He could do worse. Much, much worse.
He gave Jin-mei a smile because she looked as though she might need some reassurance. When she returned it, he felt a hitch in his chest. He’d had lovers and companions in the past, but never anyone who had belonged to him. Never anyone he was bound to care for and protect. Yang found that he was the one looking away, averting his eyes, willing his heartbeat to steady.
When he turned, he saw Tan watching him carefully. Magistrate Tan was a shrewd, calculating man—the most dangerous man he’d ever encountered, aside from General Wang. Aside from himself. Now was not the time to show weakness.
Jin-mei approached in small steps that were mismatched with the bold way she’d first approached him. Her spine was fixed and straight and she looked as if she’d forgotten how to breathe. He was no better when he stood rigidly to bow to her. They were like a pair of wooden marionettes on strings.
It was all the ritual and formality. Once they were alone, they would know how to be with one another, he assured himself. There had been no fear in her when he’d lured her beneath the bridge, after all.
The next time they would be alone would be in their wedding bed. As they performed the rest of the ceremony before the Tan family altar, Yang occupied himself by mentally pulling the pins from Jin-mei’s hair and kissing away the vermilion that painted her lips until she was once again that wild and fearless creature he’d met by the river.
It was their wedding night. He was allowed such erotic thoughts.
Jin-mei met his gaze with a question in her eyes, a question he looked forward to answering later. She still looked so anxious, but there were too many people about for him to reach out to her and reassure her with just a touch against her wrist or a hand on her back.
Ours may be an arranged marriage, he wanted to tell her. But it is the best arrangement I have ever made.
Whether or not that was true was left to be seen, but it was true enough in that moment. Magistrate Tan could have just as easily had him castrated as punishment for ruining Jin-mei’s reputation. Despite the failed assassination plot and the warrants out for him, fortune had smiled upon Yang once again. He had the luck of dragons.
* * *
With the tea ceremony complete, they had more formalities to look forward to. The long parade back to the villa, the wedding banquet, a lot of greetings and well-wishers.
Jin-mei struggled with her robe as she climbed on to the empty sedan chair, and Yang reached out to steady her.
‘Your fingers are like ice.’ He squeezed her hand in both of his before letting go to seat himself in the adjoining sedan. ‘You’re not afraid of me, are you?’
It was meant as a jest, but Jin-mei did appear pale as the procession started towards the gates. A line of attendants trailed behind them along with Jin-mei’s family transported in several litters. The setting was far from private, with both of them hefted over the shoulders of the carriers, but at least they could finally speak.
‘This isn’t what you wanted, is it?’ Jin-mei asked beneath her breath.
Attendants flanked either side of the sedan chairs carrying poles with lanterns attached. A hazy glow formed around the entourage, but it left half of Jin-mei’s face in shadow and impossible for him to read. She stared directly ahead, as if afraid of his answer. There was a proud tilt to her chin.
‘There is no one else I would rather be wedded to,’ he replied without hesitation.
Jin-mei whipped around to face him, causing the pearls in her ears to swing dramatically. ‘You’re trying to be clever with your words. You could very well mean that you have no desire to be married at all, to anyone.’
It was hard not to smile. ‘I think you and I will suit each other quite well, Jin-mei.’
Jin-mei. The sound of her name slid smoothly over his tongue, as if he’d been calling her that for years. It warmed him to be able to use it. Jin-mei.
‘It’s a compliment,’ he said, seeing her perplexed expression.
Running a hand nervously over her throat, she turned her attention back to the road. They were at the gates now where carriages and horses awaited to take the procession out to the magistrate’s villa.
There was only brief conversation on the short carriage ride to the villa.
‘Do you spend much time away from home?’ she asked.
‘Our trade routes take me all over the province.’
‘It must be quite dangerous to travel on the open road.’
‘Not if one is prepared,’ he assured her.
Jin-mei looked out into the night. ‘I think I would worry about you all the time.’
Once again, a heavy, sinking feeling weighed down his chest. Jin-mei had a claim to him when no one else had in a long time.
‘What...?’ Yang paused with the question lingering on his tongue. ‘What has your father told you about my family?’
‘He told me you’ve made your fortune on the transport of salt and grain.’
Perhaps now wasn’t a good time to reveal his secrets, but he was beginning to wonder if Jin-mei already suspected what sort of shady underworld activities he was also involved in. Magistrate Tan certainly knew enough to destroy him, but he seemed content to remain quiet. With this wedding, their futures were now intertwined.
The best arrangement Yang had ever made. He had the magistrate’s protection, his silence, his daughter... Surely it couldn’t be this easy?
‘When will we go back north to your home—I mean, to our home?’ Jin-mei blushed a little as she fidgeted in the sedan chair.
He found it irresistibly charming, which made the next part more difficult. ‘I’ve arranged with your father for you to remain here after the wedding.’
She frowned at him. ‘I won’t be coming to live with you?’
‘Of course you will, Wife.’ He used the endearment to assuage her doubts, but the word felt awkward on his lips. ‘There’s some business I must attend to. Afterwards, I’ll return and we’ll travel north together.’
She nodded, but didn’t look entirely satisfied. He had been accountable to no one but himself for a long time, which made it easy to engage in questionable activities without being exposed. That would all change now with Jin-mei at his side. She had a keen eye. She was clever. And from what little he knew of her, she didn’t seem to bite her tongue very often.
Maybe there would be no more reason to hide by the time he returned. Wang Shizhen would be lying cold in his grave and Yang could leave his days of plotting behind. Or the outcome could be the exact opposite with him being the one left dead. Yang had been fully prepared to accept failure—until now.
‘I won’t be away long,’ he promised, which was a lie. The slight curl in Jin-mei’s lip told him it wasn’t a good lie either.
They arrived at the guest villa which had been decorated with red banners. Once again, they were swept up in the festivities. They lit incense and bowed to an altar set up for his ancestors this time. Then they drank honeyed wine from two cups joined by a red ribbon before Jin-mei was ushered away by her female attendants. Meanwhile Yang was surrounded by wedding guests intent on pouring more wine down his throat.
* * *
The next hour was a blur. Though the guests