“It matters little if the families of the third and fifth branches suffer some misfortune,” Du Jingyi countered, her voice unwavering. “But if the Duke’s Mansion’s reputation is tarnished, Ping’er will surely bear the consequences in the future.”
The mention of Shang Zhiping immediately captured Shang Ji’s attention, a keen inquiry shining in his eyes as he looked at Du Jingyi. The carriage continued its slow, rhythmic journey, but inside, a sudden silence descended. After a pause, Shang Ji let out a faint sigh.
“Do you know my thoughts?” he asked, his voice low.
“I do not claim to know your every thought,” she replied simply, “but I wonder why you ask.”
“I ask why you say that.”
“From what the General said to my eldest brother while we knelt together in the ancestral hall, from your disapproval of my eldest sister-in-law’s child-rearing methods, and from your clear concern for Ping’er, I gather that the position of shizi in the Duke’s Mansion is destined for Ping’er.”
Du Jingyi’s perception was remarkably sharp. Yet, she also cautioned herself. As an outsider to the Gu family’s intricate bloodline, she couldn’t fully grasp its complexities. However, her sister-in-law, Madam Liu, had single-handedly managed Dongyuan, leading to suffering for her children and the eighth sister, Shang Xue. Shang Ji, a man who valued loyalty, was bound to repay that debt. The only obstacle was Shang Zhiping’s current frailty. To thrust him into the position of the shizi now would be to set him up for failure; he was neither strong enough to claim it nor capable of bearing its weight. Thus, Shang Ji had to bide his time.
To shield his nephew, Shang Zhiping, from potential threats, Shang Ji had always kept his intentions veiled. That day, during his disagreement with his sister-in-law, he had made only a cryptic remark. He had never imagined his wife, Du Jingyi, would decipher it. Her delicate and nuanced insight was, indeed, startling, and it immediately put Shang Ji on guard.
A palpable sense of oppression emanated from him when he became wary. Du Jingyi, though adept in the world of business strategy, had never experienced the battlefield. Facing Shang Ji’s overwhelming, almost bloodthirsty gaze, she felt a tremor of fear.
Yet, perhaps it was the undeniable sincerity in her eyes that made Shang Ji realize the woman before him was not an enemy’s spy. He swiftly reined in his emotions.
“I apologize,” he said, his voice regaining its calm. “I lost my composure for a moment.”
Du Jingyi subtly wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, then, suppressing her lingering nervousness, replied, “It’s Okay .”
The rest of the journey passed in silence. Shang Ji remained quiet, and Du Jingyi, sensing his withdrawal, refrained from further questions. The carriage was so still that even the faint crunch of pebbles beneath the wheels was audible. This silence persisted until they returned to Xitang Courtyard, where, after bathing, they settled into bed. Shang Ji still hadn’t uttered another word.
Perhaps it was Shang Ji’s unexpected gentleness over the past few days that had momentarily made her forget that the man beside her had risen from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. Such individuals, she now remembered, were not to be provoked lightly, lest the consequences be dire. She glanced at his broad back. What had once felt warm and comforting now loomed like an insurmountable mountain.
With a soft sigh, Du Jingyi turned over. She couldn’t help but wonder if her earlier candor had been too rash, causing her husband’s sudden shift in demeanor. Just as she pondered how to navigate their newfound quiet, a warmth enveloped her from behind. She was pulled into a familiar embrace, instantly recognizing the person.
“General, are you cold?” Du Jingyi asked, a touch of uncertainty in her voice. The night, truly, had a subtle chill.
Shang Ji chuckled softly at her question, then replied, his voice calm, “What happened just now wasn’t directed at you. It was simply that thoughts I’ve kept hidden for a long time were unexpectedly discovered, and I became defensive. Though I was married before, it was merely in name; I never even saw any of there faces , so I’m truly unaccustomed to interacting with women.”
“When I first returned from Cezhou, I was wary of you, assuming that any ‘wife ‘ arranged by Madam Wei would be nothing but trouble. But I never expected that Heaven would favor me. After spending these days with you, I’ve come to know that you and the Du family are straightforward people. While you may have a natural inclination towards profit, you never lose sight of your moral principles.”
“You were right to remind me about today’s matter. I may disregard the lives of the third and fifth households, but the Duke’s Mansion’s reputation, which I intend to leave to Ping’er, cannot be tarnished in this manner. Therefore, I will personally oversee and thoroughly investigate this affair. I hope you can forgive my cold demeanor just now. It was not intentional, merely a product of years of ingrained habit, and it will not happen again.”
Shang Ji’s words were delivered with raw sincerity and candor, holding nothing back. Du Jingyi found herself immensely pleased. Their marriage was barely half a month old. Absolute trust was impossible, but trust, beyond the slow build of a long relationship, also hinged on a willingness to change attitudes. If one was willing to speak and the other to listen, many misunderstandings could be avoided. Du Jingyi understood this implicitly.
She didn’t turn to face him, merely reached for Shang Ji’s hand, gripping it firmly as she spoke. “I do not claim to be entirely upright. In the past, I paid no mind to the third and fifth households because they did not affect me directly. But now, since I wish to restore the Duke’s Mansion to Ping’er, these nuisances must be eliminated.”
Her declaration prompted Shang Ji to tighten his embrace further, his voice a sincere murmur against her hair. “Just proceed as you deem fit. If anything goes awry, I will bear the responsibility. As for Madam Wei, ; you need not concern yourself with her. However, regarding Seventh brother, be cautious. My intuition, honed over many years in the army, tells me he is not as unassuming as he appears.”
Shang Qilang? Du Jingyi found his name unfamiliar. She had never before concerned herself with the intricacies of these personal relationships within the family, knowing little about them. To cleanse the Duke’s Mansion thoroughly, she first needed to understand her adversaries. As the saying goes, “Know yourself, know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.”
Du Jingyi realized it was time to broaden her network and gather information. She turned to Shang Ji. “General, how much do the housekeeper and Aunt Dou know about the affairs of the Duke’s Mansion’s inner quarters?”
“Why do you ask so suddenly?”
“One must first uncover the opponent’s weaknesses before knowing how to dismantle them.”
Shang Ji found her reasoning sound. He pondered for a moment before replying, “Both of them came into the household with my mother, so they have been here for over thirty years. I’d estimate they know 70% to 80% of what goes on.” He then added, “If you wish to learn more, I’m afraid you’ll have to ask my sister-in-law. After all, she also managed the household for a time, so she knows more or less.”
“Very well. When the opportunity arises, I will trouble my sister-in-law.”