Chapter 2

For that, I had Song Huai’s success to thank.

A gifted son of a poor family, he had soared to the very top of the imperial examinations.

If I had been nothing more than an ordinary concubine’s daughter that day,

they would have had no scruples.

However fiercely I resisted,

they would have forced that bowl of sterilizing medicine down my throat.

Because I would have had no one to protect me.

But I happened to be Song Huai’s fiancée now.

And our marriage contract happened to be officially registered.

Song Huai was already a Hanlin scholar, a newly appointed official of impeccable standing, a potential future grand secretary.

However unwilling they were to compromise, they had to consider him.

If I truly staked my life on a formal accusation,

Lu Zhang would not only face legal proceedings and lose his position as heir.

The entire marquis’s household would become an object of public contempt.

My sister and her mother told Lu Zhang to leave.

They stayed to persuade me.

The moment the door closed, my sister’s tears began to fall.

“My dear sister, I simply had no other choice.

“I know I wasn’t kind to you when we were both girls at home.

“But there are only the two of us. You’re the only person I can rely on. My children are your own niece and nephew!”

She wept as she spoke.

Father’s wife covered her face and cried beside her.

“What happened today was my fault. Blame me if you must, but don’t blame your sister.

“As long as you agree to marry into this household after her, I’ll agree to anything you want.”

I looked at her and put the question plainly.

“I may be the only concubine’s daughter in our family, but you have plenty of nieces. Why does it have to be me?

“We’ve never been close. You know you can’t depend on me, or you wouldn’t be trying to control me by making me drink that medicine.”

My sister sobbed.

“It’s your brother-in-law who insists on you. He’s coveted you for so long. If I had any choice at all, I wouldn’t want it to be you either.”

I exposed her lie without feeling.

“Of course you want it to be me. You can’t bear to see me marry Song Huai.

“Your husband is an ignorant wastrel who spends his life in brothels.

“My fiancé, on the other hand, is the new examination champion, a man of extraordinary talent with a future in the Grand Secretariat.

“You want to see me prosper less than anyone. You’re terrified that a concubine’s daughter might have an easier life than you.

“You’ve kept me down for sixteen years, bullied and mocked me for sixteen years. How could you let me live better than you one day?

“And it’s not just you. Your mother is exactly the same. You’re both equally vile.”

My sister’s face lost its color by degrees.

Her lips trembled. She struggled for a long time before managing a single question.

“You used to be so obedient and timid. Was that an act too?”

“So because I was obedient and timid, you decided you could use something this filthy to keep me under your thumb?”

My sister said nothing. Neither did her mother.

After a long moment, I stared at the bowl of cold medicine on the table.

“You want me to drink that because you think that if I can’t have children, I’ll treat yours as my own?

“Have you thought about this? Your husband only wants to possess me. At the rate he’s tired of old favorites over the years, how many good days would I have after marrying him?

“When his concubines, bedmaids, or mistresses have children, and one of their mothers is a capable schemer, I won’t be able to guard against everything. Would your children stand a chance?”

Horror filled my sister’s eyes, followed by spreading fear.

I pressed her coldly.

“For your children’s sake, you were willing to do this to me today.

“Do you think another mother wouldn’t murder your children for her own child’s future and title?”

My sister collapsed to the floor. Her mother hurried to support her in alarm.

I offered a casual suggestion.

“Why not settle it once and for all? Make him infertile. Then you’ll never have to worry again.

“If he can’t father any more children, your son’s title and your daughter’s future will be secure.

“Do I really have to teach you that scarcity makes something valuable?”