Xing Muzheng sent Ah Da to summon the guests.
The Sun family had all been waiting in the pavilion, not daring to leave. They had already guessed that today’s meeting probably wouldn’t happen; they were just waiting to leave once the marquis’s carriage departed. Who would have thought that the commander of the Dingxi Marquis’s own guards would personally come to invite them? Sun Yuanwai was overjoyed.
The Dingxi Marquis was not only a renowned general—he was now also the governor of Yuzhou. That made him practically the local emperor of Yuzhou. Even the imperial court could no longer interfere here; all power over life and death rested in his hands alone. If they could truly form a marriage alliance with the Marquis’s household, what in Yuzhou would the Sun family ever have to fear again?
Sun Yuanwai hastily straightened his clothes and carefully asked Ah Da which members the Marquis wished to receive. Ah Da replied: “Her Ladyship’s wish is to meet her natal kin. Anyone who is a principal member of the Sun household may go.”
Sun Yuanwai nodded repeatedly. After quickly thinking it over, he decided to take along his five sons, the two wives of Sun Bai, and his own two legitimate grandsons.
Sun Bai, being loyal, really did call over the Prefect Xiong. On the way, Sun Yuanwai thought again and told Sun Bai to warn Madam Xiong and Qian Liniang: in front of the Marquis and Marchioness, they must appear to be loving sisters, and absolutely must not cause Her Ladyship any worry.
These words were clearly meant to caution Madam Xiong. Hearing them made Qian Liniang feel secretly pleased—yet the moment she thought of Qian Jiaoniang and Xing Muzheng, that slight swell of pride deflated again.
Xing Muzheng received them in the room set aside at the polo grounds for the host’s rest. As soon as Sun Yuanwai saw the Dingxi Marquis and the Marchioness seated inside, he immediately led the Sun family to kneel.
Although Qian Liniang and Sun Bai were Jiaoniang’s elder sister and brother-in-law, in terms of status—ruler is ruler, subject is subject; father is father, son is son—even a father, upon seeing his daughter as a noble lady, must kneel. All the more so for in-laws from the maternal side.
The Sun family knelt with utmost respect. Xing Muzheng personally helped Sun Yuanwai up. Qian Jiaoniang also helped her elder sister Qian Liniang to her feet, exchanging a helpless little smile with her.
Ordinary families visiting relatives certainly didn’t make such a scene.
Xing Muzheng, while not beaming, spoke with a mild tone: “No need for excessive ceremony, Yuanwai. Xing is but a junior.”
He had already investigated the Sun family: no great evil, no great virtue—just an ordinary household with a bit of family wealth. Xing Muzheng was not a naturally warm man, and he had no need to lower himself to curry favor with the Sun family. He was merely giving face to Qian Jiaoniang—so that she would be happy.
Sun Yuanwai was flattered and overjoyed. He had seen Xing Muzheng a few times before, always in large crowds when welcoming the governor. At those times, Xing sat atop a tall steed, his expression utterly unreadable, radiating an aura that warned strangers to keep their distance. To find him now so approachable—how could Sun Yuanwai not be moved?
Qian Jiaoniang, seeing Xing Muzheng behave this way, secretly let out a sigh of relief. His presence was intimidating even at rest; ordinarily he made others tread with great caution. She had worried the Sun family might feel uneasy—but he had spoken gently instead, which surprised and reassured her, and even stirred a quiet sense of delight.
She invited the Sun family to sit, then pulled her second sister down beside her. Qian Liniang cast several covert glances at Xing Muzheng, but he only looked at her once before shifting his gaze away. That made Qian Liniang feel stifled—she still hadn’t forgotten the scene at the polo field, when he had shielded Qian Jiaoniang so tightly. All the Sun family women were saying that Xing Muzheng doted on Jiaoniang.
Qian Liniang prided herself on resembling Jiaoniang—perhaps even being a bit prettier. Why couldn’t she catch Dingxi Marquis’s eye? After all, back when Sun Bai had visited their village, she’d snared his soul with just one look and had him bring her into his household.
Feeling sulky, Qian Liniang turned her head—and only then noticed the bandage around Qian Jiaoniang’s neck. She finally remembered to ask after the earlier accident. Qian Jiaoniang didn’t want her sister to worry, so she only gave a light laugh and said it was nothing.
Just then, a member of the Sun family chimed in: “When Liniang saw the danger earlier, her face turned white as paper. If I hadn’t held her back, she would surely have rushed forward and made a mess.”
Qian Jiaoniang turned toward the voice. She saw a clean-shaven man in his early thirties, with a pair of flirtatious eyes and thin lips that seemed to smile yet not smile. She guessed this must be Qian Liniang’s husband. After asking, she found she was right.
Sun Bai stood up and introduced himself. Qian Jiaoniang smiled and called him “Second Brother-in-law.”
Sun Bai was momentarily stunned, then made a series of polite bows. Qian Liniang’s cheeks turned red, and she exchanged a glance with Sun Bai.
At that moment, a childish snort of displeasure rang out, drawing everyone’s eyes. The speaker was Sun Bai’s second son, Sun Xiang—about the same age as Xing Pingchun, a small boy but already wearing a face full of indignation.
“My father is my yima’s brother-in-law,” he declared, “not the brother-in-law of some lowly concubine’s sister! Don’t get it wrong!”
Sun Xiang had been spoiled all his life, never having suffered a whit. He was at that age where he believed the world revolved around him.
These past few days, after Madam Xiong had been humiliated by Qian Liniang, all the servant girls and old women around him had been sighing and muttering dark predictions: one said the concubine had been elevated and was about to overturn the wife; another said the concubine’s son might inherit the family estate, and that he and his elder brother would be driven to the streets.
Hearing this, Sun Xiang grew ever more anxious and angry. He’d already thrown tantrums and rolled on the floor several times, demanding that Sun Bai drive Qian Liniang back to the concubine’s quarters, and that the baby she bore must never be allowed near him.
But now everyone was treating Qian Liniang and her son like treasures—who would listen to a child’s outburst? They merely placated him with a few coaxing words and sent him away.
Sun Xiang only felt as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had sunk. Earlier today, when he and Madam Xiong rode together in a carriage to the polo grounds, since Qian Liniang’s carriage was in front, Madam Xiong and the wet nurse sat inside fuming with resentment. Sun Xiang had listened to every single word without missing a syllable. A breath of anger was lodged in his chest, yet no one had paid any heed to his expression. Now, hearing Qian Jiaoniang call out “brother-in-law,” he felt wronged on his mother’s behalf. He believed that in this world only he could stand up for her and win her justice. So he stepped forward and, striking the ground with his words, declared it aloud.
When he finished, his face was flushed scarlet, his head lifted with a look as though he were ready to die for his cause.
Sun Bai, Sun Yuanwai, and the other Sun family members nearly saw stars; they almost fainted on the spot.
“This child is unruly! Withdraw at once!” Sun Yuanwai decided instantly and told Madam Xiong to quickly take her second son away.
Madam Xiong, hearing her son speak up in her defense, felt a rush of satisfaction. But seeing her father-in-law’s dark face, she had no choice but to obey and pull Sun Xiang along, planning to placate him with candy afterward. Who would have thought Sun Xiang would stubbornly refuse to leave? He demanded, “Grandfather, where did I say anything wrong!”
Sun Yuanwai truly wanted to slap his usually beloved grandson across the face. Qian Jiaoniang hurriedly said, “The child is still small, Grandfather Yuanwai, don’t take it to heart.” Seeing the boy was about the same age as Xing Pingchun, she felt pity. But she had clearly heard what he just said—calling both father and grandfather… “Whose child is this?”
Qian Liniang’s eyes held a mocking smile, as though waiting for a good show—arriving at just the right time.
Sun Bai was furious. When Qian Jiaoniang asked, he pursed his lips and gave a cupped-hand salute: “Madam, this is my second son. Poorly taught, he has offended the Marquis and Madam. I beg forgiveness!”
“Your… second son?” Qian Jiaoniang hesitated, looking at the young woman pulling Sun Xiang, then at the slightly older child beside her.
“Exactly so,” Sun Bai was forced to introduce Eldest Madam Xiong and her son. “This lady is my principal wife, Madam Xiong. At her side is my eldest son, Sun Ci.”
“Principal wife?” Qian Jiaoniang turned in shock toward Qian Liniang. Wasn’t she supposed to be Sun Bai’s only wife?
Qian Liniang met her gaze with a bitter smile.
Seeing Qian Jiaoniang’s expression not right, Sun Yuanwai hurried to explain: “Marquis Madam, my son Sun Bai has two wives: the principal wife Madam Xiong, and the secondary wife Madam Qian. The two have always been close, affectionate as sisters, and together manage the inner household.”
At this, Qian Jiaoniang felt as if she had swallowed a fly, choking on the disgust. So Second Sister was not the only wife after all, but merely a equal wife. And from the child’s words just now, she had originally been Sun Bai’s concubine—likely raised to the position of equal wife only because she herself had become Dingxi Marchioness.
But what good is being an equal wife? Isn’t it still fighting over the same man? And from the sound of it, Sun Bai had other concubines as well.
A man having three wives and four concubines was nothing unusual. They said the inner courtyard lived in harmony, and that should have been enough. But having lived through it herself, how could Qian Jiaoniang not know the hidden bitterness? She could not control or help others—but her own sister reduced to being a man’s concubine? For that she felt a stab of pain. No wonder she had given birth to a child only last year. Likely Sun Bai, with so many women, rarely spent time with Second Sister.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she grew. Her sincere wish to meet the in-laws evaporated. She looked to Xing Muzheng. He seemed to understand her meaning; after a few perfunctory words, without asking further, he dismissed the Sun family. Qian Jiaoniang only asked Qian Liniang to stay behind and ride in the same carriage, saying she had a few private words.
Qian Liniang was in fact displeased. Sun Xiang had already delivered the blade into Qian Jiaoniang’s hands—why had she been so foolish as not to make use of it? She had not wanted to lose face before her, so she hadn’t revealed that Sun Lang had another wife. But now that it had come to light, why hadn’t Qian Jiaoniang seized the chance to help her? At present the Sun family so valued the Dingxi Marquis’s household—was not one word from the Marchioness as good as an imperial decree? If she had voiced dissatisfaction with Madam Xiong and her son, how could Madam Xiong still dare act high and mighty, and how could her child dare sneer and mock her?
Qian Jiaoniang couldn’t even think of this—how could she ever manage the Marquis’s own harem? Truly a waste of her position as Marchioness.
The more Qian Liniang thought, the more bitter she felt. Once inside Qian Jiaoniang’s carriage, she immediately asked: “Jiaoniang, why didn’t you help me just now?”
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