Chapter 2
I began accepting invitations to the banquets held by the capital’s imperial relatives.
This face of mine soon won the admiration of many young noblemen.
From among them, I chose the one with the finest family background.
The late emperor’s youngest son, Prince Rong’an.
As the youngest, he had enjoyed all his father’s affection without ever posing a threat to the succession.
After the new emperor took the throne, he confined the other ambitious princes. Prince Rong’an alone continued to receive exceptional favor.
When he came to ask for my hand, he thought the matter was all but settled. He never expected both my parents to refuse him—nor me to refuse him too.
He was bewildered.
Mother said coldly,
“Our family has an ancestral rule. A man who marries one of our daughters may not take concubines or keep mistresses, and he most certainly may not have children with another woman.”
Father’s eyes widened. He whispered to Mother,
“Nonsense. You’re making things up again. Since when has our house had such a rule?”
Mother replied indifferently,
“You swore to it. And you paid the price.”
Father’s face turned livid. He fell silent.
I curtsied to Prince Rong’an.
“Please go home, Your Highness. I hope you will soon find a worthy bride.”
No one thought he would agree to such an outrageous demand.
But I knew he would.
Just as my father had.
When something was beyond his reach, he would toss and turn all night, unable to sleep.
All he could think was that he must have it, whatever it took.
The consequences could wait. First, he had to make it his.
Three days passed without word from Prince Rong’an’s residence. I had someone spread the news that I was considering another marriage proposal.
Early on the fifth morning,
Prince Rong’an came.
He had increased his betrothal gifts by well over half.
He made his promise to Mother and swore an oath.
“If I marry Miss Shen, I will have no other woman, nor children by anyone else.”
They were exactly the words my father had once spoken to my mother.
There was only one difference.
Back then, Mother had been passionate and unrestrained.
She had believed her future husband.
I did not believe a word.
Life after I married into Prince Rong’an’s household was very comfortable.
There were no parents-in-law for me to attend to. My husband, Zhou Jing, knew how to enjoy life and often took me out to run about and amuse ourselves without a care.
With the new emperor’s favor as well, I had never been so content.
Mother, however, worried about me.
“Marrying above your station is like swallowing needles. How can you expect to be happy?”
I smiled gently.
“There is no need to worry, Mother. Your daughter has always had a good life.”
I knew what I wanted.
I had chosen this path myself.
Before long, I was with child.
Prince Rong’an was delighted, as was His Majesty. Gifts arrived one after another, each a public display of the emperor’s brotherly affection.
“I hope it’s a girl. A pretty little thing, like a ball of snow.”
Most of his fellow military officers had daughters.
He envied them. Whenever they brought their girls out, he would stand beside them, teasing and playing with the children, unable to get enough.
Their fathers often bristled at him.
“Have one of your own!”
For once, he even got up early to burn incense and pray to the bodhisattva.
“Please let it be a daughter.”
I laughed at him.
“Your Highness, do you know how many fish you’ve killed?”
He looked utterly blank.
“None. That fish has been alive for almost a year. It does get fat and thin by turns, though. Rather strange.”
“It struck you as strange, but did it never occur to you that your wife has someone replace the dead fish every day?”
He was devastated.
“How could this happen?”
“You dump that enormous scoop of food in every time. How could one fish not eat itself to death?”
He took the lesson to heart.
“I’d better ask those fellows for advice and learn how to raise a child.”
I did not know whether to laugh or cry.
We were newlyweds then. Sincere affection was a precious thing.
Little by little, I fell in love.
I did not even notice it myself.