Moonlight in the General’s Household - Chapter 3

3.

My sister-in-law looked at Cui Yun without a trace of fear.

“You certainly know a great deal, Master Cui. A learned man indeed. But have you forgotten? My husband earned his office by risking his life on the battlefield. It wasn’t bestowed on him by a few wagging tongues in the Censorate.”

His face remained cold.

“Madam Su, I suggest you recognize your position. Without the Cui family smoothing things over at court, your household will suffer sooner or later. If Yun’er kneels before my cousin today, serves her tea in apology, and admits she stirred up trouble out of jealousy, I’ll have the impeachment withdrawn.”

I shook with anger.

He cheated, and I was supposed to kneel and apologize?

Beside me, my brother gripped his saber. The veins stood out on his arm. He was about to draw it and kill someone.

My sister-in-law walked over and pushed the blade back into its sheath with her slender hand.

“Husband, all this fighting and killing is so unpleasant. We women are terribly afraid of blood.”

“Since Master Cui says the Censorate has impeached us, let’s make our case before people of standing. Steward, prepare the carriage. We’re going to the Grand Princess’s polo gathering.”

Cui Yun froze.

“What are you going there for?”

She straightened her cuff.

“The Grand Princess detests injustice. The families of every important person in the capital will be at the polo gathering today. Didn’t you say you were innocent? Then let’s explain that innocence in detail before the most respected people in the city.”

His expression changed dramatically.

He knew perfectly well that the Grand Princess would tolerate no wrongdoing. If the matter reached her, the Cui family’s reputation would be finished.

“Su Yue! You wouldn’t dare!”

He had even called my sister-in-law by her name.

She immediately hid behind my brother and cried out in a trembling voice.

“Husband, he’s shouting at me! How frightening!”

Without hesitation, my brother kicked him clean over the reception hall’s threshold.

Cui Yun rolled twice across the ground, covered in dust. His cousin screamed and rushed to help him.

An hour later, my sister-in-law and I were in the carriage on our way to the polo gathering.

My heart pounded. My palms were damp.

“The Grand Princess is famously strict, Sister-in-law. She values propriety above everything. What if she gets angry and blames us for making a scene?”

She lifted the curtain and glanced at the sky.

“Who said we were making a scene? We’re going to tell her how we’ve suffered. Remember, when we get there, say nothing. If I tell you to cry, cry. The more restrained, the better. Don’t howl. Let the tears fall while you bite your lip. Understand?”

I looked at her blankly.

A general’s daughter shed blood, not tears. I hadn’t even cried when I broke my leg as a child. How was I supposed to do that?

She gave me a disdainful look and took a small paper packet from her sleeve.

“Rub this on your handkerchief, then dab your eyes with it.”

I took a sniff. The smell of raw ginger nearly knocked me over.

The polo grounds were bustling when we arrived.

The capital’s most prominent ladies were seated in the stands, the Grand Princess in the place of honor at the center.

We had barely entered when Cui Yun and Cousin Lin hurried in too.

Obviously, they had come to stop us talking.