Volume One, Chapter 13: Already Taken Seven Women

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The guards at the estate looked Shen Yurou up and down, undisguised disdain spilling from their eyes.

“Heh. Sister-in-law, if you want people to believe your lies, you should at least dress the part.”

Shen Yurou knew she did look wretched. Days of worry and travel had stripped away every trace of her former radiance.

Now she was covered in dust from head to toe. Even her eyes were dull and lifeless.

Qiuyue began arguing with the guard while Shen Yurou took the opportunity to peer into the courtyard.

Through a gap beside the screen wall inside the gate, she caught a fleeting glimpse of her mother-in-law.

So the whole family had already moved in. Everyone except her.

Her heart sank completely.

“Let’s go.”

Shen Yurou’s voice was very soft. Qiuyue stopped arguing and returned to her side.

“What? What did you say, my lady?”

“I said we’re leaving!”

“But this is your home. If you don’t go back here, where else can you go?”

Home? What a ridiculous word.

Her composure shattered in an instant. Raising her voice, she cried out in anguish, “I said we’re leaving! Did you hear me?”

Qiuyue had never seen Shen Yurou lose control like this. Even when she had been demoted to a concubine’s daughter, she had still managed to face everything with a smile.

She stammered, wanting to say something, but Shen Yurou lifted a hand to stop her.

Shen Yurou closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. When she spoke again, her voice was calm.

“Qiuyue, they must be hosting a banquet inside. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to enter now. Besides, I need some time to collect myself. We’ll come back in a few days. All right?”

Qiuyue stamped her feet in distress. “My lady! At a time like this, you’re still thinking about your husband?”

Shen Yurou took Qiuyue by the hand and turned away. They had just begun to leave when Xie Fangying’s voice rang out from inside the gate.

“What’s going on? What kind of conduct is it to make such a commotion?”

Her voice was unbearably arrogant, proclaiming her sense of superiority to the world. But the moment she saw who was standing at the gate, she stopped short.

“Sister-in-law?”

Xie Fangying was dressed in fragrant cloud brocade, exuding a grandeur and elegance far beyond what suited her age.

The instant she saw Shen Yurou, she ran over. The pearls and hair ornaments covering her head jingled with every step.

“Sister-in-law, you’re back! Come in quickly! Our new residence is magnificent.”

Seeing Xie Fangying draw Shen Yurou inside with such affectionate familiarity, the guards at the gate finally realized that this woman truly was the commander’s wife.

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They immediately stood at attention, lowered their heads, and called out, “Greetings, Madam,” respectfully stepping aside to clear the way.

Xie Fangying pulled Shen Yurou inside, introducing every corner of the residence as they walked.

But Shen Yurou’s heart was filled with bitterness. How could she have any interest in touring the estate?

If she could, she only wanted to be alone and quiet for a while.

Xie Fangying noticed nothing amiss. She simply took Shen Yurou toward the liveliest part of the residence.

Shen Yurou finally pulled her hand free. “Fangying, thank you for your kindness, but I’ve been traveling all day. It wouldn’t be proper for me to meet guests in this state.”

Xie Fangying looked her up and down before speaking carelessly.

“Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. It’s not an important banquet. There are gatherings here every day. You haven’t seen my brother in a long time, have you? Come on, I’ll take you to him. He’s in the front courtyard.”

Once again, Xie Fangying seized her hand. She led Shen Yurou through a small garden, around a covered corridor, and into the heart of the revelry.

The gathering Xie Fangying had dismissed as nothing serious was already lavish beyond measure in Shen Yurou’s eyes.

Dozens of softly glowing yellow glass lanterns illuminated the courtyard, casting a hazy light that was almost dreamlike.

Seven or eight officials in formal robes sat on either side of the courtyard, drinking and laughing merrily.

At the very center, a troupe of scantily clad dancers swayed their waists seductively.

Xie Zhi’an sat in the place of honor, staring intently at the dancers’ graceful figures, his expression entranced.

The official seated to his right cupped his hands and flattered him.

“These foreign dancers were chosen especially for Your Excellency. Every one of them was carefully selected. I wonder whether they meet your approval, Lord Xie?”

Everyone knew that foreign dancers were naturally alluring. Not only could they sing and dance, they were also exceptionally skilled in the bedchamber.

The official’s words made Xie Zhi’an itch with anticipation. Swallowing hard, he kept his gaze fixed on the dancers and answered repeatedly, “Good, good, good. They’re excellent. Lord Wei, you’ve gone to a great deal of trouble.”

At once, the dancers surged toward Xie Zhi’an in the seat of honor.

The most striking among them even settled directly into his lap.

“My lord, shall this humble girl feed you some wine?”

With such soft beauty in his arms, how could Xie Zhi’an refuse?

The beauty lifted a cup and took a delicate sip. Then she slipped her arms around his neck.

Her crimson lips pressed against his, and little by little, the clear wine passed into his mouth.

Her eyes glimmered as she asked sweetly, “My lord, is the wine to your liking?”

Xie Zhi’an gazed dazedly at the beauty before him, his hand lingering possessively over her bare waist.

“It’s delicious. Somehow, it’s even more intoxicating than before.”

Seeing that Xie Zhi’an had lost all interest in the drinking party, the others rose one after another to take their leave.

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Xie Zhi’an’s entire body and soul were fixed upon the dazzling foreign dancer. He hurried toward the inner residence with her.

Hidden in the shadow of a tree, Shen Yurou and Xie Fangying witnessed everything.

Xie Fangying seemed entirely unconcerned. She even counted on her fingers.

“One, two... six. Hmm, she’s the seventh.”

Shen Yurou asked in confusion, “The seventh what?”

“The seventh woman my brother has brought into the residence. No wonder everyone says he should remain an official in the capital. The moment he took office, so many women began throwing themselves at him.”

Bitterness spread without end through Shen Yurou’s heart, devouring her whole.

How foolish she had been to think her husband a rare gentleman, and to hope that the two of them might remain together for a lifetime, just the two of them.

She had never imagined she could have been so wrong about him.

He had only become a military commander, yet he had already cast aside the wife who had stood by him through hardship.

Shen Yurou remained silent for a long while.

As a woman herself, Xie Fangying sensed her unhappiness.

“Sister-in-law, you needn’t be so upset. No matter how many women my brother brings into the residence, you will always be the commander’s wife. If he ever tries to divorce you and marry someone else, I’ll be the first to object.”

Xie Fangying raised her hand, making the vow with absolute conviction.

Shen Yurou gave a bitter smile. To share one husband with so many women, the position of commander’s wife was not worth having.

She had just turned to leave when Xie Zhi’an and the woman approached.

When he saw Shen Yurou, Xie Zhi’an paused, but his arm remained wrapped around the woman’s waist.

“Yurou, you’re back? Have a maid prepare a room for you and get some rest.”

He said nothing at all about failing to send her a letter to tell her of his promotion.

The anger she had accumulated throughout the journey reached its breaking point.

“Husband. Are you saying you don’t welcome me back?”

Shen Yurou fixed Xie Zhi’an with a fierce stare, her voice sharp and severe.

In Xie Zhi’an’s memory, Shen Yurou had always been gentle and even-tempered. He had never seen her so confrontational.

His heart immediately began to falter. After all, he truly had forgotten her.

For the past several days, he had lost himself in one banquet and amorous encounter after another, completely forgetting the woman who remained far away in the western frontier town.