In the grand Duke Shang Mansion, a palpable tension settled, heavy as the summer air. Shang Yu’an’s wife, the formidable Lady Ni, watched her pregnant daughter-in-law with an almost obsessive vigilance, her gaze following her every delicate step. The usual retinue of servants, who had shadowed them, found themselves mysteriously halted, silently barred from Dongyuan’s ornate gate by the sheer authority displayed by the former head steward.
Then, a chilling sight stole everyone’s attention , it was Steward Qi, starkly covered by a white shroud. Now became a corpse, openly displayed in the harsh light of day, a bold defiance of convention. Still with a mere glance, Butler He signaled, and his accompanying boys moved, unhesitantly carrying away the body of Steward Qi . Not a single soul from the Fifth House dared utter a protest about it , their silence a heavy testament to the unspoken power displayed by Dongyuan. Fifth madam , her lips parted to speak in defiance , found her words swallowed by the serene, yet commanding, smile of Butler He. He spoke with a blunt authority said . “Fifth young Madam, a precious life stirs within you. Do not trouble your mind with such unworthy sights. After all, it’s merely an absence of life. A jostle, a clash, and would that not be truly troublesome?” Shang Wulang’s wife, her gaze soften, considered his words. Her child was a gift, hard-won and fragile, demanding every caution it can get . She nodded, her resolve clear, and followed the others inside the gates , their procession continuing towards Dongyuan’s elegant flower hall.
Dongyuan itself, aside from the main courtyard, stood as the mansion’s most expansive and distinguished quarter. Once, under the meticulous eye of the late Madam Gu, it had flourished with unparalleled care. Later, her eldest daughter-in-law Liu had taken the reins, dedicating some thought to its upkeep. Yet, as the Gu family’s influence waned and Madam. Wei’s ascended to the positon of the Duchess , Dongyuan’s former brilliance inevitably dimmed. For Madam Liu, it was simply ‘adequate.’ Her true focus lay in hoarding wealth, for her son Shang Zhiping and his future bride and for Xueniang’s dowry , promised colossal expenses. Du Jingyi, conversely, regarded only Xitang Courtyard as her turf of existence. Dongyuan for her was , a place she merely passed through,so it rarely captured her concern. Thus, the path now the today’s visitors trod offered no grand vistas, only a quiet, understated elegance. Nothing more could truly be said. With only five masters residing within its vast expanse, Dongyuan was an almost unnervingly silent realm.
This very quietude, this perceived waste of space, gnawed at the Fifth household’s entourage. Their own family, a bustling ten souls, was confined to the minuscule Yingjuan Courtyard, a space so cramped a sneeze on one side echoed on the other—a truly suffocating existence. But so long as a named first wife held dominion over Dongyuan, their envious desires to seize it remained mere pipe dreams.
As the continued there journey there expression became more and more harsh by the sheer amount of jealousy they are feeling towards the people residing in Dongyuan .Still as every thig has an end there procession through a series of echoing cloisters, finally reached the flower hall. The echoes sounding in flower hall seemed to recall the last foreign guest, Shang Qilang. Compared to his refined demeanor, the members of the Fifth household appeared remarkably uncouth. They strode in, settling themselves without invitation, demanding tea and pastries with an air of entitlement. An uninformed observer might have mistaken them not for guests , but for venerable ancestors. The servants of Dongyuan harbored no fondness for these guests. Yet, with the vigilant eyes of Butler He and Aunt Dou upon them, no one dared to display their true feelings, performing their duties with stiff professionalism.
“Fifth Old Lady, a moment, please,” a servant announced, “I shall bring the young madam to meet you.” A contemptuous “Hmph!” escaped the old lady’s lips as she listened . “A mere junior dares to keep us waiting all day? It would be a wonder if I didn’t give her a piece of my mind when she finally deigns to appear.” Such arrogance ignited a flicker of fury in Grandma Dou’s eyes, but it swiftly extinguished as in the absence of her master it is not her place to say anything . She departed the flower hall without another word, exchanging a grim look with Butler He. Both knew, with a chilling certainty, that today promised a bitter confrontation among the family .
Meanwhile, in the tranquil confines of Xitang Courtyard, Du Jingyi was enjoying her simple breakfast. Though she had risen earlier than usual, her original intent had been to indulge in a rare lie-in. But fate, in the form of the Fifth household ‘s impending arrival, had shattered her morning peace. So she had no choice but to rise and prepare. Yet, there was no haste in her movements. Instead, she chose to savor her meal first. Who knew what monstrous machinations awaited her when she get there ? How could one possibly wage war on an empty stomach? Her mind, remarkably clear, felt almost invincible, as if even facing the collapse of a mountain would stir no tremor within her.
As Mama Dou, arrived to report, this the scene she get to witness . And a flicker of admiration bloomed in her eyes. To fortify oneself before confronting external turmoil—such a profound state of mind, honed through countless years of navigating the back house’s treacherous currents. That the young lady, so young, possessed such astute understanding of worldly affairs was truly astonishing. It eased a the tension that is fermenting in Mama Dou’s heart and she remained outside, like a silent sentinel, patiently waiting until Du Jingyi had leisurely finished her meal before stepping in to report.
“This slave greets the young lady,” she saluted respectfully.
“Mama Dou, no need for courtesies here. Is everyone accounted for?”
“To the young madam, today we have the Fifth Old Lady, the Fourth Master, the Fourth Madam, the Fifth Young Master, and the Fifth Young Madam here . The others of there house chose not to accompany them.”
“Oh?” Du Jingyi mused, a faint smile playing on her lips. Did the Fifth House not always move as a singular, unified force? Why this sudden fracture? The absence of the Second Master’s family spoke volumes; perhaps the unity of the Fifth House was merely a facade. “Then let us go,” she declared, her voice calm yet resolute, “and see that old lady, and hear what lengthy tale she has prepared for me.”
“Yes,” Mama Dou responded. With that, mistress and servants, a quiet retinue, moved at an unhurried pace towards Dongyuan’s ominous flower hall.
As they moved, Du Jingyi intently absorbed Mama Dou’s detailed chronicle of steward Qi , his humble origins, the year he entered the Duke’s mansion, the length of his service, and the myriad responsibilities and individuals he had overseen, all meticulously explained. With each revelation, a clearer picture formed in Du Jingyi’s mind, and with it, a profound appreciation for Mama Dou also formed. Madam Gu’s chosen retainers were, indeed, truly exceptional. A lamentable pity she had departed so soon. Otherwise, Du Jingyi mused, she would have relished to witness this formidable matriarch’s conduct within the intricate tapestry of the back house.
Just as these thoughts unfolded in her mind , they arrived at the flower hall. Steward He, seeing their approach, immediately stepped forward, his face etched with a visible concern. “Young lady, please,” as he began, his voice lowered, “do not be angered by what follows from here . The Fifth House’s temper is notoriously sharp. Should any offense, however unintentional, arise, please endure it for now. When the General returns, he will surely exatract recompense on your behalf.”
Steward He, in his genuine kindness, offered this solace. But Du Jingyi saw it differently. A serene smile touched her lips, her composure absolute. She spoke to Butler He, her voice steady and calm. “The back house, after all, is the realm I am destined to manage. If I were to wait for the General to return to resolve every matter, would that not burden him unnecessarily? Do not worry, Steward. I understand the gravity of my position.”
As her words resonated, both Butler He and Aunt Dou exchanged glances of genuine surprise. This young lady, after all, came from no prominent lineage, possessed no extraordinary talents. For the past three years, she had maintained an almost imperceptible presence within the back house. They had both assumed her temperament was quiet, perhaps even timid, and had prepared themselves to shield her from any harshness. But today, their assumptions shattered. Such remarkable poise and unwavering calmness—these were qualities that even the eldest young lady, with all her standing, might struggle to command.
Thus, Butler He, his voice now imbued with a newfound respect, declared, “This old slave has worried too much. Young lady, please come!”