“What are you all standing there for? Go and get both of them in here.” The Commander’s eyes burned with fury.

It took nearly twenty minutes before Shi Guang and Yan Qin filed in one after the other. Shi Guang’s expression gave nothing away, but Yan Qin wore her reluctance plainly on her face.

Shi Guang glanced around, saw that Shi Ting and Shi Qian were also present, then turned back to Yan Qin. “Come and serve tea to Father and Mother.”

Before marrying into the Shi household, Yan Qin had received instruction in the proper customs, including the tradition that a new bride must present tea to her in-laws the morning after the wedding. She had also been warned that some in-laws would use the occasion to find fault.

She looked at Madam Shi — whose face was tight with ill-concealed anger — and then her gaze shifted and landed on Shi Ting, seated not far away. The discovery sent a sudden bloom of brightness through her chest, and she stared at him with heated, boldly open eyes.

A maid brought in a tea tray. Shi Guang took Yan Qin’s hand and they knelt together.

“We greet Father and Mother.” Shi Guang glanced at Yan Qin with a polite smile.

Yan Qin reached out for a teacup — but her mind was elsewhere and she knocked it over. The scalding water splashed out across the tray.

Before Madam Shi or the Commander could react, Yan Qin let out a sharp yelp and yanked her hand back, terrified of being burned.

Madam Shi’s expression had become thoroughly overcast.

“I’m so sorry, Second Young Mistress. I’ll bring fresh tea right away.” The maid moved to step back.

“No need.” Madam Shi’s voice stopped her. “Let her pour it herself.”

Yan Qin startled, and the words left her mouth before she could stop them. “I’m here to serve tea, not pour it. Pouring is a maid’s job.”

Shi Guang tugged at her sleeve and said quietly, “Mother has asked you to go — you should go.”

“Don’t pull at me.” Yan Qin shook him off. “I’m not going.”

Shi Guang had no wish to lose face in front of his brothers, but Yan Qin was making it impossible for him to hold his head up right in front of both of them. The fury he had been bottling up all night ignited in an instant.

But before he could say a word, Madam Shi had already risen from her seat in a storm. “Pouring tea for your in-laws is a daughter-in-law’s duty. What — am I not fit to give you instructions?”

Yan Qin tilted her chin up, utterly defiant. “Even my own mother never made me pour tea.”

“You—” Madam Shi was shaking with fury. “Say that again.”

“I said my own mother never made me pour tea. Is that clear enough this time?”

Shi Ting and Shi Qian exchanged a glance, both privately impressed by Yan Qin’s nerve.

“Goodness, it’s only a cup of tea!” The third concubine, Du Linghua, stood up with a smile, took the cup from the maid, and walked over to Yan Qin with unhurried grace. “Second Young Mistress, the in-laws must always be served their tea — that’s a given. If you’d rather not pour it, I can do that for you. Would that be all right?”

“And who are you? Which courtyard’s maid?” Yan Qin looked at her with not an ounce of gratitude.

“Enough.” The Commander rose abruptly from his seat. His aide quickly stepped forward to steady him.

“Father, please mind your health.” Shi Qian spoke up at once.

The Commander drew a slow, deep breath. “The tea can go unserved. Shi Guang, come with me.”

Shi Guang shot a look at Yan Qin — one full of fury.

As the Commander swept out, the Shi brothers followed in turn. Madam Shi seethed with rage. “What kind of upbringing does the Yan family give their daughters?”

Yan Qin picked at her fingernails. “Didn’t you personally choose me? Weren’t you originally trying to marry Yan Qing? And now you’re blaming me?”

“You — you—” Madam Shi nearly choked on her own breath. The second concubine, Luo Huaimeng, hurried over to help her calm down.

The third concubine held her handkerchief to her mouth, clearly struggling to hide her amusement.

“Since I don’t need to serve the tea, I’ll head back then. I haven’t had breakfast yet.” With that, Yan Qin strolled out as though she owned the place.

Madam Shi’s chest heaved. Her face had gone white.

“Madam, please don’t make yourself ill over this.” Luo Huaimeng brought her a cup of tea. “Young people don’t know any better — there’s no need to stoop to her level.”

“So this is the fine daughter the Yan family raised.”

Du Linghua smiled lightly. “Didn’t Madam keep saying how the Fifth Miss of the Yan family was a daughter born of the principal wife — beautiful, virtuous, and refined? Has Madam simply misjudged her, or was all that hearsay not to be trusted?”

She gave her handkerchief a little wave. “Does Madam have the feeling of having dropped a stone only to have it land on her own foot?”

“Du Linghua, do you have to keep talking?” Luo Huaimeng shot her a glare.

Madam Shi seemed long accustomed to her cutting remarks, yet they still stung enough to make her chest ache.

“Go. There’s nothing here for you.” Madam Shi looked at Du Linghua.

Du Linghua gave a faint smile, swayed her willowy figure, and left without a backward glance.

After a long moment of silence, Madam Shi’s composure returned at last. “Go and pass on my orders: the Second Young Mistress is to be confined to her courtyard. Without my permission, she is not to set one foot outside the gate. And since she thinks herself too good to do a maid’s work, from today onward, whatever the servants’ kitchen prepares is what she will be served. If she dares utter a single word of complaint, cut off her meals for two days.”

In the inner court of the Shi household, the one in charge was Madam Shi herself. Yan Qin had enjoyed her brief moment of satisfaction — but the one who would end up suffering for it was herself.

~

Shi Guang received a thorough dressing-down from the Commander and had no desire to return to the bridal chamber. He went directly to Qiu Cao’s quarters instead.

What he did not expect was to find Madam Shi already there, and Qiu Cao kneeling in the courtyard with tears streaming down her face.

He frowned. “Mother, what is this about?”

“Yesterday was your wedding night, and this low creature still had the audacity to lure you away. Letting her kneel is already more mercy than she deserves.”

“This has nothing to do with Qiu Cao.” Shi Guang let out a slow breath and told Madam Shi everything that had happened the previous night, from beginning to end.

“That woman — she has absolutely no idea what she’s gotten herself into.” Madam Shi was livid. “My son is perfectly fine in every way. Where on earth did she hear such nonsense?”

“Mother, I will never go near Yan Qin again.” The disgust in Shi Guang’s voice was unmistakable.

“She is still your proper wife. You can’t simply keep your distance from her forever.” Madam Shi tried to reason with him. “The whole city is watching this marriage. If you seek a divorce now, the Shi family will become a laughingstock.”

The daughter-in-law was her own choice. Was she supposed to admit to the whole world that she had made a fool of herself?

“Mother, there’s one thing I want to ask of you.”

Madam Shi felt her share of guilt. She had meant to find her son a good and virtuous wife, and instead had brought home a domineering one. What had happened that morning would soon be known by the whole household, and Shi Guang’s pride had taken a real blow.

“Tell me. Whatever it is, I’ll agree.” Madam Shi sighed softly.

“I want to marry Yan Qing.” Shi Guang’s gaze was unwavering.

“You still want to marry her?” Madam Shi was taken aback. “How can you be so set on this? She’s disabled. What use would she be?”

“Mother, some people may have a physical limitation, yet outshine everyone around them. Some are perfectly able-bodied and completely empty-headed. Isn’t Yan Qin a living example of exactly that?”

“But Yan Qing was just returned by us. If you try to marry her now, the Yan family will certainly refuse.”

“That is precisely why I need Mother’s help.” Shi Guang spoke earnestly. “If Mother had the means to make Master Yan go to the Commander to change the original marriage agreement, then surely she can find a way to have him give Yan Qing to me.”

“Very well. I’ll try.” Madam Shi gently patted his shoulder. “Yan Qin is still your proper wife. A few days of discipline is enough — just don’t let it become a scandal.”

Shi Guang’s expression was one of complete indifference. “Let her fend for herself, then.”

On the third day after Shi Guang and Yan Qin’s wedding — the day that was traditionally meant for the bride to return home for her first visit — the Yan family had been cheerfully preparing to receive the couple. But instead of the newlyweds, it was Madam Shi who arrived.

“Shi Guang and the Fifth Miss haven’t come. Madam Shi is here instead,” Jing Zhi reported back to Yan Qing with what she’d managed to find out.

Yan Qing paused mid-stroke in her writing. “What is Madam Shi here for?”

“I don’t know. She brought some gifts and has gone to the Master’s courtyard.”

“Why hasn’t Yan Qin come?”

“They say she’s taken ill.”

Fallen sick after just three days of marriage? That seemed like too much of a coincidence.

“Miss, the Master is asking for you.” Murong came in at a brisk pace. “A’xi is waiting outside.”

Seeing A’xi, Yan Qing smiled. “What has Father called me for?”

A’xi had received many kindnesses from Yan Qing over the years, and so answered without hesitation. “It’s Madam Shi — she asked to see the Miss.”

Yan Qing’s brow furrowed. She couldn’t make sense of why Madam Shi would want to see her — the two of them had no connection whatsoever.

“Madam Shi seems to have come specifically on account of the Sixth Miss. From what I overheard of her conversation with the Master, it was all about you.” A’xi said it as though offering congratulations.

Yan Qing made her way to Master Yan’s courtyard, her mind still turning over the puzzle. The moment she stepped inside, Madam Shi came forward with a warm smile. “Yan Qing, it’s been quite some time.”

Her familiar manner caught Yan Qing off guard. This same Madam Shi had gone to considerable lengths to have Master Yan break off her engagement with Shi Guang — and now here she was, all smiles. If there was no hidden motive behind this, Yan Qing would be the last to believe it.

“Madam Shi.” Yan Qing greeted her politely regardless, giving nothing away.

“They all say the Sixth Miss is graceful, intelligent, and well-read. Seeing you today, I must say — every word of it is true.” Madam Shi smiled warmly. “Shi Guang has always said that although Yan Qing has a slight physical difficulty, she is beautiful in heart and spirit, gentle and virtuous.”

When Yan Qing heard Shi Guang mentioned, a quiet suspicion began forming in her mind. Shi Guang had only just married Yan Qin three days ago, and here was his mother standing before her, saying such things. Could that be appropriate?

Yan Qing responded with a serene smile. “How kind of my Fifth Brother-in-law to say so. Please do give my regards to Fifth Sister.”

The words *Fifth Brother-in-law* made Madam Shi stumble inwardly — she found she had no idea how to continue.

“Qing’er, you may head back.” Master Yan spoke up. “Madam Shi and I still have a few things to discuss.”

From the moment they had arrived, Master Yan had sat in near silence. Now he spoke — but only to send Yan Qing away. His manner was not one of dismissal so much as one of protection.

Yan Qing gave a small nod. “Father, Madam Shi — I won’t disturb you any further. Please take your time.”

She glanced at A’xi in the doorway and smiled. “A’xi, would you mind walking me out?”

A’xi stepped forward at once. “Of course, Sixth Miss.”

Watching Yan Qing go, Madam Shi let the smile fade from her face. And from behind her came Master Yan’s voice: “Madam Shi, let us speak plainly. There is no need to involve the sixth girl.”

Madam Shi turned to find Master Yan watching her with a composed but clearly displeased expression.