To ensure his widowed sister-in-law gave birth to the Lin family's first grandson before I did, my husband dunked me in a lotus pond in the dead of winter.
"After my elder brother died, Ruyan had nothing left. The Lin family's first grandson must be born to her."
The pain was so unbearable that I forgot all about my dignity. I clutched the hem of his robe and begged him to spare me.
I swore I would never compete with his widowed sister-in-law for the family fortune using a child.
"Shen Yao, how did I never realize you were so vicious?"
"You already have my love. Why are you still so greedy?"
"Stay in the water and think about what you've done!"
Later, Jiang Ruyan gave birth to a baby girl without a hitch.
Only then did my husband remember me and send a midwife to help with my delivery.
But he had no idea I had already frozen to death in the lotus pond.
