“General, Madam, the carriage and horses are ready. Would you like to go see the General’s Mansion now?”
Shang Ji glanced at Du Jingyi, who nodded. Together, they stepped out into the sunshine. The bright light made Du Jingyi raise her hand to shield her eyes. Seeing this, Shang Ji told a maid, “Give the young lady an umbrella.”
“Yes, General,” the maid replied.
Du Jingyi was surprised by her husband’s thoughtfulness. But then she realized he had quickly understood her preferences earlier, so it wasn’t that surprising. She smiled softly and said, “Thank you, General.”
“Let’s go and have a look first,” Shang Ji said.
“Good,” she agreed, and they walked out side by side. The maid, Yingtao, followed close behind Du Jingyi, holding the umbrella to protect her from the sun.
The carriages and horses they were using today were a gift from the Emperor, so they looked very grand. The General’s Mansion was about a 15-minute ride from the Duke’s Mansion. Du Jingyi felt energetic because she had rested during the journey. Listening to the lively sounds of the street, she remembered many things from her past.
When she lived at home, she was free to come and go as she pleased. Her parents never criticized her or forced her to be a quiet lady who stayed indoors. Instead, after she learned proper ettiqutes, they gave her a lot of freedom. Even with the family business, they didn’t hide things from her just because she was unmarried; they often took her to meet with shopkeepers. That’s why she became confident and content, not easily swayed by others or dependent on them for her happiness.
As she thought about the past, the carriage stopped. Shang Ji, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and looked at Du Jingyi. She wasn’t ready for such a sudden look and felt a little startled. But she quickly composed herself and smiled, saying, “General, we’re here.”
“Good, let’s get out of the carriage.”
Their conversation still felt a bit formal, but it was better than before. After all, they had only known each other for a few days, and it was good that they could get along so well.
After Shang Ji helped Du Jingyi out of the carriage, she looked up and saw the sign for the General’s Mansion. The writing was strong and dignified. Large, powerful stone lions sat on both sides of the quietly open main red gate.
Butler He and Aunt Dou, who had come with them, looked excited. They used to follow Madam Gu in and out of the Gu family’s mansion, so seeing the General’s Mansion brought back many memories for them. The maids, Yingying and Lizhu, following Du Jingyi, softly sighed. “It’s so impressive.”
Du Jingyi smiled. Her maids weren’t the only ones who felt that way. Some things, she knew, couldn’t be bought with just money. The Du family home, with its elegant gardens, couldn’t match the powerful feeling of the General’s Mansion.
“Let’s go in and have a look,” Shang Ji said simply to Du Jingyi and the others. Everyone nodded, and they entered the General’s Mansion.
As soon as she stepped inside, Du Jingyi was amazed by the grand screen wall directly in front of her. The first thing she noticed were the four words written on it: “Bold and Loyal,” which perfectly matched Shang Ji’s position. She looked closer at the signature and saw it was the Emperor’s own handwriting. Not many people in the military or government could claim such an honor.
Controlling her surprise, Du Jingyi followed Shang Ji forward. The General’s Mansion was completely different from the Duke’s Mansion of Shang State. It had a main courtyard with two other courtyards on its left and right sides. The front held the main hall, and the back was for living quarters.
The main middle door was closed, but the side doors were open. Du Jingyi knew the middle door was usually only opened for very important guests, so she didn’t think much of it. Following Shang Ji, she entered the main courtyard through a side door.
To the north was the hall, which was five rooms wide and very grand. The yard was also very clean. Green pine and cypress trees stood tall, full of life. Walking through, it felt as if guards were standing watch, making you stand a little straighter.
Following the corridor through the hall, they went around to the inner living area. This part was even more unique. The house was wide and bright, with a courtyard featuring a mix of mountains and rivers. There were three side rooms on both the left and right, and a beautiful small garden was built to the southeast of the main hall.
Even though it was a bit smaller than the Du family’s garden, Du Jingyi was very surprised to see such scenery here. Not just her, but Butler He and Aunt Dou, who were seeing the mansion, were also smiling. This place was much, much better than their old home, Dongyuan. It was bright and open, feeling noble and free from any bad influences.
So, Du Jingyi said with a smile, “As expected, it is the General’s Mansion given by His Majesty. It feels very comfortable.”
“But do you like it?” Shang Ji asked her. Du Jingyi didn’t hide her feelings and looked back at him.
“I like it,” she said.
Shang Ji admired her honesty and directness. He had met many people who spoke in circles, but his wife’s straightforwardness suited his own personality. A bit of happiness showed in his eyes, and then he said, “As long as you like it. Keep the key to the General’s Mansion and manage everything. If anything needs to be changed or fixed, you can decide yourself. As for the gold His Majesty gave you, keep it in the courtyard’s storage room. Here’s the key; you can take it.”
Shang Ji didn’t hesitate and handed Du Jingyi a fancy box in front of everyone. Inside were all the important documents and keys for the General’s Mansion. This clearly meant he was giving the entire household to Du Jingyi to manage. Du Jingyi looked carefully at her husband, seeing he wasn’t joking, and took it seriously. Then, she stated her promise.
“General, don’t worry, I will take good care of our home.”
“Mm,” he replied.
The maids, Yingying and Lizhu, who were following Du Jingyi, looked overjoyed. From now on, their young lady would be in charge of the General’s residence. Without the restrictions they faced in the Duke’s mansion, they believed their young lady would manage this “home” very well.