Shang Siniang, in her mid-twenties and already married once , possessed a charm distinct from younger maidens. Her serene demeanor, however, masked a heart that had grown cold. Though Shang Liuniang’s words piqued everyone’s interest, igniting renewed hope in the second wife and third old lady, no one truly listened to Shang Siniang. Her recently kindled hope flickered and died, leaving her soul in a state of stagnant calm. And as her opinions dismissed, the family plunged into a fervent discussion, plotting Shang Siniang’s entry into the Min Palace as a concubine.
Meanwhile, this news reached Du Jingyi’s dowry Estate (Zuangzhi) half a day later. Du Jingyi, who was in a world away from the turmoil, laughed and chatted with her family. Upon leaving the Duke’s Mansion, she had dispatched Liu Xunbing with two messages: one for her husband, Shang Ji, and the other inviting her family for a reunion here. After much deliberation, she decided to steer clear of the family drama, fearing it would upset her sister. Instead, she extended an invitation for them to stay at Zhuangzi for a few days, relishing in their harmonious family time. Away from the Duke’s Mansion’s vexations, Du Jingyi found herself lost in playful abandon, as if transported back to her carefree days before marriage.
However, Shang Ji, seemingly sensing her wandering thoughts, arrived on horseback on the third night of her stay there .his Zhuangzi, though smaller than Dongyuan courtyard, offered a peaceful sanctuary where everyone slept undisturbed. That is why this sudden visit surprised Du Jingyi so much as she saw her , husband under the moonlight, so she asked directly, “Why is the general here?”
Shang Ji, baffled by the question, responded, “You sent Liu Xun to me, didn’t you? Didn’t you ask me not to return to the Duke’s Mansion and to find you here at Zhuangzi?” Du Jingyi was momentarily speechless by his words . She hadn’t intended for him to rush over, but merely wanted him to avoid the Duke’s Mansion during this tumultuous period. Yet, with him standing before her, she couldn’t turn him away, so she asked Yingying to fetch water for him to wash up , and soon, they settled down together.
Shang Ji, weary from his journey, was more concerned about Du Jingyi’s presence at Zhuangzi than anything else . “Is Madam. Wei giving you a hard time in the mansion?” he asked.
“Not at all,” she replied. “She promised the fifth branch saying she’d convice me to help them to stand up for Qiniang . After I got this news, I left early, feigning an inspection of Zhuangzi. Now the fifth branch has no one to turn to, so they’re bothering Madam Wei in return.”
“Serves her right!” Shang Ji scoffed. “If you spend all day setting traps for others, you’ll eventually reap what you sow.”
“It’s easy to guess what Madam Wei is thinking,” Du Jingyi mused. “What I didn’t expect was how vicious the sixth lady in the third branch could be.”
“How so?”
“She told everyone in the third branch that Prince Min’s Palace wants an official concubine, not a tongfang (a lowly maid without name or status just used for extinguishing the lust of there master). So now they’re all trying to find ways to send Si Niang into King Min’s Palace.” Shang Liuniang’s willingness to deceive her family, especially at the expense of her own sister’s well-being, genuinely shocked Du Jingyi. She couldn’t tell if this was her innate cruelty or if she had been unduly influenced by her environment.
Shang Ji, surprised by Du Jingyi’s revelation, now found it less strange upon reflection. “Third branch’s elders are shameless people; how can we expect them to raise good children?”
Du Jingyi concurred. “The environment greatly impacts a person.” This incident further solidified Du Jingyi’s belief that if a dog could bite without barking, then this third branch Liu Niang was truly formidable. She then said to Shang Ji, “General, is there any way to find out what’s happening in King Min’s Mansion? I feel something is amiss here . Why is Liu Niang so fixated on sending Si Niang into the mansion? And the people in king Min’s Mansion aren’t fools either , are they? Will they not notice her intentions?”
“If they merely wanted a concubine, why mobilize so many people? They could simply buy two docile and beautiful ones from a slave trader , but they want to choose them from the Duke’s Mansion?” Du Jingyi voiced her suspicions, and Shang Ji agreed to it wholeheartedly. Taking a deep breath, he declared, “I will order people to investigate this matter. You can leave this to me.”
“Good,” she replied.
After this discussion the tranquility of Zhuangzi returned and it lingered until early the next morning. Shang Ji as usual awoke before dawn, preparing to depart for the millitary camp . As he reached for the inner clothes to change , their soft, delicate feel reminded him of Du Jingyi’s attentiveness for him . They were far more comfortable than his usual attire, and he found himself appreciating the comfort of his wife’s affection every day . No wonder his uncles had often missed their wives after a few days away from them .
The bed, now a battlefield of tangled silks, whispered tales of their passionate night. He had triumphed once more, and this encounter, was even more intoxicating than their first night , and had left Shang Ji breathless. Her initial shyness had dissolved into a captivating responsiveness now , like a dance he had led with eager delight. So he’d indulged, lost in her embrace until her tender gaze, laced with concern, reminded him to rein in his desires. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he recalled his own blissful surrender to her , a private joke that painted a smile on his lips.
Du Jingyi lay sprawled on the bed , utterly spent, her back like a smooth curve exposed to the morning light, a silent testament to her exhaustion from last night. Shang Ji’s eyes lingered on her soft, disheveled hair, then drifted to the tantalizing glimpse of her form beneath the silken quilt. A primal urge stirred within him once again , a powerful yearning to reach out, to reclaim the softness he had just savored. But dawn’s light crept in, signaling the hour to depart . So with a deep, almost painful resolve, he shook his head, a wry, self-deprecating smile playing on his lips. He bent, a feather-light kiss brushing her brow, a silent promise of future nights, before he finally, reluctantly, rose and slipped from the room.
Lizhu, on night vigil, slept more deeply than Yingtao . Yet, the sound of Shang Ji leaving stirred her from her sleep . She slapped her cheeks twice, forcing herself awake, and asked in a hushed voice, “Is the general leaving?”
“Yes. Take good care of the young lady and let her sleep more.” After their marriage’s consummation, Lizhu had become a more perceptive maid. She understood what had transpired last night and replied respectfully, “Yes, My lord.”
In the courtyard, Luo Yuan awaited for his master, standing vibrant as an upright pine, his loyalty unwavering. Seeing Shang Ji emerge, his eyes filled with admiration, a silent affirmation of his choice to follow him. He called out from the depths of his heart, “This slave greets the general.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
After they departed, Lizhu looked up at the sky. Dawn had broken, bringing with it a sense of peace. Du Jingyi, deeply asleep, would have needed another hour of rest had she not been disturbed by the outside commotion. A slight ache in her lower body, coupled with a lingering stickiness, made her face flush and her ears warm. When she finally awoke and realized her husband had left again, Du Jingyi couldn’t help but playfully curse. “You knew you’d have trouble today, but you were still fooling around! Aren’t you afraid the soldiers will laugh at your weak legs?” But even as she chided him, a hint of sweetness lingered in her heart. At least their married life was harmonious.
Just as she pondered this, she heard movement outside.