As autumn rain pattered softly, Du Jingyi awoke to the sounds of commotion outside her room. Her personal maid, YingTao was orchestrating the delivery of various items, her hushed tones punctuated by the rustle of movement.
“The young lady is still resting,” YingTao instructed, “so be gentle and quiet.”
A chorus of varied voices affirmed her command, indicating a sizable group. After ensuring the items were placed, YingTao slipped into the main room, only to find Du Jingyi already awake. She was propped on the kang, an account book filled with dense writing open before her.
Du Jingyi stirred, her eyes fluttering open to gaze forward . YingTao sensing her awakening, approached with an apologetic tone . “Did the people outside disturb you, Young Lady? I’ll have them stop at once.”
Du Jingyi simply waved a hand, her slender, pale arms swaying gracefully. A slight frown creased her brow as she flexed her wrists, which had grown a little sore from supporting herself while she slept. Her maid, YingTao, immediately stepped forward, gently kneading her mistress’s aching arms.
A faint blush colored Du Jingyi’s face, making her skin appear even fairer and more delicate, like a luscious, ripe peach. Her deer-like eyes held a rare clarity, yet a playful glint of cunning danced within their depths. With bright eyes and white teeth, she exuded an ethereal beauty. Her slender shoulders and waist, framed by hair like a cascading waterfall, painted the picture of a pampered beauty, seemingly naive to the world, yet a hint of melancholy clung to her from her life within the Duke’s mansion.
The autumn rain outside continued its gentle descent, a steady murmur that hadn’t yet dampened the ground, leaving a muggy warmth in the air. “Autumn rain brings nothing but emptiness,” the saying went. This was the third autumn rain Du Jingyi had witnessed in the Duke’s Mansion, and like the previous years, it signaled the end of summer.
“It’s alright, it was time to wake up anyway,” Du Jingyi said, waving off YingTao’s concern. She then gestured towards the window. “What’s all the fuss outside? So many people?”
YingTao, relieved, explained, “Madam Wei sent people to deliver things. She said the General will be home in two days, so many items need to be added and replaced.”
A faint smile touched Du Jingyi’s lips. “She certainly knows how to seize an opportunity.”
Since the triumphant news from Dacezhou reached Sui’an City, the entire Duke’s Mansion had been abuzz with preparations. Now, not only the people of Sui’an but even those in Daxing knew that a powerful general was about to emerge from the Duke’s Mansion. He had fiercely battled the enemy, Dajin, for three years, reclaiming thirteen border towns. He led an army of 400,000 tiger soldiers to defeat 700,000 menacing Golden soldiers. Finally, he accepted the imperial edict and signed the “Ceyan Alliance” with Dajin on behalf of the current emperor, ensuring a century of peace at the border. Such a feat was unprecedented in the Daxing Dynasty, and the entire nation planned a grand celebration.
Logically, as the General’s “true” wife, Du Jingyi should have overseen these arrangements. But tragically, since the General had rushed off to war three years ago without even lifting her red wedding veil, she had become a forgotten figure in the mansion. No one knew if he would return safely. Du Jingyi was neither the newly widowed young lady of the Duke’s Mansion nor the General’s wife envied by all of Daxing. Instead, she was caught in a mismatched marriage.
Born into a harmonious merchant family, Du Jingyi had been pampered and adored, with only one married sister. Her family had originally planned for her to marry a son-in-law who would continue the Du family name. But by a twist of fate, a matchmaker accidentally leaked her horoscope, catching the attention of the Duke and Duchess. They came to propose marriage in person, causing a sensation throughout Sui’an City. The Du family couldn’t refuse; such a proposal was a windfall, a sign of immense good fortune. So, amidst the envy and jealousy of others, she entered the Duke’s Mansion in a blaze of red.
She had believed this was the dawn of a new life, but her awakening was swift and harsh. With the Shizi’s departure, her status in the family plummeted. At first, she faced subtle challenges from her uncles, aunts, and sisters-in-law. Gradually, even that faded, and she became a forgotten presence. Everyone knew that Xitang Courtyard in Dongyuan was a quiet, neglected place, where no one cared to venture. As a daughter-in-law, save for greeting the Duke and Duchess on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month, she had little interaction with the vast household. Even at family dinners, her presence was barely acknowledged.
Du Jingyi’s expression remained serene, as if the bustling preparations had nothing to do with her. She closed her account book and instructed Yingying, “They can move whatever they need, but ensure the warehouse, main room, and study are well-guarded. They are not to enter those areas.”
“Young Lady, rest assured,” Yingying replied. “Momo Dou and Momo Cai are keeping a close watch; they won’t act recklessly.”
As they spoke, light footsteps approached. It was Li Zhu, another maid, younger than YingTao but equally pretty and pleasant. “Young Madam, please have some pear water. It will soothe your heart and lungs.”
Du Jingyi took the green and white glazed porcelain bowl, gently stirring it to reveal tender pear flesh. The warm liquid was perfectly soft and sweet, just as she liked it. “Danruo’s skills are truly improving. This is even sweeter than what’s sold outside.”
Li Zhu smiled. “Master sent some citron, and Danruo added a little. She said it was perfect for seasoning.”
“No wonder, Father is truly thoughtful,” Du Jingyi murmured, her good mood dimming slightly. A helpless complaint escaped her lips. “In the past, at this time, I would go out with Father to oversee the autumn harvest. That was far more comfortable than this. Since I entered the mansion, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve gone out. It’s so boring.”
Her red lips formed a pout of unhappiness. YingTao, however, can only offer some perfunctury words of comfort.