The groom hastened to reply with a smile, "Your Highness, the Great Khatun has returned from her family home."

Another Great Khatun? Yao Ji's heart skipped a beat. Suppressing her shock, she entered her own tent where Aqing rushed to greet her. "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Great Khatun…"

Yao Ji cut her off sharply. "What terrible thing? I already knew about this before we left the capital."

Despite her words, she hadn't truly anticipated this. Great Khatun was Zong Jun's other principal wife. Unlike the Han, where men could take many concubines but only one wife, they allowed for two wives of equal standing.

Before seeking the hand of the Yan princess, Zong Jun already had a principal wife. The agreement stipulated that the princess would be the second Great Khatun, it being the position of honor among the others, placing Yao Ji above the other wife.

However, Yao Ji hadn't seen this other wife since her arrival. She'd heard Zong Jun wasn't particularly fond of her and had only married her because she had been his father's wife, his stepmother. The Man had a custom of marrying one's father's widow or brother's wife. The old chieftain, on his deathbed, had specifically entrusted her continued care to Zong Jun, leading to their marriage.

Therefore, Yao Ji hadn't given her much thought, assuming she wouldn't return from her family home. Now, like a bolt from the blue, this had happened. Zong Jun must have known, yet he hadn't breathed a word of it to her.

Once settled, the Great Khatun came to pay her respects to Yao Ji, accompanied by her servants.

Yao Ji found her strikingly beautiful, tall, and voluptuous. Having been married before, she exuded a mature allure. Yao Ji recalled Zong Jun teasing her about her small bust. Observing Hu Lan's gentle words laced with subtle disrespect, Yao Ji, already feeling isolated and vulnerable, felt a pang of bitterness.

After forcing a smile and exchanging pleasantries with Hu Lan for a short while, a servant announced Zong Jun's arrival. Before Yao Ji could react, Hu Lan rose to greet him. "Kundu, you're back."

Zong Jun had recently hunted a snow wolf and, having had its pelt prepared, intended to present it to Yao Ji. He stopped short at the sight of the curvaceous woman approaching. Raising an eyebrow, he asked, "Hu Lan?"

Hu Lan simpered. "Have a few months apart made you forget me already?"

Zong Jun gave a slight nod. "You seem to have lost some weight." He then strode into the tent and ordered the pristine snow wolf pelt to be brought in. "Yaoyao, look what I have for you."

Relieved that Zong Jun seemed focused on her, Yao Ji was about to admire the rare pelt when Hu Lan followed them in, saying with a laugh, "Oh, a snow wolf pelt! What a treasure! I remember the first snow wolf you hunted, Kundu, you gave it to me. I still haven't brought myself to wear it. It's been kept safe in a chest."

Yao Ji's forced composure crumbled. Her small face fell, and she lowered her head in silence. Zong Jun, sensing the tension, understood the source of their friction. He chuckled. "Is that so? That pelt was originally an offering to my father. I hadn't realized he'd given it to you."

Hu Lan's face flushed crimson then paled. Before she could speak, Zong Jun waved a hand dismissively. "You must be tired from your journey. You should rest. I'm also weary."

Though clearly displeased, Hu Lan, with a final glare at Yao Ji, swept out of the tent with her entourage.

Zong Jun led Yao Ji to a seat and placed the snow wolf pelt before her. "Don't you like it?"

Head bowed, Yao Ji wanted to say she didn't, but the pelt, with its flawless, thick fur, was truly exquisite. She mumbled, "...I like it."

Zong Jun chuckled softly in her ear. "You like it, yet you give me the cold shoulder?"

Yao Ji looked up defiantly. "I'm not upset about that. I'm upset about…"

"About what?"

She wanted to voice her displeasure about the sudden appearance of the Great Khatun. But seeing the nonchalant expression on the man before her, she wondered why he seemed unbothered while she stewed in resentment. Feeling increasingly wronged, she turned her face away, refusing to speak or acknowledge him.

Zong Jun found her petulance endearing. Knowing she was jealous of Hu Lan, a leftover burden from his father whom he had no interest in, he decided to tease her further. "Is it about Hu Lan? Though she was my stepmother, we grew up together, so there's a certain bond."

Yao Ji's head snapped up, her almond eyes wide with anger, her lips pressed into a thin line. Zong Jun couldn't resist reaching out to caress her pale lips, leaning in to kiss her. "My sweet Yaoyao, don't bite your lip. You'll hurt yourself, and I'll be heartbroken."