At the news, Xing Muzheng first frowned.
“Did Second Madam say what it was about?”
“She did not, only that it was urgent.”
After a moment’s thought, Xing Muzheng instructed the servant to seat her in the outer hall. Once he finished reviewing a document, he rose and went out. Qian Liniang was sitting alone, looking uneasy, and quickly stood to salute when he appeared. Tea was served, and Xing Muzheng had the servant remain by his side.
“What matter brings Second Sister to me?” Xing Muzheng skipped the pleasantries, cutting straight to the point.
Qian Liniang glanced at the servant beside him and spoke softly: “This humble one indeed has an important matter to discuss with the Marquis. Might you dismiss the attendants?”
Xing Muzheng replied, “This is my personal servant. I trust him fully. Second Sister, whatever you have to say, you may speak freely.”
The servant nearly goggled. Since when had he become the lord’s “personal servant”? Why didn’t he know about it?
Qian Liniang forced another smile. “This… it may not be very proper…”
“If Second Sister does not trust him, then say it to Jiaoniang instead. Have her convey it to me—it’s all the same.”
Qian Liniang quickly waved her hands. “No, no, it’s precisely because there are things I cannot say to Jiaoniang that I came to find the Marquis.”
Xing Muzheng’s brows stirred faintly, but he remained silent.
Timidly, Qian Liniang raised her eyes. “This humble one… Jiaoniang, she pities her elder sister, unwilling that I should suffer in the Sun family’s rear courtyard, so she urged me to part ways with Sunlang.”
Xing Muzheng’s expression did not change, though his eyes flickered. Jiaoniang had originally intended good relations with the Sun family, but ever since that encounter on the polo field, her interest had waned. So it was true—she could not bear men with many wives and concubines. Yet her elder sister had already been elevated to equal wife and borne a son, with a Marquis’s wife as her natal support. In the Sun household, Qian Liniang ought only to be honored, never neglected. Even so, Jiaoniang wanted her sister to leave? If back then he had married Feng Yuyan instead, Jiaoniang’s heart would have been irretrievable.
When Qian Liniang heard no response, she had to continue: “Has the Marquis ever heard my younger sister mention this matter?”
“Never,” Xing Muzheng said curtly, coming back to himself.
Qian Liniang gave a bitter smile, brushing back a lock of hair. “My sister means well, I know. Only, having been pampered by the Marquis, she perhaps does not understand the hardships of the world. My fate is bitter—I was forced to marry Sun Bai, who already had a vicious wife, and suffer endless torment…” She lowered her head slightly, dabbing at tears. “All I ever wanted was a bowl of rice, to pass the days with my child. But my heart still thought of my younger sister. Who knew that Bodhisattva would grant my wish and let the Marquis return in glory with her—how happy I was, never wishing to be parted from her again. Yet I am already married; how could I be like her, able to leave at a single word? My sister’s heart is kind, but I have no talents. If I were to leave my husband’s house, would I not be like a kite with its string cut—adrift, with no resting place? My heart is uneasy, yet I dare not speak plainly to my sister.”
Xing Muzheng endured the long explanation and finally said, “Second Sister need not worry. Jiaoniang is not ignorant of the world—she has her reasons. If she urges you to leave the Sun family, she must have weighed it carefully. Moreover, there are many unmarried officers in the camp. If you fear having no refuge in the future, you might be matched with one of them.”
Qian Liniang instantly leapt up. “Amitabha! If I were a twice-married woman, how would I dare remarry as a wife? I only wish for a quiet place to live out what remains of my life. Besides, after being parted from my sister so many years, I cannot bear to be separated from her again. Why not… why not the Marquis…”
Her words suddenly broke off. She stood there like a trembling willow, head lowered, cheeks faintly flushed, her eyes glancing up at him with hidden charm.
The “personal” servant had caught every word. Second Mistress’s soft, pitiful tones were clear enough—she meant to follow the example of the legendary sisters Ehuang and Nuying, serving one husband together: the younger as wife, the elder as concubine. It was not a bad solution. The Madam feared her sister would be wronged outside and urged her to divorce, so why not bring her into their own household instead? With sisters looking after one another, it would be secure. And since the Marquis clearly adored his wife, he must favor her kind of beauty—Second Madam was very similar. Surely the Marquis would like her too.
The little servant thought, I’ve already understood it, so of course the Marquis has too. He snuck a glance at Xing Muzheng, only to hear him ask calmly, without ripples or waves in his tone: “If not, then what?”
Could it be that the Marquis really hasn’t understood?
Qian Liniang too hadn’t expected Xing Muzheng to pursue the question further. She had already spoken this plainly—could it be that he still didn’t understand? She bit her lip, then steeled herself and pressed on in one breath: “This humble woman was thinking… what if the Marquis could grant me a place to stay, so that I might be reunited with my younger sister. I would surely devote myself to serving the Marquis wholeheartedly, and I beg the Marquis to fulfill this request!”
Hadn’t Jiaoniang told her to leave the Sun household? Then she would follow her words—by entering the Marquis’s household! She was already a concubine by status; to become Xing Muzheng’s concubine was certainly better than being Sun Lang’s equal wife. And if in the future she bore a son or daughter, Jiaoniang would surely have to look after her and see to raising her position.
Veins bulged on Xing Muzheng’s forehead. This Second Sister Qian—this Second Sister Qian!
Since Jiaoniang didn’t want her to live in a household of many wives and concubines, she actually turned around and asked to be taken in as his concubine, so that sisters could serve one husband together? Who was she trying to disgust! Jiaoniang treated her elder sister with such devotion, and this elder sister repaid her by prying at her own walls!
Xing Muzheng’s heart ached with a violent throb. He ached for Jiaoniang. At long last, she had reunited with her blood sister, only to find that she was this kind of ungrateful wolf! If she were ever to learn the truth, she might again cry through the night. If I had known it would come to this, I should have secretly killed her before their reunion ever happened!
Receiving no response, Qian Liniang lifted her eyes, only to see the man above her with an unreadable expression, as if suppressing anger. She hurriedly sank softly to her knees, tears falling like pear blossoms in the rain: “Marquis, Marquis, I swear, I harbor no improper thoughts. I only wish for a place to live, so that I may be near my sister and have her to rely upon. I have not the slightest intent to compete with my younger sister for your favor. I only beg the Marquis to take pity, for after so many years apart it is not easy for sisters to be reunited—please, grant us this!”
Qian Liniang’s crying had its craft: miserable yet still beautiful, designed to stir pity in a man’s heart. With Sun Bai, she had used this trick countless times without fail; today, she employed the same old tactic before Xing Muzheng.
But alas—Xing Muzheng only found her disgusting and repulsive. A teacup smashed to the ground before her.
“Get out!”
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