Chapter 3

On my brother’s death anniversary, almost every prominent noble house in the capital sent someone to pay their respects.

Mother and I received the women. They all knew how to behave; none would deliberately cause unpleasantness.

Xue Yifu arrived late. We heard her before we saw her.

“I’m late, aren’t I? What a sin, delaying my offering to such a great hero.”

A rich perfume preceded her. She strolled in wearing a flowered brocade gown woven with gold.

Like a splendid hen—beautiful, and unmistakably stupid.

I hid the hatred in my eyes and knelt respectfully to greet her.

She did not give us leave to rise.

She seemed to savor the pleasure of others groveling before her.

She passed me at her leisure and sat in the seat of honor.

Only after fussing repeatedly with her teacup did she tell the roomful of women, “You may all rise.”

The noble houses stood together. None of them liked this behavior from Xue Yifu.

When the women rose, not one went forward to speak to her.

Only Mother forced a smile and made polite conversation.

“Madam, you needn’t grieve so much. Your son is dead, but you still have a daughter. Miss Lingzhang is so gifted, perhaps even your son couldn’t compare.”

“Then again, with Miss Lingzhang so clever, who knows whether she took some of Kong Congyi’s allotted years?”

The noble houses took fate and longevity especially seriously.

She was openly suggesting to Mother that I had stolen my brother’s lifespan.

My brother had died because of the prince’s romantic adventures. To protect the prince, His Majesty had announced that he had fallen fighting bandits.

Anger showed on Mother’s face, but she could hardly erupt before all the other women.

I lit the incense and offered it to Xue Yifu.

“You came to make an offering, Crown Princess. Please do so soon.”

The dismissal was so obvious that her expression changed at once.

“What? I came out of kindness and I’m unwelcome? Have you spent so long in the countryside that you no longer know who outranks whom?”

I raised my head and met her eyes. “When you first came to the capital, I heard you proclaim that everyone was equal, and that you were a woman of a new age. But now…”

“Now what?”

I shook my head with an air of regret. “Now you’ve become just like everyone else.”

“You!”

“What a sharp tongue, Kong Lingzhang. Do you still think you’re the future crown princess, daring to challenge me here?”

“Can anyone tell me how insolence toward a superior is punished?”

One of the maids behind her stepped forward and answered clearly.

“Crown Princess, you are royalty, and they are subjects. A verbal offense merits twenty slaps in public. A second offense, twenty strokes of the rod.”

I sneered inwardly. Only three years, and she was already an expert at using authority to crush others.

“Good. Qingying, go and give her a couple of slaps on my behalf.”

“Let me see who dares!”

Everyone turned toward the voice. Princess Xianrong had arrived.

Dressed in plain mourning clothes, a white flower in her hair, she glared through swollen, reddened eyes.

“Xue Yifu, if you want to throw a tantrum, go back to the Eastern Palace. Don’t act like a lunatic here.”

She spared Xue Yifu nothing. The crown princess paled, but refused to yield.

“You haven’t even married into the Kong family, Third Sister. Why are you so eager to wear mourning for them? You’re Ah Bai’s sister, yet you keep siding with outsiders.”

Xianrong had a fierce temper. She moved to strike Xue Yifu.

Fortunately, I caught her in time.

“Please calm yourself, Princess. Today is my brother’s death anniversary. Don’t let a small matter spoil the affection between us.”

“Affection? When have I ever had any affection for you? We’re both women. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re after.”

“Listen carefully. Ah Bai and I could fight ten thousand times, and he still wouldn’t abandon me. Kong Lingzhang, stop trying to slip into every crack you see.”

All the families present were prominent. So many eyes watched us.

I looked mortified enough to faint.

Mother was already swaying beside me, unable to bear the shock.

I bit my lower lip and softened my voice.

“I know you’ve greatly misunderstood me. I returned only to honor my brother, for no other reason. Your presence honors the Kong family. Please come to the main hall for tea.”

I bowed and went forward to support her with the utmost humility.

She refused the gesture and shoved me away.

Unprepared, I stumbled back two steps.

Had Xianrong not caught me from behind, I would have made a sorry spectacle.

Xue Yifu was pointing at me, about to erupt, when a roar came from the door.

“Xue Yifu, what are you doing?”

Father and several high officials followed Lu Feibai. They must all have witnessed the farce.

I took a deep breath, composed my face, and forced myself to greet him with a smile.

Before everyone, he helped me up himself, then glared at his wife.

“As crown princess, you should set an example to the other women. Instead, you repeatedly bully people to display your power. You’ve disgraced the imperial family!”

Everyone already knew the couple were at odds. Now he rebuked her publicly, heedless of appearances. Clearly they had truly grown apart.

She lifted her chin stubbornly. “I never asked her to help me. Besides, that innocent little act is all for your benefit.”

He was about to say more. I tugged his sleeve, shook my head gently, and gave him a desolate smile.

The pity in his eyes became more pronounced.

Everyone knew Kong Lingzhang was the model of noblewomen in the capital, celebrated for dignity and virtue.

The more I withdrew, the guiltier Lu Feibai felt.

“What impressive authority the crown prince has. Your wife has ruined a perfectly proper memorial. I fear Congyi’s spirit will find no peace even in heaven.”

At Kong Congyi’s name, his guilt deepened.

Others might not know how my brother had died, but he knew every detail.

Congyi had been his study companion, closer than a brother.

He had never wanted him to die on his behalf.

“You’re right to rebuke me, Third Sister. I must apologize to my teacher.”

Father quickly stopped him from bowing. “Please, Your Highness, you mustn’t. Your presence today honors me. There is no need to apologize.”

“I hear you’ve engaged eminent monks from the Thousand Buddhas Temple for the rites. Let me arrange things. In a few days, I’ll go there personally with the crown princess to pray for General Kong’s soul.”

He cast Xue Yifu a sidelong look, cold and threatening.

She pouted, then reluctantly said to me,

“Miss Lingzhang, I feel unwell today and lost my head. Please forgive me.”

At this point, of course I would not pursue the matter.

Lu Feibai had seen my weakness and hurt. That was enough.

Given time, the balance would tip further and further toward me.

Perhaps he did not truly love me.

But what man would refuse a beautiful, highborn woman who adored him with all her heart?

Men were all like this.

What waited at home could never be as fresh as what waited outside.

A concubine was better than a wife. An illicit lover, better than a concubine.

The same contemptible creatures, every one.