The general and his wife, who had not shared a bed for half a year, suddenly became inseparable. What’s more, the general even took his wife, disguised as a man, in and out of the military camp.
Though the madam was a daughter of a military family, she could hardly escape her mother-in-law’s torment within the household. How had she suddenly found the nerve to lecture her elders overnight? She even launched sweeping reforms throughout the estate, managing the household less like its mistress and more like a military commander.
The general had changed just as strangely. He no longer favored Concubine Shen, and he stopped giving in to his mother’s unreasonable demands. His old approach to training troops had been to charge straight ahead, but now he was both bold and meticulous, frequently coming up with brilliant formations. Was this really the sort of strategy one could expect from someone raised in the countryside?
Strangest of all, the madam fussed over the general all day, asking after his health and comfort. When the two were together, the general would sometimes reveal a girl’s bashful manner.
“Madam, please wear some jewelry. You are the face of the General’s Estate, after all.”
“Fine, but could you please stop wearing a bellyband?”
The front was too unreal, but the back suddenly became reality, catching me off guard.