Wang Zen, Shibi’s and Jun Nee’s mouths were hanging agape at the news.

“What did you say?” Zen said.

“I said I’ve arranged a marriage for you.” Ling said.

“Why?”

“You remember what I said about your name when I told you I was going to get married?”

Zen thought back…

Zen and Shibi was training. His mother came by.

“ZenZen!” Wang Ling said.

“Mommy! What’s up?” Zen said as he and Shibi stopped.

“I have something to tell you,” she said. “Something important.”

“What is it, Mommy?” Zen said.

“It is about, Tiang-Ji Jia.”

Zen rolled his eyes, “What about that old fart?”

Shibi giggled.

“Zen’er! Have more respect!” she scolded.

Zen sighed. “Yes, sorry, Mother.”

She nodded her thanks. “Now, about Tiang-Ji Jia…” she took a breath. “He is the kind of man I think I can spend the rest of my life with.”

“What do you mean?” Zen’s face twisted in confusion.

“I want to spend my life with him.” She said. “I’m going to get married, Kiddo!”

Zen heard the words but could not believe them. His father had died a few years ago. Jia had moved into town and had become fast friends with his mother, now he finds out they may have been more. It was like a stab to his heart. He was moving on from his father, from him.

He clenched his hands. Anger bubbled and rose from within him.

“K-Kiddo?”

Shibi tugged on his sleeve. Zen snapped out of his anger and looked down at Shibi. His anger was replaced by sorrow and sadness. What his father and brother went through was unfair and sad. The burden he carried was unjust but he had to carry it still. Why was his mother not allowed to move on because he could not?

Zen bowed to his mother. “If that is what mother wishes, then congratulations.”

“You-You mean it?” she said in surprise.

“Yes, Mom! You should be happy. You deserve it.”

Tears welled up from her eyes. She hugged her son and squeezed her against her bosom. “My boy has grown up! He is a man!”

“Aww, Mom. Stop!” Zen said, tears also in his eyes.

“Kiddo, there is something else that my marriage will change.” She said. “I will no longer be a Wang.”

“So you’ll change your last name? Tiang-ji Jia does not sound as nice as Wang Ling.”

“Yes, it doesn’t but it has to be done.” she smiled. “But I am more worried about your name, Zen’er. When I leave the name of Wang, you will be the only one. You will not have the advantage of sharing the last name of the City Lord. You’ll truly be a Commoner.”

“Yeah?”

“I want you to change your name. Now I can understand if you are unwilling to take the name of Tiang-Ji, so as a second option, you can take my maiden name, Jiao.”

Zen looked insulted by the suggestion. “I am definitely not a Tiang-Ji and I am not a Jiao.”

“But your family name…”

“I will keep it, Mom.”

“But you will no longer have any advantages…”

“I understand. I will not share the last name of the City Lord nor bare the last name of a noble family. But dad was the same, he worked hard and got his family name to be recognised as a noble. If he can do it, I can. I made a promise, that I would elevate the Wang family back to where they were.”

“Yeah,” Zen said. “I remember. I said I would bring the Wang family up again.”

“Yes, I have organised a marriage with a very influential girl.” She said. “Once you marry her, you will gain prestige and bring the Wang family up.”

Zen and Jun Nee exchanged looks. Zen turned to his mother.

“I don’t wanna,” he said.

“What do you mean?” she said. “You can’t ‘not wanna’. Do you want to raise our family name up?”

“I do but…”

“Then you will do this! This is how you bring prestige to the name of the Wang. You’ll have money and status.”

Zen opened his mouth and shut it.

“Now, your bride-to-be and her family will be coming here tomorrow. Be your best.” Ling looked at Jun Nee. “Jun Nee, choose some good clothes for Master Wang. He knows battle wear but his fashion sense is horrible.”

“Y-Yes, Madam City Lord.” Jun Nee bowed.

Zen, Jun Nee and Shibi walked out of the office.