“In this scenario,” Shang Ji mused, “it’s like mixing fire and water. Even if one wanted to curry favor with King Min, sending another concubine to the palace would be utterly pointless.” He continued, “To truly please King Min, one would simply focus on cultivating her own son. Should he eventually become adopted by Wangfei under the current Heir’s name and became a memeber of royal concubine’s lineage, his loyalties would naturally lie with his own mother . So why this sudden rush to send in more concubines, potentially stealing the royal concubine’s favor? It’s a foolish move, indeed. There must be a deeper story at play.”
Shang Ji’s curiosity was piqued, and Du Jingyi shared his intrigue. She promptly issued an order to Luo Yuan: “Keep a vigilant eye on the Min Palace, particularly to the princess and the princess consort. Report any developments immediately!”
“Yes!” Luo Yuan affirmed.
After absorbing this new information and recalling fragmented news from her parents the previous day, Du Jingyi began to formulate a plan. Fortune, it seemed, was smiling upon her. Just yesterday, she had resolved to deal with the affairs of the third and fifth branches of the family, and now, a perfect opportunity had presented itself. A glint of calculation in her eyes, she turned to Shang Ji. “General, I believe I have a way to make the third and fifth branches turn on each other like dogs.”
“What do you propose?” he inquired.
“We shall discreetly spread the news that the Min Palace is seeking new concubines,” she explained. “As for what unfolds next, we merely sit back and observe the spectacle.”
Shang Ji’s lips curved into a faint smile, a spark of amusement in his eyes. In the past, his constant campaigns had kept him from dealing with these troublesome relatives. But now, with everyone back in Sui’an City, there was no longer any need for them to drain the family’s resources. As they prepared to move forward , those who needed to be purged would be.
Outside the window, the city’s bustle continued, a stark contrast to the impending storm within the Duke’s Mansion.
Two days later, Shang Wulang burst into Yingjuan Courtyard, an almost uncontrollable excitement etched on his face. He struggled to contain it, fearing he might be seen. But once inside, his joy erupted. He hurried into his grandparents’ main house, then instructed a servant, “Go and invite the masters of the courtyard. I have something to tell them.”
“Yes,” the servant replied.
After the others departed, Shang Wulang cheerfully entered the room. Life in the fifth branch had been considerably more comfortable since they received the hundred taels of silver from Du Jingyi . Surprisingly, the once arrogant and overbearing Fifth Old Master, since his return from guarding the mausoleum, seemed far more subdued. Perhaps the hardship of his time at the tomb had driven him to it, for upon his return to Sui’an City, he had immediately sought out an opium den and indulged freely.
This indulgence was evident both outside and within the household. The Fifth Old Lady had initially planned to divide the easily acquired hundred taels among herself and their two sons. However, the Fifth Old Master, upon hearing the news, had immediately claimed half for himself, distributing the remainder to his children and grandchildren. Fifty taels, he reasoned, was neither too much nor too little. Yet, the ease with which the money had been obtained led him to believe he could simply invent another excuse to extract more from Du Jingyi once this sum was spent. After all, it seemed rather simple! With such thoughts, his spending became even more reckless.
As Shang Wulang entered to find the Fifth Old Master puffing on a pipe, the fragrant smoke of the expensive, imported opium filling the room. In the past, his grandfather had only witnessed others using it; he had never had the spare coin to indulge in it . Now, he freely purchased boxes of the thirty-tael “Crimson Dew,” seemingly unconcerned with the cost. Shang Wulang, unfamiliar with the drug, only saw the blissful expression on his grandfather’s face. He clasped his fists and announced, “Grandpa, your grandson has returned.”
Still lost in the sublime pleasure of the Crimson Dew, the Fifth Old Master slowly opened his eyes at the sound of his grandson’s voice. A happy smile spread across his face. “Hey, Wulang’s back! Come, come, Grandpa has a treat for you!”
Shang Wulang, unsuspecting, stepped closer. The Fifth Old Master extended the pipe, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. “Try it, it’s a good stuff!”
Doubtfully, Shang Wulang took a puff. The scent was pungent, not unlike the dry tobacco his own father smoked daily. He coughed twice, then returned the pipe. “Grandpa, please, enjoy it yourself. Your grandson doesn’t care for the taste.”
The Fifth Old Master, looking bewildered, took the pipe back and resumed smoking. Each inhale seemed to transport him to a realm of profound joy, temporarily erasing his worries and sorrows. Seeing his grandfather’s exaggerated pleasure, Shang Wulang felt a pang of concern. “Grandpa,” he gently persuaded, “you should smoke less of this. It’s not good for your health.”
“Alright, alright, whatever Wulang says is what it is,” the Fifth Old Master replied, unusually compliant.
Seeing him put down the pipe, Shang Wulang leaned in, his voice hushed and mysterious. “Your grandson heard momentous news today. And heraing thar i truly felt it’s our fifth branch’s time to turn things around. Why else would money keep flowing in like this?”
At the mention of “money ,” both Shang Wulang and the Fifth Old Master stiffened, their eyes widening with newfound interest. “What news is this? Have you found some opportunity to strike it rich?”
“Not your grandson, Grandpa,” Shang Wulang corrected. “It’s all thanks to my Seventh Sister’s good fortune.”
“Her?” the Fifth Old Man questioned.
The Fifth Old Master and his wife had two sons and two daughters. Apart from the married daughter, both sons resided with them in the Duke’s Mansion. The elder son, Shang Yuding, known as Shang Erye to outsiders, and his wife, Lady Guo, had three daughters: Erniang, Sanniang, and Qiniang. The younger son, Shang Yu’an, known as Fourth Master Shang, and his wife, Lady Ni, had a son and a daughter, Shang Wulang and Shang Wuniang.
Leaving aside the younger son’s branch, among the three daughters of the elder son’s branch, the first two were already married. However, Shang Qiniang still awaited marriage. By her age, she should have been wed long ago. Yet, the prominent families who sought her hand were not to the Fifth Old Master’s liking, and the families he favored were unwilling to accept her as a legitimate wife, only as a concubine can they consider her . This back and forth had delayed her marriage until now. At eighteen, she was considered an “old girl.” Any further delay, and it would be difficult to find a suitable match. Thus, Qiniang’s marriage had always been a source of anxiety for the fifth branch.
Her parents, however, were of little help. Her father, Shang Yuding, was perpetually lost in drinks, effectively useless. Her mother, Lady Guo, was powerless within the back house, constantly subject to her husband’s abuse, leaving her no confidence to secure a good husband for her daughter. Therefore, the news Shang Wulang now brought promised to deliver the fifth branch from dire straits.
He smiled, “Grandpa, please wait until everyone is assembled, and then your grandson will speak.” The Fifth Old Master raised his eyebrows, intrigued by Shang Wulang’s air of secrecy.