Chapter 2 Kneel Ma Ting's fists clenched hard beneath her long sleeves, and a faint redness spread across her eyes. For the sake of raising He Xinying's status, Li Han cast aside the Ma family. He was willing to humiliate them. When He Xinying saw Ma Ting's furious face, the sound of gears clicked in her mind as her little schemes fell neatly into place, and a laugh almost slipped from her lips. "Did I say something wrong? Did I upset you, Tingting? Then, I shall apologize to you." Her voice was soft, her posture graceful, as she lowered herself and knelt on the street in front of Ma Ting. Ma Ting instinctively stepped back ever so slightly. She lowered her eyes and looked at He Xinying kneeling on the ground, her gaze full of loathing. Before she could speak, a figure rushed out from behind her. Li Han hurried forward and supported He Xinying by the arm. "Xinying, what are you doing? "From this day, you and she are both my wives. Your ranks are equal. Why would you bow to her?" His voice carried nothing but tenderness. He had married He Xinying as a secondary wife, given her an eight-people-carrying-carriage ceremony, and lifted her head high so she could stand tall. If she still had to bow before Ma Ting, then what had been the point of that grand dowry? "How thoughtful, Mr. Han." Ma Ting lowered her gaze and stared at the pair, the look in her eyes taking on a frigid edge. Li Han was being affectionate with a bedwarming maidservant right in front of her. His glare cut toward her, cold and unforgiving. He was convinced Ma Ting had forced He Xinying to kneel. "Xinying, stand up." He tried to pick He Xinying up, but before she could rise, Ma Ting's sharp voice stopped him. "Wait." Li Han's patience snapped. "What do you want now?" Ma Ting arched her brows and looked at He Xinying, who played the part of the oppressed damsel. It had been He Xinying who flaunted the eight-people-carrying-carriage ceremony first. Ma Ting had said nothing, yet He Xinying had chosen to kneel. Now she wants to play innocent? If she loves to kneel so much, maybe she should do it as much as she wants , Ma Ting thought. Ma Ting curved her lips and let out a light laugh as her eyes met Li Han's. "She's only secondary wife once the ceremony is concluded. You said so, Mr. Han. "As of now, she has not finished the ceremony. I am a second-rank Countess personally appointed by His Majesty. She is still just the daughter of a servant. "It is just right that people of her position kneel and bow to me. And you think this is too much for her?" Ma Ting had always treated her servants with kindness. She never once used her rank to oppress them. However, her kindness did not mean everyone else could forget that she worked for the emperor and had a title he personally bestowed upon her. For He Xinying to kneel was only proper. Her words froze Li Han's hand in the air. He Xinying bit her lip, her eyes welling until tears spilled down her face. "Of course, I forgot about my manners. Sorry, Tingting." She pressed her forehead to the ground. When she rose, her skin was flushed red. Li Han's heart twisted with pity. He quickly pulled her up, his face dark as he turned to Ma Ting. "There, she has apologized to you. Happy?" He openly gripped He Xinying's hand and glared at Ma Ting, almost as if he was flaunting his defiance. "Did all the books you read fill your head with manure? You'd abuse your power to bully an orphan? "Once the wedding ceremony is done and you're my wife, you'd best learn how to behave. With those harsh words said, Li Han dragged He Xinying away without sparing Ma Ting another glance. He painted her as a villain guilty of unspeakable crimes. Ma Ting was rooted to her spot, watching their retreating figures. The glow of her beauty dimmed into bleak coldness. I'm abusing my power simply because He Xinying is saluting me properly like everyone else would? Then, you're abusing your power to trample all over my dignity. I'm an orphan as well , she thought. "Let's go back." Ma Ting breathed out softly, turned to Ding Jie, and walked away. So much for shopping. The wedding was nothing more than a formality anyway. There was no need to waste more money on something pointless. Just as she stepped back into the residence, the Ma Residence's butler, Tang, came rushing over. His face was pale, and he stood rigidly before Ma Ting. "What is it, Tang?" Ma Ting's parents were in Zhu County for most of her life. For ten years, she had stayed in Ming City under Tang's care. She had no family left, but everyone in the household was someone she trusted. By the look on Tang's face, she already knew what news he carried. But it didn't matter anymore. "Marquis Sunfair's Residence sent word. They said your status as a Countess is above He Xinying. To keep the two wives equal, your wedding arrangement will be reduced by two ranks compared to hers. They will only send a six-man carriage." Tang's lips shook as he spoke. Ding Jie broke down in anger. "This is outrageous! Humiliation! Ms. Ting, let's not marry them. Let's go to His Majesty right now and demand justice!" Ding Jie clutched Ma Ting's arm tightly. The marriage had been decreed by His Majesty. They could ask him to cancel it, but Ma Ting didn't move. She sat quietly at the table, calm as stone. "What's the point of going to His Majesty? Do you really think my family is what it once was?" The Ma family had once been full of loyal officials. Now it stood empty and cold. Who would fight for an orphaned girl? Even if they stood before His Majesty, Li Han could easily claim he had never said such a thing, that he had always prepared an eight-man carriage for her. So, they could only wait until the wedding day, when the entire Ming City would see for themselves that the orphan of the Ma family was given two ranks less than the daughter of a servant. Only then would she have reason and proof to gather support. "Be patient. It's only a few more days," Ma Ting said, then gave a soft laugh. She had once wondered if her plan was too cruel toward the Li family, but after today, she realized she had been far too kind. ... Only two days remained before the wedding. The Eldest Princess hosted a flower-viewing banquet at her residence, inviting all the noble ladies of Ming City to join her. Ma Ting usually disliked rambunctious gatherings, but this time she went. Her solitary life had made many forget that the Ma family still had one member left. By appearing among the noblewomen, she ensured she would be recognized when the time came to speak. When Ma Ting arrived with Ding Jie, the garden was already alive with voices and laughter. She knew almost no one there, so she sat alone quietly until a stir rose at the gate. Looking up, she saw Li Han entering with He Xinying. "I thought the heir of Marquis Sunfair is about to marry that Countess from the Ma family? Why did he bring another woman?" "He said that's his cousin, and he plans to marry her as a secondary wife on the same day." "I've never heard of such a cousin. Could it be some nobody he suddenly shoved into the ranks just to make her a secondary wife?" Amid the hushed whispers, Ma Ting's lips curved faintly. They were right. As a servant's daughter, He Xinying had no place at such a gathering. Li Han had gone to great lengths to give her the fake title of his cousin, just so she could appear in public. He Xinying heard every word, but she didn't defend herself. She kept her head high and walked straight toward Ma Ting. "Tingting, it's been a long time. Let me greet you in respect." This time, He Xinying greeted first, leaving Ma Ting no excuse to rebuke her. Her courtesy made the truth clear to everyone watching. Ma Ting was already known as the heir's bride-to-be. For He Xinying to show such closeness, it was plain that her place as a secondary wife was already secured. As Ma Ting did not chastise her, He Xinying boldly sat beside her. Li Han had promised that Ma Ting had been put in her place, that she wouldn't dare to make trouble again. That gave He Xinying the courage to act without fear. "Tingting, what happened to your finger? Why are you sewing your own bridal gown? You're a noble. My bridal gown? Han... my cousin already hired the best seamstress in the city, and it was delivered to me just yesterday."