Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The first time I saw Concubine Song, she was a graceful, striking beauty.

Her features were lovely, her air refined, and every movement carried a practiced, languid charm.

Her bright eyes swept over me with unfamiliar reserve, then landed on Zhao Yunzhou and filled with unmistakable delight.

She bowed properly. “Madam.”

Zhao Yunzhou immediately shielded her. “Come stand by me.”

Concubine Song glanced at me and moved behind him.

He was her protector, and she the woman under his protection.

I stood opposite them as the villain in their story.

And only moments before, he had accused me of imagining him to be a bad man.

I drew a deep breath, determined to finish this quickly.

“Now that everyone is here, let us speak plainly. I accept what you asked. I will not use my authority as the lawful wife to oppress Concubine Song.”

Joy flared in her eyes.

Zhao Yunzhou’s expression eased as well.

“I am glad you have come to your senses,” he said coolly. “I will escort Lanzhen back.”

He rose to leave.

I stopped him.

“Wait. I am not finished. I have three conditions.”

“First, from this day forward, Concubine Song may not set foot in my main courtyard. If she enters, then whatever happens inside will be her responsibility. The same applies to me: I will not enter her courtyard, and if I do, I will accept all consequences.”

“Second, my husband loves Concubine Song so deeply that he chose our wedding night to warn me on her behalf. Surely he is willing to preserve himself for her. From now on, you and I will treat each other with courtesy. We may bear the name of husband and wife, but we will never share a marriage bed.”

“Third, when your parents ask about an heir, you will take responsibility. How you explain matters is your concern. You may even tell them exactly what happened tonight, and I will not complain. But if they punish me because of this arrangement, the fault is yours, and you will compensate me.”

Silence fell over the room.

A vein throbbed at Zhao Yunzhou’s temple, his face contorted with anger.

After a moment of shock, delight flashed across Concubine Song’s face. She caught his sleeve and gave it a gentle tug, pleading without words.

I picked up the brush and swiftly wrote two copies of our agreement. After signing my name, I handed the brush to Zhao Yunzhou.

His gaze was as cold as midwinter frost.

“Do not regret this,” he said with finality.

“I never will,” I replied without hesitation.

He took the brush and signed with a flourish, then tossed it aside. Black ink splattered across the table like a dark brand.

Three years passed. I never regretted that agreement.

He did.

I lifted my eyes to him. “Do not flatter yourself. You mean nothing to me. I want a divorce because I should have left long ago.”

It had simply taken until that day for me to gain the means to live on my own.

Zhao Yunzhou was silent for a long while.

At last he looked up and asked earnestly, “I know I have wronged you these past three years, but have you truly been unhappy in my family?”