The General's Wife - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

“Lady Song has shown the general kindness, so I have treated you and your servant as honored guests. Yet the moment you opened your mouth, you threw filth all over me, the Mistress of the General’s Household. Why?”

Song Tinglan went weak at the knees.

“I was too frightened and said the wrong thing, causing a misunderstanding between Madam and the general.”

I gave a cold laugh and pressed on.

“Then in front of the general, I will ask and you will answer. Did I order that fire to be set?”

Clutching her handkerchief, her face filled with humiliation and distress.

“Mother Song accidentally knocked over the oil lamp.”

“And how was your arm injured?”

“Mother Song mistook tung oil for well water and hurt me by accident.”

“As the mistress managing this household, have I ever mistreated you or wronged you?”

“Madam… has not!”

“Then why did you stage this bitter little act in the middle of the night to drive a wedge between my husband and me, and make me, the Mistress of the General’s Household, bear a filthy reputation and public censure?”

My cold, relentless questioning left Song Tinglan swaying on her feet.

“I didn’t. I didn’t do it on purpose. I only…”

“You only have too much ambition.”

My mocking gaze landed on Li Xun’s darkened face.

“Unfortunately for you, the capital is a place of rules. And the General’s Mansion, under my management, is as secure as an iron barrel. It has no room for scheming little flies and dogs with bellies full of plots.”

“One fire burned a screen bestowed by the Former Emperor, a scroll of calligraphy by the Empress Dowager, a cosmetic box with an eastern pearl headdress, and several agarwood carved ornaments. Those are the foundation and dignity by which an established family stands. They are not props for your petty game of fighting for favor and affection.”

Every servant and steward in the room had lowered their heads so far they seemed ready to press them to the floor.

But they heard every single word I said, clear as day.

Song Tinglan burst into helpless sobs.

“I never wanted the fire to happen. Mother Song is timid and unused to such things; it wasn’t as if she did it on purpose.”

“I merely panicked for a moment and said the wrong thing, and I am already ashamed beyond measure. Why must Madam still speak so harshly and force me to the point where I can only die to atone?”

“If you truly cannot tolerate me, I…”

“Then leave.”

I turned to look at her.

“On the busiest street in the south of the city, I will personally buy you a two-courtyard residence and assign three to five maids and servants to you, ensuring you live the rest of your life with no worries over food or clothing.”

She staggered half a step back, unable to speak.

Silent tears fell all over her face.

“Enough!”

Li Xun rose to his feet.

“What happened tonight ends here. I do not want to hear a single rumor about it.”

Watching his retreating back, I let out a derisive laugh.

“If that fire of uncertain origin had ultimately been pinned on me, would the general still protect his own so blatantly, without the slightest regard for principle?”

Li Xun’s eyes were dark.

“What do you want me to do? Throw my benefactor out of the General’s Mansion and let the whole world spit on my name?”

“Besides, you clearly had everything calculated from the start. Why did you not lay out that record book in the open from the beginning? Why wait until the flames were licking at your own body before turning the accusation back on others, just to show off your skill at managing the household and how utterly innocent you are?”

So that was how he saw it.

Suppressing the chill in my heart, I met his gaze.

“Was it not you, General, who forbade the stewards from restricting her, watching her, or even making her feel uncomfortable? The servants’ record book was meant to guard against thieves. How were they to know the person they had to guard against was the general’s benefactor, this young lady?”

“If I dared bring it out, would you have dared acknowledge it?”

Li Xun’s righteous confidence froze on the spot.

I rose.

“Keep your people in line. Do not let them attempt something stupid enough to cost the entire family our heads.”

“Otherwise, I can only cut off the tail to survive.”

Li Xun started in alarm.