After discussing the matter with Shang Ji [The General] and Old Madam Gu [The Matriarch], Du Jingyi [The Mistress of the General’s Mansion] decided to put the issue of her cousin’s affections behind her.
In her eyes, Gu Xiaolang’s [Her younger cousin from the Gu family] secret crush was merely the fleeting infatuation of a young girl. She bore no enmity toward the girl; rather, she sought to remain amicable. After all, the friendship between the Shang and Gu families ran deep, and with more than half a year of shared living ahead, it would be unwise to let such a triviality create a permanent rift between the family.
So Du Jingyi spoke with such refreshing candor with everybody that her Third Aunt [Gu Xiaolang’s mother] could only nod in quiet acceptance.
Old Madam Gu, looking regal even in her casual ao [A padded winter jacket], added calmly: “When Physician Wang [The Imperial Physician] came to treat me, he also examined Lang’er [An affectionate diminutive for Gu Xiaolang]. She is young, and her body mends quickly. She shall be well enough to grace the banquet with her presence.”
Everyone present—save for Sister-in-law Liu and Xue Niang [the eighth sister of Shang ji ]—understood the unspoken command. Gu Xiaolang might indulge in a girlish tantrum for a few days, but remaining hidden was not an option. To stay secluded during the banquet would not only insult the General’s Mansion but also bring shame upon the Gu family’s reputation.
The Third Aunt quickly smoothed over the tension with a smile. “What my Mother-in-law says is true. The child already looks much improved since our arrival.”
The group moved toward the Flower Hall, which had become the vibrant heart of the mansion. Today, the atmosphere was even more spirited with the arrival of Master Du, Madam Du [Du Jingyi’s parents], and He Shilin [Du Jingyi’s brother-in-law].
While the elders of the He family lacked the requisite rank to pay their respects to the Matriarch, and Du Jingxiang [Jingyi’s sister] remained home to care for her newborn, Yun Ge’er, the rest had rushed over upon hearing the rumors of the Matriarch’s “fainting spell.”
Seeing Old Madam Gu with a rosy complexion and bright eyes, the Du family breathed a sigh of relief. The Matriarch, appreciating their genuine warmth far more than the Duke’s hollow flatteries, smiled graciously at them.
“It was but a fleeting bout of melancholy that brought on a minor ailment,” she explained, her voice steady. “Physician Wang is a master of his craft; a few doses of his decoction and I am quite myself again. It was nothing at all, though I thank my dear in-laws for their concern.”
Madam Du was pleasantly surprised by the Matriarch’s approachability. She had expected someone of such high standing to be aloof, but instead, she found a kindred spirit.
“What are you saying, Madam?” Madam Du replied with a genuine beam. “You are the very backbone of this General’s Mansion. I once worried Jingyi was too young to manage such a vast estate, but with you here, my heart is finally at ease!”
“Madam Du has a sweet tongue, but she speaks the truth,” chimed in Madam Xing [A noblewoman of the Gu household]. “Auntie is the pillar of strength wherever she stands, is she not?”
Old Madam Gu’s eyes crinkled with amusement as she feigned a look of indignation. “This girl! At her age, she still delights in teasing this old woman. Shaoyu’s [Shang Ji’s childhood name] wife has managed this mansion magnificently; it is a testament to the fine upbringing her mother provided. I am merely here as a guest to enjoy the fruits of her labor.”
Because Master Du and He Shilin were present, the meal was divided into two tables to respect the separation of the sexes while maintaining intimacy.
At the men’s table, Shang Ji acted as the host, joined by Xing Zhao [A lively relative] and Shang Zhiping [Shang Ji’s nephew]. At the ladies’ table, Old Madam Gu presided in the place of honor, with Du Jingyi seated to her right.
Madam Du, unaware of the drama involving the “childhood sweetheart” cousin, chatted animatedly with Madam Xing. Her straightforward nature and witty banter kept the Matriarch in constant laughter, deepening the merry wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
Meanwhile, at the gentlemen’s table, Master Du took a slow, appreciative bite of his meal. “Was this prepared by the cook I sent over?”
“Father-in-law has a keen palate! Indeed, it was her,” Shang Ji replied with a respectful nod.
“I will not boast,” Master Du smiled, “but it took a great deal of effort to recruit her into my service.”
Xing Zhao, despite meeting the Du family for the first time, spoke with his usual lack of restraint. “Uncle Du is generous to a fault! Giving up such a prize cook so easily? If it were me, I would have demanded a king’s ransom from Cousin Shaoyu in return!”
Master Du laughed, seeing a glimpse of his daughter’s childhood mischief in the young man’s eyes. “Now that you mention it, I do feel I’ve been slighted! Perhaps I should name my price now?”
Shang Ji leaned back, a rare, relaxed smile on his face. “Father-in-law, name your terms! As long as you do not ask to take my Madam back to your house for a stay, I shall grant whatever you wish.”
Xing Zhao nearly choked on his laughter. It was common knowledge within the mansion that when the General was home, the Xitang Courtyard would remain shuttered until late morning, the couple enjoying a privacy that even the most capable stewards, like Mama Dou, dared not disturb.
He Shilin looked at his brother-in-law in shock. He had always perceived the General as a man of iron and gravity; he never expected him to jest about his own domestic affections.
Master Du played along. “Tangtang [Du Jingyi’s nickname] is with child and must be cared for, so I won’t take her. However… I find this young Master Xing quite entertaining. May I take him to my house for a visit?”
Xing Zhao’s jaw dropped. “Uncle Du! I am a person, not a piece of furniture to be bartered by the General’s Mansion!”
Shang Ji didn’t miss a beat. “Granted. Tomorrow, he shall pack his things and reside with the Du family for a few days to ensure my Father-in-law is well-entertained.”
Xing Zhao looked ready to leap up and protest, but a quick glance at Old Madam Gu at the next table forced him to swallow his pride and remain seated. Seeing his cousin uncle’s discomfiture, Shang Zhiping ducked his head to hide a snicker.
Xing Zhao caught him immediately. Flashing a row of brilliant white teeth, he grabbed the younger boy’s shoulder. “Fine! I shall go and keep Uncle Du company, but I’m taking this brat with me! I won’t have him being pampered by his mother here while I’m being teased by my mother and sisters back home, only to be mocked by Uncle Du abroad! It is simply unfair!””Hahaha, interesting, interesting—truly interesting!”
Master Du [Du Jingyi’s father] beamed, his eyes crinkling with genuine delight at Xing Zhao’s spirited personality. He couldn’t help but think that if he had been blessed with a son, he would have wanted him exactly like this: bold, quick-witted, and full of life.
Poor Shang Zhiping, meanwhile, found himself shooting his own foot. He had barely breathed a word, yet he had been expertly trapped by Xing Zhao’s antics. He turned a pitiful face toward his elder.
“Sixth Uncle,” he whined to Shang Ji [The General], “Uncle Zhao is bullying me again!”
Shang Ji, however, only offered a calm, infuriating smile. “Going with your uncle for a visit is a fine thing for your character, Zhiping.”
With the General’s word final, the boy had no choice but to hang his head in defeated agreement.
“There is little to occupy one’s time within the city walls during these months,” Master Du suggested, leaning forward. “Why stay cooped up? I have a manor in Wuling that sits upon a natural hot spring—perfect for soaking away the winter chill. There is a vast forest behind the estate; I had the ranger cull quite a bit of game recently. We could have a proper barbecue and enjoy the mountain air. What do you think?”
The suggestion was met with immediate, silent calculation from the ladies and eager eyes from the men. In the dead of winter, such an escape was a rare luxury.
“I would go this very instant, Uncle Du!” Xing Zhao declared, before casting a playful glance toward the General. “But I must let my ‘Cousin’ decide. After all, I am currently a guest under the General’s command!”
The room erupted in laughter at his mock-servility. Even He Shilin [Du Jingyi’s brother-in-law] couldn’t suppress a grin.
Shang Ji, currently enjoying a rare reprieve from military duties, considered the logistics. “Is Father-in-law’s estate expansive enough to house our entire party?”
“Do not worry, do not worry!” Master Du waved a hand dismissively. “It is more than large enough. You shall see for yourself.”
Knowing the Du family’s staggering wealth, Shang Ji nodded. “Then I shall consult my Maternal Grandmother. If she is willing to travel, we shall go.”
Xing Zhao didn’t wait for the official word. “Don’t you worry, Uncle Du! Even if the Matriarch stays behind, Zhiping and I will definitely be there!”
The excitement was infectious. Even Luo Yuan [The General’s lieutenant], standing guard nearby, felt a stir of anticipation. He and the personal guard had been cooped up in the mansion for far too long; the thought of open air and mountain game was a siren song.
Shang Ji, sensitive to the moods of his men, caught the look on his lieutenant’s face. “Do you wish to go as well?”
“Yes!” Luo Yuan’s answer was as sharp as a sword strike.
Shang Ji rose and stepped into the adjoining room where the ladies were gathered. Old Madam Gu [The Matriarch] looked up with curiosity as her grandson entered.
“Why has Shao Yu [Shang Ji’s childhood name] come to visit so suddenly?”
“Grandmother, Father-in-law has invited us to his Wuling estate. It features hot springs and fresh game for grilling. If it pleases you, we could all visit after the banquet.”
Madam Du [Du Jingyi’s mother] added with a warm smile, “My husband’s idea is a sound one. Wuling is quite comfortable, and the facilities for food and lodging are well-appointed.”
Madam Xing [A noblewoman of the Gu family], ever mindful of her son’s happiness and the Matriarch’s health, chimed in. “That sounds wonderful. Does Auntie not suffer from cold feet in the winter? A hot spring soak would be the best medicine for her constitution!”
Old Madam Gu yielded with a kind smile. “Very well. After the housewarming banquet, we shall go for a few days. We can return just in time for the New Year.”
“Yes, let us treat it as an early New Year’s gathering for the family,” someone added, and the plan was set.
While the General’s Mansion buzzed with the joy of a winter excursion, the Duke’s Mansion was a portrait of misery.
The East and North Gardens were boarded up for repairs, leaving the remaining quarters feeling cramped and suffocating. Madam Wei [The Successor Wife], having recently seen the splendor of the General’s residence, now found her own home dingy and old. She yearned for renovation, but the coffers in the house were alarmingly low.
However, financial woes were secondary to the sting of Old Madam Gu’s “illness.” The timing was impeccable—barely had she and the Duke left the General’s gates when Shang Ji was seen racing to the Palace for a physician. With Physician Wang’s involvement, the diagnosis was ironclad. No one could accuse the Matriarch of faking.
Madam Wei had truly trapped herself. Any attempt to visit now would be met with news of the Old Madam “fainting” the moment the Duke’s carriage was sighted. She was a second wife, not a blood relative; if she pushed too hard and the Matriarch’s “condition” worsened, the social backlash would be devastating.
Beside her, Shang Qilang [The Duke’s seventh son] noticed his mother’s darkening mood.
“Mother, do not fret so. Since the Old Madam is unwilling to see us, let us simply stop begging. The New Year is near; let us celebrate in peace.”
“You do not understand,” Madam Wei sighed, watching the heavy snow. “Whether I go is of no consequence, but you are at the prime of your youth. The imperial examinations are coming. This banquet at the General’s Mansion is the perfect place to build the connections you will need. How can you afford to be absent?”
Shang Qilang, however, remained stoic. He seemed far less concerned with the social climbing that consumed his mother, his gaze fixed on the falling snow, seemingly resigned to the growing distance between the two branches of the Shang family.