chapter 2

Vision.

She was lecturing me about vision.

I very nearly laughed aloud.

Even Gu Nianwu could not listen to any more. He kept shooting her frantic looks.

I first put on armor and rode into battle beside my father at seventeen. I had fought thirteen major campaigns and more minor engagements than I could count, driving the soldiers of the Ying Kingdom from our borders so soundly that they fled at the mere rumor of my approach. Who in court or country did not know my achievements?

And there was one more thing that set me apart: my surname was Xuanyuan.

I was the only person in Great Liang to bear my mother’s surname. My father had loved her beyond reason and, heedless of convention, allowed me to inherit her family name.

“Xuanyuan” did more than sound formidable.

My ability to win against superior forces, and Gu Nianwu’s unbroken string of victories over the years, both rested on the Xuanyuan clan’s secret power.

I could command ghosts.

Not even Gu Nianwu knew that.

And now some sheltered young lady who had never touched a sword or spear thought herself qualified to lecture me on the breadth of my horizons.

Instead of anger, I smiled. “Then tell me, Miss Du, since you possess such magnificent vision, what do you think I should do now?”

“Accept the divorce paper, of course. Leave the Gu residence without weeping or making a scene.”

At a look from her, Gu Nianwu obediently flung the divorce paper he had prepared in advance onto the table before me.

I glanced over it. It was in his own hand.

The ink had long since dried. His characters were as ugly as ever.

They said handwriting reflected its writer. Gu Nianwu was dashing and heroic, with features fine as a painting, but his atrocious penmanship was the one blemish on an otherwise perfect man.

In the old days at camp, he had often slipped into my tent after dark and shamelessly pleaded,

“His Majesty hates my handwriting. Will you write my memorial for me?”

Only after our wedding did he confess that the memorial had been an excuse. What he had really wanted was to be close to me.

I had not imagined he would find someone else to be close to quite so soon.

…

I tapped two fingers against the table until my stare made Du Yiyi uneasy.

“You understand people rather well,” I said bluntly. “All those words amount to the same thing: you want me to leave of my own accord and spare the two of you every inconvenience. Nothing in this world comes that cheaply.”

She sneered. “Surely you aren’t still hoping to win back dear Gu’s heart?”

I turned my head toward Gu Nianwu.

“I have no use for a man once he’s been soiled.”

He had evidently not expected me to be so resolute. Hurt and anger flickered across his face.

Still, he fancied himself magnanimous. He did not argue and motioned for me to continue.

“You were the one who hounded me until I married you. You were the one who fooled around with another woman behind my back. And now you are the one demanding a divorce.”

“I have been married to you for half a year. I have managed this household well and committed no fault.”

“I will take back my entire dowry, as well as half of the Gu family property.”

Du Yiyi was about to erupt, but Gu Nianwu stopped her coldly. “Let her finish.”

“And the letter of repudiation will be replaced with a deed of mutual divorce.”

After a pause, I added, “Most people take a letter of repudiation to mean the woman lacked virtue. That would make it harder for me to find another man.”

“Oh, and write down that we never consummated the marriage.”

Du Yiyi’s mouth fell open. She stared at Gu Nianwu in disbelief.

Slowly, Gu Nianwu turned his head toward me.

The corners of his eyes had reddened. He looked ready to devour me whole.