A Second Spring Behind Silken Doors - Chapter 4

Xu Hanzhi wanted to divorce Jiang Zhi.

He called in the head of the Xu clan, as well as Father and his wife.

Naturally, Jiang Zhi refused. She was dying. She was determined to be buried as the Marchioness of Xuanping, in the Xu clan’s ancestral burial ground.

Besides, she hadn’t yet chosen a foolish, easily controlled stepmother for her children. There was no way she would leave the Xuanping residence.

She threatened to kill herself and her son and daughter. The household was turned upside down and, for a while, became the capital’s greatest laughingstock.

Laughingstock or not, Xu Hanzhi didn’t manage to divorce her. Perhaps he still felt something for his first wife. Perhaps it was because his eldest legitimate son was old enough to remember. Perhaps…

Whatever the reason, Jiang Zhi stayed.

But Xu Hanzhi stopped coming home. Every day he either slept at his office or went drinking with someone.

The servants from Father’s wife’s quarters burst into our courtyard to tie me up.

“Madam says today is the day Fifth Miss goes to the Baoding residence. If you won’t go willingly, we’ll have to use force.”

“You are, after all, a young lady from a respectable family. Don’t make this too ugly.”

“Get out!” Mother swung a broom at them. “All of you, get out!”

I had already slipped through a side gate when they arrived, heading straight for Tongxiang Restaurant.

I knew Father had a drinking engagement there that day.

I rushed into the private dining room. The senior officials inside all stared. Father’s face turned green.

“What are you doing here?”

“Father!” I stood in the doorway. “Please step outside. I have something to report.”

He came out, his face dark, and hissed, “You’ve lost every scrap of decorum, coming here to find me!”

“It’s urgent. In an emergency, one must adapt. You taught me that.”

“Speak!”

We stood in the corridor, private rooms on either side and servants passing to and fro. I drew him a few paces away and lowered my voice.

“Father, you’ve lost your senses!”

His expression sank. Anger flared in his eyes. He probably hadn’t expected a daughter born to a concubine to scold him.

“You—you unfilial wretch! What did you say?”

“Mother wants to send me to the Marquis of Baoding as a concubine,” I said quietly at his side. “But he’s the Third Prince’s man. If you make your daughter his concubine, does that mean you’re supporting the Third Prince against the crown prince too?”

Father’s face changed at once. He looked around to see if anyone was nearby, then spoke through clenched teeth.

“You stupid girl! Is that a subject for you to discuss?”

I met his eyes. “My marriage is a small matter. Your career and the lives of our entire clan are not. Please think carefully.”

In my previous life, the Baoding household had indeed supported the Third Prince. But their involvement hadn’t come to light until his rebellion four years later. I didn’t actually know whether they were connected to him yet.

That hardly mattered. The stakes were too high for Father to act rashly.

“Then you… wait until I get home.” Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

He was frightened.

“No. You have to come home now, or Mother will send me off. Surely you don’t expect me to argue with her?”

“But you can argue with me?” He pointed at me. “Look at you, you stubborn little mule. You’ll be the death of me!”

He sent his personal steward back to the house.

Pointing at me once more, he returned to the dining room.

“Come home early, then,” I reminded him from the doorway.

Smiling, I smoothed my skirts. Just then, the door to the next private room opened, and I came face-to-face with a young man.

I froze. He gave me a warm smile and walked away at an unhurried pace, his attendants following.

It was Lady Huyang‘s male favorite.

What an easy life favorites had. They could even come and go at restaurants as lavish as this one.

Jiang Zhi demanded to know why Father hadn’t sent me to the Baoding residence as a concubine.

Father flew into a rage in his study. I could hear every word through the wall. He must have found some trace of dealings between the Marquis of Baoding and the Third Prince.

He was frightened now, and the abuse he hurled at Jiang Zhi was ugly.

“Did everything I just said go straight past you? The Baoding household and the Third Prince… Forget it. There’s no explaining anything to a fool like you.”

At first Jiang Zhi wouldn’t believe that the Baoding household had anything to do with the Third Prince. Then she started crying. Her mother hurried over to soothe Father, and the study grew very lively.

I bent down toward Xu Yao. “Been fighting with anyone lately, Yao?”

He rolled his eyes and went back to the storybook he’d just dug out. “Mother says you’re a lowly bitch and I shouldn’t talk to you. You can get lost.”

“Oh.” I nodded. “Then I suppose there’s no need to share the secret I’ve heard.”

Xu Yao looked up, baffled.

“Wait!”

“I’ll tell you, but you mustn’t tell anyone else.” I lowered my voice. “I know the emperor’s eldest grandson will be choosing study companions at the beginning of the fifth month.”

That was true. But in my previous life, Xu Yao hadn’t been selected, and Jiang Zhi had been furious for ages.

This time, I would help her fulfill that old dream.

“You’re lying. My parents don’t even know about it. How would a concubine’s daughter like you know?”

“Your father’s been dismissed. It’s only natural he hasn’t heard. So work hard, Yao. You have to protect the Xuanping household!”

I smiled, patted his shoulder, and walked away.

Xu Yao dropped his book and ran off to find Jiang Zhi.