Here I am, on my wedding night, alone. The room is sumptuous, fit for a queen – a part I could never play well. The bed has a coverlet of red silk with gold dragons embroidered on it to bring luck to the ones who sleep under them; in this case to birth male heirs. My husband, Liu Bei, is off on some urgent call of the kingdom, and I am glad I am not expected to… to perform that 'duty' tonight. One more night being Sun Shang Xiang before he claims me. Da Qiao, my close friend, gave this book to me before I departed to greet my new future. "Oh Shang Xiang… there is nothing to say. Women are expected to do their duty to their family, and the only thing I can hope for you is that you find peace in knowing that you are aiding the Wu kingdom immensely." I am ashamed to say the tears almost got the best of me, my vulnerability for all to see. Quickly I turned away and almost ran to the carriage, not glancing back. Now I'm sitting in an empty room, wishing for a man I knew from my old life, wishing that I wasn't married to a man I have no hope of loving.