Thus, the one considered most useless in the Zhen family became the most accomplished. Old Master Zhen wanted Zhen Hao to take over as head of the family, but Zhen Hao refused and established his own household, only taking his mother to live with him. Old Master Zhen had no choice but to give in and brought along five sons and three sons-in-law to wait at Zhen Hao’s residence for Xing Muzheng’s grand arrival. But instead of the Dingxi Marquis, the first to arrive was the Marquis’s wife.
In a fluster, Old Master Zhen took all the unrelated men to avoid the madam’s presence and sent Zhen Hao’s birth mother, OldMadam Liu, along with Zhen Hao’s wife and concubines to welcome her.
When Qian Jiaoniang stepped down from the carriage, she saw a group of kneeling women—six or seven of them wearing attire indicating their mistress status. Zhen Hao introduced his mother Madam Liu and his wife, Madam Song, to her. Minghu was known for producing beautiful women—several imperial concubines in the palace had come from here. Madam Liu and Madam Song were typical Minghu beauties: gentle, quiet, and even somewhat timid. As for the other women, they were all outstanding beauties, and each one was one of Zhen Hao’s concubines.
Seeing this, Qian Jiaoniang thought of Zhen Hao’s charming face and glib tongue and wasn’t surprised at all.
Zhen Hao seemed born to be affectionate toward women—he treated both wife and concubines with equal gentleness, and his household appeared harmonious. Accompanied by his mother and all the ladies, Qian Jiaoniang was led into the inner courtyard. Residences in Minghu were elegant, filled with artificial hills and ornamental stones. One courtyard even had a small pond—though it was late autumn, and only the withered remains of lotus flowers remained.
Though Minghu women were soft-spoken, they still chattered eagerly to please, making the place rather noisy. Qian Jiaoniang silently thought: “Only men wouldn’t understand the supposed joy of having so many wives and concubines.” Once inside the room prepared for her, she rubbed her forehead and said she was tired from travel, refusing to be accompanied further. After resting briefly, she asked for embroidery supplies to continue sewing a dress for Qingya—she had been bored on the boat the past two days and had taken to embroidering on her bed.
Before long, the medicinal soup Xing Muzheng had instructed to be delivered was brought personally by Madam Song. Along with it, she also brought a beautiful hair ornament of blooming twin flowers inlaid with kingfisher feathers, a pair of luminous jade bangles, and a lotus-patterned gown made from cloud-like satin. These were all gifts from Zhen Hao to make amends.
Qian Jiaoniang and Qingya examined the embroidered dress closely and praised it. Madam Song thought Qian Jiaoniang must like it, but just as she turned her head, Qian Jiaoniang folded the gown neatly and said she wouldn’t accept it.
Madam Song panicked and asked in a soft voice whether something had displeased her.
Qian Jiaoniang replied, “You said this is an apology gift from your master. But he has never offended me—so where does the need for an apology come from?”
Madam Song tried to persuade her again, but to no avail, and didn’t dare linger long. She withdrew, flustered.
After she left, Qingya said, “That’s exactly how you should be. If you want something, take it; if you don’t, don’t. Don’t worry about offending anyone. The Marquis and his wife share honor and glory. Even in front of princesses and consorts, you have nothing to fear.”
Qian Jiaoniang said, “I don’t want to see any princesses or consorts anyway.”
—
Meanwhile, Zhen Hao had finished his arrangements and was urgently trying to get the full story from his brothers. By that time, Li Qingquan had already unloaded the luggage from the boat and brought it into Zhen Hao’s residence. The three men took turns explaining the general situation regarding Xing Muzheng being poisoned.
Only then did Zhen Hao learn that his sworn brother had recently survived a near-death experience. Thinking it over, cold sweat broke out all over him. If things had gone differently, he might never have seen his brother again.
“So you’re saying it was thanks to Sister-in-law that Big Brother survived? That Feng Yuyan not only made him drink the poisoned wine but later tried to finish him off and escape scot-free?”
“That’s exactly right.”
Zhen Hao jumped up, waving his fists in the air. “That wretched woman deserves to die! Where is she? I’ll make her pay!”
Zhen Hao, known for his affection and respect toward women, must have been truly furious to speak this way.
“She’s long been executed by the Commander. What use was there in keeping her?” Ah Da said.
“Ah! Then the apology gift I gave Sister-in-law was far too modest! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I made a huge mistake!” Zhen Hao slapped his palm in regret. “Sister-in-law truly is the best woman under the heavens—she’s a top-tier goddess!”
Zhen Hao strode out to prepare more gifts, but Li Qingquan stopped him. “Why are you rushing off? We’re not done telling you everything.”
“What else is there? Speak up, quickly!” Zhen Hao urged.
Li Qingquan then told him about the imperial edict commanding Qian Jiaoniang to be dismissed as a wife.
Zhen Hao froze in his tracks, eyes wide. “You’re saying Sister-in-law technically isn’t Sister-in-law anymore? And Big Brother is defying the decree—?”
“Hey, hey, hey—watch what you say!” Li Qingquan immediately widened his eyes at Zhen Hao.
Zhen Hao shut his mouth and began pacing the hall with his hands behind his back. Of course he understood how serious the matter was. Countless eyes were on his sworn brother. As long as he didn’t slip up, he’d remain the Dingxi Marquis, second only to the emperor. But if he openly defied an imperial edict, all the schemers and villains would seize the chance to stir up trouble.
“This… even if Sister-in-law is loyal and kind, and Big Brother wants to repay her, he doesn’t need to go this far. If he truly cherishes her, whether she’s wife or concubine, does it matter? Just go along with the edict and divorce her on paper, then find a reason to dismiss that other man and keep Sister-in-law in the household as his beloved concubine. Later, he can marry a virtuous wife, and the two women can get along. Wouldn’t that be ideal? Sister-in-law already has the eldest son. When the time comes, Big Brother can pass the title to him—she’ll still live a life of glory.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Li Qingquan said. “But don’t you think the Commander would’ve thought of that? He simply refuses—he insists she must be his wife.”
“Sigh, why is Big Brother being so muddle-headed? Once he gets labeled as defying an imperial decree, who knows how many demons and ghosts will crawl out of the woodwork. He’ll never be able to clear his name. No, I must speak to him. This is no trivial matter—we can’t afford even the smallest mistake.”
Wang Yong added, “Once the Commander sets his mind on something, would our advice matter? And besides, Madam was so angry over that decree she nearly lost her life. When the Commander wasn’t around, she even tried to marry someone else. If he now wants her to be a mere concubine, would she ever agree?”
“This… As long as one treats them sincerely, what difference is there between a wife and a concubine? Madam Song is my wife, but I treat all the women in my household equally, never favoring one over another… To untie the bell, one must find the person who tied it. Since Sister-in-law is someone reasonable and understanding, talking to her should work. Why don’t I go speak with her now and ask her to persuade the Commander?” Zhen Hao said.
Wang Yong stopped him. “Don’t be so quick to rush over. Madam is not an ordinary woman. If you offend her—even leaving aside the Commander—she alone could bring disaster upon you!” That mysterious death of the Tian couple, followed by the Commander having his own cousin and cousin-in-law killed—there was surely something behind all that. Thinking back, that Tian couple likely died at the hands of the Madam. She used to appear harmless, calling her aunt and uncle so sweetly, yet turned around and killed them without a word, and didn’t even breathe a word of it to the Commander afterward. That ruthlessness was just like when she threatened the Gu-person. Wang Yong had no doubt—if the Gu-person hadn’t cured the Commander, Madam would’ve truly carried out her threat.
Zhen Hao pointed at himself in disbelief. “A woman… bring disaster on me?”
“Well… it’s not impossible,” Li Qingquan said hesitantly.
Ah Da, who had been quietly sipping tea the whole time, calmly set down his teacup. “I say, you all look smart on the outside, so how come you’re all acting like fools?”
Wang Yong glared at him. “Right, as if you’ve got everything figured out, with your clear little head!” Lately, he’d found Ah Da more and more annoying. That time Wang Tieniu barged into the inner courtyard and got punished, it was Ah Da who got rewarded. Madam assumed Wang Yong was the one who snitched and had given him nothing but cold looks since. Wang Yong was constantly on edge, afraid she’d one day quietly decide to get rid of him too.
Ah Da rubbed his bald head with a grin. Zhen Hao strode over and barked, “Stop rubbing! If you’re so smart, tell us—what’s the clever part?”
Ah Da, unhurried, said, “You’re all going on about persuading this person or that person—aren’t you all just making things worse? I won’t say a word to either of them. Because I know, it won’t work!”
“Why wouldn’t it work? Even if Big Brother has made up his mind, if we speak to him enough, he’ll still listen. This concerns his life and future.”
“I said it’s useless because the Commander won’t listen. You’ve been watching all this and still don’t get what he feels for Madam? He’s not insisting on making her his wife out of gratitude. And Madam isn’t making him defy the imperial edict just to be the Marchioness. In fact, it’s the complete opposite.”
“The opposite?”
“Yes—the complete opposite! The Commander insists on defying the edict precisely because he’s doing it for himself. And Madam—she would love nothing more than to not be the Marchioness. So if you lot want to stay out of trouble, shut your mouths and don’t bring this up again and earn the Marquis’s wrath.”
The three clueless men looked at each other, still unable to wrap their heads around it. Wang Yong timidly asked, “Then… what kind of feelings does the Marquis have for Madam?”
Ah Da sighed deeply, as though he were casting pearls before swine. “What kind of feelings? The kind that would reach for the stars, and if not the stars, then the moon.”
