Chapter 43: Top Scholar’s Wife
Facing the birthday celebrant to offer birthday wishes is limited to close relatives. For an outsider guest like the Top Scholar’s Wife, simply performing a courtesy at the banquet is sufficient.
Along the way, many people cast curious glances at her.
After all, the wife of a top scholar from the countryside dares to show her face in such a place, clearly a laughingstock in the eyes of these so-called noblewomen from high families.
But unexpectedly, this lady moved with dignified and elegant steps, her demeanor composed among the crowd of noblewomen from high families. Upon closer inspection of her appearance, she was one in a million, so those who came to laugh could no longer laugh. Instead, there arose waves of whispering.
This was exactly the effect Yue Tang wanted.
She stopped and said to the female relative leading the way, “I’m a country bumpkin and don’t know many rules. Is there a remote and quiet place where I can sit?”
The Du Family wanted to win over Xu He and had to fawn accordingly, but they secretly hated this top scholar’s lady who jumped out halfway with itching teeth.
If it weren’t for being busy today, the Du Family members would have long wanted to drag her out and publicly humiliate her.
But now that she wanted to avoid the crowd, that was fine.
Today’s grand banquet was the first legitimate major event openly hosted by the Du Family since taking power in the Imperial City Department. If she were provoked into making a scene, it would be a buzzkill.
She forced a smile: “Of course there is. Lady, follow me.”
This young wife then led Yue Tang and Lan Qin to a small building at the corner of the garden, arranged for tea and snacks to be served, left a little maidservant waiting at the doorway, and then left.
Lan Qin unfolded from her sleeve the layout map of the Marquis’s Mansion that Wei Zhang had obtained, as well as the map of the sentry points in the Marquis’s Mansion study that Zhang Shaode had drawn that night.
She said in a low voice: “From the positions, although going to the study from here is separated by this garden, because it’s secluded and almost all the Du Family people have gone to the front to await orders today, it’s actually convenient to act.”
Wei Zhang had already scouted the Du Family earlier, and the route was familiar. When checking last night, sure enough, the Du Family’s defense had doubled compared to before.
But Wei Zhang had already set up some ambushes in secret. After splitting paths from the outer courtyard earlier, they had infiltrated the perimeter of this garden, waiting only for Yue Tang to spot the opportunity. Once summoned, they would cooperate in action and draw away those hidden sentries.
Yue Tang looked at the map and figured that a round trip would take at least two quarters of an hour, plus time to search, no less than a while.
What if someone from outside the door came in—
She glanced at the little maidservant outside the door and said to Lan Qin, “Call that maidservant in.”
Lan Qin nodded.
After the maidservant came in, Yue Tang propped one foot on the chair and eyed her sideways: “Go pour a cup of tea.”
The maidservant couldn’t hide the disgust in her eyes and turned to go.
Yue Tang took the tea, saw her reach the doorway, and said again: “Go get some fruit.”
The maidservant’s face already looked very unpleasant. But she still went.
On the third time, just as she stood steady, Yue Tang had her fetch a footrest. The maidservant didn’t move.
Later, when called in again to massage legs, the maidservant ran far away directly, saying she wouldn’t come back even for money.
The opportunity had arrived. Yue Tang gave Lan Qin a look, quickly stripped off her outer clothes, and leaped out the back window in a neat and low-key outfit.
Du Minghuan’s study was cleverly located.
This small courtyard was tight against the main courtyard on the west side, adjacent to Du Yu’s courtyard on the east side, connected to the front courtyard on the south, and faced the lotus pond on the north.
Thus, there was no risk of eavesdroppers on the east and west sides, the north couldn’t be crossed, and the door leading to the main courtyard was perfect for receiving visitors to sit and talk.
At this moment, the courtyard was quiet as night, with only occasional guests passing by on the garden side.
After leaping into the trees by the lotus pond, Yue Tang whistled.
Then she looked up and around, seeing Wei Zhang under the eaves opposite gesturing to her, pointing to her left front.
Knowing he had torn an opening in the defense deployment there, she immediately leaped onto the rafters, then into the study!
Just as her feet landed, voices came from outside the door: “Don’t let Xu He play tricks. The Marquis said that today, this adopted son position, he will take it whether he wants to or not!”
It sounded like Du Minghuan’s close attendant.
Yue Tang hid under the curtain, holding her breath.
Glancing around, the study did have an inner room, but the room itself was small, and turning around revealed everything.
Eyeing that people were already under the door, about to push it open while talking.
She turned toward the path and planned to retreat first.
At that moment, someone else came running, urgently shouting: “Quick to the front courtyard! Quick! Prince Jingyang has arrived! The Marquis wants us to go to the front courtyard immediately to prepare for the welcome!”
The hand pressing on the door withdrew.
Yue Tang’s foot, extended forward, also retracted!
Prince Jingyang had come?
This was absolutely not good news.
With his arrival, the Du Family’s defenses would inevitably strengthen even more!
“Princess!” Wei Zhang also came in, clearly having heard the earlier commotion.
Without waiting for him to speak, Yue Tang waved her hand: “Quickly search!”
……
Prince Jingyang’s imperial guard already had quite the pomp, and Yan Bei had Gao An add extra men, making the momentum and procession so grand that it stirred up half the city as soon as it set out.
Upon arriving at the Marquis of Guangling’s Mansion, the entire alley was surrounded airtight by mansion soldiers.
No one in the entire Marquis of Guangling’s Mansion had expected him to come. After all, counting back three years, the number of times he had set foot in the Marquis’s Mansion could be counted on one hand. Last time Du Minghuan had specially asked Gao An, who said he wouldn’t come. So what wind was blowing this time?
Regardless, this was a huge joyous event!
The scale of today’s birthday banquet was instantly elevated several levels.
Not only did the Du Family father and son rush out first to welcome him, but even their birthday celebrant old madam came out to the doorway.
Yan Bei was dressed properly today, in a purple-based narrow-sleeved robe with gold trim, a jade belt at his waist with a goldfish pouch, and a gold coronet on his head.
Though a man with a child, his face was groomed very cleanly, three parts more steady than in his youth, yet retaining three parts of roguishness compared to his younger days.
After descending the carriage, A Li, whom he held by the hand, was also dressed in a purple-based small heir apparent outfit with gold embroidery, with two little tufts combed in his hair, right hand held by his father, left hand clutching his inseparable rush-woven little duck.
Though this child wasn’t the white and chubby type of wealthy young master commonly seen, his delicate features resembled his father’s, and being slim only made them more refined.
Yan Bei usually appeared most often at the Imperial Court and the Bureau of Military Affairs, rarely showing himself in public. The guests at the Du Family today, those below fourth rank, almost had no fortune to see him, let alone the female relatives present.
With the father and son making their entrance, it was practically blinding the eyes of everyone in the room!
But the Du Family father and son feared displeasing this living Buddha. After Yan Bei finished the courtesies before the birthday celebrant, they quickly ushered the father and son into the specially cleared open pavilion in the small garden, isolating them from most of the astonished gazes.
Yan Bei held A Li on his lap and said, “A Li hasn’t seen so many people. I’ll take him here to settle first. You go ahead with your business, come back later.”
The Marquis of Guangling originally planned to stay by his side without leaving, but hearing this, could only obey.
As soon as Yan Bei saw him walk away, he immediately set down A Li and instructed Cui Xun: “Dismiss some of the men brought to scout around and check today’s guests.
“Also arrange people to check Du Minghuan’s study.
“Once arranged, let the Du Family father and son come in to keep company.”
