Early the next morning, Zhao Yuechan got ready and ordered a carriage to return to her maiden home. Supported by a young maid, she entered the main hall to find her mother, Madam An, reclining on the luohan bed with a cat in her arms. Her father, Zhao Xuede, sat on the other side of the bed, smoking a pipe.

Madam An glanced at Zhao Yuechan and said, “Why are you suddenly coming home? Aren’t you worried your in-laws will be displeased?” Though in her forties, Madam An looked remarkably young, heavily made up with strikingly beautiful features.

Zhao Yuechan pouted, “I’m nearly being killed, and you’re worried about their happiness?”

Zhao Xuede frowned and rebuked, “Nonsense!”

Zhao Yuechan sat in a chair by the window. After the maid served tea and withdrew, she said, “I’m not talking nonsense. Yesterday I was truly angry to death!” She then recounted the incident with Xiang Lan.

Upon hearing this, Madam An flew into a rage, “How outrageous! Your husband is being too unreasonable. How dare he constantly threaten divorce and humiliate you over a mere maid! I’ll go back to the Lin family with you right now. This matter won’t be settled until it’s cleared up!”

Zhao Yuechan was overjoyed and immediately nestled close to Madam An, saying, “Mother always cares for me the most.”

Zhao Xuede had been frowning the whole time. Hearing this, he scolded Madam An, “Women’s foolishness! Be quiet! The more you meddle, the messier things become.”

Madam An retorted indignantly, “How is this meddling? Our daughter is being wronged, and as her mother, I can’t stand up for her. What’s so special about the Lin family? Can they just bully people as they please?”

Seeing that Zhao Xuede wouldn’t help, Zhao Yuechan quickly let fall a few tears, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, “Father, you don’t understand. He used to at least give me some face in front of others, but now he’s becoming increasingly unreasonable. I kindly arranged someone for him, but he showed no appreciation. Now he’s making me completely lose face over a little maid. I don’t want to live anymore…” She opened her throat as if about to wail.

“If he’s so heartless to you, why not simply divorce him?” Zhao Xuede said with a cold smile. “Come home, and your mother and I will find you a wealthy family in another province. Though not equal to the Lin family, we certainly won’t let you suffer. Are you willing?”

Zhao Yuechan’s cry caught in her throat, and Madam An exclaimed, “That’s impossible!”

Zhao Xuede glared at the mother and daughter: “Since you’re unwilling, then stop this foolish troublemaking early!”

Madam An seemed unconvinced, while Zhao Yuechan lowered her head in silence. Zhao Xuede sighed and after a while said, “Since we’re all family, let me speak frankly behind closed doors. The Lin family has been an established noble house for generations. Though our Zhao family has foundations, we’ve only risen because the current Emperor succeeded in his uprising and we have an Imperial Consort from our family. Your grandfather is trusted by His Majesty at court – that’s why we’ve prospered. Otherwise, do you think the Lin family would have chosen to marry into our family?”

Zhao Yuechan interrupted, “That’s exactly what I was going to say. Lin is being ungrateful! If it weren’t for marrying me, their family would have ended up like the Shen and Bai families. If not execution of the entire clan, they would at least have been exiled. How could they be living such peaceful, wealthy days!”

Zhao Xuede lowered his voice, “The Lin family was merely neutral in court initially, though they leaned toward the Crown Prince but not obviously. After the Eighth Prince succeeded, he didn’t plan to massacre the Lin family, only wanted to punish them. That old fox Lin Zhaoxiang calculated well, marrying a Zhao daughter to help the Lin family escape disaster.” His tone darkened, “However, Lin Jinlou was right – though Old Master Lin intended to marry him to a Zhao daughter, he hadn’t chosen you, but rather your uncle’s fourth daughter. I knew the Lin boy loved beautiful women, so I had you dress up nicely and stand under the lanterns during the Lantern Festival, just so he would notice you. Otherwise, how could such an excellent marriage have happened?”

Zhao Yuechan was startled, stammering, “So Father had planned it all…” Many young men had noticed her that Lantern Festival night, but Lin Jinlou was the most handsome, so she kept glancing at him. She never knew her father had calculated it all.

Zhao Xuede said proudly, “Of course! Otherwise, how could I let an unmarried young lady show herself in public? This was the Young Master of the prestigious Lin family of Jiangnan! If the Crown Prince hadn’t lost power, would the Lin family have been willing to marry into the Zhao family? I couldn’t let your uncle’s family take this advantage. The Old Master had the same thought – as long as the Lin and Zhao families were joined, it didn’t matter who. Haven’t you seen your father’s continuous promotions these past two years? That was all the Old Master’s intention. Because you married well, your grandfather has been willing to help our branch of the family.” His expression darkened again, “From now on, behave yourself. Your husband merely has a romantic nature – just turn a blind eye and let him be. What man isn’t fond of women? He only has three concubines including the serving girls – that’s already a few. Control your temper, don’t be so jealous, be more tender and considerate, and your husband won’t spend every day in other women’s rooms! As long as you remain the Lin family’s primary wife, there will be better days ahead.”

Zhao Yuechan twisted her handkerchief grievously, “I want to be gentle with him, but he won’t even look at me…”

Zhao Xuede’s eyes flashed fiercely, “You dare say that! If it weren’t for your filthy affair with that beast before marriage…”

Zhao Yuechan shrank her neck, and Zhao Xuede took two deep breaths.

Madam An quickly mediated, “That’s all in the past, why bring it up!”

Zhao Xuede slammed the peony-carved rosewood table with a bang, “You think I like mentioning it? We lost all face! Fortunately, the Lin family still gave us some face, and I begged on my knees to prevent them from breaking the engagement. Otherwise, with such shame, Vanr would only have been able to hang herself to clear this disgrace!”

Zhao Yuechan’s face turned red with suppressed emotion. Biting her lip, she thought hatefully, “These are all unfair rules of the world. Why must women die for such things while men can live freely and happily? If they want my life, I’ll take him to see King Yama with me!”

Zhao Xuede looked at his daughter’s delicate, pretty face and sighed quietly again. Of his three daughters, Zhao Yuechan was the most beautiful and clever, but she had a nature that wouldn’t accept loss. Spoiled and willful since childhood, she couldn’t tolerate others in anything. He slowly said, “Your husband said one thing right – if he divorces you, the Zhao family has plenty of girls eager to take your place. His military leadership is now famous, even praised twice by the Emperor. He’s rising rapidly – don’t do anything foolish at this crucial time.”

Zhao Yuechan listened with her head down, appearing deep in thought, twirling her handkerchief around her fingers. Seeing her manner, Zhao Xuede knew she had taken his words to heart. He coughed and said, “Besides, it’s just about a maid – is it worth such dramatics? Since that maid is from that concubine’s room, let them fight each other, play a scheme of division…” He quietly gave some instructions.

Zhao Yuechan nodded repeatedly, smiling brightly, “Father is indeed clever.”

Zhao Xuede glared at her, “Give me some peace of mind!”

Madam An smiled, “Not only should we deal with that little vixen, but Van’er should also take care of her health and bear a son soon. Only then will her position be truly secure.”

These words stabbed at Zhao Yuechan’s heart. She murmured a few responses, talked about other matters for a while, then bid farewell to return to the Lin residence.