At that moment, madness seemed to be the only thing left for this family, for despite Babiy's strength, he could not suppress the pain tearing through him.
And Zhan's words, sharp and cutting, like he's loosing himself, left everyone frozen in stunned silence.
In the end, a sedative was given to him.
He only woke up when they had already moved him to the village where Mah's parents lived.
Life in Yizhou village felt like living inside a fog for Zhan. He spoke to no one and mumbled constantly, vowing to take revenge on everyone connected to the Beiping Empire.
Babiy, along with the grandparents, worked tirelessly to help him recover. But how could a boy who had lost two sisters in just eight months return to who he was before? That pain carved itself deep into his soul and would stay there for the rest of his life.
***
Three months later, Zhan was stable again—at least on the surface.
But he no longer smiled, no longer laughed. His eyes carried only one thing: the burning resolve for revenge.
He made himself a promise: One day, with my own hands, I will kill King Yibo. Even if it costs me my life, I will rid this kingdom of that tyrant who rules like an untouchable pharaoh.
(Big words. But how could this vow possibly succeed? Zhan, a powerless boy, against King Yibo....the Supreme Sovereign of Beiping, a man whose face no one had ever seen, even in his own empire? Could he really…?)
"...NOOOOO!"
Zhan woke up screaming, trembling from the nightmare that had gripped him in his sleep. His heart pounded like a war drum, sweat drenching his entire body as if he had been standing under heavy rain. He clutched his head, which throbbed as though someone was striking it with hammers.
For five months since his sisters' deaths, his dreams had begun to change. Unlike before, there was now only one recurring nightmare....always the same, always terrifying.
Tonight's dream, however, was different: it was an exact copy of the one he had dreamt before Juan died... and again before Feng died.
"Juan Jie! Feng Jie!"
He called their names out loud, tears streaming uncontrollably down his cheeks. The realization sank in: every time he had that dream, someone died.
And now... it was about him.
Were they going to lose him next? How?
He remembered the ancient practice of the Beiping royals....kings could marry anyone they chose, any gender they desired, though they were still required to marry a woman for an heir. That privilege of absolute choice belonged only to the royals, and for over a century no king had chosen a same....gender partner… until whispers about King Yibo's strange marriages emerged.
A dark thought cut through his mind: If destiny follows the same path, will King Yibo claim me next? Will my life end the way my sisters' did?
He shook his head violently, crying harder now, pressing his hand to his mouth so his sobs wouldn't reach the ears of his grandparents.
Too late.
From behind the door, his grandfather's voice came softly, calling his name.
He quickly wiped his tears before getting up from his simple bed made of bamboo and a thin mattress. He walked to the door and opened it.
"Are you okay, son?" his grandfather asked, eyes fixed on him.
Zhan, head lowered, nodded while trying to suppress the sob threatening to escape.
"I'm fine, Grandpa," he replied softly.
Hearing no further words, the old man remained silent, studying his grandson closely.
Zhan finally lifted his head, and their eyes met. The tears he'd been holding back broke free and streamed down his face.
"Grandpa... are they going to kill me too? I can feel it... I feel like I'll be gone soon, just like we lost Juan Jie!" His body trembled as he collapsed to his knees, tears choking his words.
For nearly two minutes, his grandfather said nothing. Then he placed a hand gently on Zhan's shoulder, helping him back to his feet. A small smile creased the old man's face, his wrinkles deepening with the gesture.
He pulled out his sleeve and wiped the boy's tears.
"Zhan, calm down. Dreams aren't reality. What happened to Juan and Feng was fate, but at least they passed away in their homes. That's all we need to be grateful for."
Zhan nodded silently, drawing a long, shaky breath. His grandfather kept his hand on Zhan's head, gently stroking it for a while.
"Go rest now. We'll talk in the morning."
"Grandpa... can I go see Mah tomorrow, please?"
The old man shook his head firmly.
"No, Zhan. Your parents brought you here to protect you. How could I let you return to the Beiping kingdom? I've served the empire since I was a boy, weaving saddles for the palace just like my father before me. Even after he passed, I continued, and then your uncle took my place. We lost him in a war defending the empire. We've already lost Juan and Feng. You and your brother are all we have left. We can't risk your life too. Go to sleep, son."
He didn't allow Zhan another word. Turning, he stepped out and pulled the door closed behind him.
Zhan stood there in tears, unable to calm the dread pressing on his chest. After losing Juan and Feng only months apart, the thought of his own death... and the impact it would have on his family.... was unbearable. More hot tears burned his cheeks as his chest ached painfully.
"Zhan! Zhan!"
The voice of their grandmother, Wei Po, echoed from the courtyard as he stepped out from the small toilet corner.
He froze when he saw his older brother, Huan, sitting beside Wei Po under the shade of the old doro tree in the yard.
Zhan smiled faintly and walked over to them, slipping an arm around Huan's side.
"I missed you, Gege," he whispered.
Huan smiled back, gently ruffling Zhan's long, silky hair.
"We missed you too, little angel. The house feels empty without you."
Those words, spoken with sadness, made Zhan's eyes well up. He forced a brittle smile instead, holding back the tears.
"Get him some water already," Wei Po said playfully, trying to cut through the heavy mood. "Is this how you welcome guests in your village?"
Zhan pouted, feigning offense, making Wei Po laugh softly.
"This is your fault, Wei Po. I've never seen a woman neglect her man like you do. No wonder my brother should get himself a second Wei Po!"
Wei Po playfully swatted his arm. "Here, take your sh*t, Zhan. And for the record, I don't care what people say about him not being married. You're one to talk, Huan, avoiding marriage like it's poison!"
Huan frowned, glaring lightly at her, but Zhan chuckled before he could speak. He remembered how Wei Po always teased them about marriage, enjoying every second of it, especially when it annoyed Huan and even Juan before she married.
Zhan placed the tray of food and water next to Huan and sat down again. "How are Mah and Babiy?"
Huan exhaled, placing the cup back down after sipping.
"They're both fine and send their regards. Actually, we'll all be moving back here soon. I came to check on our old house to see what repairs it needs."
Zhan stared at him, startled. Wei Po also looked at him in surprise.
"Gege… don't you think life will be harder for us here? We're not used to this kind of living. What about your work there? What about my schooling? What's done is done... we can't bring them back, but running from the Beiping kingdom like this… it feels like we're giving up our lives into their hands."
Huan's expression hardened. "Fear is natural, Zhan. Most families with daughters are leaving the kingdom right now to protect them from forced marriages. Girls' education is collapsing because every family is terrified their daughters could be taken. Do you know? Fourteen women have already been taken this year alone! If this continues, the number will rise even more before the year ends... even if the king stops marriages for now."
Hot tears welled in Zhan's eyes again. He quickly wiped them away with his sleeve and gave a weak, bitter smile.
"In my opinion, running away isn't the solution. We need to raise our voices so the whole world knows what we are going through. Even if no one can challenge King Yibo's rule in the Beiping kingdom, there are countries out there with greater influence than him…"
"Hmph, Zhan, you're still just a boy."
"Exactly," Huan added. "That's why he sees only what's right in front of him."
Wei Po chuckled softly.
Zhan spoke again, voice tight with emotion, "Wei Po, I mean it."
They all looked at him, but he turned his face aside as if they weren't there at all. After that, no one said another word for a while. Finally, Wei Po changed the subject, and Huan finished what he was doing.
Together, they went to check on their ancestral home, the one where their grandparents had lived. Zhan and his siblings had grown up in the city of the Beiping kingdom, even if it was on the outskirts, so coming to Yizhou felt like stepping into another world.
The house was crumbling, made of clay bricks like most homes in the village. It had been abandoned since their grandparents passed, leaving it empty and falling apart.
They stayed there for a while before returning and finding their grandfather home from collecting medicinal herbs in the fields earlier that morning.
The three of them sat and talked for a long time. Zhan, however, remained quiet. In the end, he excused himself and went straight to his sleeping room, not emerging until his grandfather came to find him.
The older man placed a bundle of herbs before him, each one carefully tied and sorted. He handed Zhan a large gourd filled with them.
"You're going to start using these, Zhan. Don't take this lightly. Burn these for smoke at the start of every night. And these... put them in your bath water every morning and wash thoroughly."
"What are these even for, Grandpa?" Zhan asked, puzzled.
His grandfather studied him silently for almost three minutes before looking away with a strange, unreadable expression.
"Fate doesn't end with one tragedy, Zhan. If yesterday brought pain, tomorrow may bring joy—or more pain. The future is hidden. But you… you are different. You have something special. Your dreams show the future, but there are powers within you that haven't awakened yet. I don't know what they are, and neither do you, but time will reveal them. And you're not the only one...many in this region carry such gifts."
Zhan and Huan exchanged confused looks, then glanced back at their grandfather. He turned away, signaling he didn't want any questions.
Zhan sighed and stood up.
"Anyway, I've decided to go back with Gege. I feel much better now, and I don't want to fall behind in school."
Huan's eyes widened, about to speak, but their grandfather stopped him with a smile and a shake of his head.
"Life is already written before we are born. What is written cannot be erased, no matter the power or will. An arrow must always reach where it has been sent, whether we like it or not. The arrow of fate cannot be stopped by any shield."
Huan froze, unsettled.
"Grandpa, what are you trying to say? Please, speak clearly...."
"Huan, the time for explanations hasn't come yet. I've only seen shadows, and understanding will come later."
Huan stared at him intensely, and even Zhan paused, studying the old man's face. They both knew their grandfather had always been unusual...some even whispered he had abilities like a shaman. He had inherited the sight from his own father, who had been renowned for his mysterious knowledge.
Though he never fully embraced mystical practices, his reputation as a healer and craftsman of fine horse gear gave him a certain respect and mystery. He had locked away many of his father's tools, keeping their purpose a secret from everyone.
What none of them knew was this: their grandfather had seen something undeniable. Zhan's destiny was tied to King Yibo....whether it would end in death, survival, or something entirely different, only time would tell.
Zhanxianyibo❤️💚💛