But After downing a whole cup he still seemed to feel it wasn’t enough, so he simply poured another cup for himself. Unfortunately, this tea was not a sobering soup, and drinking it did nothing regarding his hangover . His head still spun from the effects of the wine , so he leaned back against the heated kang under the bright window and closed his eyes, seeking a moment of solace for his throbing head.
Seeing his Master’s pained expressions, Butler He immediately gave hushed instructions to the other staff to retreat. “Let’s go, the young mistress is here, she will take care of the master from here .” Luo Yuan as a personel aid for Shsnag ji frowned, clearly worried whether the young mistress could truly take care for the general. But the housekeeper wouldn’t allow a moment’s delay. He pulled Luo Yuan’s sleeve, urging him to go out. With no other choice, Luo Yuan hurried out of the room, with the the heavy armor still clutching in his hands . He knew he had to go straight to the study, where there was a special place for it to hang ; he couldn’t just leave this armor anywhere haphazerdely .
When Du Jingyi returned from the wing to the main room after a comferting bath, she frowned as soon as she stepped through the door. The room, which should have been lightly scented a with lotus frangrence , now reeked strongly of alcohol. It wasn’t an overwhelming smell, but for Du Jingyi’s pampered senses, it was as pungent as a thousand spices. It didn’t take much thought to her to understand where this smell came from ; it had to be her cheap husband, who just returned victorious from the battle and attended a palace banquet.
She took out a handkerchief from her previous clothes , covering her mouth and nose, and walked through the main hall to the intricately embroidered screen in the middle of the sleeping area. There, she saw him. A man lay sprawled on her favorite seat, utterly without ceremony. The teacup on the table was askew, but he was sleeping soundly without anyworry of the world. The moonlight outside the yard filtered thinly through the window, softening much of his intimidating, undefeated aura, replacing it with a touch of the leisurely comfort only noble masters in Sui’an City possessed. Even thgough she saw him only handful of times she had to admit, her husband certainly looks handsome as he possessed a pair of slender phoenix eyes that glimmered with quiet intensity, a high-bridged nose like sculpted jade, lips thin and sharply drawn as if carved by frost, and a tall, commanding figure that seemed to cast its own shadow of authority.
Waking up from her trance like state Du Jingyi suddenly became worried about how to wake him up , But just when she move towards him , Shang Ji, who has his his eyes closed just moments before, suddenly opened them. And the moment his deep eyes snapped open, an undeniable sense of raw power emanated from them. Du Jingyi had never looked directly at her husband before. Now, caught by his fierce, wolf-like gaze, she instinctively recoiled, taking two small steps back in a surge of panic.
This reaction did not escape from Shang Ji’s notice. He was slightly surprised by the figure standing in his room .As according to his understanding of the duke’s household he had thought that this time, Madam Wei would have found him a girl with a “hard life” and no charm, yet unexpectedly, she appeared like a fairy under the moon. If anyother man were to see her in her frightened deer like position , they would surely be captivated. Unfortunately, Shang Ji had spent many years in the army and was a man untouched by such delicate allure. He sat up casually after a moments thought , and took a deep breath, as his face returning to normal, he asked the other party present , “Are you the daughter of the Du family?”
That single sentence jolted Du Jingyi back to reality. What did a “handsome appearence ” matter now? His tone wasn’t that of a husband addressing his wife, but rather a superior speaking to a subordinate in the army. Du Jingyi quickly quelled her surprise and panic and as she smoothed her crimson nightgown, clasped her hands before her abdomen, bowed her knees, and replied, ““I am DuJingyi, the one unworthily called your wife. I pray the General has been well..”
“Mm.” Shang Ji sat up and stretched his muscles. He was still a little dizzy from the wine. So he pinched the Jingming point between his thumb and forefinger and spoke, “I left home three years ago due to a military emergency. I have wronged you all this years . That is why today I asked His Majesty for a lot of jewelry and clothes on your behalf. You will have them tomorrow. Consider it as my apology.”
His words were meant to ease the awkwardness between them. Who would have thought that throughout his words Du Jingyi wouldn’t even lift her eyelids, and after his words end she responded without a flicker of emotion? “I thank His Majesty and the General.” The two maids behind her also curtsied, saying, “This slave, Yingying (Li Zhu), has seen the General.”
“Well, get up.” He was accustomed to the rough men of the army, so hearing such soft words made him a little uncomfortable. He coughed twice and asked, “Where’s the study?”
“Still in the the right of main room .”
Hearing this, Shang Ji rose and swung his legs off the kang. Seeing this, Yingying and Li Zhu planned to step forward to help him with his boots, but Shang Ji stopped them with a wave of his hand. He had long been accustomed to taking care of his own needs in the army, devoid of the arrogance and luxury of a nobleman. He didn’t need maids to serve him so closely. After putting on his boots, he spoke. “I drank wine today, so I’m afraid I’ll intoxicate you. I’ll go to the study to sleep.”
Du Jingyi looked slightly stunned. She hadn’t expected him to say that, but after a moment of surprise, she immediately replied appropriately, “Okay, I will ask someone to send the sobering soup to the study for you .”
“Mm.” With that, he strode away quickly, his steps surprisingly steady for a drunk man. It wasn’t until his silhouette vanished into the darkness that Du Jingyi seemed to truly register his departure.
“Young madam, why didn’t you let the general stay in the main house?” It was Li Zhu who spoke. She was always quick-tongued and had said this now only for Du Jingyi’s benefit. After all, her young mistress had been married into the Duke’s mansion for three years, yet she was still a young mistress in name only. Those gossiping maids in the outer courtyard would often mock them when they had nothing else to do. Li Zhu had heard it several times, both overtly and covertly. But arguing with them only made things worse. If the general had stayed in the main room now, wouldn’t it be a rightful and just slap in the face to those women? That’s why she had spoken.
It was a pity that the emperor was not in a hurry, but his eunuch was. Du Jingyi showed no signs of wanting to keep her husband. After he left, she calmly instructed, “Take out the moonlight incense and light it to diffuse the smell in the house.”
“Yes, young lady.”
As the familiar scent filled the air, Du Jingyi’s mind also began to calmed. She had an indescribable feeling toward the husband she had just met. Although they were a couple in name, in reality, they hadn’t spent more than half an hour together. If he had truly stayed tonight, she wouldn’t have known how to “serve” him.
Still she didn’t know why, but the memory of his eyes when he first woke up remained vivid in her mind, like a wolf’s head staring at its prey. Although it was only fleeting, Du Jingyi had seen the a volatile ferocity and determination in his gaze. No wonder, if he didn’t possess true skill, how could he have conquered the thirteen cities of Xiabianguan?
Ahhh! a long sigh escape from her lips as she was …lying on the canopy bed made of red sandalwood and inlaid with ivory crabapple flowers, she couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. Tomorrow, she still didn’t know how to face her familiar yet unfamiliar husband. Tossing and turning for a long time , it wasn’t until late middle of the night that she finally succumbed to sleep.
Unfortunately, it was still early the next morning when Du Jingyi was woken up by the loud voices of women outside, waking with a somewhat unhappy frown. All the maids, Mom’s, and servants in Xitang Courtyard were usually down-to-earth and capable, never prone to excessive chatter. This was all due to Butler He and Aunt Dou’s strictness. Having been with them for three years, there had never been such a “trouble” in the courtyard so early in the morning.