Chapter 1
Edward Quan ·
Everyone in the household knew the prince’s younger cousin hated me.
She hated me even more after learning my father was Shen Ce, the General Who Guards the Realm, commander of three hundred thousand troops on the northern frontier.
At the Hundred Flowers Banquet, she deliberately spilled wine on my cloak, then had the nerve to demand an apology.
“It’s only a rag of a garment. I’m the prince’s cousin. What can you do to me?”
Before I could speak, my husband hurried to shield her.
“She’s my cousin. You’re my consort. Is it so hard to give way to her a little?”
Seeing him defend another woman right in front of me, I laughed in anger.
“Guards. Take her out and slap her twenty times.”
“I’d like to see what a petty prince like him can do to me in the face of my father’s household.”
1
Liu Ruyue’s bright, tearful eyes always knew the right moment to turn toward my husband, Xiao Jingyan.
Especially after she learned that my father was Shen Ce, commander of three hundred thousand troops on the northern frontier.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet was held in the prince’s Spring Garden. Incense and flowers mingled, almost suffocating.
She raised her wine cup. Her steps suddenly faltered, and the entire cup of grape wine spilled over my moon-white fox-fur cloak.
Purple-red wine spread rapidly, like an ugly scar on snow.
Last winter, Father had personally skinned a snow-fox king for this cloak, then sent it to the capital by urgent relay.
“Oh! I’m so sorry, Sister. I slipped.”
Liu Ruyue cried out. The empty cup shattered on the floor, and she fell limply into Xiao Jingyan’s arms.
He caught her. His brows drew together, but it was me he looked at.
“Ruyue didn’t mean it.”
I said nothing, only watched the stain on my cloak.
She steadied herself out of his arms, wearing just the right amount of remorse. A flicker of provocation hid in her eyes.
“It’s only a garment. You won’t blame me, will you? I am His Highness’s cousin, after all.”
She deliberately stressed *cousin*.
My lips curved slightly as I looked at her.
“And?”
Apparently she hadn’t expected that. She had no answer.
The guests stopped talking, their eyes moving between the three of us.
The atmosphere froze.
Xiao Jingyan broke the silence, impatient and commanding.
“Qingning, you’re my consort. What’s so difficult about giving way to her a little?”
The words were a needle piercing the last warmth in my heart.
I laughed.
Not from anger.
Because it was truly absurd.
Two years of marriage.
For him, I had put away all my thorns and sharp edges.
Learned to be a gentle, virtuous consort.
Learned to manage every household matter, large and small.
Learned to tolerate his frail, sickly, “kindhearted cousin.”
I thought giving way would earn respect.
Instead, all I got was, “What’s so difficult about giving way to her?”
“Guards.”
My voice wasn’t loud.
It carried clearly through the Spring Garden.
Two armored men at the entrance immediately came in, saluted, and waited.
Their armor was that of my father’s personal guard.
He had left them with me as part of my dowry.
Liu Ruyue went pale.
Xiao Jingyan’s face darkened too.
“Shen Qingning, what are you doing?”
I ignored him.
My gaze fell directly on her.
“The prince’s cousin has affronted his consort and soiled a gift from my father. Rather than repent, she has provoked and defied me.”