Chapter 1

This winter’s snowfall was particularly heavy, with snow accumulating deeply in the courtyard. The servants couldn’t keep up with clearing it; just as they cleared a path for people to walk, it would be covered again in a layer of fine snow in no time.

The study wasn’t far away. Shen Yu hadn’t brought any maids with her. She walked slowly along the corridor, passing through the archway, where she overheard the maids gossiping behind the corridor wall.

“The young master finally brought Miss Lin back, but it’s a pity that what was once a perfect match is now reduced to her being just a concubine for the young master.”

“But what about the young madam…”

The maid’s tone was mocking. “She’s the daughter of a traitor and still has the audacity to hold onto the position of the principal wife.”

“You shouldn’t say such things. The young madam is nice, and besides, her father and brother both died in battle, so she…”

“So what? If it weren’t for her father’s misjudgment of the military situation, our Great Zhou wouldn’t have lost all one hundred thousand soldiers on the border.”

“Our young master is too kind-hearted. The Shen family has fallen into such a state, yet he still married her, a sickly girl.”

Outside the corridor, the snowstorm continued, sending waves of cold air seeping into the bones.

Shen Yu felt even colder in her heart, forcing a bitter smile.

It turned out that even the servants knew long ago that Jiang Lianzhi was going to take a concubine. Yet, she, the principal wife, only learned about it this morning.

There had long been rumors in the capital that Jiang Lianzhi, a deputy minister of the Ministry of Rites, and Lin Qingli, the daughter of his mentor, were childhood sweethearts and a match made in heaven. However, four years ago, Lin’s father was implicated in a corruption case and was executed by law, and all his family members were exiled.

Under Jiang Lianzhi’s arrangement, the Lin family was rehabilitated this summer, and he promptly brought Lin Qingli back.

She had heard countless times from her mother-in-law and maids how kind and gentle Lin Qingli, Jiang Lianzhi’s childhood sweetheart, was. If it weren’t for her interference, they should have been an enviable couple.

They said Jiang Lianzhi had deep feelings for Lin Qingli and marrying her, a daughter of the Shen family, was just to fulfill a sense of righteousness.

It turned out everything wasn’t without a trace.

No wonder the servants had been avoiding her gaze lately, and no wonder Jiang Lianzhi had been avoiding her, always excusing himself with too many official duties and hadn’t returned to the main house for about ten days.

Thinking about it, Lin Qingli had entered the capital almost ten days ago.

Shen Yu didn’t continue listening. She had come today just to get an answer from Jiang Lianzhi.

Passing by the corridor, several maids’ faces turned pale.

“Young, young madam.”

Before they could kneel down and beg for forgiveness, her magnificent dress had already brushed past their bowed fingertips as she headed towards the study.

Jiang Lianzhi didn’t usually like personal attendants. There was only him in the study. Seeing Shen Yu come in, he raised his head and greeted her with a smile.

“Running over in such heavy snow, are you feeling cold?”

Seeing his smile, Shen Yu felt a tightness in her chest.

“Young, young master.”

Just as they knelt down and were about to plead, the magnificent train of her dress had already brushed over their bowed fingertips, heading towards the study.

Jiang Lianzhi usually didn’t like personal attendants. There was only him in the study. Seeing Shen Yu enter, Jiang Lianzhi raised his head and greeted her with a smile.

“Running over in such heavy snow, are you feeling cold?”

Seeing the smile on his face, Shen Yu felt a tightness in her chest.

The man in front of her had married her into the Shen family when they were in trouble, caring for her attentively and accommodating her every request, reaching the pinnacle of being a husband. So now, she couldn’t even bring herself to hate him.

He seemed to have done nothing wrong, except for one thing—he had placed his heart on another woman. But wasn’t that a fact even before she appeared?

She just wanted to ask Jiang Lianzhi, over the past three years, were you tired of pretending to care? Have you ever felt wronged sleeping with me all these years?

Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Shen Yu mustered a faint smile at him. “I heard you brought Miss Lin back.”

The smile that had just appeared on Jiang Lianzhi’s lips froze for a moment, the warmth in his eyes gradually fading away. After a moment, he said, “Who has been slandering me to you again?”

Shen Yu pretended not to notice his earlier expression, and went straight to the desk. “Since she’s back, how do you plan to arrange her?”

Jiang Lianzhi avoided her gaze. “I intend to take her as a concubine.”

Shen Yu noticed his choice of words—intend, not want. He didn’t give her any room for negotiation, just informing her.

Seeing her unhappy expression, Jiang Lianzhi fell silent for a moment before gently explaining, “Qingli has been exiled for a long time. I want to give her a place to settle down. She’s gentle and won’t affect your position as the mistress of the Jiang family.”

Even though she had been prepared, Shen Yu still felt a sharp pang from his answer.

She lost her mother at a young age, and her father and brother died at the border when she was seventeen. Besides her, the Shen family only had her stepmother and younger sister left.

Before getting married, her stepmother repeatedly warned her that the Jiang family was one of the four major aristocratic families, and the Jiangs had helped the Shens during their hardship. Moreover, a woman’s life changed after marriage, and now with no one to support her, she must endure whatever comes her way.

As a daughter of a prestigious family, she had once fought on horseback and wielded a sword in battle. But since getting married, she had always been accommodating, almost forgetting what she used to be like.

This grand Jiang Mansion was about to suffocate her.

Shen Yu felt an unusual tightness in her chest. She took a deep breath and asked, “What if I don’t agree?”

Jiang Lianzhi was taken aback, seemingly completely unexpected that she would refuse.

In Jiang Lianzhi’s eyes, she was usually gentle, always nodding in agreement to everything. It was the first time she had expressed such strong opposition to him.

He sighed. “Ah Yu, you’re not someone who acts unreasonably. There’s no rule in the Jiang family that forbids taking concubines. I need…”

“Alright, I understand.” Shen Yu interrupted him, nodding slowly. Her hands clenched involuntarily under her sleeves.

She knew what he needed. He needed to share the burden for the emperor, so he married the daughter of General Shen, who died in battle, to comfort the soldiers.

And the Jiang family needed heirs. But the person who could bear the children of the Jiang family definitely couldn’t be her.

Because since the second year of her marriage, she had found musk added to her food and snacks, making her unable to conceive.

Lost in thought, Jiang Lianzhi stood in front of her, closing her collar with the fur cloak.

“I’ll have someone take you back. It’s so cold out, don’t run around. Be careful not to catch a cold,” he said gently.

Shen Yu raised her eyes, scanning his face.

Jiang Lianzhi had a remarkably handsome face, with beautiful eyebrows and eyes, exuding a refined charm.

It was precisely this kind of highly deceptive face that had fooled her for so many years.

He played the role of a perfect husband, always showing concern and care for her.

At the most vulnerable moment, one would mistake the hand extended to them as a lifelong support. She had once succumbed to the warmth he brought, but now everything seemed ironic.

“No need, it’s just a few steps.”

Shen Yu smiled at him and turned around, but as she did, a tear fell from her eyes, shimmering briefly before disappearing into the snow-white fox fur.

No one in this world could be relied on. In the end, she was left with only herself.

What was originally a half-teacup’s journey seemed so long, as if one glance could see through her entire life.

She looked up at the sky, the small expanse of sky was dyed so dazzlingly white, revealing a deep sense of desolation and scars amid the vast expanse of snow.

Why was this winter so cold, even colder than the snowstorms at Yanzhao Pass?

If she hadn’t lost her martial arts skills and her horse, she could have ridden towards Yanzhao Pass, towards the burial place of her father and brother. She wouldn’t have been left alone in this world, with no one to talk to.

But now…

“Cough, cough…” Shen Yu raised her hand, coughing a few times into her fist.

But her body now, let alone fighting on the battlefield, she couldn’t even lift a sword.

“Sister.”

Footsteps approached, and Shen Yu turned her head, seeing a woman standing beside her, followed by two maids.

The woman had a delicate face, with clear eyes beneath her slender eyebrows, and her features were exquisite and pitiable.

Shen Yu had never seen Lin Qingli before, but the moment she saw the woman, her intuition told her that this was the person in front of her.