Princess Concort Fu replied with a smile.
“Princess, please forgive my embarrassment.”
As she spoke, Princess Concort Fu cast a glance at Du Jingyi, though the meaning behind it was difficult to decipher.
The banquet continued in such a way as each person harboring their own unspoken thoughts.
At the gate of the Duke’s Mansion, Shang Yukuan [current Duke, father of Shang Ji] saw his colleagues off with a bitter expression. His eyes were faintly red; his mood was clearly heavy.
Beside him, Shang Ji [Sixth Son, also called Liu Lang; commander of the Tiger Guards] stood expressionless, his calm demeanor unchanged from the morning.
When the last of the guests had left, Shang Yukuan could not help but speak.
“Sixth Son, if word of today’s events spreads, will it not bring disgrace?”
Shang Ji cast a cool glance downward at his father and asked in return:
“Disgrace in what sense, Father? A blow to Prince Fu’s Mansion? Or to our Duke’s Mansion?”
“To both,” Shang Yukuan admitted with a sigh. “After all, the boy is still family. One grandson has broken the leg of another—my own grandson! How am I to weigh such matters? How should I proceed?”
Shang Ji’s expression remained indifferent as he replied:
“That, Father, is for Madam Wei [the Duchess, official matriarch of the Duke’s Mansion] and Princess Concort Fu to settle. As for me, I have pressing matters awaiting in the East Garden. I shall not delay further.”
With those words, he left the gate, taking Shang Zhiping [his younger nephew from the East Garden branch] with him.
On the way, he also gathered up Xing Zhao [Madam Xing’s son, a younger cousin, lingering nearby to watch the commotion] and brought him back towards the East Garden.
Meanwhile, in the flower hall, Madam Wei courteously escorted Princess Yuehua [imperial princess, and guest of honor] and the other noble ladies out, then hastily drew Princess Concort Fu away toward Chengming Courtyard.
Their urgent pace did not escape Madam Xing’s eye. She snorted softly.
“Has something gone wrong at home? Why else would they look so anxious?”
Unaware of the full matter, Du Jingyi [General Shang Ji’s wife] did not comment. Instead, she turned to Madam Xing with a gentle invitation.
“Aunt, it is rare for you to visit. Please come back with us to the East Garden. There we can share a proper cup of tea before you depart.”
“Very well, let us go,” Madam Xing agreed happily.
Thus, the small party made their way steadily toward the East Garden.
At the entrance, they happened to meet Shang Ji returning with Shang Zhiping and Xing Zhao.
Finally, the East Garden household was gathered in one place.
The moment Du Jingyi lifted her gaze, she first saw her husband and then the “Cousin Zhao” whom Xueniang had mentioned earlier.
Indeed, he was handsome and elegant, bearing the unrestrained air typical of young aristocrats.
Xing Zhao too noticed Du Jingyi. After glancing at Shang Ji at her side, he exclaimed in amazement:
“No wonder Cousin Shao Yu even forgot the military camp. It turns out Cousin’s wife is so beautiful.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Madam Xing struck him sharply on the back of the head.
“You little rascal! How dare you jest about your cousin and his wife? Do you have a death wish?”
She reached to twist his ear, but Xing Zhao yelped and darted behind Shang Ji, crying for mercy.
“Mother, I am already in my twenties! Why do you still beat me like a child? Have I no dignity left? Look—you’ve embarrassed me before my cousins!”
Madam Xing turned and found Madam Liu [eldest sister-in-law], Du Jingyi, and Xueniang [younger sister of the household] all laughing. With a reluctant smile, she shook her head.
“This boy has been pampered since birth and has never learned his manners. Liu Lang’s wife, please do not take offense.”
Since Xing Zhao’s teasing had been directed at Shang Ji and Du Jingyi, Madam Xing addressed her apology to Du Jingyi.
But Du Jingyi stepped forward and replied warmly:
“Aunt, please don’t be so formal. We are family, after all. Cousin Zhao’s lively temperament is rather refreshing.”
Her words rang as clear as pearls striking jade, and Xing Zhao grinned.
“My cousin truly knows how to judge character.”
Shang Ji cut him a cold sidelong glance, and at once Xing Zhao swallowed the rest of his words.
Sensing the tension, Madam Liu quickly intervened:
“Come now, let us go inside. It is rare for Aunt and Cousin Zhao to visit—there is no need to linger at the door.”
With that, they entered the East Garden.
Since Xing Zhao was technically an outsider to the branch household, the eldest sister-in-law arranged for them to be entertained in the flower hall rather than the inner quarters.
As they walked, Madam Xing glanced about.
It had been three or four years since she last returned to Sui’an City. The East Garden seemed at once familiar yet renewed. The vitality of the grounds was striking, and she remarked with a smile:
“It seems the new gardener is capable. The grounds are as well-kept as in the old days.”
Du Jingyi exchanged a subtle glance with Madam Xing, then replied with a gentle smile:
“They are master gardeners from Suzhou [a city famed since the Ming-Qing period for its classical gardens and refined horticultural traditions]. They will remain to oversee the Duke’s household gardens in future.”
“No wonder,” Madam Xing nodded. “Suzhou’s gardeners are the finest in the realm. Their skill is evident here.”
By then, the party had reached the flower hall.
Du Jingyi ordered Mama Cai [household stewardess] to serve tea and delicate pastries to them as they continued there chat. Though all had already eaten at the banquet, it was proper courtesy to provide light refreshments to the guest.
They conversed in the casual manner of kin, sharing small talk and family gossip with each other .
Once everyone was comfortably seated, Xueniang at last voiced her curiosity.
“Sixth Brother, what happened earlier? We saw Madam Jiao hurry in during the banquet. After whispering a few words, Madam Wei’s face darkened. Then Fourth Sister-in-law left the banquet first , and she never returned until Princess Yuehua had already departed. That is unlike her.
With someone like Princess Yuehua present, how could a woman as shrewd as Fourth Sister-in-law abandon her place? If she had urgent business, surely she would return quickly to continue currying favor. But she vanished entirely.”
Shang Ji only arched an eyebrow.
Before he could speak, Xing Zhao jumped in eagerly:
“It was Wei Jiaheng who handed Shang Zhihe a slingshot. When Shizi Fu entered the residence, he was accidentally struck on the leg. Shizi Fu thought Shang Zhihe was responsible for it , so he retaliated and broke his leg outright!”
“What?” Xueniang gasped, staring at him in disbelief. She could hardly process such news.
Du Jingyi too was startled. She asked at once:
“Is his leg truly broken?”
“Yes,” Shang Ji confirmed with a calm nod.
Only then did Du Jingyi accept it. She cast a questioning look toward Xing Zhao, suspicion in her eyes.
Shang Ji’s lips curved faintly. His wife’s quick mind pleased him as she had already discerned seventy percent of the truth without him having spoken a word.
Madam Xing, who knew her son’s temperament all too well, also eyed him with suspicion but chose to remain silent.
Those present who understood kept their peace; those who did not paid little attention.
At last, Xueniang sighed.
“A misfortune indeed—to have crossed paths with that Big Buddha, Shizi Fu.”
Calling him a “Buddha” was generous. To call him a demon would have been truer.
No one held much affection for Shang Zhihe in the east garden anyway , so at the news of his broken leg, their reactions were brief—shock, then indifference.
Such matters belonged to Xiyuan [the Western Courtyard branch of the Duke’s household].
After a few short words, they dropped the topic altogether.
Instead, Shang Ji turned to Madam Xing, a trace of concern softening his otherwise steady voice.
“Aunt, how is my grandmother? And are my aunts faring well?”