As Madam Guo raised her hand to wipe away her tears, Du Jingyi’s gaze caught the subtle bruises marring her arms. In this very house, despite the Fifth branch’s diminished standing, maids still attended them. Where, then, did these marks come from? Suppressing her burgeoning doubts, Du Jingyi offered a gentle, smiling suggestion, “Aunt Dou means well. Why don’t you go with Auntie Dou to freshen up? It might help to clear your mind.”
But Madam Guo’s reaction was not to Du Jingyi’s words, but to Fifth old Madam beside her, her eyes silently pleading for permission. Seeing Fifth old Madam remain silent, Madam Guo dared not move, merely lowering her head and dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief. Du Jingyi said nothing more, and return to her role as a silent observer.
Shang Qiniang, however, lifted her gaze slightly, stealing a glance at her Sixth Sister-in-law. In the past, at family banquets, she had only seen her a few times. Among all the sisters-in-law, Du Jingyi, though noticed, had only been a fleeting presence, never seeking the limelight nor meddling in others’ affairs. Shang Qiniang’s impression of her had been faint, believing her to possess as little presence as themselves. Yet, upon the return of her Sixth Cousin, she had inexplicably become the most indispensable woman in the entire Duke’s palace. Even the Fifth Sister-in-law, once as proud as a peacock, now approached her with a quiet deference. Living a cautious life within the back house, Shang Qiniang was adept at reading faces and adapting her demeanor. A wave of relief washed over her, prompting a silent vow to mind her words and actions from now on, lest she inadvertently cause offense this formidable person.
While Shang Qiniang discreetly observed Du Jingyi, Du Jingyi, too, was far from idleas she also observe her . Shang Qiniang was undeniably beautiful, her delicate features evoking a natural pity from the opposite gender ,and if it used right could be her biggest asset .Just as Du Jingyi prepared to set down her teacup thinking this , Wulang’s wife spoke, breaking the silence inn the room .
“Oh, I know my sixth sister-in-law is kind-hearted, but touching up makeup and wiping away tears won’t solve Second Aunt’s problem. She cries incessantly these days whenever she thinks of Seventh Sister; and nothing can stop her.” A subtle undertone of moral coercion was laced in her words. Hearing to which Du Jingyi’s eyebrows arched slightly, her gaze also hardening beneath a polite smile.
“Fifth Sister-in-law, are you jesting here? You yourself said that Seventh Sister and I are of similar age. How can I possibly help in this situation?” Du Jingyi’s tone remained outwardly polite, but the subtle edge in it was unmistakable. “Besides, the Fifth branch has grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, and sisters-in-law. I’m afraid it wouldn’t be appropriate for me, a distant sister-in-law from another branch , to intervene in this .” Du Jingyi, ever the calculating angler, would not pull the line too soon. It had to be played out, slackened and tightened, allowing the fish to exhaust itself before it could be smoothly reeled into the net.
Hearing her evasive tone, Wulang’s wife had already anticipated this resistance. This path, she knew, would not be easy; this sixth sister-in-law was not as soft-hearted and pliable as their uncle. But they had come too far to retreat in shame. Suppressing her irritation, she forced a somewhat apologetic smile. “Where does this talk of living in separate branch come from? Aren’t we all one family?”
A faint, almost imperceptible sneer touched Du Jingyi’s lips. A flicker of embarrassment crossed Wulang’s wife’s eyes, yet after so many years of living under others’ graces, such subtle ridicule was insignificant compared to the prospect of real, tangible gain for her . Seeing Du Jingyi remain silent, Fifth old madam , pretending not to notice her unresponsiveness, pressed on. “Sixth lady , if we truly hadn’t run out of options, we wouldn’t have dared to trouble you. You’ve always been kind-hearted; so you wouldn’t want to see anything amiss with the girls at home, would you?” If gentleness failed, then a harder approach would be employed. The Fifth Lady’s words carried a distinct threat, implying that if Du Jingyi didn’t help, all of Shang Qiniang’s future misfortunes would be laid at her feet.
Such an attitude demanded a response. If Du Jingyi allowed this to pass, she would lose face for Dongyuan. She set her teacup on the table with a crisp clink, her voice cold as she spoke, “Since my fifth aunt has nothing important to discuss, I will return and rest. I will invite you for tea another day.” With that, she rose, preparing to leave.
Seeing that she refused to be drawn in, not just Wulang’s wife, but also Madam Guo and Madam. Ni, who had accompanied them, grew anxious. Shang Qiniang also stood frozen in her place , her face flushed with dilemma. Entering King Min’s Mansion was hardly a dignified prospect, yet compared to remaining unmarried at this home for the rest of her life, she yearned to take that chance. Perhaps there was a way out for her in the furture.
Wulang’s wife, seizing the moment, gave her a forceful push from behind, shattering all of Shang Qiniang’s hesitant thoughts. She tumbled from the stool, landing on the ground,and is of on que Shang Qiniang, in her desperation overcoming her shame, grabbed the hem of Du Jingyi’s skirt, her voice choked with tears. “Please help me, Sixth Sister-in-law ! If I don’t marry this time, I fear my only option is to go up to the temple and become a nun. Please show me your mercy, Sister-in-law!”
A daughter’s natal home is meant to be a haven, a place where delicate blossoms are cherished. With Shang Qiniang’s beauty, she should have basked in love and comfort, even within the halls of a wealthy household. Yet now, she knelt before Du Jingyi, her tears falling like rain, her slender frame trembling like a camellia caught in a merciless storm. Despite her sorrow, there was a raw desperation in her every movement—a silent, aching plea for mercy. Du Jingyi, a woman not untouched by compassion, could see why the Fifth branch family had wagered their hopes on this fragile girl. After all, in the unpredictable currents of King Min’s Mansion, it wasn’t unthinkable for even the lowliest petal to ripple the tide.
Seeing this, Du Jingyi signaled to Yingying and Lizhu. The two maids stepped forward, gently helping Shang Qiniang to her feet, murmuring, “Miss Qi, isn’t this embarrassing our young lady?”
Madam Guo, hearing this, burst into fresh tears. Mama Dou, beside her, wore an expression of profound disappointment, as if watching iron fail to transform into steel. She wished she could drag Madam Guo away immediately to wash her face and clear her mind. In a room full of women, once one began to weep, the others invariably followed suit. Yet, compared to Madam Guo’s genuine anguish, the tears of Wulang’s daughter-in-law and Madam Ni were decidedly fake.
At this climax, Du Jingyi felt the charade had run its course. She sighed, feigning a sudden softness. “Everyone, please stop crying. Let’s discuss Seventh Sister’s affairs. Which family has captivated your hearts? Tell me about it. If I can help, it will not be in vain for our sister-in-law’s affection. That’s the only thing I can say for now.”
Hearing Du Jingyi’s concession, the women of the Fifth Room quickly quelled their sobs. The Fifth Old Lady looked at Shang Qiniang, pushing her two or three times, but Shang Qiniang remained speechless. Left with no choice, the Fifth Old Lady herself, with a hint of flattery, revealed, “It’s the Min Palace.”
Du Jingyi feigned surprise, her gaze falling upon Fifth old madam, her tone tinged with doubt. “I haven’t heard that there are any royal grandsons of the right age in the Min Palace who are still unmarried?”