Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The fifteenth day of the sixth lunar month was my birthday.
Zhao Shuo hosted a banquet at the Bright Moon Pavilion, inviting the most famous music troupe in the Capital to provide entertainment.
For this special day, I had commissioned a custom-made crimson silk dress from the Liuxiang Shop. The hem was traced with silver thread, shimmering like ripples of water whenever the moonlight touched it.
When Zhao Shuo saw me, his eyes lit up.
I smiled and twirled for him. “How do I look?”
“Like a goddess from the celestial courts,” Zhao Shuo said with a smile. “I fear everyone at tonight’s banquet will envy me for having such a beautiful and talented wife.”
Sure enough, when we appeared at the banquet together, my attire and makeup drew a chorus of admiration from the female guests.
“Zhiyin, this silk dress is truly stunning. I think I’ll have one made for myself tomorrow.”
“You’re being silly, sister. How could you wear the same outfit as the birthday girl?”
“True. Besides, this dress only looks good because Zhiyin is the one wearing it.”
As the ladies laughed and chatted amongst themselves, I looked across the room. From the men’s seating area, Zhao Shuo sent me a tender smile.
However, in the next instant, Zhao Shuo’s expression shifted. He stared behind me, a dark mist swirling in his black eyes.
I turned around and froze.
The music began to play, and a songstress dressed in a crimson silk gown made a graceful entrance. Her hair was as dark as ink, and her skin was as pale as snow.
But what left me completely stunned was…
The dress she wore was identical to mine.
The entire room fell silent. The guests’ gazes darted back and forth between me and the songstress.
Finally, Zhao Shuo stood up abruptly and smashed his jade cup onto the ground. “Absurd!”
The music came to a screeching halt.
The songstress stood frozen in place, looking lost and helpless.
“Men, strip that dress off her.”
The servants stepped forward immediately. The crimson silk fell to the floor, leaving her in nothing but her snow-white inner garments.
The songstress dropped to her knees. In the night breeze, her figure looked exceptionally pitiful.
“Wenying bought this dress at the Liuxiang Shop… I truly didn’t know it would offend the Madam…”
She knelt in the cold wind, her thin clothes offering no warmth. Her slender shoulders trembled uncontrollably; she was clearly terrified and crying.
Zhao Shuo’s face was icy. “Get out.”
The songstress stood up, her gaze lingering longingly on Zhao Shuo’s face.
But it was only for a moment before she lowered her eyes again and turned to leave.
Zhao Shuo walked to my side and took my hand. “Wife, that was merely an interlude,” he said softly. “Shall we continue the banquet?”
I didn’t say a word.
After a long silence, I turned my head to look into Zhao Shuo’s eyes. “Zhao Shuo,” I whispered. “Her name was clearly not on the music troupe’s roster.
“Tell me, who invited her here?”