The Fifth Old Man, ever prone to wielding others as his instruments, puffed out his chest and declared to everyone, “I’ll go find Yu Kuan. After all, he is the Duke of the nation and Qiniang’s uncle. If he takes action, the Min Mansion will surely grant him some deference.” A person’s most valuable asset is self-awareness, and this was clearly the Fifth Old Man’s greatest deficiency. He still believed the Duke’s Mansion retained its former glory from when his elder brother presided over it, utterly unaware that without his nephew, Shang Ji—who had returned triumphant from war—he himself would be nothing more than a discarded relic.
The others considered his words and, finding no one else of higher standing than the Duke within thee reach , deemed his plan feasible. Shang Qiniang, having already resigned herself to her fate, resolved that if she truly entered the King’s household, she would not passively endure her lot as she did at home. Even a clay figure possesses spirit; she was determined to fight for herself .
In Yingjuan Courtyard, an uncharacteristic unity blossomed as everyone plotted for Shang Qiniang’s future. Meanwhile, in the tranquil Xitang Courtyard of Dongyuan, Shang Ji and Du Jingyi sat beneath the bright window, sipping tea, as two shadowy figures reported every detail that had just transpired in Yingjuan Courtyard. Du Jingyi couldn’t help but smile as she drank her tea. “The fish is hooked.”
Despite her satisfaction, a flicker of surprise remained that Shang Qiniang, about to be thrust into a fiery pit by her own family, offered no resistance. Had her own family dared to force her into such a predicament for power and money, Du Jingyi would have burned them to ashes. It was truly a sad and lamentable situation for a girl . Her disdain for those in the fifth branch deepened, yet pity, she reminded herself, was not her burden to bear. This particular misfortune was not of her making, and thus, she would not intervene. “Where this go next ?” she thought, a mischievous glint in her eye. “The fun is yet to come.”
Her husband, Shang Ji, shared her sentiments. He addressed his two phantom-like subordinates, “Keep a close watch and report back if anything important arises.”
“Understood!” The figures vanished as swiftly and silently as a gust of wind, leaving no trace behind.
“The fifth branch is inherently greedy,” Shang Ji observed, taking a sip of his tea, which was as fine as offered in the royal palace. “They only care about money, oblivious to Qiniang’s future misfortune. I don’t think you’ll need to do much. With the Fifth Uncle involved, Yunjin Courtyard is sure to be in an uproar in the future .” A faint smile played on his lips as he looked at his wife, with fondness in his eyes. She was indeed bold and unyielding. What pleased him most, however, was the impending downfall of Madam. Wei. The fifth branch’s attempt to snatch a piece of the Min Palace’s pie would inevitably stir up Yunjin Courtyard also .
“The fifth branch is easy to deal with,” Du Jingyi concurred. “They are all brainless people, and poisoned by greed. But the third branch is more troublesome. They have both ‘chargers’ and ‘defenders,’ and they cooperate well.” The “chargers” she referred to were, of course, the Third Old Lady and the second son’s wife, the Guan family—both renowned for their sharp tongues, as Du Jingyi had already discovered. However, Du Jingyi was more wary of Sanlang’s wife, who remained silently in the shadows, and Shang Liuniang, who was married out of the household. They were either bullied, like Si Niang, or like dogs that bit without barking. These two were the ones Du Jingyi truly watched.
Shang Ji nodded slightly, agreeing with her assessment. He hadn’t grown up in the Duke’s Mansion and knew little of these relatives. As Du Jingyi said, even a fool in a profession must have a clever person at the helm. They could not be underestimated.
After speaking, Du Jingyi fell silent. Shang Ji, by now familiar with his wife’s habits, knew this meant she was likely concocting a new scheme. “Trouble is coming. Have you figured out how to deal with it?”
“We are family so we naturally help,” Du Jingyi replied, a cunning glint of realization in her eyes. “Otherwise, how will we see them climb high only to fall hard?” For a moment, Shang Ji felt he hadn’t married a wife, but a cunning fox, one who simply disliked moving unnecessarily. Seeing her preparedness, Shang Ji’s worries subsided.
“Tomorrow, I’ll return to the military camp for training. If they can’t find me, they’ll naturally come to bother you. I’ll leave a team of personal guards and spies with you. If anything urgent arises, just ask Liu Xun to deliver the message to me .”
With two soft thuds, a black shadow materialized, kneeling respectfully on one knee, radiating absolute loyalty. This was Liu Xun, Shang Ji’s chief spy from the Cezhou army, normally tasked with intricate intelligence on the enemy nation, Dajin. Now that he had returned to Sui’an City with Shang Ji, his duties were less demanding, and he had been ordered to protect Du Jingyi. Though Du Jingyi had never seen the spy master’s face, she sensed his formidable presence. She smiled and said, “Mr. Liu is here to help me with family matters? He’s quite overqualified.”
“Young Madam is too kind. Your subordinates will certainly do their best.” At this moment, Liu Xun’s impression of Du Jingyi was simply that she was the General’s wife. Whatever the General commanded, he would execute. Du Jingyi understood this and said little else, merely treating her “uncontrollable subordinates” with courtesy. With their introduction complete and faces recognized, Shang Ji felt significantly relieved.
“Go.”
“Yes.” Liu Xun stepped aside and vanished. Soon, a low, magnetic voice reached Du Jingyi’s ear. “Liu Xun’s martial arts are impressive. I recall there’s a maid beside you who is also quite strong. But for true protection, I’m afraid it’s not enough. When she has time, let her learn more martial arts from Liu Xun.”
“to learn ? Is the General speaking of Li Zhu?”
“Mm.”