"I'm sorry."
She said gently taking his face in her hands and sending a surge of spiritual energy to his forehead, knocking him out cold.

Catching him before he fell, she looked solemly looked at his already tear stained cheeks.

Taking out her hairpin, she carefully placed it in his hands, before gently setting him down.

"Please forgive me." She choked on her sobs, as she clenched her sword and ran out of the room.

Running as fast as she could, being careful to avoid any disciples, she slipped past the wards and flew on her sword directly to meet her fate.

Hearing the sound of numerous footsteps on the crisp autumn leaves, she dismounted her sword and hid behind a tree to observe.

Indeed there were vast amounts of Wen soldiers, all prepared to burn down the Pier.

Her eyes narrowed with hate, and tears of pure rage freely flowed down her face like she was a Greek God whom had lost a war.

Out from behind a few of them Wen Xu emerged, looking as sadistic and despicable as ever.

"Hurry up, all of you. Lotus Pier will fall under Father's orders." He coldly commanded.

"There's no need to go any further." TaiFeng hissed, appearing from her hiding place.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here." He laughed. "Has the esteemed Sect Leader Qian come to face us head on?"

Swallowing a lump in her through she spoke with as little emotion as she could.

"I will go back to Nightless City in your custody."

Wen Xu and the other soldiers had looks of shock, confusion and satisfaction.

"In return you will stand down and spare Lotus Pier."

"Oh? And what makes you think I'll do that?" Wen Xu smirked.

"By all logic, it's the most sensible  choice. The YueYang Qian Sect is on par, if not of higher status than the Yunmeng Jiang Sect."She said, walking closer.

"By taking me to your Father, you would have the advantage. And besides, everyone already knows your coming. By the time you arrive Lotus Pier will be empty."

"And what if I don't want to take you to my father?" He said, once again putting his hand on her chin and tilting it up to meet his eyes.
"What if I want you all for myself?"

"So be it." She whispered, closing her eyes, not resisting him, but this time pushing her dignity aside and complying.

"...You make a good point." He wryly chuckled. "As expected from one of the greatest cultivators of our time."

Snaking his hands around her, he squeezed her waist and smirked when no complaints were made.

"Get in the carriage." He darkly ordered, his hand now tightly clasping her side. "And hand over your sword."

She slowly lifted up her sword, her eyes glossing over it before it was snatched out of her grasp and she was shoved into the carriage.

TaiFeng wanted to cry out in anguish, but she bit her tongue and went in the carriage.

"Fall back to Nightless City," He ordered a nearby soldier. "send a dire owl to inform Father of Sect Leader Qian's surrender."

The entire ride to Qishan, TaiFeng silently wept. She wept for her siblings, for her friends, for her disciples. But most of all she wept for Xichen. Just when she thought she was done crying, she would think about him and cry some more. She cried tears of pain, tears of anguish, tears of unrequited love. But not once did she cry tears of regret. Because, if faced with the same choice, she would do it again in a heartbeat.

But if she said she wasn't afraid, she'd be lying. In fact she was terrified. She was about to enter a tiger's den filled with venomous snakes. She would be under the same roof as Wen fricking Rouhan and his two spawn of Satan sons.

But she would persevere. She had to. She made her bed and now she would lay in it. Besides there isn't a single situation in the world that she couldn't overcome. She may of been about to enter the tigers den, but she was a dragon. They wouldn't scare her easily.

She was harshly startled up by a loud banging on the side of the carriage.

Mustering as much strength and pride as she could, she gracefully stepped out of the carriage.

On either side of her there was a maid dressed in simple red wen robes. They were extremly timid and cowered at every noise. 

'There most likely being forced to work here. Perhaps I can use them later.'

"Greetings First Consort Wen." They both said, bowing respectfully.

"What did you two just call me?" She said, trying not to lash out at them.

"First Young Master Wen has informed us both of you being instated as a consort." One of the maids spoke out.  "Please come with us to your new residence, ZiHao Hall."

TaiFeng followed the maids through a few empty courtyards  and hallways, trying her best to contain the urge to burn this entire place to the ground.

'That Wen Xu! How dare he make me a concubine! As soon as I know everyone's safe, I'm going to chop off his dick and shove it down his throat!'

"The both of you." She said coldly.

"What are your names?"

"I am named Ling Wan." The made on her left replied.

"And I am Shen Ming."

Getting a closer look at their faces they looked to be about thirteen or fourteen. Far too young to be in a place like this.

"Please, First Consort Wen." The maids gestured, opening the doors.

TaiFeng stepped inside what was a fairly large hall. Inside was a bed a desk and a table and a few other necessities. It was recently decorated and well kept.

"Let's get one thing straight." She said, turning around to face them both.

"If you are to be serving as my maids, from now on you are to adress me as Madam Qian. Or simply Madam, if you wish to avoid getting reprimanded. If either of you dare associate me with the surname Wen, I'll have the both of you dragged out into the courtyard to be publicly flogged."

She obviously didn't mean that and had absolutely no intention to harm either of them, but she would rather die than end up with the surname Wen. After all, there was only one surname that she really wanted.

"Yes, Madam." The both curtsied, fear in their eyes.

"Madam, First Young Master Wen has instructed us to help you change." Shen Ming said, gesturing to a set of extravagant Wen robes and a large silver headdress.

"Fine then." She sighed.

Her new maidservants help her out of her old robes and into her new ones.
She then sat down at a mirror. Shen Ming did her hair, while Ling Wan did her makeup.

"Where is Wen Chao?" She asked, while Ling Wan applied some pearl powder to her cheeks.

"Second Young Master is currently in Yiling opening a supervisory office." Shen Ming replied.

"Mn...And his plaything?"

Both of them gave a confused look.

"Wang LingJiao." TaiFeng clarified.

They both smiled and nodded in understanding.
"She is currently on the other side of Nightless City, in Wen Chao's quarters." Shen Ming said.

"Madam needn't worry about her." Ling Wan assured. "She is of poor background and doesn't even have  status. Unlike you who is First Consort, your of higher rank than her."

"From the moment I was born, I've been of higher rank than her." TaiFeng retorted." Becoming a... Consort..hasn't changed anything."

"You can leave that hairpin in."She said, referring to her hidden weapon.

"Yes, Madam."

"...Where is Wen Rouhan?" She absent mindedly asked.

"....Sect Leader Wen is in the throne room." Shen Ming replied.

"Mn. Do either of you know where that is?" She questioned.

".. I know the way, Madam." Ling Wan reluctantly said.

"I won't get either of you in trouble, just give me the directions and I'll find it on my own." She sighed.