Chapter 3: The Year We Saved the Marquis's Daughter

Mother had always been beautiful.

Not the dazzling kind of beauty that could topple a kingdom, but the delicate gentleness of a woman from Jiangnan—approachable, without a sharp edge.

Before, she'd never had enough food or warm clothing. Hunger had reduced her to skin and bones.

With the fine food and clothes the duke's household provided, she was transformed in less than a month. Her cheeks filled out, her face pale and smooth as jade.

And so Mother married into the marquis's household, and I went with her.

I became its eldest young lady. Gu Lingjia became the second.

I now took the marquis's surname, Gu. He named me Gu Lingyi.

At last, Mother and I had somewhere to belong.

On the day the bride presented tea to her elders, the old madam refused Mother's cup.

"A widow dragging a vile little brat behind her isn't fit to be my daughter-in-law!"

But she'd forgotten that my birth father had been a butcher.

I'd learned his trade well. My manners were exceedingly rough.

I'd clawed my way up from the mud. To secure my place in this household, there was nothing I wouldn't dare.

I drew the butcher's knife at my waist and laid it against the old madam's throat.

"If Grandmother doesn't wish to drink her daughter-in-law's tea, Mother can burn incense for you instead. That's another way of honoring a mother-in-law."

The marquis didn't stop me.

His mother had controlled him for years, leaving him full of pent-up anger.

Seeing my courage, he felt nothing but satisfaction.

Gu Lingjia looked at me with even greater admiration.

She'd suffered plenty at her grandmother's hands and had long wanted to do the same. Unfortunately, she was a well-bred young lady and couldn't.

The old madam shrank back in fear.

When no one intervened, she spoke at once.

"I'll drink! I'll drink it now! Put down the knife first!"

I lowered it, but stayed right beside her.

Only after I'd watched her drain the cup did I return the knife to the cowhide sheath at my waist.

Then I offered her another cup.

"Please have some tea, Grandmother."

Trembling under my murderous gaze, she hastily took a couple of gulps. Then, claiming dizziness and discomfort, she fled the main hall.

Gu Lingjia giggled.

"Big Sister, you were magnificent! Your knife was at Grandmother's throat in a flash. I didn't even see you draw it!"

I blushed.

"It's nothing. You get quick hands after slaughtering enough pigs. Shall I teach you?"

I'd thought she wouldn't like the idea.

Instead, she answered,

"Yes! I want to be able to protect myself too. Then I'll teach you music, chess, poetry, and painting."

We suited each other perfectly and became very close.

Whenever Grandmother tried to summon Lingjia and Mother to pay their respects and stand in attendance while she drilled them in proper conduct, I came along with my butcher's knife.

After a few times, she excused them from paying respects altogether.

At every banquet in the capital, large or small, Lingjia attended with Mother and me.

She taught us to recognize the capital's people and helped me make friends with other young ladies.

Four years passed in a flash.

Mother bore the marquis two sons and finally secured her position.

The palace announced a selection of consorts. Our household had one place to fill.

It worried the marquis.

"His Majesty is nearly forty. The palace already has many consorts and princes. Being chosen may not be a blessing. Which of you should go?"

There were two young ladies in the household, and he'd treated me well over the years.

Strictly speaking, his legitimate daughter should go, but Gu Lingjia was too young.

So I volunteered.

"Father, let me go. If I'm not selected, I'll come home and keep being your daughter. If I am, with my abilities, I certainly won't let anyone bully me."

He hesitated.

"But you can't take your butcher's knife into the palace. An open spear is easy to dodge. A hidden arrow is much harder."

I wasn't his daughter by blood. But I'd saved Gu Lingjia, and we were as close as true sisters.

He didn't want to watch me leap into a firepit.

Gu Lingjia was distressed too.

"Big Sister, let me go. I'm Father's own daughter. If someone must go, it should be me."

But Mother and I had enjoyed fine clothes and food for years. I'd been troubled by how I could ever repay that kindness.

Now I could ease the marquis's worries. It seemed well worth it.

I stroked her head.

"Silly girl. Let me go. If I win favor, you'll be able to swagger all over the capital!"

I'd only meant to comfort her. I never expected it to come true.

After all, I wasn't of the marquis's blood.

I'd come from among the common people. My birth father had been nothing but a humble butcher, and I was rather coarse myself.

On selection day, I initially stood in an inconspicuous spot at the edge of the first row.

By either my looks or my conversation, I shouldn't have stood a chance.