Chapter 3: The Little Husband
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Xia Xi was taller than the average woman but short for a man. However, the boy before him was clearly prepubescent and stood half a head shorter than him. Despite the boy's imposing aura, Xia Xi found the situation unbelievable.
The King of the barbarians was a twelve-year-old boy?
While he was dazed, the boy narrowed his eyes, circling Xia Xi to inspect him from head to toe. Finally, he stopped and asked in accented Han: "Are you the Princess sent by the Xia to be my wife?"
Xia Xi regained his composure and nodded slightly. "Yes. My respects to the Great King."
The boy seemed satisfied. He reached out his hand. "I have come to receive you. From now on, you are my wife, the Queen of my people. You must forget your home and the Xia Kingdom. Serve me with all your heart, be good to me, and carry on my lineage."
Hearing such words from an immature boy might have been laughable, but the surroundings were silent; no one else showed even a hint of derision. It was clear that despite his age, this boy commanded absolute authority. Xia Xi looked at the small palm, hesitated for a second, and then placed his hand in the boy's. "Yes," he replied submissively.
Filled with trepidation, Xia Xi followed the King’s procession into Yudu. The city was prepared for his arrival; the streets were lively, and the cheers of the people were deafening. Cai Huan shrunk behind Xia Xi, clutching his hem. "Princess... they won't... eat us, will they?"
"No," Xia Xi whispered. But his own heart was restless. Though he was dressed as a woman and had delicate features, he was still half-male. If he were discovered, how would this end?
Inside the palace, the architecture was grand—constructed of massive stones without the intricate decorations of the Xia Kingdom, focusing instead on utility. In his new quarters, the rooms were filled with animal pelts. Though treated, they gave off a scent that made him uneasy. Before he could adjust, several sturdy maidservants entered, carrying clothes and jewelry. They spoke rapidly in a language he couldn't understand. The lead maid, possessing a short temper, began unbuttoning his clothes. Xia Xi tried to dodge, but it was futile. Soon, he was stripped down to his inner garments. He flushed with shame, but thankfully, they stopped there and dressed him in new attire.
Barbarian clothing was simpler than Xia styles, but the fabric was heavy and coarse, lacking the softness of silk. His long black hair was braided into dozens of thin plaits adorned with jewels. When he looked in the copper mirror, he looked exactly like a local.
Cai Huan had also been changed into local servant attire. She looked miserable, her eyes red with unshed tears. Xia Xi felt helpless. A moment later, the handsome Han-speaking man—the Barbarian Prime Minister, Sang Sangmu—entered.
"My Queen," he said warmly, "the auspicious hour has arrived. Please join the King to worship the Heavens."
The barbarian banners bore the head of a wolf; they worshipped the Wolf God as their supreme deity, lighting wolf-smoke on beacon towers during great festivals. Xia Xi knew nothing of their customs, so he followed the guidance of Sang Sangmu. Standing at the highest point, Xia Xi looked down at the dense crowds. The men all wore scimitars, their faces bright with excitement. When they laughed, showing white teeth, Xia Xi couldn't help but feel a dark thought.
It felt as though he were a sacrifice.
Once the rites were completed, Xia Xi was escorted back to the bedchamber, this time accompanied by the young King. The boy held his hand the entire way, chin tilted up like a little adult, occasionally glancing at Xia Xi with a look of genuine delight in his eyes.
Once inside the bedchamber, a crowd of guards and maids already stood waiting. The maids held various basins; the one at the very front held a piece of raw, bloody meat. The pungent, metallic stench caused a wave of nausea to roll through Xia Xi’s abdomen, and he quickly looked away. However, he was soon informed of the requirement: he and the young King must each cut a piece of raw meat from the basin and swallow it, followed by a bowl of fresh wolf blood.
Xia Xi turned pale with fright, but he dared not resist. He watched as the young King briskly sliced off a large piece of raw meat with a sharp knife, tossed it into his mouth, chewed several times without a hint of discomfort, and swallowed. The boy then handed the knife to Xia Xi.
Xia Xi’s hands trembled as he took the blade. Having never handled raw meat, he didn't know where to start. Finally, with great hesitation, he sliced a piece so small it was barely a sliver. He closed his eyes, shoved it into his mouth, and swallowed it whole without daring to chew.
Despite this, the heavy, gamy stench rose from his throat, making him feel as though he might vomit. His lackluster performance clearly dissatisfied the onlookers. Even the young King frowned, though he held his tongue. He then handed a bowl of steaming wolf blood to Xia Xi, saying, "Drink it all."
Xia Xi’s entire body shook. Sensing the "predatory" gazes of those around him, he knew this ritual was vital. To refuse might mean immediate execution. Suppressing his revulsion, he took the crimson bowl, tilted his head back, and forced it down.
The overpowering smell made Xia Xi feel as though he were drowning in a sea of blood. The warm liquid slid down his throat and into his stomach. When the bowl was finally empty, he felt as if his soul had left his body. He was surprised he hadn't fainted or retched immediately.
This decisive action won the favor of the observers. The young King broke into a satisfied smile, drained another bowl of blood himself, and then reached out to gently wipe the stray blood from the corner of Xia Xi’s mouth. "From this day forth," he said happily, "you are my wife."
Xia Xi managed a strained smile.
While the others held a grand banquet outside the bedchamber, Xia Xi clutched a spittoon and vomited until the world spun. Cai Huan, pale with fear, kept asking, "Princess, that wasn't... that wasn't human meat and blood we just saw, was it?"
Xia Xi shook his head, continuing to retch until he was bringing up bile, yet the gamy taste lingered in his mouth. By midnight, he had somewhat adjusted. Cai Huan, exhausted, had fallen asleep clutching a pillow. Xia Xi moved her to a small side bed and covered her with a quilt. When he turned around, he saw someone staring straight at him.
It was his husband, the King of the Barbarians.
Xia Xi’s blood ran cold for a moment. The boy began speaking rapidly in the barbarian tongue. His tone was excited, but Xia Xi couldn't understand a word. He looked on blankly, eventually noticing that the boy had likely been drinking; his face was flushed, and he was swaying. After a moment's hesitation, Xia Xi reached out to steady him. The boy fell silent, continuing to stare intently before pouting his lips in apparent satisfaction and leaning his entire weight against Xia Xi.
The boy was still young, and Xia Xi was able to support him. There was only one large bed in the chamber, which was clearly where they were to sleep. Xia Xi helped the boy sit on the edge of the bed. Seeing him still in his heavy ceremonial attire, Xia Xi decided to help him remove his crown. The boy didn't stop him, confirming the gesture was appropriate. Xia Xi carefully removed the crown, then the outer robes and trousers, and finally his shoes and socks.
Though Xia Xi had never been a servant, he had observed such things since childhood and was naturally meticulous. The boy's feet had a slight odor, but Xia Xi didn't show any distaste. He stood up, intending to fetch a basin of warm water. But as he rose, the boy gripped his hand with surprising strength and spoke in the barbarian tongue.
Xia Xi didn't understand, but guessed the boy was asking where he was going. "I am going to fetch water to help you wash," he said softly.
The boy released his hand but kept his eyes fixed on him, even craning his neck to watch as Xia Xi walked outside. Having used hot water earlier, Xia Xi knew where to find it. He fetched a wooden basin of water but couldn't find a fresh cloth. After a moment’s hesitation, he used his own cloth, soaking and wringing it out before returning to the boy to wash his face.
With the first wipe, the cloth came away dark with grime, and the skin on the boy's face appeared a shade lighter.
Barbarians were not known for cleanliness; it was common to go ten days without a bath. Xia Xi had heard rumors of this before, but seeing it confirmed was still a surprise.
After all, this boy is no ordinary person.
Xia Xi dared not show any reaction. He continued washing the boy's face until the water was too dirty to use. He fetched a second basin to wipe the boy's hands and arms, and finally washed his feet.
His diligent scrubbing seemed to please the young King. He used his big toe to playfully nudge Xia Xi’s long, slender fingers. In halting Han, he asked, "'Princess' is your title. What is your name? We are close now; I should call you by your name."
Xia Xi said gently, "My name is Xia Xi. You may call me Xi'er."
"Xi'er?" The boy turned the name over in his mouth, seemingly fond of it. He repeated it several times with different intonations. "Am I saying it right?"
Technically, a few times were incorrect, but Xia Xi nodded. "Yes."
The boy brightened. He nudged Xia Xi's fingers again and asked, "Why don't you ask for my name?"
In the Xia Kingdom, a concubine—even a Queen—was forbidden from uttering the Emperor's personal name. However, Xia Xi knew he could no longer follow the Xia rules. He asked obediently, "What is your name, Great King?"
The boy stared at him and uttered a long string of syllables in the barbarian tongue. Barbarian names were extremely long and followed no recognizable pattern when translated. Xia Xi tried hard to memorize it, but when the boy urged him to say it, he couldn't get it right. He looked at the boy timidly, fearing a temper tantrum.
The boy seemed unhappy and pouted. Suddenly, he said, "My master gave me a Han name, Chu Lan. You should call me that."
Xia Xi wasn't sure which specific characters made up the name, but he didn't dare ask. He simply nodded warmly. "Very well, Chu Lan."
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