Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Before Song Yan returned, Imperial Brother repeatedly warned me to rein myself in for the time being. The Song Family had just earned military merit, and if I stirred up trouble now, he would be too embarrassed to openly take my side.
I thumped my chest and promised I would be virtuous, gentle, and absolutely not cause trouble.
On the day Song Yan returned in triumph, I dutifully led his concubines to the gate to welcome him. Then I saw that he had brought back a strange young woman with him.
The young woman was dressed in bizarre clothing. After stepping down from Song Yan’s carriage, she looked us over and gave us a look that said we were nothing special. Then she muttered to herself, “So ancient noble ladies still just have two eyes and one mouth…”
When she saw me, she paused, then added awkwardly, “Beautiful, yes, but without a soul.”
Song Dog looked at her with eyes full of tender amusement. “Naturally, they can’t compare to how vivid and lively you are.”
Her muttering was far too loud. Every single one of us heard it clearly.
One of the favored concubines behind me was furious. “How dare you! Why aren’t you greeting the Young Madam?”
With all of us staring at her, the young woman grew unhappy and started shouting about how “all people are born equal.” She dragged her feet, unwilling and reluctant.
Song Yan clearly admired her frankness. He thought her so different from everyone else and even spoke up for her. “Wushuang is not like you people. Don’t force her to follow all those tedious rules of yours.”
After such a long time apart, the first thing he said to me when we met again was to defend another woman.
I lowered my gaze and raised a hand to stop the increasingly restless concubines behind me. In a gentle voice, I said, “Forget it. Since this is our first meeting, let’s not fuss over such things.”
It was a joyous day celebrating his victorious return. I did not want to start a conflict over this.
Besides, I had just boasted so confidently to Imperial Brother. If a fight broke out, it would be inconvenient to go crying to the palace.
As we walked back, a cold draft blew through the corridor, and I gave a small sneeze. Remembering how thin and revealing that young woman’s clothes were, I was just about to take off my cloak and give it to her when Song Yan, in a rare show of thoughtfulness, wrapped his own cloak around her shoulders.
My movements paused for a moment, and I awkwardly lowered my hand.
This was troubling. How was I supposed to show my virtuous and gentle side now?
He kept walking ahead, with that young woman at his side, leaving even me, his lawful wife, behind. I quickened my steps to catch up with them and asked warmly, “May I ask about this young lady’s family situation?”
Song Yan ignored me, focused only on tucking in that young woman’s collar.
My expression turned awkward.
His guard quietly answered on his behalf, “Miss Su is an orphan.”
An orphan. Then she could not be given too high a status.
Like the virtuous and considerate woman I was, I took the initiative to suggest, “Why not take Miss Su in as an honored concubine? I will prepare her dowry for her.” As magnanimous and thoughtful a mistress of the household as I was, she ought to be satisfied, right?
My tone sank, carrying an unconscious sourness.
Why did this wretched man get to have so many beauties as concubines, while Imperial Brother kept me pinned down so tightly that I could not even get my hands on one male favorite? Truly heartbreaking.
Unexpectedly, Song Yan suddenly stopped. Perhaps he thought my low spirits came from jealousy, because his face filled with impatience. “Zhao Jinyu, her affairs are none of your concern.”
The young woman had heard my suggestion too. She showed no joy and no gratitude. Instead, she looked disdainful. “What decent girl would want to be someone’s concubine?”
With that one sentence, the faces of all the concubines behind me darkened.
Ignoring everyone else’s expressions, she clung to my own husband’s arm and acted spoiled. “Song Lang, I told you long ago. I, Su Wushuang, will never share a husband with another woman. I will only accept one man and one woman for one lifetime.”
What kind of nonsense was that?
One man and one woman for one lifetime?
If you had the means, who would be stupid enough to insist on one man and one woman for one lifetime? If I did not keep a hundred or eighty handsome men, I would be letting down the circumstances of my birth.
I looked at her in astonishment. Before I could say anything, Song Yan, afraid I would blame her, immediately began shielding her. “Zhao Jinyu, she is only an orphan with no one to rely on. She is innocent and naive, unlike you… Don’t make things hard for her. Give way to her a little.”
I froze where I stood.
After a long silence,
I kicked him into the filthy ditch.
Done pretending. I rolled my eyes hard, disdainful and arrogant. “You’re the one born equal to dogs. You two can go be a pair of dogs for one lifetime!”
Heaven have mercy, I really had tried to restrain myself.
I had been virtuous and gentle for less than fifteen minutes, and it had already been exhausting.
As that wretched man flailed in the water, I turned to look at the transmigrated woman beside me.
“Don’t just stand there. Didn’t you want one man and one woman for one lifetime? Jump in yourself and share hardship with that dog, then.”