Du Jingyi had encountered him twice before, so his face was familiar to her .Still her mind, was still lingering with her mother’s advise so she, instantly grasped the purpose of Qi Er’s presence. Not wishing to escalate the situation, Du Jingyi stepped in, her voice attempting to defuse the tension. “Why, Mr. Qi, are you at the second gate? Perhaps the darkness led you astray? You must be more careful from nowon.”
Qi Er, quick to seize the offered escape, immediately plastered on a smile. “Yes, yes, Madam, thank you for your kind advice. I’ll leave at once.”
Qi Er’s appearance here was no accident. Ever since Shang Ji hinted at moving out, countless eyes within the Duke’s Mansion had been fixed upon him. When the couple failed to return by nightfall, it was only natural for someone to be sent to keep watch. If a transgression could be found, it would provide ammunition for the third and fifth households to stir up trouble. Alas, Qi Er was clumsy, and Luo Yuan had spotted him instantly. Fortunately, the young lady had spoken up, offering him an easy retreat, and he was more than happy to take it.
Yet, his words hung in the air, unanswered. When he saw the young master, Shang Ji, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, silent and unmoving, a cold sweat broke out on Qi Er’s brow. Trembling, he sank to his knees, begging for mercy. “This humble one is blind, unable to see clearly in the dark, and stumbled into the General’s courtyard. Please, do not recall this servant’s fault, and let me go.” He had hoped to use Shang Ji’s reputation as a shield, to appeal to his sense of honor and escape his predicament.
But he clearly had misjudged this man.
Shang Ji merely uttered a soft “Oh” after hearing Qi Er’s plea, then turned to Luo Yuan. “Since he is blind, it was not intentional. Be gentle,and give him just fifty military sticks.”
“Yes, General!” Luo Yuan’s eyes gleamed with a chilling resolve at the mention of fifty military sticks. Qi Er’s scalp prickled. He immediately began to wail, pleading desperately, “I know I’m wrong! I know I’m wrong! Please, General, show mercy!” Only now did he grasp that some individuals were simply not to be trifled with. The masters of Dongyuan had always been rather meek, leading him to believe this general was merely famous. To his horror, the general’s first words to a servant promised a deathblow for him. Before his cries could echo far, Luo Yuan clamped a hand over his mouth and nose, dragging him away.
The four maids and Mama Cai, who had accompanied Du Jingyi home, were terrified by this scene. They were accustomed to petty squabbles and backbiting in the inner chambers. Fifty military sticks was a severe punishment for this from any reason ,but seeing the toady’s situation it seemed Second Steward Qi would either die or be gravely crippled by Shang Ji . Swallowing hard, they silently vowed to be more careful in their future duties, fearing that military discipline might soon be applied to them.
Luo Yuan dragged Qi Er outside, and the sounds of the beating remained unheard within the compound. The couple walked side-by-side toward Xitang Courtyard under the moonlit sky, as if nothing untoward had happened.
Du Jingyi, whose earlier thoughts had drifted towards the consummation of her marriage, found herself shaken by the incident, a lingering unease clinging to her. It wasn’t until they entered the courtyard that Shang Ji spoke. “Go back and rest early.” With that, he turned, heading towards his study.
Mama Cai, finding a sudden burst of courage from somewhere deep within, stiffly interjected, “General, you spent way too much time in the study, and it’s not a comfortable place to live. Perhaps you should return to the main room to rest.” Heaven knew the sheer determination it took for her to utter those words; she hadn’t forgotten the Madam’s repeated instructions before there departure from Du’s mansion. After all, they were destined to be together, sooner or later, and wasn’t tonight the perfect time to establish the layout for it?
Hearing Mama Cai’s unexpected intervention, Du Jingyi let out a silent sigh of relief. If she had been forced to suggest it herself, she truly wouldn’t have known how to begin. Shang Ji remained silent hearing this, his gaze were now fixed on Du Jingyi, his meaning clear: if she asked him to stay, he would. He waited for a moment, and seeing her hesitation, he understood. He wasn’t one to force anything. Just as he was about to refuse, Du Jingyi’s soft voice broke the silence.
“I am very happy to meet my parents today so if the General is not busy, might you join me for two cups of wine? Perhaps we could ask Dan Ruo to prepare some small dishes to fill our stomachs .”
Shang Ji was momentarily stunned by her invitation, but then, for some reason, he simply said, “Okay.”
At this, no one was more excited than the four maids and Mama Cai, who immediately burst into action. “I will prepare some dishes the General to enjoy right away !” “This servant will fetch the wine!” “And I, hot water for the General and Madam to refresh themselves!” Everyone quickly found a task, leaving Du Jingyi and Shang Ji standing in a moment of awkward silence .
“Let’s go,” Du Jingyi finally said.
“Hmmm.”
They were already at the porch, and in just a few steps, they entered the main room. This was Shang Ji’s third time in this chamber, and it felt different from the previous two. He accepted the handkerchief from the maid Yingying to clean his hands. The usually simple copper basin offered to cleaning the hands also seemed to be engraved with begonia flowers—a testament to the Du family’s dowry, clearly proclaiming its mistress taste. And he, the actual master of the house, felt, in this moment, like a guest in there.
Soon, the food and wine were served. Shang Ji hadn’t been hungry, but seeing the array of dishes on the table, he felt an unexpected appetite. Dan Ruo’s culinary skill was evident in each and every dish present . As they ate, Du Jingyi noticed that the room was empty as all the servants are left at some point and through the Suzhou embroidered screen, she could clearly see the coverings on the bed. After a brief pause for a thought, she filled two cups of wine, raised one, and addressed Shang Ji.
“I returned late today, exceeding the rules. Next time, I will be more mindful. This cup of wine is an apology to the General.” She drank it in one swift gulp, without a hint of hesitation.
Shang Ji frowned, watching her, as if puzzled by her actions. After a moment, he explained, “If you are concerned about this, do not be. I believe it will be some time before the matters with Beiyuan are resolved, and Qi Er simply happened to stumble upon us.” Though his true intention had been to use Qi Er as an example to the other servants, clearly establishing who held authority, it was also, more or less, a quiet directive for them to hold their tongues. He spoke now, hoping to alleviate any lingering concern in his wife, Du Jingyi’s heart.
Du Jingyi was not foolish; she understood her husband’s subtle meaning. She refilled her cup and continued, “I also wish to express my gratitude to the General for coming to offer tea today to my parents. Since ancient times, the status of a merchant has never been held in high regard, yet you granted my parents ample respect. I propose another cup.” With that, she drank another glass, her face remaining uncolored, her heart steady.
Shang Ji picked up his cup and inhaled deeply, recognizing the delicate aroma of Spring’s Grace. He immediately grasped Du Jingyi’s true intent. There was an unspoken tradition in the Daxing Dynasty: when a family welcomed a daughter, they would seal a jar of wine and bury it deep within the earth. On the day of her wedding, it would be unearthed and sent to her new home. If the wine was shared on the wedding night, it symbolized a life of harmony and lasting prosperity for the couple.