Chapter 1
In the balmy third month of spring, I—the dignified heir to Duke Zhenguo—put on a bridal gown, climbed into a wedding sedan, and let Xiao Ye carry me into his princely estate.
My elder sister was the one who was supposed to marry him, but she had eloped with someone else. To cover for her, I had reluctantly dressed as a woman.
I waited from daylight until dark, but Xiao Ye never came to my room.
Half-starved, I slipped into the kitchen in search of food and overheard two cooks gossiping.
“His Highness has been entertaining guests in the front hall all day. The matchmaker has urged him toward the bridal chamber three times, but he refuses to go. He must dislike the bride so much that he cannot even be bothered to lift her veil.”
“Exactly. He spent night after night drinking in the garden recently. Said he would never be able to marry the one in his heart.”
“We did not see today’s bride’s face, but she cannot be much to look at.”
I popped up from behind the stove. “What makes you say that?”
“She’s too tall. Not at all delicate. A woman that size could crush a man if he took her in his arms.” The cook shook her head disdainfully. Only after she finished did she realize someone was there. “Oh! Who’s that?”
“The mistress of this household,” I said with perfect composure.
Then I grabbed a wine jug and went looking for that bastard Xiao Ye.
So he dared dislike my sister!
Granted, there was not much to like about her. She did not like him either and had run off with another man. But his behavior was still an insult to Duke Zhenguo’s family!
I had put on women’s clothes for the sake of peace between our houses, yet he could not even be bothered to lift my red veil.
Wine jug in hand, I charged onto the covered walkway and found Xiao Ye being herded toward the rear courtyard with the expression of a man marched into a forced marriage.
“I hear you don’t want to lift my veil, so I have done it myself.” I flung off the red silk, revealing a head laden with pearls and gold. Pointing the jug at him, I demanded, “Is there something about me that displeases you, Your Highness?”
Xiao Ye sobered instantly.
He stared at me for a long moment. Then his eyes curved into a smile. “Nothing at all. My wife is a beauty without equal. I like her very much. I have no complaints whatsoever.”
Huh. What a coward.
Did I look so formidable that I had frightened him into submission?
Whatever. I ordered more wine, filled two enormous bowls, and knocked mine hard against his.
“I ask for nothing else. I just want our wedding to go smoothly, so let us drink this nuptial wine—”
Xiao Ye cut in, “Drink this nuptial wine today; in our next life, our fates entwine.”
“Why are you reciting poetry while drinking?”
He hurriedly clacked his bowl against mine again. “My wife is right. Less talk. Drink.”
With heroic gusto, we drained our bowls in a single breath.
Xiao Ye happily took my hand. “Then let us return to the bridal chamber. A spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold.”
He was suddenly refreshed, practically flying down the corridor.
That easy?
The cooks’ gossip seemed questionable. He looked as if he liked my sister very much after all.
Once inside the bridal chamber, he sat beside me and stared without blinking.
His gaze made my scalp prickle. “W-what are you looking at?”
He lowered his eyes, cheeks reddening. “My wife, today is our wedding day…”
I shot to my feet. “What is that supposed to mean? You want to sleep with me?”
The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. I paced in furious circles.
“Well, well, Xiao Ye. Don’t think I don’t know that you have someone in your heart and never wanted this marriage. Yet the instant you saw my face, you decided you wanted a wedding night. What a lecher!”
Xiao Ye raised a hand and swore, “I have always admired my wife. If I am a slave to beauty, it is only because my wife is devastatingly beautiful.”
“Being handsome is not an invitation to sleep with me! Did you ever ask whether I admired you? What have you been drinking to get this delusional?”
Fuming, I threw him out, shut the door, and dusted off my hands.
What kind of man was he, trying to sleep with me?
He did not want a wife? Well, neither did I!