Du Jingyi merely cast a glance at Li Zhu, who then released Madam Wu. Though Li Zhu could have easily reset the dislocated arm, she chose not to. Immediately, Shang Yu’an and Shang Wulang, father and son, rushed to Madam Wu’s side, their voices laced with concern. “Mother, are you alright?” “Grandma, how are you feeling?” Seeing the genuine worry in their eyes prevented Madam Wu from erupting in anger. She could only glare at Du Jingyi and declare, “You’d better keep your word, or I’ll skin you and your husband alive, even if it means raising a ruckus before His Majesty!” The threat hung heavy in the air.
Du Jingyi, however, remained unfazed. With a generous gesture, she instructed Yingtao, “Go and immediately bring one hundred taels of silver from my private treasury. Remember, I want real gold and silver. Do you understand?” Her gaze was unwavering as she looked at Yingtao, who quickly grasped the unspoken meaning. “Yes, this slave will go now!”
Du Jingyi’s cheerful demeanor contrasted sharply with the eager anticipation of the Fifth House members. Their eyes, wide with greed, followed Yingtao’s retreating figure, silently urging her swift return.
Steward He and Aunt Dou, however, watched with unspoken disapproval. These people, they knew, were like blood-sucking locusts. Grant them a single benefit, and they would forever cling to her , demanding more. This was precisely why the former Eldest Lady had chosen to endure ill repute rather than indulge them. Yet now, Du Jingyi was so readily parting with a hundred taels of silver. Not only the Fifth House, but if word of this windfall reached the Third House, they too would undoubtedly swarm, eager to exploit the situation. The worry in their eyes deepened, but in front of outsiders, they dared not openly question Du Jingyi’s actions, lest they become a laughingstock.
Hardly had Du Jingyi taken two sips of tea when Yingtao returned, bearing a tray. Neatly stacked upon it lay the silver, a full hundred taels, not a single penny less. The sight of the gleaming silver, far more impactful than a mere silver note, visibly brightened the spirits of the Fifth House members. Their anger also seemed to melt away, replaced by smiles. Wu Lang’s wife even found the time to engage Du Jingyi in lighthearted banter. Even Madam Wu, whose hand had been throbbing moments before, now disregarded the pain, reaching out to greedily snatch handfuls of silver, stuffing them into her sleeves with utter disregard for decorum. The others followed suit, ensuring that save for the Fourth Lady Ni, everyone departed with a heavier pocket. The tumultuous morning had finally, completely ceased.
Seeing Du Jingyi’s agreeable nature, Shang Yu’an smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Liulang’s daughter-in-law, Wulang will handle Steward Qi’s affairs. And when the time comes, I’ll have to bother you for a few kind words in front of the General.” His attitude was remarkably improved. The Fifth House members, having shed their aggression, were now outwardly polite towards her . Du Jingyi, however, was even more “sincere” than they are , her words flowing quickly. “Don’t worry, Fourth Uncle, I’ve remembered it all, and I’ll speak to the General about it.”
“Alright, in that case, we shall take our leave. You haven’t had much rest this morning.”
“Fourth Uncle, you are too polite? We are all a family.”
“Yes, yes, yes, one family, one family! The fact that the General could marry you is truly a blessing to our Duke’s family!”
At these words, the young men, women, and maids present couldn’t help but inwardly scoff. Hadn’t these very people just clamored that their Young Lady was a disaster, a useless blight? How had she now become a blessing? Their hypocrisy was truly astounding! And so, the members of the Fifth House, who had arrived in a flurry, departed in obedient submission. Steward He personally escorted them out of the Dongyuan Gate, a smile gracing and everyone’s lips as they left, leaving those waiting outside the Fifth House utterly bewildered. In the distance, a figure who had been silently observing frowned and quietly slipped away.
As for the source of the morning’s commotion, Steward Qi’s body was swiftly removed from the Duke’s Mansion, his affairs handled personally by Shang Wulang. This not only saved face for the Fifth House but also subtly spread the Duke’s Mansion’s reputation for benevolence towards its servants.
In Yunjin Courtyard, Madam Wei was feeding the fish in the pond. As she sprinkled the fish food, the fish below eagerly opened their mouths to eat , a sight that brought a sense of contentment to Madam Wei. Then, she heard Granny Jiao recount the entire morning’s events in the Fifth House and Dongyuan. When she heard that the five members of the Fifth House had left Dongyuan happily, a flicker of surprise crossed Madam Wei’s eyes.
“The slaves didn’t hear the specifics of what happened in Dongyuan, but Sanbao said that the people who emerged from there had bulging waists, and they only left after obtaining some benefits from the Young Lady.”
Upon hearing this, the surprise in Madam Wei’s eyes vanished, replaced by a look of disdain. “She’s another one who only knows how to get by with money. Hmph, she has no future. Let the people who relay messages to the Third House know that the Fifth House received a benefit while the Third House was kept in the dark. As a family, one must always ensure the water in the bowl is at level.” A hint of calculation gleamed in Madam Wei’s eyes as she look in the fighting fish in the pond. You think you’re rich, do you? Then she would show her what it truly meant to be a blood-sucking locust, one from whose grasp there was no escape. She had been operating within the Duke’s Mansion for decades; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to endure the misery of managing the central household every day.
“Yes, I understand this.” Granny Jiao agreed immediately, turning to make the necessary arrangements. Seeing this, Madam Wei simply tossed the entire bowl of fish food into the pond. With a sudden splash, the fish, accustomed to vying for food, scattered in alarm.
In Xitang Courtyard, Du Jingyi led everyone back to the main room. As she entered, she saw her elder sister-in-law Liu and eighth sister Xue Niang, both looking worried. Upon seeing Du Jingyi, they immediately rushed to greet her. Xue Niang, ever quick to speak, anxiously asked, “Sixth Sister-in-law, are you alright? I heard that the people from Yingjuan Courtyard were looking for trouble in the morning . Were you bullied by them?”
“Sister-in-law, are you alright?” At the same time, Sister-in-law Liu spoke, her eyes also filled with concern. Both of them knew all too well the rogue nature of the Fifth House members over the years. The Third House was stingy, the Fifth House was greedy; neither was easy to deal with. And for them to come seeking trouble so early in the morning, it surely wasn’t a trivial matter. Thus, upon hearing the news, they had hurried to Xitang Courtyard. Sister-in-law Liu had initially planned to appear with Du Jingyi, but upon arriving, she realized Du Jingyi had already taken her people there. There was nothing to do but wait for news in Xitang Courtyard. But even while waiting, she grew anxious and immediately sent someone to alert Shang Ji. Even if everyone had returned now, being bullied so severely in Dongyuan was an injustice.
Seeing their reactions, Du Jingyi felt a warmth spread through her heart. In the past, she hadn’t had many interactions with them; Dongyuan had always been self-sufficient under Liu’s management, and Du Jingyi had been content to keep to herself.