Chapter 6
With a few words, she’d established that my business success came from seducing men.
Wei Zhao believed her instantly. “That filthy woman!”
Nestling in his arms, Lihua said, “And you still let such a venomous adulteress manage your household? What if one day she and her lover do something to you… What then?”
Wei Zhao asked urgently, “What should I do? How can I divorce her without proof?”
“You don’t need to divorce her. Just poison her.”
He was a little horrified. But then he thought of killing his plain-looking wife and bringing home a delicate beauty to share his bed day and night. How wonderful that would be.
“But Wen Lishu isn’t ill. If I suddenly poison her, would her mother’s family let it go?”
Wen Lihua smiled charmingly.
“Haven’t you heard, dear Zhao? A woman giving birth walks through the gates of death.”
“All you need to do is get her pregnant, then arrange a little something during the birth so she bleeds to death. What could be more natural?”
“Then everything will be yours.”
Blinded by lust, Wei Zhao didn’t even find the plan cruel.
The two imagined how they would squander my fortune after I died.
As it happened, I’d already established myself in the household. Everyone outside knew me as the countess and was willing to show me some respect.
Whether my husband Wei Zhao remained or not no longer mattered.
Quite unlike his usual self, he sought intimacy with me.
“My wife, give me a child.”
I gently pushed him away.
“Have you forgotten, husband? I can no longer conceive.”
“That miscarriage ruined my health completely.”
Wei Zhao was taken aback, conflicting emotions crossing his face.
Soon, my mother-in-law also learned I couldn’t bear children and began arranging concubines for him.
I visited Lihua at the Yan household and happened to mention it.
“The women Mother has chosen for my husband are all exquisite beauties. None is less lovely than you.”
Lihua’s face twisted beyond recognition.
“You must be joking, Sister. With my beauty, how many women in the world could compare?”
I said softly, “But you’re no longer young.”
Her face twitched.
Yes. In the blink of an eye, she too was in her early twenties.
Men always liked youth and beauty. To them, twenty already meant an “old woman,” less appealing than fresh-faced girls of fourteen or fifteen.
A concubine came with her children to pay her respects, speaking with provocation and contempt. With me there, Lihua couldn’t lash out.
Feigning sorrow, I said, “We sisters share the same misfortune. Neither of us will ever have a child of our own. Once the concubines’ children grow up, they’ll control the entire great household. And when I’m old and faded, my husband will have forgotten me long ago.”
Forgotten me.
Naturally, he would forget her too.
Soon, she would have no choice left.
Back home that evening, I attended Wei Zhao as he prepared for bed, crying against his shoulder.
“People outside say you’re good for nothing, not even the equal of a man with the lowest examination degree.”
“I argued with them. I said you’re gifted and simply dislike the scheming of official life.”
“But they wouldn’t believe me. They laughed at you for being stupid and useless, living off your ancestors and women, achieving nothing yourself.”
“However I explained, they kept mocking you. It made me so angry I couldn’t stop crying.”
My tears seemed heartfelt. Wei Zhao looked grim.
I took my chance. “Why not earn an examination degree, or follow the great general who guards the nation to the frontier and fight the enemy? With military merit, you’d bring honor to the family and show those who despise you that you’re neither useless nor cowardly.”
“Go to war… and fight?” Wei Zhao went pale.