CH 1

In the second year of Jinghe, the light rain weaved a misty net between the sky and the earth, and the breeze blew, making the raindrops float through the screen window and fall on the surface. 

She was like a fish in that net who seemed to be nourished by the rain to live well, but in fact she was almost suffocated to death. 

Yin Hui, who was a princess, had never experienced that kind of depression for a long time. 

She was the young lady of the Yin family, the richest merchant in Yandi. Since she was young, she was well-clothed and beautiful. When her relatives saw her, they all praised her for her good looks. 

At the age of marriage, Yin Hui did marry the third son of Prince Yan, Wei Luo, under the envy of countless women in Yan.

Who dared to say that a woman from a business family could marry the grandson of the Emperor? 

It was a pity that not long after marrying Wei Luo, Yin Hui experienced chest tightness. 

From the young maids of the palace, Yin Hui learned that he once had a cousin who was a childhood sweetheart, and that cousin looked like a fairy. If it wasn’t for his father, Prince Yan who needed money to pay for military supplies, she, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, would not be his wife. Wei Luo’s wife should be that cousin. The young maids also said that Wei Luo was infatuated with his cousin, and being forced to give up on her became his heart disease, and he rarely smiled since then. 

The first time Yin Hui heard such gossip, she got very uncomfortable for a while, but she quickly denied the rumors. Because according to her observation, although he always had a cold face in front of everyone, as if everyone owed him tens of thousands of taels of silver, and he had never said anything sweet to her, but Wei Luo at night liked to be close to her. Furthermore, Wei Luo never asked to have another woman. Even if she offered to show her virtuousness during pregnancy, Wei Luo refused without thinking. 

He was clearly lustful, but she was his only woman for ten years. 

Yin Hui took all of that as proof that Wei Luo had her in his heart, and his cold face was just natural. Some people liked to laugh, some were reticent, so it should be nothing unusual. 

Denying that cousin’s status in Wei Luo’s heart, Yin Hui’s married life went generally smooth, especially after her father-in-law ascended the throne. Wei Luo became Prince Shu, and she also became Princess Shu. The family of three lived alone in a spacious place in the Shu Palace. There was no need to serve in-laws, no concubines to worry about, and no disputes between sisters-in-law. Yin Hui almost had the final say on the internal affairs of the entire palace, and the other women all envied her in turn. 

However, just that day, Wei Luo, who was still working outside, asked his guards to escort a young beautiful woman back home. 

That beautiful woman was Wei Luo’s cousin Wen Ruyue who had been married for many years and experienced widowhood but was still as beautiful as a flower. 

It was only when Yin Hui saw her in the hall that she knew her identity from the other party.

Wen Ruyue was wearing a white dress and knelt on the ground, tears falling silently, like a pear blossom trembling in the rain, her voice was also lovely and pitiful, “Princess, please don’t blame my cousin for making such a decision. I have nowhere else to go, please take me in. I promise to be a concubine in peace and contentment, and never compete with the princess for favor.” 

At that time, Yin Hui’s chest was blocked and she couldn’t breathe. 

Wei Luo, who hasn’t taken a concubine for ten years, didn’t even discuss with her, and directly agreed to take his cousin as his concubine? 

Years of experience allowed Yin Hui to maintain her dignity, so she ordered the maid to take Wen Ruyue to the guest room first. 

After she left, Yin Hui sat in the room, facing the pattering rain outside the window, sulking all afternoon. 

She had never met Wen Ruyue before, and others said that Wei Luo had always cared about her. Yin Hui never really believed that. If Wei Luo had been thinking about his cousin all the time, would he act like a wolf when he was with her? 

Until seeing Wen Ruyue with her own eyes that day… 

Yin Hui came to the dressing table and sat down, looking at herself in the mirror. She was married at the age of fifteen, and she was only twenty-five years old. In the mirror, the woman’s black eyebrows were slanted, her peach blossom eyes were as clear and black as a girl’s, and there was no trace of age on her fair and plump face. 

In terms of beauty, Yin Hui was conceited that she wouldn’t lose to anyone, including Wen Ruyue, but Wen Ruyue’s soft and charming, ‘weak as a willow that even a little wind would blow her away’ (delicate) appearance may be more attractive to men than her.

Did Wei Hao actually like such beauty? 

How dare he? With Wen Ruyue’s small body, how many nights could she stand? 

Yin Hui didn’t believe it for a while. How could the affection be fake? 

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. When Wei Luo returned home in the evening, Yin Hui no longer maintained her usual dignity and virtuousness, as she could no longer greet him with a smiling face. 

“Princess, are you really not going to meet the prince? Miss Wen went to him as soon as the sun turned west. You haven’t entertained her all afternoon. Will she sue you first?” The servant girl Jinzhan asked worriedly.

Yin Hui couldn’t hear the words “Miss Wen” at all. When she heard it, it was as if she saw the picture of Wei Luo and Wen Ruyue under the moon.

“Has he not come back yet?” 

The Emperor asked all his grandsons to study in the palace, so her son Wei Heng, like his father, left early and returned late every day. 

Jinzhan looked at the master with some surprise, and recalled, “Today is the birthday of the prince of the Chu Palace. He made an appointment to have dinner tonight in advance. Princess, did you forget?” 

Yin Hui pursed her lips. 

She just forgot.