Chapter 7

Chapter 7

After returning to the Marquis’ Mansion, the Dowager Marchioness made a point of sending me a set of pure gold hair ornaments.

It was likely her way of saving face for me.

I heard that the old lady had even reprimanded Wu Zhiyu in the main courtyard.

“…Lady Gao was your choice to marry. No matter how much you dislike her, she is still your primary wife. You must not be so blatantly biased.”

But Wu Zhiyu had replied, “…To me, Xiniang is my only wife.”

The Dowager Marchioness said angrily, “I said nothing about your fondness for Concubine Bai. I allowed the banquet to be held and gave her all the dignity she could ask for. In all of the capital, there isn’t a single concubine who lives more comfortably than she does. But if you take things too far, what will people think? Hearts are made of flesh and blood!”

Wu Zhiyu remained silent for a long time.

The Dowager Marchioness surely intended for these words to reach my ears.

My attitude remained as respectful as ever, and I didn’t say a word about anything else.

After this incident, Wu Zhiyu treated me a bit better than at the start and was willing to show me some courtesy in front of friends and relatives.

On one occasion, the Crown Prince hosted a banquet and invited many talented young men.

In such a setting, it was inappropriate to bring a concubine like Concubine Bai.

So, Wu Zhiyu took me.

During the event, the Crown Prince felt a poetic spark and asked everyone to compose poems on the spot. The winner would be awarded a night-luminescent pearl that had just been presented as tribute from the Eastern Sea.

Night-luminescent pearls are exceptionally rare, but the guests were even more eager to showcase their talents before the Crown Prince.

Thus, everyone put forth their best effort, hoping to win the prize.

In the end, Wu Zhiyu won with a seven-character regulated verse.

He was in high spirits that night and handed the night-luminescent pearl to me. “This was a reward from the Crown Prince. Keep it safe.”

I felt uneasy, but I had no choice but to accept it.

However, upon our return, Concubine Bai fell “ill” that very night.

Her condition showed no signs of improvement for several days.

Finally, Wu Zhiyu came back to see me, his face flushed with embarrassment. “That night-luminescent pearl…”

I immediately had someone bring it out and handed it to him. “It’s right here. Please take it, Marquis.”

There was no need to make Concubine Bai suffer over such a trifle.

Wu Zhiyu looked awkward. “Xiniang is of a weak constitution, and this… the night-luminescent pearl can help calm her nerves. I’ll just use it for a while and then return it to-”

Before he could finish, I said flatly, “There’s no need.”

This pearl never belonged to me anyway.

There was no point in keeping it.

Another month passed, and I suddenly received a letter from my natal home saying that something had happened to my second sister.

My second sister had married six months after I did.

She had been quite lucky, marrying the younger son of General Lin.

My brother-in-law was honest and ambitious, and he doted on her.

There was only one problem: my sister’s mother-in-law was very difficult to get along with.

She would scold my sister at every turn and frequently made her perform the grueling rituals of daughter-in-law etiquette.

Recently, my second sister had become pregnant. For some reason, her mother-in-law forced her to stand as punishment for an entire day.

As a result, my sister began to bleed that very night.

My eldest aunt was furious and intended to take my mother to the Lin Family home to demand an explanation.

Since I was a Marchioness and held a relatively high status among the female relatives, I had to go along to support my sister.

When we arrived at the Lin residence, I saw that my second sister’s face was sallow and haggard. She had clearly suffered greatly.

But before we, her natal family, could even speak, my sister’s mother-in-law struck first, listing all of my sister’s supposed faults.

She claimed my sister was disrespectful to her in-laws and had a poor temperament, and that the miscarriage was her own doing.

My eldest aunt was livid. “Where in the world is there a mother-in-law like you?” she fumed. “You finally have a grandson, yet you mistreated your daughter-in-law so harshly! You forced the child away! My daughter is the gentlest soul, and you’ve simply bullied her because she’s honest!”

“The Gao Family isn’t without people to defend her. We won’t allow you to trample on my daughter like this.”

My sister’s mother-in-law stood with her hands on her hips. “There are no elders in this world who are in the wrong! What’s so precious about a daughter of the Gao Family that she dares to disobey her mother-in-law?”

I interjected, “You can’t say that. Harmony in the home brings prosperity! Regardless of anything else, my second sister was carrying a child of the Lin Family bloodline!”

My sister’s mother-in-law rolled her eyes at me and sneered.

“Oh, look who it is. If it isn’t the Marchioness of Jing’an! Everyone knows the Marquis Jing’an dotes on his concubine and neglects his wife. He’s never taken you seriously; you can’t even manage a single concubine in that mansion! If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to show my face in public!”

My mother was enraged. “I… I’ll tear that foul mouth of yours!”

For a moment, the room descended into chaos.

The bickering lasted all morning, with neither side willing to back down.

In the end, having no other choice, my aunt took my second sister back to our natal home.

Before we left, my sister’s mother-in-law shouted after us:

“I won’t let my son go to fetch your daughter! If you’re so capable, then don’t ever come back!”