After Being with My Husband’s Elder Brother

Sang Zhi, the timid and stuttering daughter of a ninth-rank official, was married into the prestigious Pei family three months ago to secure her father’s political advancement. Her husband, Pei Xiyue, known as Sanlang, treats her with open contempt and neglect, preferring the company of the Flower Queen of Liujing River. Sang Zhi’s mother pressures her to conceive a child to secure her position, unaware that Pei Xiyue forces her to drink contraceptive soup after every intimate encounter. The family’s status has recently declined due to rumors surrounding Pei Xiyue’s scandalous affair, prompting Mother Sang to urge Sang Zhi to win back her husband’s affection through submission.

The central conflict escalates when Liu Qi, a friend of Pei Xiyue, forcibly drags Sang Zhi to a tavern where Pei Xiyue is entertaining guests with the Flower Queen. There, Sang Zhi is publicly humiliated and mistaken for a courtesan. The situation turns dire when Pei Xiyue jokingly offers Sang Zhi to Liu Qi, leaving her trapped and terrified. However, Pei He’an, the eldest brother and the powerful Head of the House, Jia Zhu, returns unexpectedly from the Liangguang region. Cold and authoritative, he intervenes, punishing Pei Xiyue with ten lashes according to family law for consorting with courtesans and bringing his wife to such a place. This event marks a significant shift, as Sang Zhi is forced to care for her husband’s wounds while facing the scorn of Mother Pei, who blames Sang Zhi for not protecting Sanlang.

Pei He’an’s return disrupts the household dynamics. He is perceived as aloof and intimidating, yet he shows unexpected moments of protection toward Sang Zhi. When Sang Zhi is bullied by Pei Xiyue’s younger cousins, Pei He’an reprimands them, though Sang Zhi timidly defends the children to avoid further conflict. A mysterious black cat named Linu, belonging to Pei He’an, becomes a key element in their developing relationship. The cat steals Pei He’an’s jade ring and brings it to Sang Zhi, who returns it to him. This exchange creates a secret bond between them, as Pei He’an suspects Sang Zhi of manipulating his brother, while she fears his cold judgment. Despite his stern exterior, Pei He’an notices her vulnerability and offers her a lifeline, telling her she can report any mistreatment by Sanlang.

Sang Zhi’s life becomes a balancing act between serving her abusive husband and navigating the dangerous political and familial currents surrounding Pei He’an. She is summoned by Mother Pei and forced to search for Pei Xiyue in the city, during which she encounters her elder sister, Sang Yue, and Sang Yue’s companion, Leng Ling. Leng Ling aggressively confronts Sang Zhi, accusing her of stealing the man Sang Yue loved, and forces her to pay for broken rouge in a shop, highlighting Sang Zhi’s financial dependence and social vulnerability. Meanwhile, Pei He’an discusses court politics with his friend Xie Shi’an, revealing tensions between the Second and Fifth Princes and the upcoming Autumn Hunt, which poses potential dangers. The story follows Sang Zhi’s struggle for survival in a hostile household, her growing, albeit fearful, connection with the powerful Jia Zhu, and the intricate web of family secrets and political intrigue that threatens to engulf them all.