She ran. As fast as her legs could carry her, she ran. Barefoot, after tossing Bilan's shoes into the bushes to run faster. The road was rough, and her feet dug into stones and other sharp objects, causing them to bleed. She had sensed that someone was watching her as she examined Bijun's dead body, so she sprinted.
And she still felt the presence behind her, chasing her down the sloping path. Her breath was heavy as she ran faster, her ribs tightening, desperate for air.
The hairpin made of jade stones holding her hair—her gift to Bilan—slipped off and fell, but she didn't wait to pick it up. She sighted a huge tree, large enough to hide her, so she went for it, hiding behind the trunk.
She stayed glued behind the tree, watching as the figure that chased her appeared in sight—and to no surprise, it was her mother's guard. An armor over a navy-blue robe.
She pressed into the tree as she watched him whip around, looking for any trace of her. After a beat, he turned back and started to leave.
She heaved a sigh of relief and turned around, waiting for his steps to recede before she came out of hiding. All of a sudden, strong arms gripped her shoulders, pulling her out of hiding, and before she could let a word out, she was knocked down into unconsciousness.
Cold, iced water came crashing down on her face, jerking her awake. She shot up from the bed, breath heaving, and instantly recognized the chamber—it was all too familiar. She was back in her wedding attire.
Her eyes landed on her mother, standing stiffly by the bedside with a bowl in hand, gaze steely and unyielding. Beside her stood her maidservants, Lingfei and Bilan. Bilan was on her knees, head bowed low, while Lingfei stared down at her with a worried expression.
"Get up," Madam Bi said coldly. "Lord Yu's men are leaving in a few moments."
Sanxi looked around, disoriented. She was back in her chamber—back in the Han mansion.
"W-what happened?" she asked, her voice shaky.
"I stopped you from facing the most gruesome death, that's what happened. Now get up and prepare to leave."
Madam Bi turned to go, but Sanxi quickly clutched the hem of her dress. "What about Sanfei?"
Lingfei answered, hesitantly, "About that… Sanfei might have possibly been kidnapped. We don't think she escaped."
"What?" Sanxi gasped.
"I'm investigating," Madam Bi said. "We found traces leading toward Tiandi Du Forest. We believe we'll find her within two days."
Sanxi swallowed hard. "So… what will happen now?"
"You will still pretend to be Sanfei until she is found," Madam Bi said firmly. "I'll inform the Yu household that it is a tradition in the Han family for the bride not to be seen by the groom until after seven days. You'll stay in the chamber until Sanfei returns."
She crouched down, picked up a hair ornament adorned with delicate pearls, and placed it gently into Sanxi's trembling hands.
"It's not my desire to put you in this position," she said, softer now, "but I have no choice. I'm not only protecting the Han household by doing this… I'm protecting our lineage."
Sanxi stared down at the ornament, her fingers curling tightly around it. A single tear slipped down her cheek and stained the delicate pearls.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by a rough voice from outside. "We are leaving now."
Sanxi slowly stood and walked over to the dressing table. Facing the mirror, she let another tear fall as she fixed the pearl ornament in her hair—her hands trembling all the while.