Chapter 3

At my daughter’s one-month celebration, Liu Ning’er presented her with an extravagant gift.

She was fair and pretty, with a slender figure. Though she wore only a plain pale-blue dress and a simple silver hairpin, she smiled as she fastened an exquisitely carved gold collar around Wanyan’s neck.

“She is only a baby. Why give her anything so valuable?” I hurried to decline.

Liu Ning’er smiled sweetly. “Please don’t say that, Sister-in-law. I loved this child the moment I saw her. I wish I could give her every precious thing in the world.

“My family may not be as distinguished as yours, but even I know that a daughter of the Song family deserves the very best.”

She cast a disapproving glance at Wanyan’s soft satin clothes. “This satin is hardly expensive. Please don’t stint on the child merely because she is a girl.”

My mother-in-law watched Liu Ning’er with open approval.

The birth had damaged my health. The physician said conceiving again might be difficult, though nothing was certain yet. My mother-in-law had already begun looking for a concubine for her son.

After giving her gift, Liu Ning’er cuddled and kissed my daughter until her arms grew sore, then reluctantly handed her back.

“The young miss is so beautiful. If only I had given birth to her.” Her innocent remark earned smiles and praise from everyone nearby.

After entertaining the guests for a while, I grew tired and had the wet nurse carry the baby back to my bedroom with me.

Liu Ning’er followed. Behind her came a sallow-faced maid carrying a frail infant. Both the woman and the child had thin hair and looked wilted enough for a gust of wind to knock them over.

They were the very pair who had tried and failed to pull off the switch that night.

Xiangyue and Xin’er.

I offered a polite show of concern. “Whose wife and child are these? They look terribly weak. Don’t stand in the draft—come over here.”

The two remained where they were as though they had gone deaf.

Liu Ning’er laughed. “Sister-in-law, that is my maid. Now that I am living with the Song family, the wretched brat has neither a proper name nor a proper status. I will simply keep her the way one keeps a cat or dog.”

Her smile remained artless as she spoke. A pale, delicate finger stroked the baby’s face. Perhaps she pressed too hard, because the child began to cry.

The sound was barely louder than a kitten’s. The baby struggled a few times, then fell still.

I frowned. “Why treat an infant in swaddling clothes this way?”

Liu Ning’er gave a soft laugh. “You may find me cruel, Sister-in-law, but in any other great household, a lowly slave and her bastard would be drowned.

“I was merciful enough to spare them. Even so, rules are rules. They must be taught obedience.”

I was about to answer when someone behind me cried, “Well said!”

I turned. It was my mother-in-law.

Smiling broadly, she hurried forward and clasped Liu Ning’er’s hand. “Good child! Your aunt always knew you were capable. Mercy tempered by discipline—that is how a household should be managed.”

Liu Ning’er lowered her head with a blush while my mother-in-law fussed over her. I, the actual daughter-in-law of the house, was left standing aside.

After indulging in this affection for some time, my mother-in-law turned to me.

“Youqing, this birth took a terrible toll on you. I think you should spend the next few years recovering and let Ning’er manage the household in your place.”

I frowned.

Liu Ning’er was only a relative staying under our roof. On what grounds could she manage my household?

When I did not answer, her eyes instantly reddened.

My mother-in-law bristled. “Why are you silent? Is it not a good thing to let you focus on raising your daughter?”

“I would be delighted to focus on my daughter, but in what capacity would Cousin manage the household? She bore another man’s daughter, then ran to her male cousin’s home and tried to take charge. That seems rather shameless.”

Tears spilled down Liu Ning’er’s cheeks. She turned and fled.

Song Qian pointed at me in fury. “Shen Youqing, you jealous shrew! My cousin and I grew up together. I will not allow you to insult her!”

I answered at my leisure. “A divorced woman moves into her male cousin’s home, bears an illegitimate daughter, and then tries to run the household. The whole thing is laughable.”

“Illegitimate?” Song Qian sneered. “Then I will take her as my wife today. Let me see who dares say another word!”

That night, he slept in Liu Ning’er’s room.

The next morning, he elevated her as his so-called co-wife.