Du Jingyi’s words caused Madam Xing [A noblewoman of the Gu household] to click her tongue in playful amazement.
“If I weren’t returning to Jinling after the New Year, I truly would have liked to spirit away two of your maids for their skills alone,” she remarked. “I don’t know how you manage to find such masterful cooks and embroiderers without ever stepping foot outside your gate.”
The genuine envy in her voice made Du Jingyi chuckle softly. “If Aunt truly likes them, what is so difficult? I shall have Lu Ju [The master embroiderer] prepare several sets of attire and send them to the Xing residence every season.”
“No, no,” Madam Xing demurred. “If I lived here in Sui’an, I wouldn’t dream of refusing such kindness. But it is far too much trouble to send such luxuries all the way to Jinling.”
The Third Aunt [Gu Xiaolang’s mother], who rarely intervened, spoke up with a uncharacteristic heaviness. “Yes, it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble, lest we attract unwanted attention.”
Du Jingyi tilted her head slightly, puzzled. She did not fully grasp who the “other people” were that her aunt feared. However, the mention of Jinling caused Shang Ji’s [The General] expression to darken instantly. It was clear that life for the Gu branch in the south was far more complicated and less pleasant than the idyllic image Du Jingyi had held in her mind.
Sensing the sudden dip in the atmosphere, Madam Xing stepped forward to steer the conversation toward the day’s duties. “I believe it is nearly time. We should move to the front hall; the guests will be arriving shortly.”
Checkng the sky, they saw it was indeed past noon.
“Let us go, Grandmother. Allow me to assist you,” Shang Ji said, stepping toward Old Madam Gu [The Matriarch]. The old lady smiled, patting his hand as she leaned on his arm.
“Very well, you shall be my support.”
Old Madam Gu then cast a meaningful look at Du Jingyi. Though momentarily surprised, Du Jingyi quickly stepped to the Matriarch’s other side, offering her arm. When the family had first arrived at the General’s Mansion, it had been Shang Ji and Gu Xiaolang [The Matriarch’s granddaughter] who flanked the elder. Today, Xiaolang was notably well-behaved; she gracefully stepped back, yielding the place of honor to the Young Madam of the house.
Watching the three of them lead the way, the Third Aunt felt a pang of sadness for her daughter but took Xiaolang’s hand, offering a comforting squeeze. Some lessons had to be learned through silence and observation.
The group moved through the winding corridors toward the front hall. Though no guests had officially arrived, Sister-in-law Liu and the other junior female relatives were already waiting, dressed in silks that rivaled Madam Xing’s for elegance.
“Greetings, Grandmother; greetings, Aunts,” they chorused.
“You are early,” Old Madam Gu noted with a pleased smile.
Just then, Steward He entered the hall, his face glowing with festive energy. “This old servant greets the Old Madam, the General, and the Young Madam.” After bowing respectfully to the Gu ladies, he addressed Du Jingyi. “The Young Madam’s family has arrived, accompanied by the elders of the He family.”
Being the inner circle of the family, the Du family had arrived first to show their support.
“Please, bring them in at once,” Old Madam Gu commanded. “We must not be negligent when our in-laws grace us with their presence.”
Shang Ji stepped forward. “I shall go to greet them. The other guests will follow soon.”
With the Matriarch present to lend her formidable prestige to the mansion, the General’s household felt like an established power. Even if the Crown Prince were to arrive, he would still owe Old Madam Gu a gesture of filial respect.
At the entrance, Shang Ji was joined by Xing Zhao and Shang Zhiping [Shang Ji’s nephew]. They found the Du and He parties waiting. While Du Jingxiang [Jingyi’s sister] remained at home recovering from childbirth, the rest of the clan had turned out in force.
“This son-in-law greets Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Uncle and Aunt He, and my Brother-in-law,” Shang Ji said, performing a deep bow.
In the privacy of the Du home, such a gesture was a family matter. But here, in the majestic General’s Mansion, the Du and He families—merchants and scholars without noble titles—felt the weight of the General’s formal deference. Master Du, unwilling to let the General lose face before the servants, replied loudly, “We thank the General for his graciousness!”
“Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, please go inside,” Shang Ji urged. “Grandmother has been eager to speak with you.”
The He family elders, feeling somewhat out of place in such imperial surroundings, nodded reservedly. Shang Ji noticed their hesitation and turned his gaze toward He Shilin [Du Jingyi’s brother-in-law].
“Brother-in-law, if you have no pressing matters, perhaps you could stand with me to greet the arriving guests? They are men of the court; it may be beneficial for you to know them for the future.”
He Shilin’s eyes widened in shock, and his parents were momentarily speechless. They knew this honor wasn’t a reflection of their son’s current rank, but a deliberate act of elevation by Shang Ji to honor his wife’s sister’s family. Since the Du family had no sons, the General was ensuring that the two families would stand as one.
“This… wouldn’t that be a breach of etiquette?” Master Du asked, his voice trembling slightly with gratitude.
Shang Ji smiled warmly. “As the host of this mansion, is it not my right to ask my own brother-in-law to assist me? Please, do not worry.”
He Shilin, recognizing the bridge being built for him, bowed deeply. “Then I shall respectfully accept your guidance.” He stepped to the side of Shang Zhiping, standing tall behind the General. His gaze was steady—neither fawning nor fearful—which only deepened Shang Ji’s approval.
As Xing Zhao led the elders into the inner chambers to meet the Matriarch, the first ripples of the main guest list began to appear. Because Shang Ji and Du Jingyi had sent invitations to the most influential houses in Sui’an, the guests were impeccably punctual.
Though Shang Ji had only been back in the capital for a few months, his time in the court and his recent experiences at the Duke’s mansion had sharpened his social instincts. Shang Zhiping, watching his sixth uncle, began to memorize the names and faces of the powerful men who bowed before the crimson-robed General, learning the silent language of imperial power.Confidence bloomed in Shang Zhiping as he realized he had accurately identified nearly all the arriving dignitaries. Sensing his nephew’s slight upturn of the lips, Shang Ji [The General] felt a quiet surge of satisfaction. Though the General was a man of iron and few words, better suited to the battlefield than the schoolroom, he made a conscious effort to stifle his usual sternness, sparing the boy the crushing weight of his expectations.
Beside them, He Shilin [Du Jingyi’s brother-in-law] was like a scholar preparing for the provincial exams, diligently memorizing every name and rank. Even if his mind couldn’t hold every detail, his presence at the General’s side ensured that the court officials remembered him. For a scholar yet to take the imperial examinations, gaining such visibility among the elite was a windfall of fortune.
Their observations were interrupted by the sight of a grand carriage approaching, adorned with the character “Guo.” It was the residence of Prime Minister Guo, a man whose bond with Shang Ji’s grandfathers was forged in the blood and fire of the dynasty’s founding. As the most prominent of the remaining heroes of the Great Xing Dynasty, his arrival demanded the highest level of decorum.
Shang Ji and his party descended the stone steps with a reverence they had shown no other guest. Prime Minister Guo had not come alone; he arrived with his wife, children, and grandchildren—a joyful procession of a dozen souls.
“Shaoyu greets Prime Minister Guo,” Shang Ji said, using his childhood name as a sign of familial intimacy. “May you be graced with health.”
“No need for such formalities,” the Prime Minister replied warmly, dismissing the bow. “We are all family here.”
The bond was indeed deep. Had it not been for a sudden imperial decree of marriage, the Guo and Gu families might have been joined by blood. Furthermore, Empress Guo had long ago recognized Old Madam Gu [The Matriarch] as her godmother, making the Prime Minister’s claim of “family” a matter of public record. It was common knowledge at court that Shang Ji was a formidable pillar of the Crown Prince’s faction.
“I heard that your maternal grandmother fell ill a few days ago,” Madam Guo asked with sincere concern. “Is she feeling better now?”
“Much better, Grandmother Guo. She misses you terribly and spoke of you only this morning,” Shang Ji responded.
“That is good. I have longed to see her for many years,” Madam Guo said.
Just as Shang Ji prepared to lead the Guo family inside, Steward He rushed forward, his voice breathless. “General, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”
Shang Ji’s brow furrowed slightly. He had timed the Crown Prince’s invitation specifically to be later, wanting to ensure the royal couple wouldn’t be kept waiting by slower guests. Yet the Crown Prince had arrived with unexpected haste.
Prime Minister Guo smiled, understanding the Prince’s intent. “Send the ladies to see your grandmother first. I shall stay here with you to welcome His Highness.”
Shang Zhiping, despite his natural timidity, stepped forward to fulfill his duty as a son of the house. “Please, Madam Guo, this way,” he said, leading the Guo women toward the front hall.
As Shang Ji and the Prime Minister reached the gates, they were met by the sight of the Royal Guard—resolute, brave men flanking the ornate carriage of the Eastern Palace.
“I advised His Highness to arrive at this hour,” Prime Minister Guo whispered to Shang Ji. “I wanted the world to see how much the Imperial Family values the Gu name. Let us see which of these court socialites dares to act arrogantly before the Matriarch now!”
Shang Ji was deeply moved. He knew that the Prime Minister and the Crown Prince were using their own prestige to shield the Gu family’s honor. “On behalf of my grandmother, Shaoyu thanks the Crown Prince and you, Prime Minister, for such immense face.”
“Nonsense,” the Prime Minister replied. “The stability of the Great Xing borders and the prosperity of Sui’an itself were bought with the Gu family’s service.”
The carriage door opened, and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess alighted. Both were draped in robes of bright yellow, the dragon and phoenix embroidery shimmering in the winter light, exuding an undeniable royal majesty.
Shang Ji immediately dropped to one knee. “This humble general greets the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.”
Prime Minister Guo bowed deeply, though as the Crown Prince’s maternal grandfather, he was spared the kneeling. “This old minister greets Your Highnesses.”
The Crown Prince, a man of gentle demeanor and scholarly grace, reached out to lift Shang Ji by the arm. “Sixth Brother, rise. There is no need for such formality on a day of celebration.”
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Shang Ji replied.
The Crown Prince then turned to his grandfather with a playful glint in his eye. “Grandfather, you are as fast as ever. I rushed from the Eastern Palace as quickly as the horses would carry us, yet I am still a step behind you.”
The Prime Minister chuckled. “My residence is closer to the General’s gates than the Eastern Palace, Your Highness. It is only natural that I should arrive first to ensure the wine is ready!”
The Crown Princess, elegant and poised, offered a respectful half-bow to the Prime Minister. “Grandfather, I trust you are in good health?”
“I am well, Crown Princess. And you?”
The Crown Prince then turned to the kneeling servants and guards of the mansion. “Today we come to celebrate a new home. Rise, all of you!”
The unified voices of the household echoed through the courtyard. “We thank Your Highness!”