Chapter 1
I first noticed it in the conservatory at my residence.
“You are a princess, supported by the people of this realm. You ought to set an example for all its women, yet you cannot even tolerate one defenseless girl!”
My husband spoke in a loud, vigorous voice, as though he feared the servants outside might fail to hear. “Zhaozhao has already moved out. She isn’t competing with you or taking anything from you, and still you send people to abuse her!”
“Your Highness, where is your generosity? Your benevolence? Have you fed every lesson in propriety and decency to the dogs?”
His denunciation was so impassioned that veins stood out on his forehead. Anyone who didn’t know better might have taken this prince consort for a righteous champion acting on Heaven’s behalf.
The “Zhaozhao” he spoke of was cowering behind him in plain white cloth, eyes red, tears poised on her lashes. A delicate little flower battered by wind and rain.
One hand clutched his sleeve; the other held a handkerchief over half her face. Her shoulders trembled faintly. It was a wonderfully pitiful sight.
Suddenly interested, I set down my teacup and went on watching their performance.
“Your Highness!” Taking my silence for a guilty conscience, my husband grew bolder. “You owe Zhaozhao an answer today! Otherwise—”
I raised a hand to interrupt him, then tilted my head toward the maid beside me.
“Cuiwei.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
My voice was calm, almost tentative. “Does my husband’s family command the imperial armies? Do they wield overwhelming power?”
Cuiwei froze, then shook her head quickly. “No member of his family holds military command, Your Highness.”
“Oh.” I nodded. “Then perhaps they are an established family of civil officials, with former pupils throughout the court?”
She shook her head even faster. “His family has produced a few licentiates. They could just about be called a scholarly household. But… former pupils throughout the court… hardly…”
My husband’s expression shifted. Behind him, Zhaozhao stopped crying and watched me uneasily through wet eyes.
I paid neither of them any attention. My bewilderment was only growing, so I continued. “Then my husband himself must be extraordinarily capable? Already a high official at such a young age, second only to the emperor, with ministers bowing their heads whenever they see him?”
Cuiwei’s lips trembled with fright. Her voice was barely audible. “His Lordship… is currently an assistant director of the Court of Imperial Stables. Upper sixth rank…”
Upper sixth rank, and a sinecure at that—even that sinecure was probably a customary appointment bestowed after he married a princess.
Caught between amusement and exasperation, I let out a laugh.
My husband’s face had turned hideous. His lips moved as though he meant to speak, but one look from me silenced him.
Another possibility occurred to me. An unpleasant thought rose in my mind.
“Cuiwei, answer me honestly.”
Choosing my words, I ventured, “Has the imperial house… fallen into decline?”
“Is that why my rank as a princess has become worthless too? So anyone may trample over me?”
Before I had finished, every servant in the room dropped to their knees.
Cuiwei went white and knelt at once, her voice close to tears. “How can Your Highness say such a thing?”
“You are the late emperor’s eldest legitimate daughter and His Majesty’s full sister! If anyone dares disrespect you, I will be the first to lay down my life!”
She was shaking too hard to be putting on an act. My faint misgivings dissolved into sheer puzzlement.
The imperial house was perfectly sound. My title still carried weight. My husband’s family had neither influence nor power, and he was a mere sixth-rank official, not even entitled to attend court.
How did a man like that dare?
How did he dare storm into my residence and, in front of all my servants, point at me—Princess Rong’an herself—and call me a vicious woman?
I picked up my cup of Biluochun tea again and regarded him at leisure.
He stood there, most of his earlier righteous fervor gone. Zhaozhao gave his sleeve a little tug, apparently trying to persuade him to leave, but he seemed rooted to the spot, unable to back down.
“My lord husband,” I said at last, pleasantly enough, “you accused me of being utterly intolerant. May I ask whom I am supposed to tolerate?”
He thrust out his chest. “Zhaozhao, of course!”
I nodded. “Who is she?”
He looked taken aback, as though he couldn’t fathom the question.
“Who is she?” I kindly repeated. “You have told me her name is Zhaozhao.”
“What is her surname? What is her relationship to you? And what is her relationship to me?”
Looking at his face, I couldn’t help sighing.
“My lord husband,” I said, genuinely perplexed, “you bring a woman of unknown origins into my residence and spend the better part of half a cup of tea pointing at me and shouting abuse.”
“I have not punished you. I have even sat here calmly and let you finish. Now tell me—”
“Where did you find the nerve?”