|Clever, spirited Miaojiang Saintess × aloof, older high-ranking official|
A saint's selfish desire | The powerful one bows his head | Coercive possession
The Miaojiang Saintess Yin Qiao had been held hostage in the Central Plains for eight years. Longing for home, she presented a generous gift to the new emperor, asking only to return home with the Miaojiang tribute delegation.
The bricks of Chongyuan Hall were cold. Yin Qiao had knelt until her knees ached, only to hear the Central Secretariat Director Xiao Chi advise, "I believe this should not be allowed."
Xiao Chi, the Central Secretariat Director, the Grand Tutor, Lord Xiao: with heavy brows that shadowed his eyes, he was proper to the point of coldness, solemn in appearance, and looked at people as if grading examination papers. Even the emperor yielded to him at court. He was, without question, the foremost of the ministers and a pillar of the nation.
If he said no, Yin Qiao would never return home.
·
That night, rain poured down in torrents.
Yin Qiao stumbled into the path of Xiao Chi's carriage, making a painfully obvious show of it.
Xiao Chi calmly held up his umbrella and looked at Yin Qiao, covered in mud at his feet. With a helpless sigh, he reached out a hand.
It was only a moment of pity, but Yin Qiao seized the opening and planted a worm curse in him.
"Lord Xiao, from this day on, I am your Saintess."
"You must obey the Saintess's words, or the worms will gnaw through your bones."
Amid the fierce wind and rain, silver bells rang softly, and Xiao Chi suffered agony that pierced him to the bone.
"Now, the Saintess orders you to kneel."
·
Xiao Chi prided himself on his integrity and devoted himself to serving the people. He believed that his concessions and obedience over the past six months had all been mere pretense to humor Yin Qiao. But a secret message from Miaojiang reported that the Submission Curse had long since vanished, and Yin Qiao could not control worms at all.
Xiao Chi burned the letter. As he watched the candle flame singe his fingertips, he suddenly smiled.
How could he possibly not have fallen under her spell?
He caught Yin Qiao as she tried to flee and stuffed her into the bridal sedan.
Yin Qiao wanted nothing but to return home. She thought that if she reminded Xiao Chi of all the days he'd once spent enduring her humiliation, he would let her go.
So, amid the city's sea of red and the clamor of drums and horns, she pressed the muddy sole of her shoe against Xiao Chi's chest as he knelt before her. "Kneel with your other leg, too."
Yin Qiao hadn't expected Xiao Chi to actually kneel.
By the time she realized something was wrong, it was too late.
He gripped her retreating ankle, then pressed down on the back of her neck, forcing her to meet his devout gaze.
"As you command, my Saintess."
Theme: Love is a miracle of life.
