The Double Life of the Heir's Consort - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I thought my days in the Marquis’s Mansion would go on forever, dull and uneventful.

Until one night, a petty thief broke into the Marquis’s Mansion. I chased after him on instinct, only to accidentally stumble into the hidden chamber inside Xiao Hanlin’s study.

The moment I stepped inside, my scalp prickled and my whole body went rigid.

Xiao Hanlin was investigating me?

No, more precisely, he was investigating me as General Zhaohua?

The hidden chamber was covered with portraits of me.

The woman in the paintings wore a fitted black combat outfit beneath red armor. Her hair was half tied up, and a full-faced ghost mask covered her features.

In Great Qi, women were allowed to serve as officials and generals. Back then, because of my military achievements, the emperor had rewarded me, and I became a minor general in Mobei.

And according to the rumors, General Zhaohua had a scarred face and wore a mask every day. That was the image everyone knew.

Later, when I had to return to the capital and resume life as a noble young lady, my father arranged for General Zhaohua to “die” on the battlefield.

Logically speaking, my father held absolute power in Mobei.

There shouldn’t have been any holes in that story.

So why was Xiao Hanlin investigating me? What did he suspect?

If he really found something, then my father would be guilty of deceiving the emperor! And if someone with ulterior motives tacked on a few more charges, his old life would probably be forfeit!

Oh. I probably wouldn’t end up much better either.

A sound came from outside the study. I had no time to think and hurriedly fled the scene.

Back in my room, I lay in bed tossing and turning the entire night.

I decided I couldn’t stay in the Marquis’s Mansion any longer.

Xiao Hanlin was far too calculating. I needed to keep my distance from him.

But how could I leave the Marquis’s Mansion?

There was only one way: divorce. Better yet, he had to be the one to bring it up.

Once I made up my mind, I quickly put my plan into action.

Xiao Hanlin disliked my delicate, affected act, so I would give him affected.

I had the kitchen cook me a huge spread of dishes. Once they were done, I claimed I had no appetite and refused to eat.

After the servants cleared the food away, I complained endlessly that I was a little hungry and made them prepare another serving.

In my heart, I silently apologized to them.

Just bear with it a little longer. Once Xiao Hanlin divorces me, no one will torment you anymore.

After several rounds of this, someone finally couldn’t take it anymore and reported the matter to the steward.

I had no idea whether the news reached Xiao Hanlin’s ears.

In any case, he showed no reaction.

Seeing that Xiao Hanlin remained unmoved, I had the servants knock down every pear blossom in the courtyard while they were in full bloom.

This time, Xiao Hanlin reacted.

After all, he adored pear blossoms.

Apparently, the pear branches had been a gift from a certain friend, and he had put a great deal of care into raising them.

When he came to my courtyard to question me, my eyes were red as I cried in a nauseatingly pitiful manner. “The scent of those pear blossoms makes my heart burn so badly that I can’t sleep at night. What? Am I not even allowed to touch those pear blossoms?”

Xiao Hanlin stared at me with a dark expression. Then, without saying a word, he turned and left.

It was obvious he was truly angry.

Tch. What “gift from a friend”? Nine times out of ten, they were a gift from the woman he loved.

I had found the key to getting under his skin, so I set my sights on those two pear trees and started wreaking havoc. Xiao Hanlin had endured it until today, but in the end, he finally couldn’t hold back…