Chapter 3

By the time Xie Zeyuan came back, it was the fourth watch of the night.

His business kept him busy. Only our wedding had kept him home a little longer than usual.

After that, he often returned late.

Whenever we finally had a day together, my mother-in-law summoned us to dine in her courtyard.

Mother and son chatted affectionately without end, while I was ordered to stand beside them and serve the dishes.

I couldn’t get half a word in.

Once we returned, we’d barely begun our lovemaking, just as before, when the pounding came again.

“Son, you ate rather well at supper. Your food hasn’t settled yet. Don’t let it sit in your stomach and make you ill.”

Ours was an arranged marriage. There could hardly be deep affection between us yet.

For newlyweds, intimacy in bed was naturally a way of growing close.

With all these interruptions, we’d scarcely begun to establish that closeness.

And now he had to leave on another business trip, for three months at least, perhaps half a year.

He lingered over his farewells to his mother, but gave me only a few brief instructions.

“Be sure to visit Mother more often, morning and evening, to pay your respects.”

“She’s getting older, and still troubles herself with our domestic affairs. Whenever you have time, massage her shoulders and pat her legs for her.”

“Husband and wife are one. While I’m busy traveling, I can’t attend her myself. I must depend on you.”

Naturally I nodded and agreed.

“Rest easy, husband. Leave everything to me.”

Once Xie Zeyuan was gone, my mother-in-law, convinced she had me in hand, became even more exacting with her rules during the day.

Even the household servants began daring to give me sour looks.

Xiaocui lost patience.

“Miss, since when have you been so meek? You’re just letting her bully you?”

I shook my head.

Mother had been widowed at twenty-two and raised my husband alone. Seventeen years had passed since then.

She must have spent many a lonely night tossing restlessly in bed.

If you were starving yourself, of course you’d envy someone else getting her fill.

Trapped in the inner household all day, she had no one to watch but me…

With that thought, I instructed Xiaocui,

“Ask Hongxiu to find us a few men at the most famous male courtesan house in the neighboring county…”

Hongxiu was wonderfully efficient.

Half a month later, the painter I had engaged, Han Mingsong, arrived.

He was twenty-seven or twenty-eight. His blue-green robe had been washed almost white, yet he wore it with the grace of the finest young gentleman.

His face was handsomely refined, almost otherworldly.

I sat beneath the wisteria in my courtyard and had him paint my portrait.

Xiaocui and the others found it entertaining and gathered to watch.

“Madam, look how well he’s done it. Even that dimple in your cheek looks alive.”

All that bustle naturally reached my mother-in-law on the other side of the wall.

Before long she came over with Nanny Du and her serving women.

With Xie Zeyuan absent, she had no need to pretend to be kind. Her voice was considerably sharper.

“Well, well. Your man’s barely out the door, and you’ve already called in some pretty boy…”

Before she’d finished, the painter rose. His eyes lit up at the sight of her.

“Madam Xie, is this your elder sister?”

Mother stopped short, then scolded him with a trace of embarrassed anger.

“What nonsense are you talking? I’m her mother-in-law.”

Master Han looked startled and hurried to apologize.

“Forgive me, forgive me. My eyes have failed me. But with such youthful beauty, madam, I could never have guessed you were old enough to have a daughter-in-law.”

“Let me make amends. May I paint your portrait too, without a fee?”

I hastened to add my own flattery.

“Mother was one of the great beauties of Ganzhou in her youth. Now that she’s older, her charms have only grown. You must do her justice, or I won’t pay for mine either.”

She blushed and chided me.

“Listen to you, teasing an old woman.”

“At my age, what would I want with a portrait?”

I smiled.

“A woman should preserve her likeness while her beauty is still with her. Then she’ll have something to look back on in old age.”

“Besides, a small portrait will give your descendants something to honor when you’re gone.”

Master Han already had his brush and ink ready.

“Your beauty has only deepened with the years, madam. Painting such a lovely woman would be an honor. Please give me the chance.”