Though she wasn’t one to crave control, Du Jingyi knew that just as one mountain couldn’t hold two tigers, one household couldn’t have two mistresses. In Dongyuan, she had naturally followed her sister-in-law Liu’s lead. But in the General’s Mansion, as the General’s wife, she couldn’t remain as carefree as before. Otherwise, if a concubine were sent to them today, and a child born tomorrow, without her firm control, it would be difficult to manage the household and earn respect. Therefore, she wouldn’t give up her position easily.
Thinking it over, she felt the quarrel likely stemmed from the matters she handled with the Fifth Branch this morning. So, she decided to lay everything out for both her husband and sister-in-law. They would find out sooner or later anyway, and it would be a greater loss if Dongyuan suffered because of misunderstandings between those living under the same roof. As she pondered, the moonlight began to climb, and lamps lit up one by one throughout the Duke’s Mansion, creating a sense of calm.
When Shang Ji returned in a hurry, he saw a boy from Dongyuan waiting at the door. Noticing the boy was looking at him, he dismounted and asked, “Are you waiting for me,?”
“Yes, General, the Young Madam said she has something to discuss with you. Please go as soon as you return.”
Du Jingyi had something important to discuss with him ? For a moment, Shang Ji couldn’t imagine what it could be. But after handing his riding whip to Luo Yuan, he gave the order, “Wait, I’ll be out in a moment.”
“Yes.”
His military duties were still ongoing; the Huben Army had resumed its training, and as their commander, he naturally had to oversee them frequently, meaning he might not be home every day. Once they moved to the General’s Mansion, he might have to stay away for extended periods. As for the Duke’s Mansion… Hmph, he barely bothered with it anymore. Although he thought this, his pace quickened considerably. In a single day, he had now rushed to Xitang Courtyard three times. Each time, the scenery he passed seemed different, as if time itself had shifted.
Seeing him approaching quickly, Butler He, who had been guarding the gate of Dongyuan, hurried forward to greet him, his face serious. “General, the Young Madam knows about your quarrel with the eldest madam today.”
Hearing this, Shang Ji’s rapid steps suddenly paused. He asked, a hint of displeasure in his voice, “Who spread it?”
“Young Master Ping’er cried sadly, and most people in Fuqiu Courtyard knew about it. It must have been accidentally leaked during chatter and happened to reach the Young Madam’s people.”
“They are talkative. Can they discuss their masters’ affairs so freely?” Shang Ji’s tone was stern, showing his displeasure.
Butler He was sweating profusely and immediately reported back, “General, don’t worry, I’ve dealt with those people, and they won’t dare to spread news carelessly again!”
Shang Ji nodded. He had always been strict in running his army, and he felt the same should apply at home. He strode towards Xitang Courtyard, and after a short while, he saw the bright light within the house, casting a beautiful shadow on the window. It was faint, yet not lonely. In the past, he had never imagined anyone waiting for him like this when he returned late under the moonlight. The moment he saw it, the tight knot in his heart loosened considerably.
“Uncle He, please go down first.”
“Yes.”
After watching him turn and leave, Shang Ji entered the door. Lizhu, standing inside, immediately asked, “Who is it?” Then she saw Shang Ji, and quickly bowed respectfully, saying, “I have seen the General.”
Her voice startled Du Jingyi from her sleepy state. She quickly got off the kang, put on her shoes, and prepared to go out to meet him. Shang Ji also walked quickly and entered the inner room before her. The two suddenly met each other’s gaze, and Du Jingyi became slightly surprised. Yingying, the maid next to her, saluted first, then Du Jingyi collected herself and followed suit.
“The General is back?”
“Mm.”
Yingtao and Lizhu knew the couple had private matters to discuss, so they wisely left after serving tea. In the room, Du Jingyi and Shang Ji sat opposite each other on the kang, their expressions a little serious.
Du Jingyi didn’t hide anything. She immediately began, “General, please forgive me for speaking out of turn, but did you have a quarrel with your sister-in-law today?”
Shang Ji raised his head, glanced at her, picked up the tea, and drank it in one gulp. Then he sighed briefly and nodded.
“Why is this?” Although Du Jingyi had some guesses, she wasn’t entirely sure. It would be best if she could get the answer directly from her husband so she could think of a way to handle it.
“The people from the Fifth Branch came to cause trouble, and my sister-in-law sent someone to inform me. But by the time I returned, you had already handled it. I originally intended to comfort my sister-in-law, but who knew that the person who was rushing to speak became emotional? I ended up breaking my sister-in-law’s heart by saying the wrong things.”
Though Shang Ji was strong-willed, he wasn’t stubborn. He disagreed with some of his sister-in-law’s actions. But that didn’t mean he could ignore her efforts over the years and keep poking at the jealousy in her heart. In fact, he didn’t fully understand his sister-in-law’s true feelings. It was just that, having seen so much of human nature’s darker side, he could somewhat understand such a small amount of selfishness.
Hearing this, Du Jingyi understood and said solemnly, “It has been over three years since I married into the Duke’s household, but I have only been with the General for a few days. Even so, I know the General’s intention to protect Dongyuan. My sister-in-law joined the family many years before me, so of course, she understands this truth even more deeply. The reason she feels this way today is because of me. I should have discussed the matter of the Fifth Branch with my sister-in-law before making a decision. However, the situation was urgent, and I couldn’t afford to hesitate. My Du family has also been troubled by bothersome relatives, so you naturally know what it feels like to be taken advantage of and have your blood drained.”
She spoke every word seriously, explaining to Shang Ji and also revealing what had happened in her own family. Everyone lives a lifetime; there’s no point in hiding family scandals. It’s better to lay them bare.
“I’ve seen many ‘snakes’ turn back and bite people since I was a child, so I left no room for the Fifth Branch to recover. It’s just that my sister-in-law was too anxious at the time, and I didn’t explain things clearly. So, the quarrel between the General and my sister-in-law is due to my oversight. I will go to my sister-in-law tomorrow to explain the matter clearly.”
Subsequently, Du Jingyi told Shang Ji everything about her plan. At first, Shang Ji didn’t fully grasp it. But the more he listened, the more he felt that this method was excellent. At the very least, it helped them get rid of the troublesome Fifth Branch, so there would be no more problems. It’s just that his face was usually so expressionless that other feelings were rarely detectable. Du Jingyi mistakenly thought that her method was too harsh, making her husband unhappy.