The four of them fought tooth and nail over that measly one and a half mu of land which will come in there share if Shang Ji is willing to share , as though it were worth their very lives.
To outsiders, it might even look as though they were the ones being taken advantage of.
The elders rolled on the ground, wailing pitifully, while their children, grandchildren, and daughters-in-law weren’t idle either—voices rising in curses that pierced the air.
“The Duke’s Mansion looks down on its poor relatives!”
“They treat us like beggars and drive us away as they please!”
“We share the same roots, yet you cast us aside faster than flipping a page in a book!”
Their tones and gestures rivaled those of the best actors in the Nanmen Opera.
The entire courtyard was thrown into chaos, filled with sobbing, shrieking, and howling.
Shang Yukuan couldn’t bear the scene. He looked at his uncles and aunts with anxious eyes, his voice filled with persuasion.
“Liu Lang spoke in haste just now, uncles, aunts—please don’t be upset.”
But such a feeble attempt at comfort was useless inthis scenario. These people had relied on their seniority for years to get what they want ; how could they possibly relent with just a few light words?
Du Jingyi, married into this household for three years, had never seen such a shameless spectacle.
She had once thought her own family’s troublesome relatives were already difficult enough, but compared to this grand display in the stately Duke’s Mansion, they were nothing.
Interesting. Truly interesting.
Her gaze glimmered with a hint of amusement, like one watching a play unfold. But before her expression could deepen, a sharp voice cut in beside her.
“Sixth sister-in-law, what a fine wife you are. Your husband defies his elders and stirs public outrage, yet not only do you fail to dissuade him—you stand idly by, watching the scene as though for your own enjoyment. Not a single word of support from you!”
The speaker was a square-faced, plain-looking woman—the wife of Shang Erlang, eldest grandson of the third branch. In this household, she was called Guan Shi .
Having married into the family years ago, she had borne three hefty sons and thus carried quiet weight in the third branch.
Her background, like Du Jingyi’s, was merchant-born, though her family was far less prosperous than the Du family.
Back then, she had married into the Duke’s Mansion for its reputation. Yet over the years, her dowry had been squandered, either to patch the family’s endless holes or to cover her husband’s gambling debts.
Now little remained.
So when news came of the Emperor bestowing ten thousand taels of gold, her eyes immediately turned greedy.
But her grandparents’ matchmaking schemes had all been thwarted by Shang Ji. For that reason, she bore resentment and was now determined to find an opportunity to restore her face.
That was her first motive.
The second was far simpler: envy.
If there was one person in the mansion she begrudged most, it was Du Jingyi.
Both were merchant daughters, yet why had she ended up married to a common wastrel like Shang Erlang, cleaning up his messes day after day, while Du Jingyi wed the Shizi of the Duke’s Mansion?
And now, her husband had risen as a cavalry general, returning triumphant with great military merit, his name now shining across the court.
Du Jingyi’s status was far above her reach.
So from the very first day Du Jingyi stepped through the gates, she had mocked her—sometimes openly, sometimes behind her back.
And today, she seized her chance, eager to humiliate her.
Unfortunately for her, she had chosen the wrong opponent.
Du Jingyi’s lips curved into a smile, but her eyes remained cold, indifferent. Her voice was measured, sharp beneath its courtesy.
“Second sister-in-law must be joking. I hardly consider myself fortunate. When I married into the Duke’s Mansion, my grandparents and mother-in-law had already passed away. I believed the only elder I had to serve was Father. Who would have thought such a vast family awaited me instead? Yet here you are, second sister-in-law—the proper wife of the legitimate grandson—and instead of lending a hand, you heap all the blame onto me, a distant daughter-in-law of another branch. Truly, your upbringing baffeled me.”
In the past, Du Jingyi had never bothered with these people, deeming it beneath her to argue.
But today, before Shang Ji, they dared to use every trick to trample her beneath their feet.
Even clay figures have temper. And Du Jingyi was no clay figure—she was a woman who had once been ruthless and decisive in the world of business.
Guan shi’s face flushed scarlet hearing this jab . She opened her mouth, but no words came to retort.
The courtyard shifted uneasily. Expressions changed one after another.
Madam Wei narrowed her eyes. She suddenly realized she had underestimated Liu Lang’s wife.
It seemed she wasn’t just a pretty vase—her tongue was as sharp as her wits.
Eldest Sister-in-law Liu, too, frowned faintly, her gaze deep on Du Jingyi’s back.
For three years, Du Jingyi had lived quietly in Dongyuan. Whenever she called on her, she would find her either napping or fussing over food, her face always calm, her smile serene.
She had taken her for soft-tempered, pliable.
But today proved otherwise—she had been mistaken.
Meanwhile, Shang Ji’s eyes brimmed with quiet delight.
That delight, however, quickly faded into fury as he turned back toward his so-called elders.
“Since our two esteemed uncles are so fond of lamenting their wish to complain to my grandfather ,” he said coldly, “then I shall grant them that wish. Luo Yuan! Send men to escort our two great uncles to guard the mausoleum. They may return after ten days!”
“Yes!”
Luo Yuan stepped forward, his tone brisk with long-harbored impatience.
He had long wished to drive out this pack of parasitic relatives. But with the imperial edict newly bestowed today, it was better not to draw blood. Sending them to guard the mausoleum was a clean solution, sparing everyone the endless clamor.
The weeping and wailing halted at once.
They exchanged alarmed looks, eyes full of desperation, and at last turned pleadingly toward Shang Yukuan.
But this son, for all their hopes, was not one they could command at will. His face was twisted in misery, helpless.
Shang Ji had no interest in prolonging the matter.
He turned instead to Eldest Sister-in-law Liu and her children, his expression respectful as never before. Bowing slightly, he said solemnly:
“Sister-in-law, please take Ping’er and Xueniang back to the Xitang Courtyard first. My wife and I will go to the ancestral hall to burn incense for Mother and Eldest Brother before returning.”
Simple words, yet his meaning was crystal clear.
In this vast courtyard, the only ones he truly regarded and cared for were these three.
As for the rest of the so-called relatives—whether they chose to hang themselves, throw themselves into a well, or crack their skulls against the pillars—it was none of his concern.
Eldest Sister-in-law Liu met his gaze deeply. With a quiet nod, she bowed toward Duke Shang, then turned away with her son and sister-in-law, never once looking back.
Only after they departed did Shang Ji approach Du Jingyi once more.
His eyes swept over the “elders” still sprawled pathetically on the ground. At once, everyone held their breath, waiting, expecting.
Would he soften? Would he speak again?
But instead, Shang Ji lifted his gaze to Duke Shang and said indifferently, “Father, my wife and I must go to the ancestral hall to offer tea to Mother. We will not remain.”
Du Jingyi, unwilling to entangle herself further with this rabble, lowered her head and added with quiet courtesy, “Daughter-in-law also takes her leave.”
The two of them then turned, walking away with unhurried, steady steps.
Their retreating figures were composed, dignified—so stark against the pitiful elders left behind that the contrast was almost cruel.
Those old ones were left utterly humiliated, their cries resuming weakly, but to no avail.
Madam Wei, watching them, could only sigh.
“It is my fault, my fault. The household is in disarray, and rules have not been properly set. Uncles, aunts, do get up quickly. Stained clothes are a trifle, but harming your health would be a serious matter.”