Chapter 3
The noodles had barely arrived when hurried footsteps sounded outside.
Matron Zhou pushed open the door, her face grim.
“Young madam, something terrible has happened.”
I put down my chopsticks. “Take your time, Matron.”
“The third young master is in trouble in the south of the city.”
Qingdai drew a sharp breath.
I remained calm and gently dabbed the corners of my mouth with a handkerchief.
“Is he hurt?”
“No.” Matron Zhou looked embarrassed and stumbled over her words. “But the woman he keeps outside… her pregnancy is in danger, and now she’s threatening to kill herself.”
“In trying to save her, he quarreled with the city patrol. They’ve detained him.”
On our wedding night, my husband had caused a scene with the city patrol over his mistress.
If word of this scandal got out, the Mingguo household would be the laughingstock of the capital by morning.
Matron Zhou watched me, plainly afraid I would begin weeping and raging.
I secured my hairpin again and put on a plain cloak.
“Have the carriage brought round.”
She stared. “Where are you going, young madam?”
“First to collect my husband from the patrol office. Then south, to reassure Miss Liu.”
“But this is your wedding night…”
I fastened my cloak and met her gaze.
“Precisely because it is my wedding night, I cannot allow anyone to disgrace this family.”
As she looked at me, the scrutiny in her eyes finally gave way to respect.
A quarter of an hour later, our carriage slipped out through a side gate.
The night was dark. The great red lanterns dwindled behind us.
Qingdai sat in the corner, still indignant on my behalf.
“Are you really going to save that mistress, miss?”
I lifted the curtain and watched the wheels roll over fallen flowers.
“Of course I am.”
Not only would I save her, I would see Liu Ying’er’s child safely born.
I would have Song Jin bring her into the household with every honor.
I wanted everyone there to know I was tolerant, generous, mindful of the greater good—the wife most worthy of their family name.
As for what came afterward…
I let the curtain fall and gave a soft laugh.
There were many years ahead in this household.
Men, children, affection, reputation: all were pieces on a board.
No piece was inherently good or bad.
Winning depended entirely on the player.
The men at the patrol office looked even more astonished to see me than Matron Zhou had.
I still wore my wedding robes and gold hairpins, with the scarlet ornament bright between my brows.
By all appearances, I was a new bride who ought to be waiting in her bridal chamber for her husband.
Unfortunately, that husband was locked in a side room at the patrol office.
He had injured two officers and damaged a door with his kicks.
The deputy commander recognized the marquis’s carriage and came out to greet me himself.
He called it a misunderstanding, but his eyes gleamed with anticipation of a spectacle.
“Young madam, it was never a serious matter. Only, your husband refused to yield…”
“How are the injured men?” I asked gently.
“Only superficial wounds.”
“Our household will pay every coin owed for their treatment.”
“We will also reimburse you in full for the damaged property.”
I took out a banknote and handed it to Matron Zhou.
The deputy commander’s smile faded a little.
He had probably hoped to see me cry, make a scene, or fall out with Song Jin in public.
Instead I said, “Our household is celebrating a wedding tonight. My husband drank a few cups too many and forgot himself.”
“A generous man such as yourself surely won’t hold a drunken man’s behavior against him.”
The deputy commander glanced at the banknote.
I added, “The minister of revenue and the censor-in-chief both attended our wedding feast today.”
“If they have to concern themselves with this tomorrow as well, it would put you all to such trouble.”
It was not a threat.
At least, it did not sound like one.
After a brief silence, the deputy commander smiled and ordered Song Jin released.
He emerged with his robes disheveled and a bruise at the corner of his mouth.
At the sight of me, he checked his stride.
“What are you doing here?”
“Taking my husband home.”
“Who sent you?”
“Grandmother.”
The mention of her tempered his irritation a little.
But a moment later, he frowned.
“Ying’er is still in the south of the city.”
“I know.”
“The baby’s in danger.”
“I know that too.”
Song Jin stared at me, as though searching my face for resentment, hurt, or jealousy.
Unfortunately for him, he found none.
I turned and climbed into the carriage.
“If you’re worried, come with me and see her.”
For the first time, Song Jin stood where he was without an immediate reply.
Only when I lifted the curtain to look at him did he chuckle and climb in after me.