Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Ever since I was little, I had been greedy, lazy, and devoted to one single dream: lying around at home and somehow becoming filthy rich.

And before my father died, he actually made that dream come true.

In his younger years, he had saved an important nobleman, who arranged an outrageously wealthy marriage for me in return.

After I finished mourning my father, I happily rushed to the capital to join my fiancé.

Who would have thought that on the very day of our wedding, my husband would find me vulgar and uncouth-and run away overnight?

My mother-in-law, looking as if her head might split open from the trouble, settled me in the rear courtyard and simply pretended she did not have a daughter-in-law.

Every day, I slept until the sun was high in the sky. When I got bored, I dressed as a man and slipped out of the estate to have fun.

For two years, I teased cats, played with dogs, drank wine, roamed the streets, and lived an exceedingly happy life.

At last, my mother-in-law could bear it no longer. She roared, “Someone came to our door again today asking to marry you!”

I let out a breath of relief. “Good thing they weren’t here to beat me up.”

My mother-in-law was so angry her face turned white. “You think no one wants to beat you up?”

When a person was too outstanding, trouble naturally came easily.

I had been wandering around outside under the identity of a distant nephew of the Zhao Family.

Sometimes, by chance, I would punish the strong, help the weak, and rescue beauties in distress. As a result, people were always shouting about killing me or cutting me down.

My mother-in-law said coldly, “Zhao Qi has not returned home in two years. I will make the decision. The two of you should separate.”

Separate?

I would have to be insane to abandon this rich life where silver landed in my lap while I lay around.

I threw a tantrum and flopped onto the floor. “I’m not leaving! Mother, if you insist on driving me out, then I’ll cry, make a scene, and hang myself, so the whole capital knows the Zhao Family broke faith and betrayed me!”

My mother-in-law’s eyes went wide. “How did our Zhao Family end up marrying a scoundrel like you?”

Her room was laid with the finest Persian carpet. Lying on it was soft and comfortable.

I rolled over and yawned. “Mother, I’m so sleepy. Is there anything else you want to say?”

My mother-in-law held her forehead. For a long while, she could not utter a single word.

I was genuinely afraid I might anger her into fainting, so I sprang up and started rubbing her shoulders. In a fawning tone, I said, “Mother, the Zhao Family is truly unfortunate. Your daughter-in-law is a scoundrel, your eldest son has no sense of responsibility, and your younger son is far too rebellious. The master is obsessed with officialdom and ignores household affairs. You’ve had to manage everything from top to bottom all these years. It has been terribly hard on you. These past two years, I’m the only one who has seen it. You are the true backbone of this family.”

My words made my mother-in-law’s eyes turn red.

I quickly took an exquisite box of rouge from my purse. “Look, this is the most fashionable rouge in Jiangnan. There are only ten boxes in the entire capital. I only got into a fight with that Wang fellow because I was trying to snatch this for you.”

With me pressing her shoulders, my mother-in-law’s mood eased a little.

Her gaze swept around the bedroom.

She looked at the storybooks by the bedside. I had bought those to relieve her boredom.

Then she looked at the unique hairpin on the dressing table. I had made that with my own hands.

She accepted the rouge, torn between laughter and tears, and sighed. “You… You may be a little demon king who wreaks havoc wherever you go, but these past two years, with you in the house, my heart has felt a bit livelier too. It must not have been easy for you, always ignoring my cold face and coming to coax me and make me laugh.”

I redid my mother-in-law’s hair and applied the rouge for her. She looked much younger, and a smile bloomed across her face.

I hugged her and said, “Mother, you should smile more and dress yourself up more. Heaven gave you such beauty and talent. It wasn’t so you could waste your years away on other people.”

My mother-in-law pinched my cheek. “What a sweet mouth. You certainly know how to coax people. Are you short on silver again?”

I chuckled. “Mother, I can’t keep causing trouble at home every day. Since you can’t stand the sight of me, why don’t you send me to Jishan Academy in Jiangnan to study? Once I return after completing my studies, I’ll take the exam, become the Martial Zhuangyuan, and be even better able to be filial to you in the future.”

Ten years had passed since the Female Emperor ascended the throne, and the realm was peaceful and prosperous.

Within the Great Xia Dynasty, both men and women could take the imperial examinations.

I had practiced martial arts with my father since childhood. If I worked a little harder and muddled my way into an official post, it should not be a problem.

My mother-in-law’s eyes lit up. “You got into Jishan Academy?”

I scratched my head. “Uh… I can’t get in. Please spend some money and send me there.”

My mother-in-law kicked me in the backside and said, succinctly, “Scram!”

I slunk away with my tail between my legs.

My mother-in-law called me back and said helplessly, “Fine. I’ll send you.”

Though she kept saying she could not wait to send me away, her eyes had gone red.

Stubbornly, she said, “If you get into fights and cause trouble outside, don’t say you came from the Zhao Family. I would find it embarrassing.”

I nodded.

Seeing me behave so obediently, she added, “But if someone truly provokes you first, then there is no need to be afraid! Your uncle is the Jiangnan Inspector. With him there, just hit back as you please.”

I glanced at her.

Then I hugged her, rubbed my cheek against hers, and said reluctantly, “Mother, I’ll miss you.”

My mother-in-law’s eyes reddened again, and she waved me off. “Go, go. Hurry up and leave. Stop making yourself a nuisance.”

She saw me to the back gate. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she lowered her voice and instructed, “If you get lonely, write to me! I’ll find you someone reliable, so you don’t get cheated out of your money and your body.”

I said, speechless, “Mother, I’m so honest. How could I possibly do something like that?”

My mother-in-law looked at me with a smile.

Under her gaze, I felt a little guilty. I swore solemnly, “Mother, don’t worry! In this lifetime, I will only ever be your good daughter-in-law!”