“Su Ran, I have something to tell you.”
“Le Xi is a princess of Xilong Kingdom. She followed me all the way from the frontier, and I intend to take her as my wife. From now on, she will be mistress of the General’s Manor.”
“She bore me a son—he is already three years old. Now that I have returned, it is time for him to acknowledge his ancestors.”
Still clad in his battle armor, Shen Que sat imposingly in the chair, speaking to Su Ran in a tone that was almost a mere notification.
Mistress of the manor? Her son to be recognized as heir? The words struck Su Ran like a blow. She froze, the light in her eyes dimming at once. Moments earlier, the servants had told her the general had returned from the palace and wished to speak with her. She had gone with a trace of anticipation in her heart. Yet the husband she had longed for day and night, on the day of his triumphant return, brought back not only victory—but another woman and child.
“A wife? Then what am I?”
“Le Xi is a princess of Xilong, noble in status. She will be the principal wife. You shall be the secondary wife.” Shen Que’s words were final.
Su Ran stared at him, disbelief clouding her gaze. She remembered clearly: on their wedding day, the border sent urgent summons, and he was ordered to march. He had lifted her bridal veil in haste, entrusted her with the household, and promised that upon his return he would cherish her, never betray her. For four years she had devoted herself—serving his mother, caring for his siblings, managing the estate, praying daily in the small Buddha hall, pouring her dowry into military supplies—only to await his safe return. Now he was back, still radiant with vigor, though sterner than before, his voice carrying the command of a seasoned general.
Su Ran remained silent for a long moment. Then, calm and steady, she said: “The marriage contract is written in black and white: I am the principal wife. The General’s Manor welcomed me with full rites of a proper marriage. On our wedding day, before you rode to war, you vowed never to fail me. I waited four years. And now you return only to tell me I am to be a concubine? How can you speak such words? Do you remember the promise you once made?”
Her question made Shen Que pause. His careless gaze fixed on her face, lingering. She stood in a gown of pale lotus silk, her figure graceful, her hair arranged in a lofty cloud bun adorned with a jade hairpin. Her porcelain features carried a cool dignity, her brows refined and noble. Four years apart, she had grown even more captivating. He looked at her longer than he intended, then said carefully: “I said you would be a secondary wife, not a concubine.”
“Secondary wife is still a concubine.”
“Secondary wife is also a wife,” Shen Que argued stubbornly.
“Is it amusing to deceive yourself? If you truly believe that, then let your Princess Le Xi be the secondary wife.”
“Le Xi is a princess, born of royal blood. She could wed a prince. Yet she lowered herself, followed me across thousands of miles. I am the one who has risen above my station. She has done so much for me—I cannot wrong her.”
“So you can wrong me?” Su Ran’s cold laugh cut him short.
A princess must be honored. But she, a daughter of the Marquis Yong’an household, orphaned and without powerful backing, could be cast aside, forced to yield?
“Su Ran, I know this is hard for you to accept. But Le Xi saved my life. Without her help these past years, victory would have been impossible. And besides—we truly love each other. Can you not understand?” His voice carried impatience, even reproach.
He spoke of Le Xi’s aid. But what of her sacrifices? Were they worth nothing? If it was about help, about devotion—then she too had given hers. And now, she would speak it aloud.
Su Ran’s voice was measured, unwavering: “On our wedding day, you rode to war. I understood—such is a man’s duty, to defend the realm even at the cost of his life.
“The General’s Manor was but an empty shell. On your stipend alone, the household would have starved…”
“You left for four years. To spare you any worries, all food, clothing, and household expenses came from my dowry. I toiled without complaint—serving your mother, caring for your younger siblings, tending the entire household—and endured your mother’s endless rules. And you? You return with another woman, shamelessly proclaiming it is true love, and demote your wife to a concubine. Four years at the frontier, a child already three years old. In other words, the moment you reached the border, you already had a companion: no betrothal, no rites—an illicit union, a child born out of wedlock. Ask yourself: I have no guilt toward any of you. What virtue, what honor does the General’s Manor have, to treat me with such disgrace?”
Shen Que listened to her accusations, his gaze flickering with surprise at the cold disappointment in her eyes. In his memory, she had always been gentle, well‑read, and obedient. His mother’s letters had praised her as sensible and considerate. Yet now she opposed him, needle against needle.
“My mother’s letters always said you were reasonable. Why are you being so quarrelsome today? You keep saying ‘four years’—but I did not spend those years idly. I was fighting on the battlefield, not playing games. Now I have returned, weary in body and spirit. Do not quarrel with me over these trifles. I appreciate what you have done for the household, but you need not put on airs. What you did was merely a wife’s duty.”
At this, Su Ran gave a bitter laugh. A wife’s duty. Each word cut her like a dull blade, slicing until she felt numb. Four years of devotion, repaid with contempt.
She no longer wished to argue. Fixing her gaze on him, she spoke slowly, each word deliberate: “Think as you please. But my stance is clear: as the daughter of Marquis Yong’an, I would rather shatter like jade than survive as clay. I, Su Ran, will never be a concubine!”
“You…” Shen Que choked on his words. Her constant defiance offended him; his brows furrowed in displeasure. On the battlefield, none dared oppose him. Victorious now, welcomed by the people, honored by the emperor—he was the empire’s great hero. He had expected this woman to admire and understand him, not to resist him so openly.
Their eyes locked in silence.
Su Ran saw the impatience on his face, but ignored it. “If you already had a beloved four years ago, already intended her to be mistress of the manor, why did you not let her manage the household then? Why did you not tell me sooner? Why deceive me for four years? What did you take me for?” Her face flushed with anger, disappointment blazing in her eyes.
“I wrote clearly in my letters to Mother that I had Le Xi, that I had a child. I never hid it from you!” Shen Que declared, raising his hand as if in righteous defense.
Boom— Su Ran felt as though thunder had struck. She turned her gaze toward her mother‑in‑law, who sat with lowered eyes, guilty and unable to meet her stare. She had called this woman “Mother” for four years, served her wholeheartedly for four years. And yet… they had all known. Only she had been kept in the dark.
The fool was herself. What had those four years meant?
Shen Que too was stunned, realizing from Su Ran’s shocked look that something deeper was at play. Had his mother concealed the truth from her?
Both pairs of eyes burned into Madam Shen. Forced to lift her head, she squeezed out a smile. “Daughter‑in‑law, I… I…”
“So Mother knew all along—that he had a woman, had a child outside. Yet you never told me, and still enjoyed my devotion in peace.” Su Ran’s eyes brimmed with tears, one drop trembling at the corner before falling.
A chill pierced her to the bone. Four years of being played for a fool. She pitied herself.
“Daughter‑in‑law, I only feared you would be hurt, so I did not dare tell you. Now that things have come to this, you must think of the bigger picture.”
“Afraid I would be hurt? No. You feared that if I knew the truth, I would stop giving you silver, didn’t you?” Su Ran’s almond eyes turned icy, her obedience stripped away, replaced by sharp defiance.
“Su Ran, do not speak so harshly!” Madam Shen’s voice rose.
“You acted shamefully, yet blame my words for being harsh?” Su Ran shot back without yielding.