A Taste of Frost

The day my father was condemned, the crown prince smashed our betrothal jade and married Lu Huashang, the chief minister’s eldest legitimate daughter, instead.

Then he personally led the soldiers who came for my entire family.

He declared that the Prince of Zhennan’s crimes were so heinous that his dependents need not even be taken to the execution ground, and ordered them killed on the spot.

That day, screams filled our residence, and my eyes were red with blood and flashing blades.

I should have died with them.

But the young marquis, Xiao Yu, claimed he had long admired me and surrendered all his military honors to spare my life.

For three years of marriage, he cared for me in every possible way.

At last I began to let him in, and was about to tell him how I felt when I overheard him speaking to his confidant outside his room.

“The anniversary of the Zhennan household’s destruction is in a few days, and Shuang will certainly go to offer incense, so have a few reliable men follow her and report everything she does.”

His confidant hesitated: “If you feel guilty, my lord, why did you go to such lengths back then?”

“Now you even have to worry about your wife discovering the truth.”

“How could Huashang marry the crown prince if the Zhennan household didn’t fall?”

“As for Shuang…”

Xiao Yu let out a long breath: “I only kept her because her eyes and brows resembled Huashang’s, but after having this substitute around for so long, I’ve grown reluctant to throw her away.”

I heard no more; I clapped a hand over my mouth and fled to my room.

That night, I hid a sharp blade against my skin.

When Xiao Yu was fast asleep, I cut off his worthless head.