Chapter 1

The new mistress, Li Ruolan, was something of a daughter-in-law to me.

Born into a distinguished family, she was virtuous, well mannered, and an able housekeeper.

My late husband had chosen this excellent match for his son while he was still alive.

Unfortunately, his son Xie Bi was just like his father.

A womanizer without a shred of decency.

Worse than his father, in fact.

At least old Xie had understood the distinction between a wife and a concubine. For all his women, he had never threatened his lawful wife’s position.

Xie Bi, on the other hand, was all but casting his wife aside for a woman he kept outside the estate.

At this rate, he would tear the Xie family apart.

Where would I spend my old age then?

So I decided I could no longer stand by.

But Li Ruolan…

I looked at her and felt a headache coming on.

She was haggard, her face ashen, her eyes without a trace of light.

“Aunt Chun, I want a divorce. Then I’ll spend the rest of my life in a convent, with nothing but a lamp and the Buddha for company.”

Yesterday, that mistress had come flaunting her swollen belly and making provocative remarks.

In my day, such paltry tricks would scarcely have deserved a glance.

But Li Ruolan had fallen for them.

Trembling with rage, she had called the woman shameless. The woman had pretended to fall—just as Xie Bi walked through the door.

He had merely said coldly,

“Lady Li, I never thought you could be so jealous and intolerant. You’ve disappointed me terribly.”

Li Ruolan had reacted as though someone had died.

She was too virtuous, too frail, too thoroughly trained to obey.

Worst of all, she actually loved Xie Bi.

The moment a woman truly fell in love with a man, she handed him the means to hurt her.

In the women’s quarters, that was the one thing you must never do.

I went over and stroked her hair.

“Don’t talk nonsense. If you divorce him, you’ll be handing over your place. It’s exactly what those shameless creatures want.”

She raised her face, smeared with tears.

“My husband protects her at every turn. She’s all he thinks about. What’s the point of keeping the title of lawful wife?”

I wanted to pry open her skull and see what rubbish they had stuffed inside.

The position of lawful wife meant standing, authority, property, and a future for your children and grandchildren.

And she asked what the point was?

What did she think we women spent our whole lives fighting for in these back courtyards?

A husband’s favor?

Don’t make me laugh. You couldn’t eat that.

But she was the proper mistress of the household. I was merely an old concubine; I couldn’t overstep.

So I could only coax her gently.

“You’re speaking out of anger, my lady. Don’t worry. That little bitch’s tricks mean nothing to me. With my help, your husband’s heart will soon return to you.”

“Really?”

She was only half convinced.

I nodded, disinclined to explain.

Just wait until you see what this old concubine can do.