Moonlight in the General’s Household - Chapter 2

2.

After the steward fled, I stood behind the gate in awe.

I really had underestimated my sister-in-law.

Back in the courtyard, my brother hastily ordered a maid to bring water so he could wash his face. His eyes were swollen like two walnuts.

I approached my sister-in-law, worried.

“Have we made permanent enemies of them now? The Cuis are civil officials, after all. What if they make trouble for Brother at court?”

She sat on the couch embroidering. Without looking up, she rubbed her needle against her scalp.

“So what if we’ve made enemies? Would marrying into their family make them treat you well? It’s simple: the more afraid you are of trouble, the more trouble comes looking for you.”

She blew on the silk thread.

“We women must be delicate—so delicate that the whole world believes we’re being bullied. Then no one can bring themselves to hurt us.”

Sure enough, the matter was far from over the next day.

Not only did the Cui family refuse to admit any wrongdoing, Cui Yun himself came to our door with his cousin in tow.

He stood in our reception hall in a plain robe washed almost white, deliberately making himself look haggard.

Cousin Lin followed him, her eyes red, carrying a bowl of tea as an apology.

Looking at his cultured, hypocritical face, I wanted to break his nose with a single punch.

He bowed toward the inner hall.

“Yun’er, what happened the other day really was a misunderstanding. My cousin and I are completely innocent. I was merely drunk and asked for a cup of tea. I refuse to accept this broken engagement.”

“I’ve come to take you home. As long as you apologize and withdraw that outrageous divorce letter, you will still be my principal wife after we marry.”

Cousin Lin sank gracefully to her knees and spoke in a soft, fragile voice.

“Sister Yun, it’s all Wan’er’s fault. Please don’t be angry with Cousin. I’m willing to be his concubine. I would be content just to stay beside him and serve him.”

I nearly threw up.

He had been caught cheating, yet I was supposed to bow my head, apologize, withdraw the divorce letter, and conveniently let him take a concubine too?

Before I could speak, my sister-in-law stepped out from behind the screen.

She was dressed simply, with only a silver pin in her hair. She looked even more fragile and pitiable than Cousin Lin.

She went forward and clasped the girl’s hand, her eyes full of sympathy.

“Oh, Miss Lin. How can you demean yourself like that?”

Cousin Lin froze. So did Cui Yun.

My sister-in-law turned to him with grave concern.

“Master Cui, this is where you’ve gone wrong. An unmarried young lady, entirely respectable, comes to live with your family. You get drunk, go into her room, and ruin her reputation. And now you expect her to become a concubine?”

His face darkened. He assumed the lofty bearing of a scholar.

“Madam Su, this is a private matter for the Cui family. My cousin is educated and sensible, and willing to become a concubine. What business is it of yours?”

My sister-in-law covered her mouth with her handkerchief and sighed.

“Why should women make life difficult for other women? Since Master Cui is affectionate and Miss Lin is willing, we should let you be together. However, a daughter of our household will not share her husband. Whether you accept it or not, this engagement is over.”

Seeing that persuasion had failed, Cui Yun dropped the pretense with a sneer.

“Perhaps Madam Su is unaware that at this morning’s court session, the Censorate submitted a joint impeachment against General Lu. They accuse him of allowing his sister to commit violence and corrupting proper moral conduct.”

“His Majesty has retained the memorial without acting on it for now. But if that divorce letter isn’t withdrawn, General Lu may find his third-rank post rather insecure.”

My heart sank. I immediately looked at my brother.

He spent most of his life on the frontier. Court intrigue was what he understood least.

If he lost his office because of me, I could never atone for it.

I gritted my teeth, about to say I would go through with the marriage. At worst, I would marry the bastard and torment him to death.

But my sister-in-law quietly pressed a hand to my shoulder.