Chapter 5
When Shen Yixuan stormed into my room, I was hard at work selecting auspicious dates that month for him to take his concubines.
His eyes swept over the unwritten invitations on the table. He seized them and tore every one to pieces.
“You’ve only just entered this house. What on earth did you say to my brother’s wife? You’ve brought on her old illness!”
Ruyue curled her lip and muttered:
“Is your wife our madam or the second madam, my lord? Women quarrel in the inner quarters. So long as our madam hasn’t suffered, why should you care whether the other one lives or dies?”
“Wonderful! Like mistress, like maid. You made my brother’s wife ill, Mother heard about it, and she called me in to answer for you!
“Now I hear from the servants that you mean to give me five concubines. Utter nonsense!
“When Huazhu was alive, when was this household ever in such chaos? In what way can you compare with your sister?”
For the first time, I gave him my full attention. Even a dog’s mouth could produce something worthwhile now and then.
“You’re half right and half wrong, my lord. You’re right that I can’t compare with my sister. But you’re wrong about the concubines. It wasn’t my idea. Your brother’s wife was teaching me to be virtuous. She wanted me to find you concubines on the second day of our marriage.”
His expression eased a little, though he shot me a look as if I were an idiot.
“We’re newly married. Behavior like that would ruin my reputation.
“I know you’re young and frightened, being a new bride. Behave yourself, and I’ll give you the respect you’re due…”
He thought I was offering him concubines to win his favor. How did he manage to have such an enormous opinion of himself?
Amused, I handed him the dates I had selected.
“You misunderstand, my lord. Surely we should be reasonable. Your brother’s wife behaved improperly first. I was perfectly entitled to answer her.”
He waved an impatient hand.
“Domestic trifles. Women squabbling. Why burden me with them? My brother’s wife has always been dutiful to Mother. Now she’s ill, and Mother is deeply worried. Out of respect for Mother, you’ll go and apologize tomorrow!”
Even now, he was pretending not to understand, smoothing things over by asking me to suffer in silence for the sake of family harmony. He could hardly blame me for striking where it hurt.
“Brother-in-law! Do you really think this is a domestic trifle?”
“I’ve been in this household one day. I never had any quarrel with her before I married. Why is she so determined to make trouble for me?”
“An emperor’s wife is empress, the mother of the realm. A servant’s wife is a woman who sweeps the floors. Now I’ve barely arrived and she’s putting obstacles in my way. Is she really attacking me, or is she attacking you? I’m simply suffering because I’m your wife. And as for the old madam, your brother’s wife was clearly in the wrong. It’s far too partial of her—”
While I spoke of Madam Xu, his face was dark but he remained composed. The moment I mentioned his mother, he hurled a cup to the floor and pointed at my nose.
“Malicious talk! One of the seven grounds for dismissing a wife. You’re trying to drive a wedge between my brother and me. I could divorce you on the spot.”
Who did he think he was frightening?
I had touched the wound he kept most deeply hidden, and he had flown into a rage.
Of course Shen Yixuan knew his mother played favorites.
He was the eldest son and held the title. By any measure, he ought to have married into a powerful family.
My sister had been celebrated for her virtue, but amid all this wealth and nobility, our family counted for very little.
He had married her—and then me—entirely because his second brother was good at neither books nor arms. Highborn girls wanted nothing to do with him. Unable to marry one himself, he dreaded an elder sister-in-law from an influential family who could keep him firmly beneath her. He had begged and pestered the old madam until, utterly partial to him, she arranged it.
I poured Shen Yixuan a cup of water and casually used it to push his pointing finger aside.
“Don’t be angry, my lord. And no more nonsense about divorce. You’re my brother-in-law, and more importantly, you’re Jin and Yu’s father. For that alone, I have no reason to harm you. For now, our interests are the same.”
“Love, loyalty, who’s right and who’s wrong—none of that matters very much. What matters now is control of the household.”
“After my sister died, it passed to your brother’s wife. When we offered tea today, Mother only said she should instruct me. She said nothing about handing it over. A bride has a little freedom in her first three days. If I can’t claim it now, it will be harder later. You will be the head of this house, my lord. Do you mean to spend the rest of your life bowing your head to your brother’s wife whenever you need money?”
He fell silent. At last, he forced out a reply.
“What a virtuous wife your sister was. All she endured, trying to keep the peace between Mother and me. Having a sister like you disgraces her!”
Then he marched out again.
So he had always known my sister was suffering. He had chosen to shut his eyes to please his mother.
Spineless bastard.
Ruyue had watched the whole performance. Now she asked uneasily:
“Haven’t you taken this a little far, Madam? You’re newly married. If you turn him completely against you…”
“And? I offend him and gain control of the household. What an excellent bargain.”
“He’ll see your character in time. Why be in such a hurry?”
After my sister’s death, her personal maid Ruhua had mysteriously disappeared.
The household had only just finished hosting a wedding. Everyone was exhausted. If someone had murdered my sister, this might be the moment to find a trace of it.
I patted Ruyue’s head.
“Do you think he’ll get household authority for me?”
She shook her head. She did not know.