Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Before descending the mountain, I went to pay my respects to the Princess Royal.
She was a broad-minded woman and did not ask why I had come to see her.
Instead, she invited me to eat some plums she had grown herself.
I took a bite; they were sour, astringent, and hard to swallow.
“If it’s unpalatable, don’t force yourself,” the Princess Royal said. “Spit it out.”
I did as I was told.
As I spat it out, my heart felt lightened along with it.
I was willing to let go of Wang Jie.
I was also willing to let go of a life of luxury and prestige.
I simply refused to let my enemies have their way.
The carriage swayed all the way back to the city. To my surprise, Wang Jie was waiting at the city gates.
He lifted my carriage curtain and said softly, “I’ve come to take you back.”
His tone carried a hint of an apology.
The evening breeze was somewhat chilly, carrying with it a faint scent of plum blossoms.
It was the fragrance from Wang Jie’s sleeves.
He had also changed to a new sachet.
The pattern was not one typically used by the Wang Family.
I had seen a similar one on my father before.
…
They always spared no effort in doing the same things.
Inflicting wounds that left no blood.
And if one cried out in pain, they would be called melodramatic.
“I’ve already spoken with Xidai. After you give birth to our eldest son, I will bring her into the household.”
Wang Jie’s voice sounded as if it were coming from a great distance. “Ah Tao, our marriage will not involve a bridal concubine this time.”
This was already an exception he was making for me.
But I felt only confusion.
I asked, “Why go to such lengths?”
“You will be the matriarch of my Wang Clan,” Wang Jie said. “Besides, you are the most suitable person to be my wife.”
Merely suitable.
When I first met him in my youth, my heart had actually been stirred.
At the Flower Festival banquet, someone had teased, “Brother Wang has been betrothed to the daughter of the Li Family. Truly, congratulations are in order.”
“The Li Family is a noble house; she is a perfect match for Brother Wang. It’s just a pity-I hear the Lady Li’s appearance is quite ordinary.”
“What does that matter? One marries a wife for her virtue. If you want a beautiful lady, just take a few concubines. I hear Lord Li has many beautiful daughters born to his mistresses; Brother Wang can surely take advantage of his position to enjoy the view.”
Wang Jie had not refuted them.
He expected me to be a virtuous wife.
But he had misjudged me.
I was not virtuous.
And I would continue to be unvirtuous.
After returning home, I summoned Xidai.
She seemed somewhat overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, looking at me timidly.
But because I had nearly poisoned her mother to death, a shallow resentment was hidden in her eyes.
“Do you want to be Wang Jie’s primary wife?” I asked.
Xidai was shocked. “Eldest Sister-”
“I am not your eldest sister.”
My mother never left me any siblings.
When she was five months pregnant, she had been provoked by Lady Qin and suffered a miscarriage. Afterward, she fell into a deep depression and eventually passed away.
I would not fall into their trap.
“If you are willing, I will show you a way to marry Wang Jie in my place.”
“I don’t want to marry into the same house as you. Since Wang Jie’s heart is set on you, I will give him to you.”
Xidai was moved.
She hesitated for a long while, biting her lip before saying, “I need to go back and ask my mother.”
“Go then.”
With Lady Qin’s greed, how could she possibly refuse?
She had been so calculating in her attempts to get Xidai into the Wang Family, not hesitating to feign illness or even accept the status of a concubine.
My wet nurse was resentful. “This is letting them off too easy.”
Not necessarily.
Given the status of the Wang Clan, Xidai would not have an easy time after marrying in.
People always love to romanticize the paths they haven’t taken.
The door that Lady Qin couldn’t enter-she always assumed it led to something beautiful.
“Prepare everything. Let there be no mistakes.”
“Yes.”