I, Li Yihuan, am the legitimate daughter of a Grand Tutor, married down to Mu Yuan'an, a top scholar from a poor family.
He holds a fifth-rank post. I bore him two sons and two daughters. At twelve, our eldest son passed the metropolitan exam as the top candidate; at fifteen, he entered the Hanlin Academy. Our second son was made a great general guarding the nation. Our eldest daughter escaped her overbearing in-laws and found happiness, while our youngest daughter defeated a scoundrel and successfully divorced him.
Yet on the very day I gave birth to his legitimate eldest son, he brought his childhood sweetheart, Ma Qiaoqiao, into the household as a favored concubine.
The concubine feigned weakness, an illegitimate daughter stole her legitimate sister's betrothal, and an illegitimate son tried to steal his legitimate brother's marriage match. One by one, they strutted about, eager to trample my legitimate children.
Mu Yuan'an favored his mistress, ignored his legitimate children, and let the household descend into chaos.
I neither fought nor fussed. I only protected my own children.
You harm my eldest daughter, and I'll tear down the entire Attendant Minister's residence.
You scheme against my youngest daughter, and I'll ruin the illegitimate girl beyond redemption.
You bully my sons, and I'll make sure the illegitimate son never rises again.
Everyone called me cold-hearted, but after I made my move, no one in the Mu household dared lay a finger on my children.
Only when my sons held power over the court and all my daughters had happy endings did those childhood sweethearts realize they had picked the wrong person to provoke.
