Chapter 6

My husband, Liang Xi, heir to the Marquis of Huaiyuan and Great Qi’s celebrated god of war, had left on campaign the day after our wedding. That had been two years ago.

There was little affection between us.

Grandmother pressed her advantage. “I hear your husband will be home soon. A young man away at war—who knows whether he’s taken a woman to attend him? There may even be a child by now. You’re a married daughter. Go home and think about winning your husband over. Why meddle in your birth family’s affairs?”

“Even if he has found someone close to his heart, you’ve served his mother faithfully these past two years. If not merit, at least you’ve earned credit for your effort. He’s a dutiful son. He’ll remember that.”

“But if his mother turns against you, the day he comes home may be the day he divorces you.”

A few sentences nearly brought Mother to her knees, begging Grandmother for mercy.

She had already lost one daughter. She could not let the other be ruined too.

My mother-in-law had attended the birthday celebration earlier that day. After all that bustle, she had barely settled down to rest before being summoned back. Her expression was not pleasant.

Courtesy obliged her to muster a smile.

Grandmother exchanged pleasantries with her while watching me from the corner of her eye.

I had thrown my weight about all evening. Now she meant to cut me down to size and let me taste a little fear.

She did not mention He Zhili, but her remarks kept circling back to my youth and inexperience. Half joking, half serious, she asked my mother-in-law to be indulgent.

She fancied herself a cat toying with a mouse.

My mother-in-law looked thoroughly confused.

“Let Yanci explain it to you, my lady,” Grandmother said with a chuckle.

She was certain I would not dare tell my mother-in-law the whole truth.

Who would expose her own family’s disgrace to her husband’s family?

I would.

I had no use for keeping family scandals behind closed doors.

“My aunt’s son raped my little sister tonight.” I told my mother-in-law everything.

Grandmother almost choked to death on her anger.

Aunt burst into tears. “You’ve looked at our Zhili several times since you came in, my lady. You must be wondering why he’s covered in wounds. He drunkenly offended Little Four. He has admitted his fault and agreed to take responsibility by marrying her properly. But Yanci won’t let it go. She nearly beat him to death.”

Mother was white with terror, as though my husband’s family were about to cast me out on the spot.

Grandmother hesitated briefly.

She did not want to lose the connection to the Marquis of Huaiyuan. But compared with her precious grandson’s life, what did wealth and glory matter?

She decided to embellish. “I all but knelt to beg her. Now she has the marquis’s household behind her, she doesn’t even respect her own grandmother.”

He Zhili supplied a well-timed groan.

My mother-in-law rubbed her temples, looking pained. “Why did you beat your cousin? Such a commotion! If word gets out, people will talk. You should have killed him with one clean cut. Quietly. No trouble at all.”

Grandmother froze.

Aunt stopped crying.

He Zhili stopped groaning.

“My lady!” Grandmother finally found her voice and wailed. “We’re all one family! How could you be so cruel?”

That made my mother-in-law feel rather guilty. “Yes, yes, of course. One family. Killing him would be a little cold-blooded. Shall we castrate him instead? I happen to have a former palace eunuch in my service, an expert at it. One neat stroke. Hardly any suffering.”

He Zhili fainted.

“That won’t do either?” My mother-in-law slapped the table and rose, annoyed. “A soldier who assaults an innocent woman is beaten to death before the camp. What are you, exactly? Do you imagine yourself worth more than men who fight and kill for their country? This won’t do, that won’t do—you want every advantage for yourself! Shameless!”

Grandmother’s face was a sight.

My mother-in-law hastily added, “Not you, madam. I meant the young man.”

Grandmother’s face grew worse.

By now she bitterly regretted her decision. The Marchioness of Huaiyuan outranked me by far and was much harder to deal with.