Ensnared - Chapter 5

“I’ve apologized. Isn’t it your turn now?”

“What have I done wrong?” Shen Zhou gave a quiet, cold laugh. “I’ve indulged you in everything since we married. Isn’t that enough?”

“No. You’ve indulged me, but have you ever fulfilled your responsibilities as a husband?

“Why didn’t you speak up when your mother humiliated me on our wedding day? I married beneath my station to enter your family, yet she called me a seductress, dismissed my birth family as grasping opportunists, and slandered the Cui family to everyone she met. You knew perfectly well you were the one benefiting from this marriage, but you never said a fair word for me. You let her abuse me and my family.

“On my second day in your household, your five sisters took turns ordering me around. They dragged me out of bed before dawn to cook. One wanted steamed buns, another thin porridge, another pastries, another soup, and the last rice. They were deliberately making things difficult for me, yet you stood by and let them bully your wife.

“Shen Zhou, you’re so learned, so well versed in governing a country. Why can’t you even manage your own household? If you had, I wouldn’t have become the wicked wife who disrespects her mother-in-law and persuades her husband to move out!”

I spoke through tears. My frail body shook with emotion, and the coughing I’d only just stopped returned worse than before.

Shen Zhou reached out to soothe me.

His hand hovered for a moment, then withdrew.

Most of the disgust in his face had faded, replaced by guilt.

I pinched the soft flesh on the inside of my arm. The piercing pain reddened the rims of my eyes.

Then I looked up at him through brimming tears.

“I admit it. I don’t want a divorce.” I lowered my gaze. “We’ve only been married a month. If we divorce now, my father and the entire clan will be furious.

“This world devours people. A woman’s chastity and reputation are all she has to keep her alive. I can’t imagine how I’d survive without them. Perhaps even being allowed to live would be too much to hope for.

“But there is no affection left between us. If we keep struggling like this, we’ll only destroy each other. Besides, marrying you was my choice. I ought to bear the consequences.”

I looked up at him again, letting the tear I’d so carefully prepared slide down my cheek.

Shen Zhou opened his mouth, about to say something.

Before he could, I managed a wan, helpless smile.

“Even a brief marriage deserves a lifetime’s kindness. I, Cui Ying, wish you success in the examinations and a prosperous career.” I rose and bowed to him. “I’ll tell my father about the divorce. Please inform your parents. From now on, we’ll go our separate ways and wish each other well.”

Then I turned toward the door.

I was pretending to be magnanimous. Inside, I was a wreck.

I was afraid I’d gambled wrong.

If Shen Zhou insisted on divorcing me, or if he didn’t have a shred of compassion, the divorce would be settled.

Just as I reached the door, he caught my arm.

“My father arranged the marriage. He pretended to be gravely ill to trick me into coming home for the ceremony. I was too preoccupied to pay attention to anything else and allowed you to be humiliated on our wedding day.

“You were arrogant and domineering during those first days. Qingliu kept talking about your past with the Third Prince. I resented it, so I left household matters alone and allowed my sisters to mistreat you.

“This is my first time being a husband too. I thought letting you have your way would be enough. I neglected my responsibilities. I’m sorry.”

“Consort Shu and my mother are close friends. Before I married, she asked about my marriage prospects several times, so everyone in our household thought I was the intended bride of the Third Prince.” I pressed my lips together. “Qingliu was unhappy to see me become a provincial graduate’s wife and move to this freezing commandery town. That’s why she kept gossiping. It was my fault for failing to discipline her.

“But I traveled all this way to marry you because I wanted us to build a life together. Your attitude on our wedding day was so hurtful that I grew resentful, and we drifted further and further apart. Now we’ve ended up like this. I really…”

My voice trembled. Another forced tear fell.

I was about to wipe it away with my handkerchief when Shen Zhou’s warm fingertip brushed it from my face.

“It’s all my fault.”

His voice was low, heavy with remorse.

Clearly, he was admitting his mistakes and wanted to put the past behind us.

“Husband,” I choked out, throwing myself into his arms and sobbing against his chest.

I might have been crying, but inside I was delighted.

It seemed Shen Zhou hadn’t yet become the bloodthirsty villain.

That would make winning him over considerably easier.