Chapter 2
I dressed and ate breakfast at my leisure before setting out to pay my respects to my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Newlyweds were supposed to go together. Unfortunately, Wei Jinfeng refused to accompany me, so I went alone.
My mother-in-law sat in the seat of honor, her face as black as the bottom of a pot.
“Madam Shen, you were raised in a distinguished family. How can you behave so outrageously, with no regard for a woman’s virtues?
“On your wedding night, you dared coerce your husband and threaten his parents!”
My sisters-in-law watched with equal parts curiosity and delight at my misfortune.
Rejected by both husband and mother-in-law on my first day of marriage, I was already finished in their eyes.
“Mother, how can you say that? Everything I did last night was to preserve the estate’s good name and dignity.
“If word spread that a mere concubine had ruined the heir’s wedding night, people might say the family scorned His Majesty and defied his decree.
“When Father and Mother sent someone to question us, those who knew the truth would understand that you were concerned. Those who did not might think you meant to keep us apart.”
I spoke without hurry, blocking every accusation in my mother-in-law’s throat.
“You… Very well. You still ought to have reasoned with him. But you imprisoned the heir in the bridal chamber by force. Where will our dignity be when that story gets out?”
I gave a cold snort.
“Is the heir a child who must be coaxed before he understands something so simple?
“Perhaps, had Father and Mother taught him properly, he would not have let lust cloud his judgment.
“But I waited all night and not one sensible person came. I could only wonder whether the Wei family looked down on the Shen family and staged the whole affair to humiliate us.
“My grandfather is the Grand General of Cavalry. My uncles have all won distinction in battle and received His Majesty’s praise. If I had done nothing, where would the Shen family’s dignity be?”
The Shen name stood high enough. Why should I swallow an insult?
Neither my mother-in-law nor my sisters-in-law had expected me to invoke my family so openly on my first day. They exchanged uneasy glances.
My mother-in-law ground her teeth.
“Good. Good! What an excellent daughter-in-law I have brought into this family…”
That made twice in one morning that a member of the Wei family had praised me.
They truly were impressed.
The second day of marriage was a busy one. After paying respects and serving tea, we had to enter the palace and thank the emperor.
This time, Wei Jinfeng had no choice but to come.
The emperor and empress received us in the empress’s palace, an honor of the highest order.
Wei Jinfeng stood far away from me, cold-faced and determined to keep his distance.
His Majesty had surely heard what happened the night before. He asked on purpose, “Minister Wei, are you satisfied with the marriage We bestowed upon you?”
Wei Jinfeng did not dare speak carelessly.
“Your Majesty’s marriage decree is a mark of favor toward the Wei family. How could this subject be anything but satisfied?”
“Oh? Why, then, do you sound aggrieved?”
“This subject would not dare.” Wei Jinfeng hesitated, but finally failed to hold his tongue. “I simply did not expect Madam Shen to be so… ferocious.”
The emperor fought back a laugh and answered solemnly, “A tiger’s daughter raised in a military family will naturally differ from the sheltered young ladies of the capital. Minister Wei should be more accommodating.”
With the emperor plainly taking my side, Wei Jinfeng had to swallow his demand for divorce.
Since he had shown sense, the emperor granted him a little dignity in return. His Majesty turned a stern face on me.
“Madam Shen, now that you are a wife, you must restrain your temper and devote yourself to supporting your husband and raising your children.”
I lowered my eyes with perfect obedience.
“This subject was too anxious last night. I wished to complete the mission Your Majesty assigned me as quickly as possible and failed to consider the heir’s feelings. I acted rashly.”
The empress, always the picture of quiet refinement, sprayed out a mouthful of tea.
The emperor’s features twisted.
“Nonsense! Did you take your wedding for a military order? Shen Wannian may know how to command an army, but he has raised his granddaughter like a wild boy. Enough. You must restrain yourself in the future.”
Hearing him criticize Grandfather, I muttered under my breath, “If Grandfather had trained me, I would have beaten him so badly he couldn’t leave his bed…”
The emperor and empress stared.
Wei Jinfeng flinched and moved even farther away from me.
After half a day of idle conversation, the emperor finally dismissed us.
“Your Majesty.” The empress, who had been smiling quietly beside him, suddenly spoke. “This consort finds General Shen’s granddaughter delightful. May I keep her a while longer for conversation?”
She looked at him with shining hope.
The emperor glanced at me, then at his gentle empress. A vision flashed through his mind: all his favorite consorts tied up and kneeling in a row, forced to watch while he showed the empress affection.
He shuddered.
“The couple has had a tiring day. Another time, Empress.”