Chapter 1
The first thing I did upon marrying into the Duke of Liang’s household
was establish the rules.
The first to learn them would be the legitimate son and daughter standing before me, both notorious throughout the capital.
In the main hall,
eight-year-old Liang Yueyi flung her cup of ceremonial tea onto the floor.
“The daughter of some petty sixth-rank official thinks she deserves tea from me?”
She raised her chin, her eyes haughty.
Ten-year-old Liang Jingyu stood protectively before his sister and glared at me.
“Who are you to act like the mistress of this house?”
“When Father comes home, I’ll make him divorce you and send you to a convent!”
The servants held their breath, though they could hardly hide their eagerness to watch.
I rose slowly and lifted the pot of fresh tea from the table.
“You had your chance, and you wasted it.”
“This second cup, then, will be your lesson.”
Before the last words were out, I poured the whole pot over her head.
Liang Yueyi jumped up screaming, her clothes soaked and her hair in disarray.
“You vile woman! How dare you fight back! I’m telling Daddy!”
My voice remained calm.
“Jinxia, another pot.”
“You will drink this ceremonial tea today, whether you like it or not.”
Furious, Liang Jingyu stretched out a hand to shield his sister.
I drew my red-sandalwood ruler and brought it down sharply across the back of his hand.
“As the legitimate son, you fail in your duty as a brother by allowing your sister to disgrace herself.”
“You fail in your duty as a son by speaking insolently to your lawful mother.”
“Hold out your hand.”
He stiffened his neck. “You wouldn’t dare!”
The ruler whistled down.
Three strokes in succession left his hand red and swollen.
“There is nothing in this household I dare not do.”
He sucked in a breath of pain, tears springing to his eyes.
Yet he fought to keep himself from crying.
My voice was cold and stern.
“Kneel in the ancestral hall and copy the Classic of Filial Piety a hundred times.”
“If you cannot finish, spend tonight before your ancestors’ tablets considering what rules and propriety mean!”
“I’m not going!”
“That is not your decision.” I looked at the matrons beside us.
“Take the young master to the ancestral hall. If he refuses to write, you will share his punishment.”
The matrons stiffened and hastened to obey.
Half coaxing, half supporting him, they led the still-cursing Liang Jingyu away.
Seeing her brother taken away,
Liang Yueyi went pale and kept backing away.
I accepted the fresh tea Jinxia brought and held it out before her.
“Will you spill this one too?”
She looked from the ruler to me.
At last she reached out a trembling little hand, her voice scarcely audible.
“Mother… please have some tea.”
I had just accepted the cup when footsteps sounded outside.
Liang Heng entered in his deep purple court robes.
His gaze swept over the mess on the floor, and he frowned.
“What happened?”
Liang Yueyi seemed to have found her savior and immediately tried to rush over to him with her grievances.
I took a small sip of tea and spoke first.
“Nothing of consequence. I was simply teaching the children the rules of our household.”
In the silent hall, Liang Heng said nothing for a long while.
Finally, he looked at his daughter, who was struggling to contain her hurt.
“Then you had better listen.”
With that, he turned toward his study.
When Liang Yueyi saw her father, the person she had counted on to defend her, leave,
she wilted at once.
Setting down my cup, I rose and walked over to her.
“Take the young lady to her room to wash and change.”
“From this day forward, anyone who whispers malicious talk to either child will receive thirty strokes, and their whole family will be sold.”