Far to the south, fate took another shape. Lord Chen, a wealthy trader from the Southern Province, was respected by villagers and merchants alike. His estate stood as a symbol of fortune, its halls filled with laughter on the night of his wedding.
His night stretched longer than a regular day.
"Help! Is anyone there?"
I grumbled in the dark room, patting the empty air to find the door.
"Chen… here." A ragged voice followed my step.
I paused mid-step as hot sweat dripped from my head.
"Here's the key."
"Please help!" I ran into a tree.
Where am I? Why is it night?
"My soul will walk your halls." Its voice echoed through the darkness of his dream.
He jolted awake, heart pounding.
He turned to his side, checking his environment. He took a deep breath as his gaze stopped at his peacefully sleeping wife, and nothing seemed to exist.
He caressed her chin, smiling.
Sì Tiān is not only a blessing but also a cedar of beauty.
Months flew by faster as he visited the capital for business meetings.
Lord Chen's fame bombed as news spread that his wife was pregnant.
As her labour drew closer, he returned her to her parents at Sì Tiān in the west.
On the night her labor began, he journeyed from the east to the temple for prayers.
He kowtowed, closing his sour eyes.
"Lord, I'm a sinner…" he kept murmuring until he dozed off.
"Am I welcome in your family?"
I'm not a monk. How can I know what to reply?
"If you are my wife's child," Chen whispered, folding his arms, "then you are welcome."
The voice thundered. "Hurry. She will leave soon."
Who is leaving?
He woke drenched in sweat, staggering to his feet as he called for his assistant.
They rushed out, hopped on his horse, and rode back home through the streets.
As he reached the courtyard, he heard the cry of a newborn... and the cheers of his household.
He dismounted, running into the labour chamber.
"Lord Chen." A midwife walked past him, smiling.
The people in the room turned to him, smiling widely.
"It's a baby girl. You are a father." The chief midwife adjusted, unveiling the curtain to the bed.
There she was, his child. His daughter in his wife's arms.
I don't only have a queen but also a princess. His every step slowed as his gaze fell on his wife.
She smiled, turning to him. He stood adoring the creature before him.
I love you, wife.
"I'm a father..." tears slip from his eyes, overwhelmed.
A chilly breeze crept in, and the candles flickered. The chief midwife turned sharply at the door, clapping her palm.
"Lord Chen, please return." She pointed at the women in the room to prepare.
"Chen." Her voice came faintly.
Her weak eyes shut as her arm released the child. The chief midwife caught the baby, passing her to the woman behind as she started the purifying ritual.
Lán Xuě…. He watched his wife's neck fall freely.
"Lán Xuě…. Wife?" He pushed the woman, holding her up.
What is happening?
"Xuě." He shook her violently, trembling.
"Lán Xuě… Wake up." He held her cold, stiff hand, rubbing it vigorously.
"Lord Chen. The cleansing ritual needs to be done now!"
"No, Lán Xuě. Wife? Wake up!" He continued robbing her cold body.
"Chen?" A calm voice came from behind.
He turned sharply, and his watery eyes flowed.
"Mama…" His mother-in-law stood at the doorway, still in her temple duty garment.
The full moon night became mournful.
By morning, visitors filled the yard. Lord Chen's father-in-law's estate was filled with dignitaries both he knew and those he didn't. Lán Xuě had been an imperial dancer, admired by nobles across the province.
Chen sat alone in his chamber, staring at nothing. The yard was filled with a famous business family.
He received them speaking politely, as if grief had hollowed him out. Lord Chen remained with his In-law; grief was his daily companion. He almost forgot he had a child. What stirred him from his pain was a letter from his business partner. He was about to return to his town when he received a message about his younger sister. He watched his sleeping baby, lost in thought. He buried his wife, but his grief remained. He named his daughter Mò Lián. The girl grew beneath the stern gaze of her mother's family—rigid, spiritual, unyielding in their rules.
Lord Chen remained distant, consumed by business in his hometown, the Southern Province. He rarely visits. Mò Lián grew up calling her grandparents "Mama, Papa."
She watched other young parents braid their children's hair, but her parents were always taking her to the temple. She became accustomed to chanting, the endless burning of incense, and meditation.
Mò Lián loved playing with her fellow children, but their parents' gaze was too strong for her to uphold. She was an outdoor person. She played only when her aunt visited. Lord Chen lost his business contract as rumors spread. "His family has misfortune. Why then did he marry from the temple?"
"Hahaha. He was seeking more favour, but his misfortune has just expanded."
"I know he is famous and rich. Who knows what he does to get all those? Hmph."
As years passed, Mò Lián became accustomed to seeing her father annually. He visited only during festivals, a fleeting shadow of a father. She met Yù Xuān, a kind soul older than her, from the sacred inner temple island. The two had grown together.
Mò Lián lived cloistered within the monk quarters, while Yù Xuān belonged near the temple island, where only royal priests were allowed to serve. Their stations were divided, their worlds never meant to touch—yet friendship found them, binding them in ways that defied rank.
Whenever Mò Lián felt caged or restless, she would sneak away to see her. But these visits always came with consequences. Her grandparents never wanted what happened to their daughter to repeat. They chose to raise Mò Lián away from the normal world. Their daughter did, and she became famous; she even married a wealthy man, but what came after was terrible. But Mò Lián always found ways to escape.