Chapter 8: All Living Things
When seeing Shang Ji and his wife come in, Duke Shang had tears in his eyes.
However, he didn't know how to talk to his son.
After all, as his father, I had never been very tough in front of him, so I just suppressed my emotions and spoke with a somewhat excited smile.
“Here I come.”
Shang Ji nodded, said a simple "hmm", then clasped his fists and said something.
"Father, An."
As for the others, he didn't even look at them.
Such a cold attitude naturally made many people present unhappy, but they could only endure it.
After all, the one who came back this time was not just the young master of the Duke's Mansion, but also the God of War of Daxing who had won honor in front of the emperor.
When I registered just now, I used the title of General of Cavalry.
They know this better than anyone else.
The one who also knew the situation in her mind was the woman sitting next to Duke Shang.
Now, it is Madam Wei, the second wife, who is in charge of the Duke's Mansion.
She is only one year younger than Duke Shang, but she looks like she is a generation younger than him, which shows that she takes good care of herself.
He is obviously over 50 years old, but he doesn't look old at all.
The dark red brocade jacket embroidered with ruyi patterns made her look more graceful. Her face was gentle and kind, just like the Bodhisattvas enshrined in temples, with benevolent eyes and kind brows.
Du Jingyi is not her husband Shang Ji, who has the reputation of a great general as his shield and can do whatever he wants.
After all, she was still a woman making a living in the rear house. Although she and Madam Wei had conflicts in secret, they could naturally get along well with each other in public.
So, he put on a proper smile, half-knelt down politely, and spoke to Duke Shang and his wife.
"My daughter-in-law Du Jingyi has met my father-in-law and Madam Wei."
Since she entered the mansion, she has never called Madam Wei mother-in-law.
The reason why she was called Mrs. Wei was entirely because she followed what her eldest sister-in-law Liu said.
Shang Ji felt much better after hearing this.
When he looked at Mrs. Wei again, there was a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.
Madam Wei was able to be promoted from a concubine to a wife, so she was naturally not a simple character.
Because, even when she heard the three words "Mrs. Wei", she didn't feel like she was being slapped in the face, but instead spoke in a kind and polite manner.
"Okay, good boy, get up quickly. We are a family and we should be informal."
"Thank you, Mrs. Wei."
It was just two sentences, but others could sense the tension between the two parties.
However, the protagonist today is not Du Jingyi, so Mrs. Wei’s firepower will not be directed at her.
She explained the next second.
"I thought Liu Lang would arrive in Sui'an City in two days, so my family was still busy preparing for him. But yesterday, I suddenly received an imperial decree, so my master and I hurried to the palace to attend the welcoming banquet. When we came back, it was too late, so we didn't tell the elders and relatives."
As he spoke, he cast an apologetic look at the elders beside him.
Seeing her acting like this, the third and fifth wives, who had originally looked a little weak, straightened their backs again.
Sitting to the left of the Duke and his wife were the Third and Fifth Elder Masters of the Shang family, who had been living in the Duke's Mansion with their family.
One is as thin as a Taoist priest cultivating immortality, and the other is as bloated as a fat pig waiting to be slaughtered.
They are all over seventy years old.
But after years of wealth and luxury, there is no sign of cloudiness in his eyes due to aging.
Next to them sat their respective families, the third and fifth old ladies, whose figures were the opposite of their husbands.
The third old lady has a plump figure and a face full of flesh.
The fifth old lady was thin and frail, and her eyes were full of calculations.
It seems like they are not philanthropic people.
As soon as he entered the room, Shang Ji couldn't help but look at the third old lady with a golden hairpin. She was so dazzling that it was hard not to pay attention to her.
In addition, she was the one who had just spoken rudely, so when Shang Ji glanced over here with a cold look, she couldn't help but shrink her neck.
Looks fatter and stupider.
The back that had just straightened up became weak again.
However, the oldest old man, the third old master, came out and laughed and said.
"We are one family and we cannot have different opinions. Liu Lang has received such great favor from the emperor, so he should go to the palace to pay his respects to the emperor first. We old bones are not allowed to use him, and the same applies to today's meeting."
Although the words were polite, Du Jingyi didn't understand what he meant.
It was as if she was saying that her husband was ignorant of etiquette.
There is no mistake in the poem, post, content, and read the book on 6, 9, and bar!
I should have gone to Beiyuan to meet the elders last night, but now I have made them wait in Yunjin Courtyard for so long.
He also specifically emphasized the word "old bones".
Aren't you just trying to accuse Shang Ji of being disrespectful to his elders?
It's really ridiculous.
Du Jingyi looked down upon these parasites who were used to sucking blood from others.
But Shang Ji was standing next to her, so she appeared calm and humble.
It's a pity that Shang Ji didn't like the Third Old Master's behavior and didn't even give him a glance.
"If you feel that you are not valued, please go and keep vigil for grandfather. After all, what you keep talking about is how grandfather treats you like a treasure, and that even at your age, you are still a baby that everyone should coax."
These words are much more unpleasant than what the third old lady said just now.
Even though the Third Old Master wanted to pretend to be a considerate elder, his face looked very grumpy at this moment.
Seeing that her husband had lost face, the third old lady became unhappy and opened her mouth to say a few words to teach the younger generation a lesson.
However, Shang Ji, who had just been arguing with others, spoke first.
He just looked at Duke Shang who was sitting in the upper seat and said.
"The military situation was urgent that day, and my son left the capital in a hurry. He was unable to complete the ceremony of offering tea to his new wife and returning home. So today I specially brought my wife here to offer tea to my father to complete the etiquette."
Not many words, but the meaning is clear.
Although the two have not consummated their marriage yet, to the outside world they have already been husband and wife for three years.
It can't be said to be a deep affection, but it is not difficult to treat each other with respect.
Giving face to Du Jingyi was also giving face to himself, so after saying this, he glanced at the people following him.
Du Jingyi was stunned at first by her husband's sudden protection, and then she straightened her posture.
The maid Cherry brought forward a red lacquer tray from somewhere, with two cups of hot tea on it.
When Mrs. Wei saw this, her face turned a little redder.
When she was at home, Shang Ji never looked at her straight in the eye, but now that he has married, he remembers the rules.
In her heart, she was still very concerned about having the opportunity to taste the general's wife's mother-in-law tea.
It’s not that she should pay more attention to her stepson Shang Ji, but by doing so, her position in the Duke’s Mansion will become more stable.
So the corners of his mouth turned up a lot.
Duke Shang, who was standing by, obviously did not expect his son to do such a thing.
(End of this chapter)