Chapter 74

Chapter 74

[The Male Chauvinist’s Victory – 15]

Heaven was Liu Che’s witness: it was true that he disliked Jin Miao, and it was true that he had planned to teach the man a lesson later. But he had genuinely never imagined that anyone could be so incompetent and so stupid. Liu Che had already fought all the difficult battles, yet Jin Miao had still rushed forward to hand the enemy his head.

It would have made some sense if Jin Miao disliked Liu Che, deliberately abandoned Shangyu to embarrass him, and then relied on the Jin Family to extricate himself. Yet the man had not even run. His entire family had been killed. One could only say that the world was vast and contained every conceivable marvel.

As for Li Dongan…

There was a choice curse in Liu Che’s heart that absolutely had to be said!

The road had been paved for him and the ladder put in place. Yet somehow this fellow had stepped on his own foot and sent himself tumbling down. No one would necessarily believe it if the story were told aloud!

After receiving two pieces of bad news in succession, Liu Che was exhausted in both body and mind. He waved for the scout to withdraw, dropped heavily into his chair, and no longer wished to say a word.

Emperor Gaozu looked at him sympathetically. “It all happened rather suddenly, didn’t it?”

Li Shimin said, “If you feel awful, then cry. Don’t force yourself to hold it in.”

Zhu Yuanzhang said, “It wasn’t your fault. Don’t blame yourself too much.”

Covering his face in anguish, Liu Che said, “Life is too hard, bro. I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately…”

Ying Zheng asked, “So are we allowed to laugh?”

“…” Liu Che: “????”

Question marks practically covered Liu Che’s head. “Bro, is that something a human being would say?!!”

His answer was a burst of merciless, delighted laughter.

An emperor’s sorrows and joys were incomprehensible to other emperors. They merely found Zhi’er hilarious. Hehehe.

Daily humiliation of Zhi’er: complete.

…

Although Jin Miao’s entire family had been killed and Chen Xian had led his followers in flight to the offshore islands, the rebellion that had swept across nearly half the southeast was finally declared over. It ended in a great victory for the court.

Afterward, Li Dongan returned with his trusted followers, laden with spoils. When he saw Liu Che, he looked rather embarrassed. He obliquely mentioned Chen Xian’s escape, subtly shifted the blame onto Chen Xian by calling the rebel cunning and treacherous, and then quietly revealed that he had ordered five chests of gold, silver, and jewels delivered to Liu Che’s tent. They were obviously hush money.

What could Liu Che do? Could he leap up, slap this fat pig across the face, and roar an obscene curse at him?

He smiled pleasantly. “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter. The important thing is that you weren’t injured, Uncle. As for Chen Xian, let him run. If he didn’t escape this time, how could we catch him again later and earn more military merit?”

Those words struck directly at Li Dongan’s heart. Looking again at his handsome, dashing nephew-in-law, he found Liu Che increasingly pleasing to the eye. He immediately promised to submit a memorial to Jiankang reporting Liu Che’s accomplishments. Whatever else happened, an appointment as governor-general of a region should pose no problem.

Liu Che smiled on the outside and cursed on the inside.

Now that Chen Xian had fled in panic, it was merely a matter of time before the remaining scattered troops were completely eliminated. On one hand, Liu Che ordered his soldiers not to harm the commoners, under penalty of death. On the other, since most of the local magnates in Kuaiji and the other places once occupied by Chen’s rebels had been killed, he ordered his subordinates to survey the fields and land throughout the region. He then memorialized the court, requesting that the land be distributed among the people to offer them relief.

At the same time, he boldly gave Guan Pu command of several hundred soldiers and had him personally oversee the suppression of the small remaining bands under Chen Xian. In this way, his younger brother could be tempered on the battlefield.

Most generals of the time maintained little discipline and allowed their soldiers to plunder the commoners, bringing great suffering upon the people. Liu Che enforced military law strictly and also submitted a memorial seeking land upon which they could establish their livelihoods. With both measures working together, his good name shone ever brighter.

…

Chen Xian and his soldiers and generals had remained in Kuaiji and the surrounding region for several months, squeezing the people to the marrow. One could easily imagine the scale of the mess they left behind. Liu Che needed to oversee all military affairs, and he also intended to further improve his reputation among the people, so he remained there for some additional time.

Li Jiangxue had been punished with copying the Lotus Sutra three times in her own courtyard-a full two hundred and fifty thousand characters. She wore several brushes bald before she finally finished. Only after taking the work to Li Jiangyue and being told that she had passed did she learn that her husband had long since gone south to Kuaiji to suppress the rebellion. He was not in Shouzhou at all.

Li Jiangyue was now five months pregnant, and her belly had begun to show. No matter how Li Jiangxue looked at it, the sight grated on her eyes.

She knew that her cousin would become emperor in the future, and she had personally watched him ascend step by step. She believed that with the Li Family’s help, he would take the throne earlier than he had in her previous life. The problem was that her cousin was already preparing to become emperor, while she did not possess sufficient qualifications to become his Empress!

In terms of status, Li Jiangyue was the wife her cousin had properly married, while she was merely a concubine. In terms of trust, her cousin entrusted every matter to Li Jiangyue. Although he doted upon Li Jiangxue as well, his treatment of her was ultimately different from his attitude toward her half sister.

Most important of all, Li Jiangyue was pregnant!

If she gave birth to a son in one stroke, he would be her cousin’s legitimate eldest son. With a son to rely upon, how could Li Jiangxue ever drag her down from the position of principal wife?

Worse still, Li Jiangxue had no news of a pregnancy even now. Even if she truly pulled Li Jiangyue down, became her cousin’s principal wife, and then became Empress, she would only be laboring for someone else’s benefit!

The more Li Jiangxue thought, the more furious she became. Her dark gaze swept across her half sister’s rounded belly. Finally, she gave Li Jiangyue a perfunctory bow, pressed her lips together, and withdrew.

The small kitchen sent over milk cakes. The matron accepted them, then waved for everyone else to leave. “This old servant was watching the Right Madam’s expression just now and felt that something was wrong. You both married into the Yan household at the same time. Now you are five months pregnant, while she has shown no sign at all. There is no guarantee she won’t do something…”
In terms of age, Li Jiangyue was only a few months younger than her legitimate elder sister. The two sisters had grown up together and knew each other inside out. To put it crudely, the moment her sister raised her tail, Li Jiangyue knew exactly what sort of filth she intended to produce.

It was from this sister that she had learned a certain truth.

What was truly frightening was not an enemy who was too wicked, but one who was too stupid-especially when that enemy was both stupid and impulsive, yet had someone protecting her and cleaning up every mess she made. That was terrifying beyond measure.

You could never predict just how foolish a thing a fool might do. At the same time, because of the person standing behind her, you would be forced to swallow the bitter consequences no matter how unbearable they were.

But things were different now from when they had lived with the Li Family.

Her legitimate elder sister was still stupid, but the person who had protected her was no longer here. Without Madam Wei cleaning up after her, if her sister persisted in her folly and truly dared to harm the child in Li Jiangyue’s womb, Li Jiangyue was confident she could destroy her even without relying on the difference between a wife and a concubine.

“If she truly intends to act, there are only a few methods she can use.” Li Jiangyue rested a hand on her belly and said calmly, “Keep a close watch on the small kitchen. Nothing I eat or drink may leave someone’s sight for even a moment. Watch the people in our courtyard carefully as well. They may all be longtime servants we are accustomed to using, but there is no guarantee they cannot be bought with money. Pay extra attention to the objects I use every day too.”

The matron respectfully acknowledged the order.

…

Li Jiangyue was five months pregnant. In a little over four months, the fruit would ripen and fall from the vine, and she would give birth. Yet Li Jiangxue herself showed no signs at all.

If her cousin had remained in Shouzhou, she might have clung to him until good news soon arrived. Unfortunately, he had gone south to suppress the rebellion, and no one knew when he would return. Li Jiangxue could only watch helplessly as her half sister’s belly grew larger by the day while she herself waited in torment.

Her hatred of her half sister, accumulated over more than a decade, became entangled with the misery of remaining childless for so long. In the end, Li Jiangxue could not restrain herself. She brooded over her malicious intentions in her courtyard for several days before finally devising a fairly thorough plan.

Li Jiangyue was fond of sweets and ate pastries every few days. Li Jiangxue secretly ordered someone to purchase a large quantity of medicinal ingredients harmful to pregnancy. She then spent lavishly to buy the shop that supplied the household with powdered sugar, had the ingredients ground into powder, and mixed small amounts into the sugar.

Because the dosage was small, it would be very difficult to detect. And since Li Jiangyue still had more than four months until her due date, the child in her womb could hardly remain unaffected if she consumed pastries made with the adulterated sugar over a long period.

With money clearing the way, the plan naturally proceeded smoothly. Three days later, the pastries were placed on the table in the principal residence.

Li Jiangyue picked one up and examined it, casually tossed it back onto the plate, then wiped her hands with a handkerchief. “Bring me the physician who wrote the prescription, the shop assistant who dispensed the medicine, and the former owner of the sugar shop. Don’t make things difficult for them. Have them write depositions, sign them, and affix their fingerprints. Then keep them well fed and comfortably housed. They are all witnesses, and the lord of the household must see them.”

The matron acknowledged the order, then asked, “And the Right Madam…?”

“The lord is not at home. How could I deal with her rashly? If this affair became public, outsiders would only laugh at the Yan household and mock the upbringing expected of the Li Family of Lingnan!”

Li Jiangyue’s lips curved coldly. Stroking her belly, she said slowly, “As for my dear elder sister, I naturally have a way to entertain her!”

…

By the time Li Jiangyue was six months pregnant, the fetus should by rights have been stable. For some reason, however, she often suffered abdominal pain and occasionally bled. A physician was summoned, but he could not identify the problem.

This was her first pregnancy, after all, and neither her husband nor her mother was at her side. Inevitably, she felt anxious. The wives and daughters of Shouzhou’s official families came to visit, but Li Jiangyue declined them all on the grounds that she was unwell and unable to receive guests.

Thus, everyone knew that Madam Yan’s pregnancy was not progressing well. They merely sent gifts and tonics from time to time and dared not visit in person, for fear that if anything truly happened, the blame might fall upon them.

Li Jiangxue guessed that her medicine was probably taking effect and was secretly overjoyed, though she dared not show it. She went to visit her half sister in anticipation of a good show and found her lying pale-faced on a couch, even her voice weak when she spoke.

Served her right!

Hopefully that little bastard would truly be miscarried one day!

Li Jiangxue offered a few hypocritical words of concern, then rose and left in satisfaction. She had not gone far when she saw Lady Lu approaching with a spray of begonias in her arms, probably also on her way to visit her half sister.

The moment Li Jiangxue saw her, her expression darkened.

It was almost comical. Lady Lu had first volunteered to eat vegetarian meals, chant sutras, and reflect in her courtyard for a month. Immediately afterward, Li Jiangxue had also been confined. It had taken her a month and a half to finish copying the Lotus Sutra three times before she was released.

Yet though she was finally free, her cousin had left. She then heard that Lady Lu had regained his favor and coaxed such affection from him that he had not only pardoned the Lu Family from death, but also granted them a hundred gold pieces and helped them acquire a new residence.

She had lost on every front, and the first thing she saw upon being released was her enemy enjoying favor. How could Li Jiangxue not be furious?

If not for that bitch Lady Lu, her cousin would never have confined her, much less forced her to copy more than two hundred thousand characters of Buddhist scripture. The inner residence had been left empty, allowing this lowly concubine-born woman to preen in triumph!

Naturally, she selectively ignored the fact that she had been confined because she had stirred up trouble and barged into Lady Lu’s courtyard to beat her.

Li Jiangxue saw Lady Lu, and Lady Lu naturally saw her as well. As they crossed paths, Lady Lu stopped and gave a half bow, then continued toward the principal residence with the budding begonias in her arms.
Li Jiangxue laughed in anger. “Stop!”

Lady Lu halted and turned to look at her. “What instructions does the Right Madam have?”

“Have you gone mute? Don’t you know how to greet me when you see me?”

Supported by a maid, Li Jiangxue walked up to Lady Lu and sneered. “Or have you been so eager to become someone else’s dog that you can no longer see anyone else?”

Lady Lu glanced at her indifferently. “Right Madam, I address you as ‘Madam’ only out of respect because you are Madam’s elder sister. But do not forget that, in essence, you and I are both the lord’s concubines. What difference is there in rank? You were born to a respectable family, and so was I. We are both honored concubines and stand as equals. Neither of us should look down on the other. As for all this talk of being someone’s dog… Those words are truly ugly. To put it plainly, are we concubines not half servants who attend upon the lord and the mistress of the household? If you call me a dog, what do you consider yourself?”

“How dare you!” Li Jiangxue’s beautiful face flushed red as she shouted fiercely. “I am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Li Family of Lingnan! What are you, that you dare claim to be my equal?!”

“Yes, the legitimate eldest daughter of the Li Family of Lingnan. How very impressive.” Lady Lu smiled unhurriedly, a trace of mockery veiling her cool, elegant eyes. “But if you are so impressive, why did you become the lord’s concubine just like me?”

Li Jiangxue choked. “You!”

Lady Lu feigned incomprehension. “Did you find being a principal wife uncomfortable?”

Li Jiangxue nearly burst with fury. She raised a hand to slap Lady Lu, only for Lady Lu to seize her wrist and strike her across the face instead.

Truthfully, the slap did not hurt very much. But Li Jiangxue would never forget the humiliation that came with it.

“Wretched slave, you have a death wish!”

Shocked and enraged, Li Jiangxue covered her face and moved forward to strike her. In the next instant, Lady Lu placed one hand on the railing and collapsed weakly.

One of her maids hurried to catch her mistress, while the other stood protectively before them and shouted, “Someone come quickly! Fetch a physician! The Right Madam struck our mistress unconscious!”

Caught completely off guard, Li Jiangxue failed to react for a moment. Then the matron serving Li Jiangyue emerged from the principal residence and demanded sternly, “What is this commotion? Don’t you know Madam is resting quietly to protect her unborn child?”

Lady Lu’s two maids burst into tearful complaints, saying that the unreasonable and tyrannical Right Madam had struck their mistress unconscious in public. They made her sound utterly pitiable.

Angry and aggrieved, Li Jiangxue said bitterly, “Nonsense! She was clearly the one who hit me! Like mistress, like servants-you two blackhearted wretches actually dare frame me like this! And you, Lu Chan! My cousin isn’t even here. Who are you putting on this performance for?!”

She stepped forward and pretended she was going to drag Lady Lu to her feet. Before she could even touch the hem of Lady Lu’s robe, the matron said coldly, “Right Madam, this is the courtyard of the Yan Family’s principal wife. Should you not restrain yourself? Surely you have not forgotten the pain once your wound healed. Do you no longer remember why the lord previously ordered you confined to your courtyard to copy sutras?”

After speaking, she ordered the servants to quickly help Lady Lu inside and have a physician examine her.

The matron had exposed that affair in public, causing Li Jiangxue to lose face. Just as she was about to argue, a low commotion arose in the inner room.

Before long, one of Lady Lu’s maids came to report to the matron, her face brimming with joy. “The physician says our mistress is already two months pregnant. Her health is frail and the pregnancy somewhat unstable, so she must rest and recuperate carefully…”

The matron’s expression remained unchanged. She merely nodded. Li Jiangxue, however, looked as though she had been struck by lightning, her pretty face instantly turning deathly pale!

That wretched Lady Lu was pregnant?

How could that be?!

How long had she even been in the household? And she was already pregnant?

Counting the days, the child had been conceived precisely while Li Jiangxue was confined!

Li Jiangyue was pregnant, and so was Lady Lu. Li Jiangxue alone was not. Did she truly lack the blessing? Was she destined never to bear her cousin’s children?

If that was so, could she still take the position of Empress?!

Li Jiangxue was consumed by jealousy, hatred, and anger. One moment, she thought Li Jiangyue and Lady Lu had stumbled into outrageous good fortune. The next, she felt that Heaven had treated her unfairly, granting her a chance to live again only to make her miss the position of her cousin’s principal wife. Though she had now married him, she was forced to watch other women become pregnant with his children again and again…

Conflicting emotions churned inside Li Jiangxue, and she could not conceal her dejection. At that moment, the curtain before the principal residence lifted. Her half sister, still pale, approached with the support of a maid and said calmly, “Elder Sister, because of your spoiled temper, I have punished you and advised you, yet why have you not taken any of it to heart? Have you forgotten why the lord became angry before and ordered you confined to your courtyard? Lady Lu has always been gentle and obedient. Why must you be so aggressive and make things difficult for her? Fortunately, nothing happened to the child in her womb. Otherwise, once the lord returned, how could a fiercely jealous and insolent concubine like you be permitted to remain in the Yan household?”

“When did I ever make things difficult for Lady Lu? That wretched slave is spouting lies and framing me!”

Li Jiangxue’s expression changed. “She clearly provoked me on purpose just now, struck me, and then suddenly collapsed on her own. I never touched so much as the corner of her robe!”

Li Jiangyue said, “But I heard that when she saw you, she bowed from a distance. You were the one who stopped her and spoke to her first, were you not?”

Li Jiangxue faltered. “That… that was all…”

“Enough!” Li Jiangyue’s expression hardened, and her voice deepened. “We both come from the Li Family, and I call you Elder Sister. Ordinarily, I overlook your spoiled behavior. But if you stir up trouble in this residence, bully others, and endanger the lord’s offspring, then I cannot allow you to remain!”
Without waiting for Li Jiangxue to defend herself, she ordered, “Someone! Escort Lady Li back to her courtyard and confine her there. Without my permission, she is not to leave. If any servants take this opportunity to cause trouble or refuse discipline, drag them all out and have them beaten with the disciplinary rod. It does not matter if they die!”

The expressions of everyone nearby changed, but none dared defy the mistress of the household. They immediately moved to escort Li Jiangxue back to her own courtyard.

Li Jiangxue’s expression changed abruptly as the key to the entire affair suddenly occurred to her. In a shrill, furious voice, she cried, “Li Jiangyue, did you order Lady Lu to do that? Very well! You actually conspired with that wretched slave to frame me! When Cousin returns, he will never forgive you…”

Standing atop the steps, Li Jiangyue looked down at her. “Elder Sister, must I have the family disciplinary rod brought over before you will close your mouth and behave? The punishment is harsh. I fear your delicate and precious body may not endure it.”

Li Jiangxue raised her eyes and met her half sister’s icy gaze. A chill entered her heart, and she forcibly swallowed all the remaining abuse she had intended to hurl.

After Li Jiangxue was taken away, Li Jiangyue immediately ordered her courtyard sealed. No one was permitted to enter or leave without authorization, and designated servants would deliver all her meals. At the same time, Li Jiangyue seized the servants who had run errands for her, purchasing the medicinal ingredients and buying the sugar shop, and obtained their written confessions.

Lady Lu was resting on a couch at that moment. When Li Jiangyue entered, she started to rise, but Li Jiangyue pressed her back by the shoulder. “You are carrying a child now too. There is no need for such formality.”

Supporting her waist, Li Jiangyue slowly sat down and sighed. “You are far too earnest. I told you to fall, and you fell without hesitation. What if you had truly injured yourself? Foolish woman.”

Lady Lu said gratefully, “Madam has granted this concubine a new life. If I can be of service to Madam, how could I dare shirk the task?”

After speaking, she looked with satisfaction toward Li Jiangxue’s distant courtyard and sneered. “She humiliated me time and again in the past. Who would have thought that today she would receive repayment in kind? How satisfying!”

Li Jiangyue smiled faintly without speaking.

There were now two pregnant women in the Yan household, while the lord was away from home. Strangely, neither Li Jiangyue’s nor Lady Lu’s pregnancy seemed to be progressing well.

Several days passed in this manner. Uneasy, Li Jiangyue sent for a Daoist priest to inspect the residence for anything amiss. After asking where the women of the inner residence lived and under which zodiac signs they had been born, he was shocked to discover that the lord’s absence had weakened the household’s yang energy, allowing yin energy to intrude. Furthermore, the fate of the Right Madam, Li Jiangxue, was excessively yin and clashed with the children in the other women’s wombs. That was the cause of this calamity.

Alarmed, Li Jiangyue hurriedly asked how the matter could be resolved. The Daoist priest replied, “You need only have that madam eat vegetarian meals, chant Buddhist sutras, and remain behind closed doors. The household is suffering because its yang energy is weak. Once the Inspector returns, yin and yang will harmonize and the two energies will flow smoothly. The calamity within the residence will immediately be resolved, and that madam may once again leave her courtyard freely.”

Li Jiangyue nodded repeatedly. After rewarding the Daoist priest generously with gold and silver and seeing him out, she ordered Li Jiangxue to eat vegetarian meals and chant sutras in her own courtyard, praying for her husband far away in Kuaiji and for the two unborn children in the household.

Li Jiangxue knew there had to be some trick she did not understand. How could she be willing to comply? Yet Li Jiangyue did not even go to see her. She merely sent her matron to convey a message. “I have asked Elder Sister to eat vegetarian meals and chant sutras for the lord’s safety and for the Yan Family’s offspring. If either of these things offends your eyes, say so openly. I can have a carriage prepared and send you to an estate in the countryside, where you may do as you please. Would that not be more comfortable?”

Being sent by carriage to a rural estate was the treatment traditionally reserved for women who had broken household rules. If Li Jiangxue was truly cast out in this fashion, how could she ever face anyone again?

Li Jiangyue was the principal wife, while she was only a concubine. No matter how often the servants addressed her as Right Madam, the essential difference between them remained.

Furious and aggrieved, Li Jiangxue cried for half a day. In the end, she obeyed her half sister’s order with a heart full of humiliation and remained obediently at home, chanting sutras.

…

In the middle of the seventh month, Liu Che finally finished handling affairs in Kuaiji and set out for Jiankang with Li Dongan and Guan Pu.

In this campaign, he had crushed Chen Xian’s forces in a single stroke. Afterward, he made great efforts to treat the commoners leniently and stabilize public sentiment, earning immense merit. Before he even reached Jiankang, he learned that the court intended to confer upon him the additional title of Governor-General of Shouzhou, an office of the lower third rank. His younger brother Guan Pu had also achieved several small victories and was awarded the eighth-rank title of Commandant Who Proclaims Loyalty.

The two went to the palace together to pay their respects to the emperor. Afterward, they attended the victory banquet that Li Dongshan held for his younger brother and son-in-law. Hosts and guests alike thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and the atmosphere was exceptionally cheerful.

Liu Che behaved as if he noticed nothing and remained unfailingly respectful. Li Dongshan said nothing aloud but was extremely satisfied.

Having used the stepping-stone paved by his nephew-in-law to advance to General of Agile Cavalry, Li Dongan was very fond of Liu Che. He held Liu Che’s hand and talked at length, showing an intimacy no less profound than that of any close relative.

Liu Che remained attentive and considerate. Halfway through the banquet, he rose and personally poured wine for Li Dongan. “I have one or two old acquaintances in Jiankang. I originally intended to bring them with me to Shouzhou, but they are concerned about their families and cannot travel far. I hear that Uncle has been ordered to command the Imperial Guards. Might you give them a means of livelihood and grant them official posts…?”

Li Dongan hiccuped and slurred, “A-a trivial matter!”

Liu Che smiled as well, his gaze unfathomable. Watching Li Dongan drain his cup, he clapped and laughed. “Uncle can certainly hold his liquor!”

Madam Wei and Madam Yu had not seen their son-in-law for a long time and naturally worried about him, especially Madam Wei.

Li Jiangyue was both the principal wife and pregnant. Faced with that comparison, how could Madam Wei feel at ease?
Liu Che drank with the Li Family that evening, and she did not attend the banquet. The next day, however, she specially sent someone to invite her son-in-law over and earnestly instructed him at length.

Liu Che agreed to everything. As soon as he left, Madam Yu invited him over and likewise gave him a series of gentle admonitions.

He continued to nod, courteous, warm, and considerate. He then went to bid farewell to Li Dongshan and Li Dongan. Only after he passed through the gates of Jiankang did his expression turn cold. Cracking his whip, he set out for Shouzhou.

Four months had passed between his departure and return. Liu Che sent no one ahead to announce his arrival. Once he reached Shouzhou, he urged his horse straight back to his residence. First, he took the newly minted Commandant Who Proclaims Loyalty, Guan Pu, to see their younger brother Guan Sheng, letting the boy stew in envy and jealousy of his elder brother for a while. Only then did he head to the principal residence to see Li Jiangyue.

When he had left, Li Jiangyue’s pregnancy had not yet begun to show. Now her belly was very large. Lady Lu accompanied her, and both women emerged with servants supporting them to welcome him.

Liu Che naturally reached out to support Li Jiangyue and said with emotion, “I hurried as fast as I could and finally made it back before you give birth. I have worried constantly, afraid I might miss the child’s arrival.”

Li Jiangyue smiled gently, then looked at Lady Lu. “Husband, don’t look only at me. You should ask after Chan too.”

Liu Che had already learned of his beloved concubine’s pregnancy from Li Jiangyue’s letters. He burst into laughter and looked teasingly at Lady Lu. Lowering his voice, he said, “We had only those few days together, yet somehow you conceived. It seems Heaven has taken pity on you and favors you especially.”

Shyness entered Lady Lu’s eyes. In a gently reproachful tone, she called, “My lord.”

They sat and talked for a while in a harmonious atmosphere. Lady Lu knew that the mistress of the household needed to discuss Li Jiangxue with the lord, so she did not remain long. After sitting briefly, she rose and took her leave.

Li Jiangyue ordered the servants to escort her back carefully. Only after turning around and dismissing all the attendants did she tell Liu Che how Li Jiangxue had attempted to harm the child in her womb.

“I have detained everyone involved. These are their depositions. The evidence is conclusive, and she cannot deny it.”

Li Jiangyue handed him several written confessions, then continued, “Family scandals should not be made public, and she is my elder sister besides. If this caused an uproar, it would only disgrace the Li and Yan families. So I did not spread the matter. I merely said that our birth charts were incompatible and confined her to her courtyard to chant sutras and pray for blessings while awaiting your return and judgment.”

Liu Che read through the depositions without expressing an opinion. Instead, he asked her, “What do you think should be done?”

Li Jiangyue met his gaze without evasion. “Merit should be rewarded, and wrongdoing punished. Confine her for half a year and have her copy the Lotus Sutra twenty times. What does Husband think?”

Liu Che sighed. “You are ultimately too softhearted. She tried to harm the child in your womb, yet you would let the matter end after confining her for only half a year?”

Li Jiangyue replied, “She did not succeed, after all. Besides, we must take the Li Family into consideration…”

Liu Che bent a finger and brushed it across her smooth cheek. With a soft laugh, he said, “That was before.”

Li Jiangyue’s heart gave a small jolt. She smiled with perfect composure and said nothing.

Liu Che had not intended to hear her say anything. Turning away, he ordered, “Bring Lady Li here.”

The attendants obeyed. Before long, they brought Li Jiangxue in.

She had been confined to her courtyard and chanting sutras for nearly two months. Nor did she possess Lady Lu’s awareness that she should use her beauty to please a man. Though her hair was not disheveled and her face was not dirty, her looks had still declined considerably. Liu Che took one glance at her and frowned in distaste.

Li Jiangxue did not notice. The moment she saw her cousin, she began to sob. “Cousin, you’re finally back! You must uphold justice for me!”

Resting his chin on one hand, Liu Che tapped the written confessions on the table with the fingers of his left hand and ordered, “Take these over and let her read them.”

At first, Li Jiangxue did not understand and looked bewildered. But after accepting the papers and reading a few lines, her expression changed dramatically!

Liu Che asked pleasantly, “Have you been falsely accused?”

Both witnesses and material evidence were present. How could Li Jiangxue dare claim she was innocent?

Her face turned white as paper. After faltering for a long while, she called in a trembling voice, “Cousin…”

Liu Che nodded and smiled. “Since you offer no defense, I assume you have not been falsely accused.”

Li Jiangxue stepped forward, intending to wheedle him as she had in the past and make the entire affair disappear.

Liu Che did not look at her. The smile vanished from his face as he expressionlessly ordered an attendant, “Bring the family disciplinary rod. Give her thirty strokes so she learns her lesson and understands what she should and should not do.”

With that, he stood. Before leaving, he said solicitously to his wife, “I still have some official business to handle, so I will not remain here. You are pregnant and should not witness anything bloody. Go back and rest early. I will visit you tonight.”

Li Jiangyue’s expression changed when she heard this. She forced a smile and nodded silently.

“Oh, that’s right.” Liu Che turned back.

Li Jiangxue looked at him with eyes full of hope.

Liu Che gazed at her tenderly and smiled. Yet the words he spoke were directed to the attendant beside him. “Remember to gag her during the punishment. It will be very noisy if she starts screaming.”