Chapter 3

When I woke the next morning, Nanny helped me wash and dress. I ran out of the room, laughing.

Husband had said last night that I could go wherever I liked here. No one would shut me away in a little courtyard again.

By the time Nanny caught up, a crowd had gathered around me.

“So this is the chief’s wife?” a man said first, smiling.

The men here were all unlike Father. They had broad shoulders, thick waists, and black beards.

They were a little frightening.

But when they smiled, they were a little cute too.

A woman stepped forward and rubbed the hair Nanny had just arranged for me. “What a sweet, pretty little thing! No wonder the boss changed his mind.”

I carefully moved my head out from under her hand and gave her a broad smile. “Hello, big sister.”

A laugh burst out of her, followed by a long peal of laughter.

“Fine! I’ll call you sister-in-law and you can call me big sister. We’ll each do as we please.” When she finished laughing, she rubbed my head again.

The women here were unlike my sisters too. Their clothes were simple and practical, and they didn’t say things I disliked.

Outside the crowd, Nanny looked as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t.

“Just you try it.” Husband’s voice came from beyond the crowd as well.

The people around me immediately parted. I saw him at once.

He wasn’t wearing yesterday’s red robe. So it hadn’t been the robe that was lovely. He looked lovely in anything.

My lovely husband.

My eyes lit up. Smiling, I flung myself toward him. “Husband!”

He was so tall I didn’t even reach his shoulder. I ran straight into his arms. Catching me securely, he looked at the woman. “Each do as you please?”

She stopped laughing at once and looked at me mournfully. “Sister-in-law, my name’s Lin Yunxi. Just call me Yunxi.”

I looked up at Husband. He nodded.

“Yunxi,” I said obediently.

She answered just as obediently. She looked as if she wanted to rush over and hug me, but Husband turned away with an arm around me, giving her no chance.

“She takes care of the stronghold’s daily supplies. If there’s anything you need, ask her.” He took me into another room and told me this as soon as we sat down.

I’d heard those words before.

Hidden behind the ornamental rocks, I’d heard Father say much the same to my eldest sister. Perhaps he’d said it to my second and third sisters too.

He’d never said it to me.

Holding Husband’s hand, I looked at him with shining eyes. “Really? I can ask for anything?”

He nodded and patted my head. “Eat first.”

At his words, people brought in all sorts of delicious things.

Everything I liked.

I quickly let go of him, picked up my chopsticks, and took the nearest steamed bun.

I’d barely brought it to my mouth when Husband said, “I’ve hired a teacher to teach you to read.”

Plop.

I dropped the bun.