Two days later, Qian Liniang arrived at the marquis residence with her son, requesting to see her sister. Naturally, Qian Jiaoniang put down her book to meet her. Upon arriving, Qian Liniang clutched her son and cried to Jiaoniang, recounting how in recent days Madam Xiong had treated her and the child badly. Because Marquis Xing had been indifferent at the polo ground, the Sun family didn’t believe that this marquis wife had any influence, and so they treated her coldly as well.
Qian Jiaoniang’s brow furrowed sharply. The Sun family’s vanity only strengthened her decision of the past few days.
She said carefully, “Second sister, if that is the case, may I speak a word?”
Qian Liniang’s heart leapt; her sister, playing the part of understanding, simply wanted her to speak. “Whatever you say, little sister, I’ll listen.”
Qian Jiaoniang nodded slightly and had Suier and the others take her little nephew out to play in the courtyard. The maids understood her intention and ushered the child outside. Qian Liniang, still uneasy, reminded the nanny to watch him carefully. Once the distractions had cleared, Qian Jiaoniang spoke.
“Second sister, I’ve been thinking about your situation these past few days, but I haven’t come up with a good solution…”
What was so difficult about it? Make Sun Bai divorce Madam Xiong, and have Marquis Xing promote him—wouldn’t that solve everything? Qian Liniang could not understand how her sister could overthink something so simple, yet she maintained an attentive expression.
“I’ve thought it over. I think you can’t stay long at the Sun household. Would you… be willing to leave the Sun household with the child?”
Qian Liniang blinked, doubting her ears. “What did you say?”
Qian Jiaoniang knew her sister would be shocked, but having started, she pressed on. “I mean, would you agree to divorce Sun Bai?”
Qian Liniang stared at her as if she were a fool. Divorce Sun Bai? Just because her own sister was a marquis wife, she was expected to leave in disgrace and let Madam Xiong mock her?
“Jiaoniang, at a time like this, you’re still joking with me!”
Qian Jiaoniang shook her head. “I’m not joking. I’m serious.”
Qian Liniang immediately raised her voice. “Serious, and you want me to have Sun Bai divorce me? Are you out of your mind?”
Qian Jiaoniang hurriedly explained, “Second sister, I know this is hard to accept immediately. But a man with many wives and concubines is never a good match. Sun Bai has a first wife, concubines, and children everywhere. Such a man is not reliable. Even if you became his principal wife, how could you claim his heart alone? Do you want to share one man’s love with so many women?”
“If you wield the authority of a marquis wife, he can only have you as his wife!”
“And if I interfere in the Sun household to prevent him from taking concubines, what about the women already there?”
“Send them all away!”
Qian Jiaoniang frowned. “It sounds easy, but what wrong have those women done? Madam Xiong is cruel, yes, but she is Sun Bai’s first wife, with two grown children. And the concubines and servants—many are unfortunate, perhaps with children of their own. If you drive them all away, where would they go? One of my girls was unjustly divorced by her husband and almost went to become a nun.”
“So you want me to be divorced? You want me to become a nun?” Qian Liniang felt her sister must be a fool. She wanted her to gain honor and wealth, not drive her to ruin!
“How could I ask that? And I’m not saying Sun Bai should divorce you—you would divorce him! A man who only seeks beauty doesn’t deserve you. That wretched household, what joy is there in living there?”
Qian Liniang sighed. “Silly sister, you marry what you get. I’ve already borne Sun Bai’s child; divorcing him now would just be a joke to others!”
“Second sister, don’t worry. With me here, no one will mock you.”
So her power as a marquis wife only extended to silencing gossip after she divorced, Qian Liniang thought. What a laughable idea—could it really stop people from talking?
What had her sister eaten to make her think this way? One word, and she was to divorce? Where in the world is there a sister who advises separation instead of reconciliation?
Qian Liniang took a deep breath and spoke earnestly: “Jiaoniang, I know you mean well, but this method… is extreme! I care for Sun Bai and am willing to serve him alongside his concubines. But Madam Xiong is cruel, making it impossible for me to live in peace. Just deal with Madam Xiong, and I’ll ask nothing more. Is even this small wish too much for you?”
Qian Jiaoniang, however, was very firm in attitude. “Madam Xiong did wrong, but it is not enough to make me ruin her whole life. By rights, she is Sun Bai’s wife—elder sister, you are the outsider! To have me play the villain, I cannot do it.”
“Then you can ruin my whole life?”
“How could I ever ruin elder sister? I only wish for you to live well. But Sun Bai truly is not a worthy match. If you could rid yourself of him early, it would in fact be a blessing.”
“Such words are too absurd and laughable! You say you wish me well, yet you ask me to divorce!” Qian Liniang was so angry she shot to her feet, her face flushed as she glared at Qian Jiaoniang. Qian Jiaoniang also stood, reaching out to pull her, but Qian Liniang angrily flung her hand away.
Qian Jiaoniang sighed. “I know what I said is hard for elder sister to accept all at once. Why not go home and think it over carefully, then come back in a few days?”
“I don’t need to think. If anyone should think, it’s you!”
Qian Liniang stormed off hugging her son, leaving Qian Jiaoniang’s courtyard. The Sun family’s nurse and her maid Taohong quickly followed, looking panicked. They asked what had happened, but Qian Liniang only ground her teeth in hatred and said nothing.
But before they even left the rear courtyard, they happened to run into Xing Muzheng, who had returned home early that day.
That day Xing Muzheng wore a moon-white brocade robe embroidered with cranes, a jade coronet on his head, walking toward them like a banished immortal. Qian Liniang’s eyes went blank for a moment. When her attendants dropped to their knees to greet him, she finally remembered her manners. She tried to kneel while holding her son, but the approaching Xing Muzheng reached out to support her so she did not have to bow. “Second Sister, there’s no need for so much ceremony.”
Qian Liniang’s heart suddenly gave a fierce jolt. She lifted her eyes timidly, glancing at the handsome marquis before her.
The Dingxi Marquis drew his hand back and said mildly, “Second Sister is going home already?”
It was Qian Liniang’s first time seeing Xing Muzheng inside the marquis’s residence, and her first time looking at him this closely. Heat rushed into her cheeks. She lowered her head and stammered, “Y-yes… exactly so!”
Xing Muzheng said, “Since you’ve come, why not stay and dine before returning?”
Qian Liniang’s heart trembled again. “Many thanks, many thanks for Marquis’s kindness, but at home… there are matters to attend to… this humble woman must hurry back…”
Xing Muzheng was silent a moment. Qian Liniang’s maid quietly raised her eyes and saw the Dingxi Marquis was looking closely at her mistress.
“In that case, Xing will not press you. But when you are free, do come often. Jiaoniang greatly misses her family.”
He ordered someone to escort Qian Liniang out of the residence, then cupped his hands and strode off toward the main hall. Qian Liniang watched him disappear into the distance. Even when her son tugged at her face, she didn’t come back to herself. Only when Taohong called to her did she remember to move forward.
Once they were out of the marquis’s gate, Taohong whispered, “Madam, the Marquis is truly handsome!”
Qian Liniang gave a faint hum in reply, but suddenly a bitterness welled in her heart. Handsome—so what? However handsome, he was still her foolish, unfeeling younger sister’s husband. One wrong step back then, and she had ended up in such a state! If not for that, it would be Qian Jiaoniang who was humiliated today, not her!
“Madam, just now… I saw, the Marquis was looking at you…”
Qian Liniang’s head shot up.
Taohong was startled and faltered over her words, “Perhaps because you and the Marchioness resemble one another…”
Qian Liniang pressed her lips together, as though she had words but swallowed them back. She only turned and cast a deep glance at the marquis’s gates.
Meanwhile, Xing Muzheng returned to his rooms. Changing clothes, he said to Qian Jiaoniang, “I just ran into Second Sister on the way.”
