Chapter 4

No one knew how long the two of them talked.

When someone finally came in to bring tea, they found Father and the concubine sitting across from each other, both in tears. The hostility between them had vanished.

The heir was still tied up beside them, groaning and writhing nonstop.

When Father finished his conversation, he picked the heir up and carried him back to the bridal chamber.

Father later swore repeatedly that he had been careful that night and had given the heir no chance whatsoever to compromise his virtue.

10

The next day, Father rose just after midnight.

He had to attend court and, as the new bride, pay his respects to his mother-in-law.

The court audience began at the hour of the Rabbit. Ordinarily, Father had to leave half an hour early because his colleagues often had matters to discuss before court.

Paying respects could not be done carelessly, either.

Before bed, he had hurriedly read a popular romance about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law. Even as a bride entering someone else’s household, he was determined not to give his political rivals any opening to criticize his manners.

The two duties overlapped. He had to decide which came first.

In the proper order of Heaven, Earth, ruler, parents, and teacher, the ruler came before one’s parents. Father could not be late for court, so the entire Duke’s estate would simply have to get up earlier.

Father was always meticulous.

He set aside enough time for breakfast and for the new bride to greet her relatives. He even calculated how long it would take every young master in the household to dress, comb his hair, and wash his face.

And so…

While it was still dark, he sent people to knock on every courtyard door.

Father had just resolved the marriage decree that had been weighing on his mind. He had skipped the wedding banquet the night before and spent the evening venting his anger on the wastrel, so he slept especially well.

One watch of sleep left him feeling as refreshed as he would after two on an ordinary day.

The Duke’s household was another matter entirely.

The wedding had kept them in shock all day. After returning to their rooms, they had gossiped until midnight. Just as they finally managed to fall asleep, someone started pounding on their doors.

Father’s attendants were few, but every one of them was quick and efficient.

In the past, when they followed him to his post in the provinces, they had faced local chieftains and powerful bullies with real blades and spears. Waking a few pampered young masters was hardly a challenge.

They had already taken the money Father and Mother gave them to retire.

But now that their master needed them, they changed clothes and sprang back into action with renewed vigor.

I heard that no one in the Duke’s estate dared stay in bed that morning.

At the appointed time, everyone was seated neatly in the main hall.

11

The main hall blazed with lamplight, though the night beyond the windows was still pitch-black.

The young and old alike looked exhausted. They sat as if sleepwalking.

Father, in his dark-red official robe, was in excellent spirits after a good night’s sleep. Behind him, he dragged the heir, who was still half asleep.

The man’s hair was a mess, his steps unsteady, and even his strength for cursing had been cut in half.

Father began with the elders, paying his respects to each in turn.

Whenever he reached someone, he solemnly announced that the Empress herself had chosen him as the Duke’s estate’s new bride and that from now on, he was the household’s principal wife.

He was admittedly a little older than most brides and had been married before, but neither fact should be a reason for anyone to reject him.

After all, the Empress herself had carefully chosen and appointed him for this marriage.

If they truly could not get along, they could shut their doors and complain in private. But outside the household, everyone had to remember they belonged to the Duke’s estate.

The family’s honor and disgrace were shared. No one was to spread unpleasant stories outside.

By the time he reached that point, Father had worked himself into tears.

Everyone in the hall was full of questions. They couldn’t understand why he already considered himself part of the household after barely stepping through the gate.

No one dared ask.

Those who could cry joined him. Those who couldn’t even raised their sleeves and pretended to wipe their eyes.

Once everyone had calmed down, Father urged the sisters-in-law to live in harmony, and insisted there must be no discord between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

When he reached the subject of etiquette, he casually opened the decree again so everyone could see the phoenix seal.

The Duke’s estate held a first-rank ducal title, but even they could not accept a third-rank official’s formal salute while remaining seated. No one else had that privilege, either.

Father could only pretend not to understand the rules and greet each person with a bow.

The recipient could not respond according to the usual household custom. They had to rise and return the salute formally.

So Father greeted one person, and that person had to struggle to their feet and bow back.

The whole hall was left with aching backs and knees, yet no one could find the slightest breach of etiquette.

Under Father’s direction, the new bride’s hurried morning greetings went off without a hitch.

12

The greetings ended earlier than expected. Father checked the time and was very pleased.

He even had time to sit down for breakfast before leisurely heading to court.

Just before dawn, he and the Duke left one after the other.

Father walked ahead, his official robe immaculate and his steps brisk.

The Duke lagged a few paces behind, his face pale-green. Every two steps, he had to raise his sleeve to cover his face.

Not long after their carriages had left, another carriage was brought out of the Duke’s estate.

The Duchess hurried aboard without even eating breakfast and went straight to the palace to request an audience with the Empress.

The gates closed. At last, the people in the courtyard could breathe again.

But the Duchess was carrying a night’s worth of pent-up grievance with her. This was clearly far from over.

13

An unusual number of people watched Father at court that day.

The Emperor did not attend, so the officials below felt less restrained. One wave of curious glances after another turned toward Father.

He remained completely composed and took his usual place.

At last, someone could not resist asking what had happened. Father made no effort to hide it. He openly admitted that he had married the day before—and that the man he had married was a wastrel young enough to be his son.

The colleagues who had not visited the Duke’s estate the day before were stunned.