Pei Sizhen had three husbands in her life, all told.
Her first husband was the proud and noble heir to a marquis's estate.
He fell for her at first sight from afar during a palace banquet on the Winter Solstice, and defied his family to marry her. But less than five years into their marriage, he brought a courtesan into their home as a concubine. He then treated her coldly at every turn, blaming her for having no children. In the end, they divorced.
Her second husband was a brave and battle-hardened general.
He was meant to become the princess's consort, but was widowed on the eve of their wedding. The only daughter of the Noble Consort had died an unseemly death, and her almost-husband naturally became the target of public criticism as well.
As for Pei Sizhen, the Noble Consort had taken her in, and she had once been fortunate enough to serve as a young companion to the princess. She had even called the general
