Chapter 2

On the day I left home to marry, the Wangs sent a small sedan chair. The sight of it made my heart tremble, with fear and happiness both. I had never ridden in one. Whatever tomorrow brought, once I stepped through that door today, I would have a different life.

I climbed in nervously. As it swayed along, I clutched my little pink jacket. New clothes, like my new life.

After one turn and then another, someone told me to get out.

Clutching my bundle, I stood there gingerly, not knowing what to do.

“Greetings, miss. I’m Chuntao, the maid Madam has sent to attend you. These are your rooms.”

I glanced quickly around. Good heavens. There must have been three rooms.

I nodded, not knowing what to say.

Chuntao seemed a little taken aback too. Then she hurried forward, took my bundle, and supported my arm as we walked.

Unused to being helped, I tried to withdraw my hand. She smoothly linked her arm through mine and led me inside.

I felt rather awkward. The room was so warm that my lined jacket was stifling. Mother had made it at the last minute so Master Wang wouldn’t take one look at me and dislike me.

But it was plainly nowhere near as fine as Chuntao’s clothes.

And then there was my hair ornament. All I had was one tarnished silver pin. Mother had given it to me, saying it had been part of the dowry Grandmother gave her and that I was getting quite a bargain. The ornaments in Chuntao’s hair were beautiful. Beside her, I looked like a pheasant that had wandered into a flock of cranes. I scarcely dared settle fully into my chair.

The snow had already been swept from the courtyard. Inside, the only sound was the crackle of candle flames.

Chuntao brought me something to eat and drink. Madam had gone out, she said, and I was to wait for the master to return.

I didn’t dare eat much, for fear of being laughed at. As I waited, I fell asleep.

When I woke, it was dark.

The man sitting at the table nearly frightened me to death.

Chuntao quickly said, “Master, she’s awake.”

That steadied me a little.

After a moment, I got up and knelt. “This woman of the Han family greets you, Master.”

Holding his book, he gave me a surprised look and told me to rise.

The little maid was stifling a laugh. Perhaps I wasn’t supposed to kneel?

He said nothing more and called for dinner.

I didn’t dare eat much. I was afraid he’d think I ate too much.

When we had finished, he said it was time for bed.

That, I understood. Today was, in a way, my wedding night. He had taken a concubine. Going to bed meant consummating it.

During the first two years of her marriage, Wang Sanya had studied this matter very carefully to please her husband. She was too embarrassed to do it alone and dragged me into it.

I looked at him. In his thirties, tall, handsome, and refined. Then I thought about the three rooms all to myself, the servants he had given me, the chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Serving him was my duty, too.

At daybreak, I rose. Today I had to serve tea to the mistress.

He rolled over, half awake, and smiled at me.

I turned and smiled back.

Sunlight fell behind me as I carefully combed my thick hair. Suddenly, he asked,

“Han, what is your given name?”

I thought for a moment. “Han Ni.”

He got up, came over, and gently drew me into his arms. “Ni isn’t a proper name.” Looking at the hair I was pinning up, he said, “Let’s call you Wanniang. Would you like that?”

I didn’t much like it. Among ordinary folk, we sometimes called a stepmother a wanniang too. When we insulted someone, we’d say, “Why the sour stepmother’s face?” and so on.

Different characters, the same sound. I leaned against his firm chest. Heat seemed to reach me through his thin underclothes.

I saw his throat move. His hand moved slowly. Smiling, I nestled into his arms and said yes.

He was very pleased and gave me an affectionate squeeze.

I went to serve tea to Madam. She watched me with a cold smile for a long while before accepting it.

I didn’t understand. Hadn’t she asked whether I wanted to come? Hadn’t she sent someone to my family to arrange it? What was that sour stepmother’s face for now?

She drank my tea and gave me a pair of bracelets. Then she began to play languidly with her little dog.

While I was wondering whether to leave, someone else came in.

A woman. A very beautiful, very haughty woman. Chin raised, she held a white fur muff, with three or four maids trailing behind her.

The room felt much more crowded the moment she entered.

“Greetings, Madam. I rose late, but with a new arrival in the household, I thought I ought to bestow a little something. Which one is she?”

Madam gave her a sidelong glance. The displeasure in her eyes was almost overflowing.

Madam’s maid Caijuan brought a cup of tea. “Greetings, Lady Qiao. This is Lady Han.”

Ah. Another concubine.

Lady Qiao sat there holding her tea without drinking it and gave me a lofty glance.

“I’d expected someone dignified. Instead, she’s a little temptress!”

As she spoke, her maid presented a box. Inside were another two bracelets. “Nothing special. I got up late today and took them from my dressing case at random. You may have them.”

Madam’s face turned livid.

I looked at the bracelets. They were finer than hers.

“Thank you, Lady Qiao. But Madam has already given me bracelets, and I haven’t wrists enough for them all. Such lovely bracelets—you should keep them yourself.”

“Hmph. Don’t know what’s good for you!”

I murmured helplessly, with nothing to say.