My Husband Is Always Playing Tricks on Me

The great villain of the Liang dynasty was a devoted husband. He married only once, and the people said that years of wicked deeds had made his wife infertile. So the great villain adopted many sons and daughters, and every so often went up a mountain to pray. Perhaps he believed that if he never forgot his wish, it would eventually be answered. When the great villain was nearing forty, his wife finally gave birth to a son. Overjoyed, he named the boy Shen Yi. A year later, his second child was born, but his wife died in childbirth. Looking at the tiny, frail baby, the great villain tearfully changed the name Shen Er to Shen Xiu.

After his wife died, the great villain doted on both children. Shen Xiu heard her father say she could have the stars and the moon if she wanted, so at fourteen she stood before him and said, “Father, I like the scholar at the Imperial Academy. Would you arrange a marriage for me?”

The teacup in her father’s hand wobbled. “But I’ve been telling everyone you’re my son.”