Springtime in the Jade Tent

When Zheng Shifu went into the mountains to gather herbs, she found Zhou Peifang, who had lost his memory. Over the three years of their marriage, she bore him a daughter, raised their child, and worked herself to the bone—even draining the family’s savings to support his studies. At last, Zhou Peifang placed first in the palace examination and took her to the Capital City to begin his official career. She thought their hardships were finally over, but instead, her husband climbed into the Commandery Princess’s favor and demanded that she become his concubine. Everyone said she was as insignificant as an ant, with a life as worthless as a blade of grass, and that being treated like a sister by the Commandery Princess was the best fate she could hope for. But Zheng Shifu was stubborn, with a backbone of steel. Heart turned cold, she left home with her child and entered the prince’s residence as a wet nurse. The residence was lavish, its power unrivaled. Zheng Shifu kept her head down and avoided trouble. All she wanted was to feed the young master, save enough money, and buy a house of her own. Little did she know that the one who needed her care was… not the young master, but the man who ruled the prince’s residence: the Commandery Princess’s young adoptive father. In public, Pei Zhiyu was the picture of grace, aloof and untouchable. In private, he pressed Shifu against the table, slowly undoing the ties at her collar with his fingertips. “You cured This Prince’s ailment. How should I… repay you?” Zhou Peifang thought Zheng Shifu was nothing but a countrywoman, alone and penniless in the Capital City. After divorcing him, she was sure to fall into poverty and bitterly regret it. But when he later married the Commandery Princess, he bowed deeply before the elders. From the seat of honor in the prince’s residence, Pei Zhiyu gently took Shifu’s hand and looked up at him with a smile. “You should call her… Mother.” — Description from novelcodex.orgFull novel: Springtime in the Jade Tent — read the rest free on N​o⁠v​e⁠l​C⁠o​d⁠e​x⁠.​o⁠r​g⁠