The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

A flurry of activity arising from Hu Xian's unexpected arrival. There were scents of freshly prepared buckwheat noodles and dumplings emanating from the estate's kitchens the next day. The clanging of pots interspersed with hollers for ingredients as the chefs occupied themselves in their frantic undertakings. There were maids that rushed past the clamor and tempting smells, which poured from the doorways and windows of the kitchens. The women, carrying fresh linens and rolls of fabrics that were meant to decorate the courtyard where the banquet was to be held later that night. They hardly noticed the forlorn figure that gazed out at them from the Lotus Pavilion. 

Framed by one of the building's round windows, Jing Li sighed as she observed the commotion outside. The visit of Shui Long' mother, provoking quite a stir amongst the staff. There was barely a moment of free time for them to discuss the attempted escape of the water god's new bride in the days that were to follow the incident. Only the few maids of the Lotus Pavilion, Lu Qi, and herself, aware of the truth behind Jing Li's intentions in leaving the estate that night. She was mildly grateful to be spared the words of more hurtful gossip by the house arrest, which was to be imposed upon Jing Li after her return.

Distracting herself with the chaos that existed beyond the window of the Pavilion. Jing Li barely felt the sting of her wounds or heard the soft humming of the young woman beside her as she stared out over the portal's painted ledge absentmindedly. The vaguely familiar tune sung quietly as it helped Xiao Yu to pass the time whilst tending to the cuts and bruises on Jing Li's body. The small maid diligently applied ointment and bandages to the more grievous lacerations with a long cotton swab. The salve used to guard against infection and to help numb the pain of her injuries, prescribed by the same physician who had visited her before. The doctor was found to be the only person that could come and go freely from the Lotus Pavilion in the last three days. 

Even the lady's maids, prompted to justify their comings and goings now, should the guards posted outside not recognize them. Jing Li might not have minded this overt confinement so much, if she were to be provided with other hobbies or chores to divert herself from the thoughts of the unpleasant last encounter, she had shared with Shui Long. The memory of the god's eyes filled with the extent of his wrath, provoking a shiver from Jing Li even though she sat in the stream of warm light that flowed through the window. This subtle motion caused Xiao Yu to pause anxiously over a thick gash in Jing Li's calf. Apprehensive that she might have elicited some discomfort during the treatment of her Mistress's injuries, the maid's forehead creased as she looked up towards Jing Li.

Attempting to measure the level of pain displayed on her face, Xiao Yu contemplated Shui Long's bride for a moment. However, only able to detect a vague pinch between her brows, the lady's maid continued to apply the ointment as she said, "It's acceptable to say that you're not well, Mistress." Jing Li's thoughtful blue eyes, shifting towards the young woman with a suggestion of uncertainty in response. There was a question held within them, which prompted Xiao Yu to explain further.

"We don't have to go to the banquet if you don't want to." she said. Appreciating that the young woman felt confident enough to speak her mind freely in her company, Jing Li's somber expression diminished slightly. Although fully aware that she had no right to expect friendship or even compassion from her, Jing Li returned a doleful smile to the maid. 

Permitted to leave the Lotus Pavilion in order to attend the banquet held in honor of the goddess Hu Xian that night. Jing Li was acutely aware that it would be impossible for her to create a plausible excuse for her absence. Although daunted by the prospect of spending the evening in the presence of those who were likely to only feel contempt for her. Jing Li admitted that she could not risk inciting further reason for Shui Long and the other members of his household to despise her by boycotting the event altogether. 

Therefore, Jing Li was forced instead to prove that she had not yet been defeated by Lu Qi's tricks or the water god's hot temper, in spite of the urge to retreat into the solace of her own isolation. Knowing fear to be an emotion which had only held her back in life. Jing Li attempted to cast these perturbations aside as she summoned the courage to attend the gathering in the hope that something good might arise from her efforts. However, experience teaching her that determination and sincerity was not always enough to succeed, Jing Li again became discouraged. 

Rising from her seat by the window with a sigh, once Xiao Yu had finished reapplying the bandages to her ankle. Jing Li moved slowly across the room. Distributing little weight on her sprained ankle, Jing Li had employed the long hours of her days in confinement in order to refine the practice of walking without displaying much evidence of her pain. The exercise, less an art form and more a necessity if she was to move without exciting alarmed demands for her to remain still from her maids. There was only a thin fold between her eyebrows to suggest that Jing Li might be in any sort of discomfort as she progressed towards the part of the chambers, where her lady's maids were awaiting her with lengths of fabrics. 

Slipping out from her silk dressing gown and into the underlayers of the jade hanfu that the ladies had prepared. Jing Li observed the attractive pattern of a few white coy shimmering across the cloth on the garment's sleeves as it was pulled over the scratches on her arms. The image, appearing as though the fish were swimming tranquilly around her. Their calm presence seemed to bring Jing Li some peace of mind, whilst she was planted in front of the lacquered dressing table in the room. The tedious process of applying Jing Li make-up began. Then succeeded by her hair, there were to be several silver combs and pins depicting lotuses floating amidst the dark strands upon her head, before the women were finally satisfied with their work. 

The sun, nearly setting over the horizon by the time Jing Li and her maids had begun to depart from the Lotus Pavilion. The guards that were now stationed outside of the residence's charming rounded doorway were to give the group one last inspection as they passed. However, evidently informed of this permitted excursion outside the walls of the pavilion, the two men did not interfere with the women any further. Allowing them to embark on their journey to the place where the banquet was to be held without their escort. Their group was incredibly not the last to arrive in the colorful scene found in the courtyard. 

The space alight with music and colored lanterns, there were tables which filled the cobblestones. Their polished surfaces piled with more food than Jing Li had even seen before, there were fat money trees contained in huge porcelain pots interspersed between each of them. Long pieces of pink and red fabric, hanging from over the decorative archways discovered in the courtyard, Jing Li's mood now darkened as she recognized it to be the place where her chance encounter with Lu Qi had occurred some days earlier. Thinking that it was probably no coincidence that she was made to return here. Jing Li again began to dread the inauspicious prospect that the night presented as she looked out over the grass mats and cushions that had been prepared for the feast. 

Their layout, appearing to define three separate seating areas, which Jing Li imagined was meant to impose some peace between Shui Long's courtesans. Jing Li was able to identify Lu Qi's graceful figure already poised at one of the tables along with a few of her maids as she walked past. Heading to the far end of the courtyard, where a long table had been placed. Jing Li eyed the person sitting prominently at its center nervously. The outline of Shui Long's correct attitude, standing out from amidst the large screen that was placed behind him. He was accompanied by a woman at his right-hand side. The blond-haired goddess, appearing young enough to be his sister rather than his mother. Jing Li bowed before the two persons occupying the table, whilst musing silently of the frightful deception of the deities' appearances. 

Feeling the weight of their stares upon her as the water god and his mother gazed down their regal noses at her. Jing Li took in a few shallow breaths. Resisting the spasm of pain which rose from her ankle as Jing Li was made to stand during this greeting. There was a twitch noted in one of Shui Long's eyebrows, before he introduced her. "Mother, this is my new bride, Jing Li." he said, already beginning to sound frustrated by the evening, "The one you were so curious about." The woman beside him, pausing as she tilted her head curiously as though she were a little bird searching for a worm hidden beneath the soil. The goddess issued a command mildly, "Stand upright, my dear. So that I might get a better look at you." Complying with this demand, Jing Li rose slowly to meet the goddess's sparkling blue eyes. 

Hu Xian, assessing her quietly for a while longer. There was a slight upward curve to the goddess's lips as she turned to her son again, "Shui Long, you didn't mention that she was such a beauty!" Her speech, hinting at a sort of playful teasing as she chastised him. Shui Long picked up a silver cup from the table in front of him as he replied, "Mother, you'll make Jing Li feel uncomfortable if you are to make those sorts of comments in front of her." His tone reserved as he criticized his mother's impropriety. There was a gleam to be found within Shui Long's eyes, which told that he too beheld the beauty of his bride as he took a sip from the wine in his cup.

However, the water god's attention was to be withdrawn from Jing Li once more as another woman approached the table. Her tall slender form arched into a bow as she came to stand beside Shui long's human bride. The woman's thin face was framed by the brown locks of her hair that hid the subtle glance of her keen hazel eyes as she inspected Jing Li curiously. The rigidity of her straight back, making the consort's neck look more prominent, once she too was invited to correct her posture. The two women, who now stood beside each other, exchanged a polite incline of their heads as they were finally introduced.

"Jing Li, may I present the Consort of the Lily Pavilion, Lin Jin." Shui Long announced. The water god, seeming indifferent to the introduction that he had made hundreds of times before as he took another swig from the cup in his hand. 

There was an evaluative quality in Lin Jin's regard that Jing Li felt she had almost certainly fallen short of, until the consort was to submit a question. 

"Is it true that you cannot speak?" Lin Jin asked. Her tone neither judgmental nor empathetic, Jing Li smiled politely back at her. Obvious that this query was not meant to be cruel in any way, but rather in the earnest pursuit of knowledge. Jing Li kindly answered the question posed of her with an affirmative nod. However, evidently feeling that the courtesan's forthright and inquisitive nature should bother Jing Li. Shui Long cautioned the second consort to curb her curiosity with a gentle reminder, "Lin Jin, I hardly think that these sorts of questions are appropriate at this time." 

However, this cue to desist in her inquest, appearing to be lost on Lin Jin, she continued, "Were you born unable to speak?" Seeming intrigued by the odd phenomena of the speechless woman. Jing Li thought for a moment. Even going so far as to delve briefly into the memories of her past, Jing Li could find no recollection of ever having uttered a word in the many years of her existence. Confirming the consort's supposition with a nod of her head. This response seemed to astound the second consort further as she asked, "Can you at least read and write?" Ascertaining that knowledge seemed to be crucial in order to gain the esteem of the courtesan, Jing Li glanced down.

Ashamed to admit that education was not something afforded to her as a common girl who had grown up in a small fishing village. Jing Li could only profess to possess rudimentary reading and writing abilities. However, it was not until now that Jing Li had felt truly humbled by her ignorance. Becoming apparent after a while that Shui Long's bride was not capable of accomplishing the feats asked of her. Lin Jin reflected on this fact solemnly for a moment, before speaking again. 

"If you wish to learn. I could teach you." said the consort as though the answer seemed quite simple in her mind. The offer of the courtesan's tutelage, causing Jing Li's gaze to spring up from the ground. She bobbed her head eagerly in response to the proposal, only for the suggestion to immediately be shot down by Shui Long's mother. 

"Lin Jin, you shouldn't monopolize my son's new bride. When, there are other more pressing matters that she should be attending to." Hu Xian objected. Her eyes, narrowing slightly as they were set on the human bride that remained before her. The comment seemed to serve as a timely reminder of Jing Li's place here in the water god's estate. Feeling foolish for having believed that she could better herself, even if it had only been for an instant, Jing Li began to droop slightly from her dismay. Her gaze, lowering back onto the cobble stones beneath her feet, Jing Li was surprised to hear Lin Jin issue a rebuttal towards the goddess, "On the contrary, I would argue that your son should not be hoarding the time of my pupil."