I was born into a distinguished family, had a generous dowry, and married a capable man. My husband was naturally cold, but we treated each other with respect and lived quietly together for forty years. It wasn’t until I found those letters that I finally understood. He hadn’t spent years traveling because he loved the mountains and rivers. He had been keeping a woman hidden away in Jiangnan. From the bloom of youth to hair turned white, he hadn’t been cold by nature. He had simply given all his passion to someone else. My whole life had been a joke.