically a piece of jewelry or something precious, except the only thing I wanted was what had been promised. Yet the scroll did not appear, nor did he speak, merely staring at me over the rim of his cup.

“Father.” I faltered over the word. “The ceremony is complete. May I have the scroll?”

The surrounding guests exchanged pointed looks of disapproval. They thought me ill bred. Mercenary. Unheard-of, for a bride to demand her gift, except what did I care for such courtesies when I had been coerced into this farce?

A deep chuckle rolled from the king’s throat. His eyes gleamed like he had gotten the better of me. “Why the rush, my dear daughter-in-law? There is still the banquet and then, the consummation. After that, I will perform the Divine Mirror Scroll on you whenever you wish.”

I lurched upright, a protest rising to my lips. Before I could speak, a sharp whistling sliced the air, hurtling past me to plunge into King Wenming. His body jerked violently, his eyes rounding in horror at the sight of the spear thrust clear through his chest, its pointed tip wet with blood.

Chapter 32

Shock ripped through me, jagged and sharp. My gaze flew to Wenzhi, his face twisted with horror. Calling for the guards, he leapt to his feet, grabbing a sword from a nearby soldier as he raced in the direction of where the spear had been flung.