I Smiled After Mother Died, but Father Went Mad with Regret

The day Father brought the commandery princess home as his bride,

Mother finally came to terms with everything.

She tore three feet of white silk in her room, quietly hanged herself, then had me set a fire and burn her bones to ashes.

Rather than grieve, I was happy for Mother, laughing through my tears.

Mother had once been a celestial maiden, but she fell in love with a mortal and gave birth to me, her little mistake.

Now Father had broken her heart.

At last, she could return and be a celestial maiden again.

But three days later, Father came looking for Mother like a madman.