With his order delivered, Shang Ji dismissed the two. Outside the study door, Steward He and Mama Dou exchanged a brief, resigned glance, then returned to their own duties. The recent upheaval, confined to Shang Ji and Sister-in-law Liu, had not touched Du Jingyi. Thus, after waking from a comfortable sleep, she was informed by Yingtao that the General had returned. For a fleeting moment, she felt a blush of shyness, with a hint of awkwardness crept up to her . But it quickly dissipated. If newlyweds were so coy, how could they possibly endure? And they were, after all, an “old couple,” married for over three years. The thought brought a knowing smile to Du Jingyi’s lips as she began to wash up.
“Tell Danruo to prepare a feast today,” she instructed. “Remember to make plenty of the General’s favorite dishes.”
“Don’t worry, Young Lady, I understand,” Yingtao replied, hurrying out to relay the message to the small kitchen. Li Zhu, meanwhile, helped Du Jingyi dress. The day was pleasantly warm, with autumn’s chill receding, so Du Jingyi chose lighter attire. A peach-colored blouse paired with a floor-length skirt made her appear more delicate than any flower. In her hair, a begonia flower hairpin, intricately crafted with pearls, seemed to dance with her every movement, lending her an ethereal charm. As Li Zhu gazed at Du Jingyi’s reflection in the bronze mirror, she couldn’t help but sigh. “The Young Lady is so beautiful.”
“Oh, are those the only words of praise you have? Have you forgotten everything you learned in the Du family school?” Du Jingyi teased, though a playful smile touched her lips.
Li Zhu promptly rectified, her voice brimming with earnestness. “The Young Lady is naturally beautiful, possesses a benevolent countenance, is virtuous and proper, dignified and generous, and truly of exquisite beauty…” Du Jingyi listened with quiet satisfaction, absorbing her maid’s effusive praise. Just as Li Zhu uttered “beautiful,” a soft chuckle echoed from outside. Du Jingyi immediately raised her voice. “Who’s out there?”
Caught red-handed, a hint of embarrassment colored Shang Ji’s face, though thankfully no blush graced his skin. He stepped through the main room’s doorway. “It’s me.” His voice, deep and resonant, caused Du Jingyi’s own cheeks to flush. Li Zhu, too, wore a wry expression. Why such bad luck? she thought. Just as I was praising his wife, the General arrives! Regardless of their shared embarrassment, master and servant rose and moved forward.
Upon seeing Shang Ji, they both bowed. “I have met the General.” “I have seen the General.”
“Mm, get up.”
“Thank you, General.”
Shang Ji still wore the same clothes from yesterday, unchanged. Yet, Du Jingyi was already on her third or fourth outfit of the day. A silent commentary passed between them. She, perhaps, thought her husband had too few clothes; he, perhaps, that his wife had so many hairpins she could wear a new one every day. Still neither spoke their thoughts, simply settling side-by-side at the Eight Immortals Table. Li Zhu then offered a handkerchief for them to cleanse their hands. Soon after, Yingtao and Danruo arrived with two large food boxes. The array of dishes, enough to fill a large table, brought a subtle pang of jealousy to Du Jingyi’s heart. Why hadn’t Danruo cooked so many dishes when it was just her? But with the General’s return, the quantity and richness of the food had noticeably increased. For instance, her favorite kumquat crab soup was there today. She didn’t even need to taste it; the scent alone made her mouth water.
Seeing a slight tremor in her throat, Shang Ji understood. “Let’s eat first. We’ll go out later.”
“Hm?” Du Jingyi was puzzled. Why the sudden outing?
Shang Ji explained. “The key to the General’s Mansion has been sent over; we have to go and have a look.” Du Jingyi’s eyes widened in understanding. “I see.”
They then proceeded to eat their lunch, a quiet affair. This was only the second meal they had shared alone since Shang Ji’s return. Perhaps their intimacy had deepened since their marriage was consummated. Du Jingyi found herself wanting to offer her husband an extra bowl of soup, while Shang Ji, before putting down his chopsticks, paid attention to what Du Jingyi enjoyed, placing a portion on her plate. Such unspoken affection brought secret joy to the maids observing nearby. Nothing pleased them more than seeing their Young Lady and the General getting along well. Li Zhu, especially, yearned to spread the news of the past few days, to show those gossiping women and servants how their Young Lady had captivated the General.
The meal passed, as each person lost in their own thoughts. After eating, Du Jingyi planned to prepare some digestive tea. Just then, Lu Ju arrived with a report. Entering the room, she immediately saw Shang Ji and bowed respectfully. “This slave has met the General and the Young Lady.”
“Get up. Is something the matter?” Lu Ju was the most reserved of the dowry maids, rarely appearing in the main house. She preferred to spend her days studying embroidery, so Du Jingyi knew her sudden appearance signaled something important.
Lu Ju nodded, her tone calm. “Returning to the Young Lady, the General’s clothes that were sent to me earlier were only outer garments, lacking underclothes and shoes and socks. So, I came specifically to ask if there are any commonly used ones I can use for comparison to make new ones. It won’t take long; they’ll be ready this evening.” What she said was true; her clothes were always perfectly fitted, largely due to precise measurements. Du Jingyi, however, didn’t have what Lu Ju needed, so she glanced sideways at Shang Ji, then explained. “I’ve asked them to bring the General’s things from the study, but these everyday clothes are a bit short, so I specifically sent them to Lu Ju to make more. If the General doesn’t mind, could Lu Ju take some measurements? Clothes and shoes made this way are more comfortable to wear.”
Shang Ji naturally understood her thoughtfulness. He gave a soft “hmm,” stood up, and spread his arms, allowing Lu Ju to measure him from head to toe. She meticulously recorded the dimensions. Just as they finished, after the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, another voice echoed in the courtyard: Steward He’s.