My Stepmother is Soft and Charming
Chapter 2: The general returns
"The Duke's Mansion has many rules, so one must be cautious. But when the General returns, he will surely take you to pay respects to the Master, and then you can venture out together. Just wait and see, Young Lady."
Ying Tao's words held a hint of promise, but Du Jingyi's face betrayed no longing for her husband's return. Instead, a trace of reluctance flickered in her eyes. After all, who would miss a husband who had merely uttered, "Cezhou is in danger," on their wedding night before vanishing, never to be seen again?
She pushed aside the soft brocade quilt, intending to rise. Ying Tao swiftly helped her into her thin brocade shoes, then settled her onto the kang. Outside the bright window, the lingering autumn rain continued its gentle patter. Du Jingyi walked to the corridor, reaching out to catch a few cool drops—refreshing, yet not as biting as winter's chill.
More than spring, summer, or winter, Du Jingyi cherished autumn. Not for its poetic beauty, but for its bounty. Autumn, to her, was a season of harvest. Melons and fruits ripened, and grains swelled with abundance. Most importantly, it was the time when her dowry, managed with a merchant's keen eye, would experience a surge in growth. As a merchant's daughter, she was true to her roots, valuing profit above all else. While others saw falling leaves and geese migrating south, Du Jingyi envisioned the prosperity of "one grain of millet planted in spring, ten thousand grains harvested in autumn."
A soft smile curved her lips, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Let's go to the backyard and see what we'll have for dinner tonight?"
With that, the —mistress and three maids—walked along the corridor towards the backyard. Her husband, in name only, had brought her a strange mix of awkwardness and unexpected advantages. Take Xitang Courtyard, for instance, their residence. It was spacious and well-situated, boasting a small garden nestled between the front and back yards. For three years, freed from the strictures of the Duke's family, Du Jingyi had meticulously reshaped Xitang Courtyard, giving it an entirely new, vibrant spirit.
Though born a merchant, she possessed exquisite taste. Years spent in Jinling City during her youth, under her parents' tutelage, had imbued her with the subtle elegance and charm of Jiangnan. Transforming Xitang Courtyard had been an effortless endeavor.
The entire courtyard was divided into two sections: a front and a back. Three main rooms, two side rooms, and a row of back rooms for the servants formed the main living area. Behind the main house lay the backyard, which housed a small martial arts training ground and a garden. The garden, once overgrown with weeds and wild flowers, had been drastically reformed by Du Jingyi. She had brought in famous trees and flowers from the south of the Yangtze, constructing intricate rockeries and stone platforms.[Read More Here]
A pond was dug, filled with smooth pebbles, where water lilies floated and dozens of golden koi, some as large as a palm, others as long as an arm, darted with lively grace, breathing an agile spirit into the garden.
The martial arts training ground had once belonged to her "husband in name only." Despite his absence, Du Jingyi had left it untouched. So, apart from being swept daily, it stood somewhat out of place, a relic of the past, within the vibrant garden.
Beyond the training ground, an open space, formerly covered by an awning and used for storing old odds and ends, now thrived. Du Jingyi, disliking its untidy appearance, had instructed Butler He to find capable young men and women to transform it into neat vegetable plots, where seasonal vegetables grew in lush clusters. Not far from this patch was Xitangyuan's small kitchen, making their yard self-sufficient in fresh greens. Enclosed by dense fences, it was a hidden gem, easily overlooked unless one happened upon it.
After a few turns along the veranda, mistress and servants arrived at the vegetable garden. Danruo, busy preparing Du Jingyi's meal in the small kitchen, saw them and wiped her hands before stepping out. The air after the rain carried a faint scent of earth, and raindrops clung to the vegetable leaves, making them appear even more delicate. Du Jingyi pointed to a hanging eggplant. "That's it!"
"Yes, Young Lady," replied Danruo, her round face and slightly plump figure exuding a harmonious temperament. She radiated an aura of reliability.
Du Jingyi had brought four maids and ahead Momo from the Du family when she married: Ying Tao, Lizhu, Danruo, and Luju. Ying Tao and Lizhu attended to her in the inner room. Danruo managed the small kitchen, while Luju oversaw all the needlework in the courtyard and was currently leading a team in the embroidery room, crafting a new batch of winter clothes for Xitang Courtyard. Momo Cai, also from her parents' family, had become a valuable assistant to Momo Dou, the head of the courtyard staff, and was currently in the front yard, keeping a watchful eye on the people sent by Madam Wei.
Du Jingyi was still pondering dinner plans with Danruo when Momo Cai, who was supposed to be guarding the front, came rushing over, her face alight with joy. "Young Madam, Young Madam... the General is back!"
Du Jingyi was surprised. Hadn't they said he would arrive after two more days? Why so soon? But there was no time to linger. She quickly gave orders. "No need to prepare dinner here. We'll likely dine at Yunjin Courtyard. Instead, have Danruo stew some tonic to clear the lungs and replenish qi. The General must have a dry throat from riding all this way through the dust."
"Yes, Young Lady, don't worry, I'll get to it!"
With instructions given, Du Jingyi hurried back to the main room. After a quick tidying, she stepped out of Xitang Courtyard's gate.
Outside the west city gate, banners fluttered in the breeze. The 400,000 Tiger and Guard troops, who had rushed to aid Cezhou, had begun their journey back two months prior. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, having traveled thousands of miles, finally arrived in Sui'an City in early September. The prince and the civil and military officials, who had been waiting patiently at the city gate, were visibly excited. As they watched the army march in the distance, neat and powerful, their hearts swelled with fervent emotion.
The Daxing Dynasty, barely a few decades old, faced both external threats and internal unrest. Thus, military generals like Shang Ji, with their exceptional achievements, commanded immense respect. [Read More Here]
Both his paternal family, the Shangs, and his maternal family, the Gus, were founding ministers who had followed the ancestors in conquering the world, earning them their enduring family glory. He was now known as the Daxing God of War, even surpassing his master. Wherever his sword pointed, victory was certain.
Shang Ji sat astride his warhorse, Mo Feng, whose coat gleamed like polished oil, appearing like an ink brocade flowing with the wind. Clad in military armor, Shang Ji's gaze was resolute, fixed straight ahead. The thick armor encased his powerful physique, adding to his formidable presence. His eyebrows were sharp, his expression stern. Even without uttering a word, he exuded an intense pressure. Prime Minister Guo, standing beside the prince, wept openly at this sight, stroking the beard on his chin extermly proud .
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