Chapter 2

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The guests murmured among themselves, their eyes shifting from me to Liu Yingying and back again. They were all waiting to see how the bride would respond.

I lifted my veil slightly. My gaze passed calmly over Liu Yingying’s tear-streaked, pear-blossom face, then settled on Wei Jing, whose devotion to her was plain for all to see.

Years ago, when I first heard his name, even my girlish heart had fluttered a little.

I had begged Father to take me to the spring banquet, just so I could catch a glimpse of him a few more times.

Back then, he had been aloof and dignified, as flawless as jade—the dream of every unmarried young lady in the capital.

But now, watching him hold that brothel woman in his arms, I felt disgust for the first time.

Perhaps that was for the best. The disgust had come at just the right moment, cutting off the last scraps of lingering affection in my heart.

I curved my lips and said slowly, “Since my husband has asked, how could I refuse?”

With that, I had someone bring over the cup of tea prepared for the concubine. I accepted it myself, then held it out to Liu Yingying.

“Miss Liu has entered the Wei residence. From today onward, you are one of the family. You will offer me this tea, and I will accept it. Then what happened today will be proper and aboveboard.”

Liu Yingying froze for a moment. She had assumed that I, a daughter of a great house, could never bear such humiliation. Surely I would turn against her at once and earn a reputation for jealousy.

She had never expected me to accept her so readily.

She bit her lip and offered me the tea. I took it and drained the cup.

Then I removed the jade bangle from my wrist and slipped it onto hers. In a voice pitched just loud enough for every guest in the hall to hear, I said, “The old madam gave me this bracelet. I’m giving it to you today. I hope you’ll remember your place and not disappoint my husband or the old madam.”

Seeing this, the Wei matriarch’s anger eased a little. She gave a cold snort.

“Very well. We’ll do as Mingzhu wishes.”

I lowered my eyes and sipped my tea, hiding the cold smile in them.

That filthy pair thought forcing me to accept the concubine’s tea would crush my dignity.

They had no idea this was only the first step on the road to their own ruin.

3.

For half a month after the wedding, Liu Yingying never once came to pay her respects or serve tea.

Only after the servants began gossiping did she reluctantly make her way to my courtyard.

It was already midday, with the sun high overhead, when Liu Yingying finally arrived.

She wore a thin, pale-lotus silk gown embroidered with gold thread, its intricate pattern alive with butterflies and flowers. I, by contrast, was dressed so simply that I looked like an ordinary maid standing by to serve.

Liu Yingying gave a perfunctory curtsy, then adjusted the jeweled jade hairpin in her hair and smiled faintly.

“Madam, please don’t blame me. Last night, the marquis was so tender toward his frail concubine that he kept me up until very late. I only managed to get out of bed this morning.”

I wondered how many bowls of her so-called love potion Liu had served Wei Jing. Today he was even trying to put me in my place for her.

Before she could finish, Wei Jing strode into the courtyard, his eyes blazing and his voice sharp as a drawn sword.

“Yingying is delicate. Why are you making things so difficult for her?”

See? I hadn’t even opened my mouth, and that shameless pair were already playing their parts in a little drama.

I merely lowered my eyes to sip my tea, serene as ever.

With Wei Jing protecting her so devotedly, Liu Yingying covered her mouth and gave a coy laugh.

“Marquis, you dote on me so much. I’m afraid Madam will laugh at me. I’ve heard she’s always been generous. Surely she won’t begrudge a few little bedroom matters to someone as ill-fated as I am?”

As if I would begrudge them.

Why should I care that the two of them carried on like pigs and dogs?

Only—

Before she could finish, a thunderous voice rang out from the inner room.

“Outrageous!”

An imposing old lady in a purple brocade robe embroidered with gold strode out, leaning on a staff carved with a dove. The Wei matriarch stood beside her, her expression just as severe.

This was the Princess of Jing’an, a noblewoman personally ennobled by the late emperor.