Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Whenever I looked into her innocent, naive eyes, I was reminded of her mother.

I remembered the plum blossom scent Lady Qin had deliberately brushed onto my father’s sleeves. I remembered how she had staged a chance encounter with my mother, kneeling to offer her greetings with practiced humility.

She was like a supple vine.

Eventually, she wound herself around my mother until she sapped her of all her spirit.

And now, she wanted to thrust her daughter into my life as well.

“She can come as part of my dowry,” I told my father. “But first, her mother must be dealt with.”

I would not allow Lady Qin to live to see her daughter marry into a prestigious house.

Father was shocked.

He studied my expression cautiously, realizing I wasn’t joking.

He was unwilling.

“…She is already gravely ill,” Father said, trying to smooth things over. “Ah Tao, why must you be so aggressive?”

Because I am petty.

My mother died of a broken heart because of her. I had imagined many ways to take my revenge.

But Father protected her.

I couldn’t even touch a single thread of her sleeve.

This marriage was the only leverage I had left.

“You can consider it, Father,” I said. “If you’re unwilling, it’s fine. We can simply find someone else to take her place.”

Father fell silent. Finally, he said, “Wang Jie has already seen Xidai.”

“And he has taken a liking to her.”

So, they had begun to manipulate me too.

Just as they had manipulated my mother.

I couldn’t break free, so the wedding preparations proceeded according to plan.

When Wang Jie arrived, Xidai was trying on her wedding attire.

The pink hue suited her perfectly. Xidai’s eyes were timid as she called out softly, “Young Master Wang.”

Wang Jie was dazed for a moment.

I waved the cattail fan in my hand but said nothing to snap him out of it.

It was Xidai who, startled, retreated behind the screen.

Only then did Wang Jie realize he had lost his composure.

“Ah Tao,” he said. “My apologies.”

Yet, he felt no true guilt.

She was meant to be his concubine anyway; whether he admired her or favored her, no one could find fault with him.

Father hadn’t lied to me.

Wang Jie truly did fancy Xidai.

My wet nurse was worried for me.

“With such a pitiable, lovely appearance, no man could remain indifferent. Young Master Wang…”

The wet nurse didn’t know how to finish her sentence.

She could see my future at a single glance.

I would follow in my mother’s footsteps, becoming a legal wife in the inner chambers who possessed only a title, but neither love nor favor.

That was a bitter life.

“But then again, who could I marry where it wouldn’t be like this?”

I was as plain as salt; I was destined never to win a husband’s devotion.

Peerless beauty is always a rare commodity.

If used well, Xidai would be my strongest asset.

Father had counted on my compromise.

I, too, knew what the pragmatic choice was.

But I remained resentful.

“I still want Lady Qin’s life.”