Chapter 8: All Living Things

When seeing Shang Ji and his wife enter the house.

Duke Shang still had some moving tears in his eyes.

However, he didn't know how to talk to his son.

After all, in front of him, as a father, he had never been very tough.

So he just suppressed his emotions and said with a little excitement.

"I'm here."

Shang Ji nodded and simply said "um".

Then he clasped his fists and said.

"Father, good morning."

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 bear it.

After all, it was not only the young master of the Duke's Mansion who came back this time, but also the Daxing God of War who had gained face in front of the emperor.

Just now, the title of the general of the cavalry was used.

They knew this better than anyone else.

The woman sitting next to Duke Shang also knew it in her heart.

Now, it was Mrs. Wei, the second wife who was in charge of the Duke's Mansion.

She is only one year younger than Duke Shang, but she looks a little younger than him.

It can be seen that she takes good care of herself on weekdays.

She is obviously over 50 years old, but she doesn't look old at all.

She wears a dark red brocade jacket with ruyi patterns, which adds a bit of grace to her.

Her face is gentle and kind, just like the Bodhisattva worshipped in the temple, with kind eyes.

Du Jingyi is not her husband Shang Ji.

With the reputation of a great general, she can do whatever she wants.

She is still a woman who makes a living in the backyard.

Although she and Madam Wei have conflicts in secret, they must get along well in public.

So, she raised a decent smile and followed the etiquette.

Half squatting, she said to Duke Shang and his wife.

"Daughter-in-law Du Jingyi greets father-in-law and Madam Wei."

Since she entered the mansion, she has not called Madam Wei mother-in-law.

This made Shang Ji, who was standing by, feel a lot more comfortable.

When he looked at Madam Wei again, there was a hint of sarcasm in his eyes.

Madam Wei was able to be promoted from a concubine to a wife.

Naturally, she was not a simple character.

Because, even when he heard the three words "Madam Wei".

He did not feel that he was slapped in the face, but said kindly and politely.

"Okay, good boy, get up quickly, we are a family and we are not formal."

"Thank you, Madam Wei."

It was just two sentences, but others felt some gunpowder smell between you and me.

However, the protagonist today is not Du Jingyi.

Therefore, Madam Wei's fire will not be aimed at her.

She explained the next second.

"I thought Liu Lang would arrive in Sui'an City in two days, so the family was still busy. Who knew that we suddenly received an imperial edict yesterday, and the master and I hurried into the palace to eat the welcoming banquet. When we came back, it was too late, so we didn't tell the elders and relatives."

While speaking, she cast a somewhat apologetic look at the elders beside her.

Seeing her like this, the three and five wives, who were originally a little weak, straightened their backs again.

Sitting on the left side below the Duke and his wife were the three and five old masters of the Shang family who had been living in the Duke's Mansion with their families.

One was as thin as a Taoist priest who cultivated immortals, and the other was as bloated as a fat pig waiting to be slaughtered.

They were all over seventy years old.

But after years of wealth and prosperity, there was no turbidity in their eyes.

Sitting next to them were their respective families.

The third and fifth old ladies.

Their figures were the opposite of their husbands.

The third old lady was plump and full of flesh.

The fifth old lady was thin and weak, and her eyes were full of calculations.

They were not kind people at first glance.

As soon as he entered the door, Shang Ji couldn't help but look at the third old lady with a golden hairpin.

She was really too dazzling, and it was hard not to pay attention to her.

In addition, it was she who just spoke rudely.

Therefore, when Shang Ji's cold eyes glanced over here, she couldn't help but shrink her neck.

She looked even fatter and stupider.

The back that had just straightened up softened a lot.

However, the oldest third old master came out and laughed and said.

"Family members can't say two different things. This Liu Lang has received such a great favor, so naturally he has to go to the palace to pay homage to the emperor first. We old bones are not allowed to use it, and it's the same today."

Although the words were polite.

But Du Jingyi didn't mean it.

It was as if she was saying that her husband didn't know etiquette.

He should have gone to Beiyuan to meet the elders last night.

But now he made them wait in Yunjin Courtyard for so long.

She even emphasized "old bones".

Isn't it just to put the hat of disrespecting elders on Shang Ji's head?

It's really ridiculous.

For these termites who are used to sucking blood from others.

Du Jingyi looked down on them in her heart.

But Shang Ji was standing next to her, so she acted calm and humble.

It's a pity that the third old master's behavior didn't fall into Shang Ji's eyes.

He didn't even give him a glance.

It was obvious that he didn't want to talk.

Seeing that she had lost face, the third old lady was a little unhappy.

She was about to say a few words to teach the younger generation a lesson.

Then Shang Ji spoke first.

He just looked at Duke Shang who was sitting on the throne and said.

"The military situation was urgent that day, and my son left Beijing in a hurry. He was unable to complete the ceremony of serving tea with his new wife and returning home. So today I specially brought my wife here to serve tea to my father to complete the etiquette."

Not much, but the meaning is clear.

This is to pave the way for Du Jingyi in the backyard.

Although the two have not yet consummated their marriage, they have been husband and wife for three years.

It is not a deep love, but it is not difficult to treat each other with respect.

Giving Du Jingyi face is also giving himself face.

So after saying this, he glanced at the people following behind.

Du Jingyi was stunned at the sudden protection of her husband.

At first, she straightened her posture.

The maid Yingtao brought a red lacquer tray from somewhere.

There were two cups of hot tea in it.

Seeing this, Mrs. Wei's face turned a little red.

When she was at home before, Shang Ji never looked at her straight.

Now that he has married a wife, he remembers the rules.

She still cares about being able to drink the general's wife's mother-in-law tea.

So the corners of her mouth rose a lot.

And Shang Guogong, who was standing next to him, obviously didn't expect his son to do this.

Seeing that he looked more and more like his father-in-law, Marshal Gu, he was very sad.

"Okay, I've been waiting for this bride's tea for a long time."

After saying that, he looked at Du Jingyi with a loving face.

He didn't care much about family background.

She hasn't been sick for three years since she entered the family.

The rumors that his son was "unlucky" were quelled.

Shang Guogong was very satisfied with Du Jingyi.

So when Du Jingyi knelt and said "Dad, have some tea", he took it readily.

Then he thought about it and said.