Chapter 2
Looking at my husband’s flushed face, I suddenly lost interest.
He had poured forth abuse a moment ago; now a few questions had left him speechless. Yet his eyes still held anger and resentment, even a baffling trace of conviction—as though he truly believed he had the right to stand there and berate me.
Unwilling to waste more words, I leaned back in my chair. “Someone take my husband away. Deal with him according to palace rules.”
He froze.
For a moment he seemed not to understand. His lips moved twice, then his eyes flew wide. “Princess, how dare you—”
“How dare I…” I interrupted, tilting my head with a faint smile. “My lord husband, what did you just call me?”
“P-Princess…” The color drained visibly from his face. At last a flicker of belated fear appeared in his eyes.
Unfortunately, it came a little late.
At a wave of my hand, the burly servants waiting outside filed into the conservatory and seized his arms without a word.
As they dragged him away on buckling legs, Zhaozhao suddenly dropped to her knees before me and struck her forehead hard against the floor.
“Please calm your anger, Your Highness!” Her voice was soft and thin, her tears falling in an endless stream. “Every fault is mine. His Lordship has nothing to do with it…”
“Please spare him this once. I beg you. I…”
I looked down at her, unmoved.
My husband, who had been terrified out of his wits and on the verge of accepting his fate, abruptly revived.
“Zhaozhao!”
From somewhere he found the strength to wrench himself free and stagger toward us. “Zhaozhao, don’t bow to that vicious woman!”
“Get up! I’ll be fine. She wouldn’t dare do anything to me! Zhaozhao! Zhaozhao!”
Zhaozhao cried harder. She stopped knocking her head against the floor and looked up at me, her wet eyes full of pleading helplessness, as pitiable as a little rabbit caught in a hunter’s trap.
At the sight of her tears, my husband went completely mad.
“Let go of me! You filthy slaves! I said let go—”
He screamed himself hoarse, then turned and lunged at me with a furious glare. “Come at me if you want! What kind of courage does it take to bully a defenseless woman? Is this all you’re good for, Princess?”
The other servants hurried to intercept him and pinned him to the floor.
I was merely irritated.
They were so very loud.
“Take the crying one away and lock her up.”
The servants obeyed at once, two of them moving to seize Zhaozhao.
She gave a sharp little cry and sagged limply as they dragged her out by the arms.
My husband grew still more frantic, his roars nearly lifting the conservatory roof. “Let her go! Don’t touch her! Zhaozhao—!”
Their voices receded, and quiet finally returned. I glanced down at a smear of dirt on my skirt and brushed it off.
Cuiwei brought fresh tea with trembling hands. I took a sip and slowly considered what I had just witnessed.
My husband had been frightened at first. But the moment Zhaozhao spoke, he seemed possessed. His fear vanished, his reason vanished, and all that remained was the need to protect that fragile little flower.
This was beyond lust clouding his judgment. Something had bewitched him.
I had originally intended to dispose of Zhaozhao as well. She was only a mistress kept outside the household. At worst I would earn a reputation for jealousy, and I didn’t care.
But her performance had changed my mind. There was nothing ordinary about this woman.
Killing her would be easy. Before I did, I needed to know what she really was—and what use she might be to me.
“Cuiwei.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Find out where Zhaozhao is being held. Keep a close watch. No one is to approach her, and she must not be allowed to kill herself.”
“Have everything she eats and uses each day recorded and reported to me.”
Cuiwei assented and quietly withdrew.
I went to the window and pushed it open. The sunlight outside was lovely. Marks from my husband’s struggles as he was dragged away still scarred the ground, and several young maids were hastily sweeping them up.
Zhaozhao, and my husband… interesting.