Xiao Zhi's footsteps echoed down the long corridor toward the grand hall. Each step felt heavier than the last. Kabil had insisted that, to show goodwill, she must tell the Khan herself that she was willing to go through with the Bride Parade. Seeing how terrified and helpless Kabil was in front of his brother made sense to her… so she gathered her courage and went.
When she finally arrived at the hall, she bowed in front of the Khan. The Khan was visibly surprised to see Xiao Zhi there.
"Princess Lian Zhi," he said slowly. "State your purpose."
The sound of his voice echoed throughout the hall. Heavy and commanding. Xiao Zhi's heart pulsed faster. What is this aura?
"I… I'm here to let you know that I am willing to go through the Bride Parade," she said. Fear could almost be sensed in her voice.
Behind the mask, Ruhan's eyes widened."Willing…? Why?"
Why would she agree? Did Kabil force her? Did someone threaten her?
"If it eases tensions and brings peace… I'll do it," Xiao Zhi said, trying to sound calm.
He wanted to refuse her, to say she didn't need to do it. But the Dowager Khatun's eyes stopped him, sharp and full of warning. She subtly gestured toward the ministers, who all seemed far too pleased.
Very well played, he murmured under his breath.
Cornered, with no acceptable reason to decline, the Khan granted the parade.
"Very well. The parade will commence at dawn."
***
At dawn the next day, the streets had overflowed with people.
Xiao Zhi stared at the servant's clothes that they handed her. "These… are really for me?"
Kabil nodded quickly. "It's only symbolic. Tradition. It won't be as bad as it sounds. I'll be beside you the whole time."
She didn't know why, but his reassurance only made her more nervous.
She approached the carriage prepared for her and stopped.
It wasn't a carriage. Wooden bars. Padlocked. No curtains. No seat. It was a cage on wheels.
"This—this can't be right," Xiao Zhi whispered.
"It's traditional," Kabil insisted. "Just climb in. I promise, you'll be fine."
Xiao Zhi looked back toward the palace, her eyes searching for someone. But he was not there. Instead, the Khan stood tall and unmovable. Behind the Khan mask, Ruhan's heart sank at the sight of her.
The attendant raised his voice as she was locked inside the cage:
"People of Tughril! The Hua bride presents herself! From today forward, she serves the empire! She is no longer a princess. She is our servant!"
Xiao Zhi's breath caught. She didn't expect the words to be that harsh. That degrading. But she told herself it was symbolic, just as Kabil said.
The first few steps were fine; people just stared at her. Some whispered with disdain, but Xiao Zhi had expected this. She was the "enemy" after all. And this parade was meant to show her subjection. Then those whispers became louder and more hurtful. But they were just words, Xiao Zhi convinced herself. They couldn't hurt her.
Until something struck her head.
A rotten cabbage.
It hurt.
Before she blinked, another hit her shoulder. Then another. And soon rotten vegetables were raining on her from all sides. Mixed with them, small stones. A few sharp enough to cut her skin.
The crowd jeered.
"Traitor Hua girl!"
"Servant princess!"
"Show your submission!"
More vegetables flew. Rotten ones. Wet ones. More small, but sharp stones.
By the end of the parade, Xiao Zhi's entire body was smeared with rot. Scratches from stones stung across her skin. She was shaking. Crying.
Kabil was nowhere to be seen.
"Prince Kabil?" she tried to call, but he was gone. Vanished.
"Where—where did he—?"
The nearest guard answered coldly, "Prince Kabil was summoned by the Khan."
"Of course," she whispered bitterly. The Khan couldn't spare her any emotional support.
Rotten leaves slid down her shoulders. Stones bruised her arms. Someone threw mud at her face. Tears blurred her vision.
"So this… is the parade," she whispered. "This is what it means."
Xiao Zhi sobbed harder. Was this her fate? To be tortured and humiliated in this world? Just like in the novel. And unexpectedly, not by Prince Kabil, but by the Khan.
Was the Khan the real villain of this story? If so… she needed to be far more careful of him.
By the time the parade ended, Xiao Zhi could barely stand.
Bruised, dripping in rot, shivering from exhaustion, she stumbled through the palace.
No guards helped her. No maids approached her. People stepped aside as if she were diseased.
She walked weakly back to her chambers. The pain from the stones grew sharper with each step, and her body felt weaker and weaker.
Her knees gave out.
But before she hit the ground, strong arms caught her.
"Princess? Are you okay?"
She recognized the voice. Warm, desperate, familiar.
Ruhan.
She tried to speak, but darkness swallowed her.
***
When Xiao Zhi woke, she was in her bed. She was clean, dressed in fresh clothes, her head and arm wrapped in bandages.
Ruhan sat beside her, relief softening his eyes.
"You're awake," he whispered. "How are you feeling?"
Seeing him there broke her. Without thinking, she pushed herself up and threw her arms around him, and sobbed.
"Princess…" His hands hovered, trembling, then held her gently.
"Ruhan… I'm so glad you're here."
"Princess…" His voice cracked. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I couldn't stop them."
"How could you stop it?" she said through tears. "You're just a servant. I never expected you to save me." But I wished you were there beside me.
He swallowed hard, pain flickering in his eyes.
Ruhan gently propped her up and offered a bowl of warm porridge. The taste was familiar, comforting, like home.
"You made this?"
"Yes," he admitted. "I couldn't find anyone in the kitchen, so I made it myself. I… don't really know how to cook, so simple porridge is all I could manage."
Xiao Zhi smiled weakly. Right now, even simple porridge felt like a warm hug.
"It's delicious."
Ruhan stayed as she ate. Then he continued tending her wounds.
"Does it hurt?" he asked softly.
"Of course. But… my heart hurts more."
Those words made Ruhan's chest tighten painfully.
"The vegetables were rotten… and the things they said… they cut me." Xiao Zhi didn't know why she felt so hurt. She wasn't the real Princess Lian Zhi afterall, but the insults still pierced her.
"It's over now," Ruhan said gently.
"I know," she whispered.
But inside, she wondered, was it truly over? Or was this only the beginning?
Ruhan remained with her until night fell. Before leaving, he reminded her gently, "Tomorrow is a big day… It's your wedding."
He turned to go, but Xiao Zhi reached out and tugged his hand.
"Can you stay… until I fall asleep?"
Her teary eyes melted his heart.
He smiled softly. "Of course."
He stayed by her side until her eyelids closed.
The fragile princess before him made his heart ache. He wanted to protect her. To take her away from her doomed fate. But all he could do was lean down and press a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Sleep well, Princess," he whispered. "Dream of wonderful things."