Capture the Jade

Madam Du gently poked Teng Yuyi’s forehead: “What type of crafty idea do you have this time? It is not that you want to let that bug into our home right?”

Teng Yuyi recalled the Duan siblings riding away on their horses, smiled and leaned on Madam Du’s shoulders: “yi mu1yi mu = aunt doesn’t need to worry about this. Anyways, I have my own use for it.” Madam Du was also thinking about the events that happened tonight. With the attitude that Duan Wenyin had when she left, it can be seen that breaking off the marriage will not go so smoothly. Duan Ningyuan is about to be crowned as a heir. At this time, the Duan family would definitely not let Duan Ningyuan be criticized for his behavior.

Although everyone present could understand what had happened tonight, but after all, no one saw the beginning and ending relationship between Duan Ningyuan and Dong Erniang. If the Duan family insisted that everything was all a misunderstanding, but the Teng family insisted on breaking off the marriage, then wouldn’t the fault land on the head of the Teng family again?

Is there a way to let everyone know that it was the Duan family’s fault…

She rubbed her eyebrows, and only hated that she could not think of a good way at the moment. This matter involved Yu’er’s entire life, and she absolutely could not let Yu’er be wronged. Fortunately, brother-in-law is coming back soon, and this matter should be planned out as soon as possible.

Suddenly she remembered something, and said shockingly: “Look at me, just now I was busy listening to your conversation, and forgot to say thank you to the second prince of Chun’an. Tonight, thanks to the help of His highness, the second prince, our family was able to be moved into the Ziyun building so quickly. I heard that Prince Cheng was also sent by his highness, the second prince here. Yu’er, you wait in the carriage, and yi mu will go say thanks in person.”

Teng Yuyi lifted the curtain and looked out: “I’m afraid it is already too late. Yi mu, look.”

In front of the door of the Ziyun Building, a group of carriages and horses drove away all together. In the sound of shouting, countless servants whipped the horses and followed along. Lin Chengyou walked by the side of a young noble in a purple robe and gold crown, and soon they disappeared into the night. That person’s character is very graceful, and slender. One can assume that it was the second prince of Chun’an.

“Forget it.” Madam Du said regretfully, “Your uncle should be here soon. After we meet halfway, I will discuss with your uncle about visiting to pay respects.”

The coachman waved his horsewhip, and the Teng family’s carriage also embarked on the way back to the city.

***

Duan Wenying pulled his reins to stop in front of Duan Ningyuan’s horse, and glared at her younger brother: “What are you trying to do?!”

Duan Ningyuan tugged on the reins, opened his mouth to refute, but in the end, swallowed it back.

Duan Wenyin calmed down and said: “Just now, you have seen everything. Prince Cheng was injured, and this matter will definitely alarm the palace. When you are involved in this matter at this time, are you not afraid of dragging down the reputation of the Duke Zhen mansion?”

“But if she really was to be sentenced to be bludgeoned2bludgeoned = to hit someone hard and repeatedly with a heavy weapon, even if she doesn’t die, she will still lose half of her life.” (beat one repeatedly with a heavy stick or other heavy object, corporal punishment) Duan Ningyuan clenched his teeth, “Although Erniang did do something wrong, but it was all for saving her mother. Sister, I don’t want to help her get away from the crime, but to tell me to ignore it, forgive me for not being able to do so!”

“That’s her own fault!” Duan Wenyin waved her horse whip and ferociously threw it to the ground, “Ningyuan, you have always been very smart since you were young, but for the sake of a Dong Erniang, you have become so muddled! Since she has had a tryst3tryst = a meeting between two people who are having a romantic relationship, especially a secret one with you, she must have heard of the relationship between the Duan and Teng family. She was clearly awake behind the curtain, but still allowed you to blame Teng Yuyi. If you carefully think about it, is she really a good person?”

Duan Ningyuan choked.

Duan Wenyin repeatedly sneered: “She is eager for you and Teng Yuyi to break off the marriage.”

“Sister!”

“Her father, Dong Mingfu, was debriefed for the election this year, and was evaluated as a “lowly middle” by the Ministry of Personnel. Not only was he not able to be promoted, I’m afraid that he will be appointed to a post outside the capital, and presumably you also know that Dong Mingfu had once fiercely offended Zheng Pushe. Now that Zheng Pushe is the prime minister, the hard life of the Dong family has just started. I heard that the Dong Family are not willing to set up a marriage for Dong Erniang, just because they want to find a high-leveled son-in-law who can help them.”

Duan Ningyuan’s complexion became more and more ugly: “Sister, even if you don’t like her, you don’t have to think of her as so unbearable.”

Duan Wenying coldly snorted. If she had expected that her younger brother would have sinked in this deeply, she should have been more ruthless in the first place.

Although she had married early to Luoyang4Luoyang = name of a city, meaning she has married off and moved to Luoyang, not the name of her husband, she could often hear people talk about the daughter of Dong Mingfu in Wannian County. The Dong family , this two thousand gold5two thousand gold = honorable daughter is exceptional at poetry and playing the guqin, and is a famous talented woman in Chang’an city.

Her younger brother has served in the army in Longyou Dao for three years. After returning, he met Dong Erniang at the Lantern Festival. The young man and woman fell in love at the very beginning. The feeling of love is usually only there a split second. Secretly for most of the year, her younger brother has already had deep affection for Dong Erniang.

She unexpectedly knew of this matter, and in a moment of anger, she forced her younger brother to distance himself from Dong Erniang. How could she allow her younger brother to be confused by Dong Erniang, and to even have the idea of wanting to break off the marriage.

Duan Wenyin was bitter and fierce: “Tonight, I should not have been soft-hearted on promising you that I would take Dong Erniang into the Ziyun building. I only thought that her life was in danger. How could I have known that she had other intentions?”

“Let me ask you, her mother is in urgent need of Liuyuan Dan, yet why did she not just ask you for help? Our father can be considered a person that can speak in front of the King6This means that he has the position and power to do this. If you made up your mind to help her get Liuyuan Dan, it may just be possible. Dong Erniang did not come to find you, but instead used this excuse to go find Prince Cheng over and over again. Have you carefully thought about the reason for this?”

Duan Ningyuan’s complexion changed in a split second. Duan Wenyin smiled mockingly: “You and Yu’er have been engaged since childhood, and it is extremely difficult to break off the marriage. The status of Prince Cheng is honorable and respectable, and so far, there has not been any discussion about marriage. Dong Erniang has high standards. How could she have no other intentions in mind? If it weren’t for the fact that the prince dislikes her a lot, Dong Erniang may not have instigated you and Yu’er’s marriage tonight. Hmph, I have seen a lot of these young ladies who have many twists and turns7twists and turns = complicated and cunning.” (complicated and cunning)

Duan Ningyuan squeezed out a sentence between his teeth: “She is not this kind of person.”

“She is not this kind of person? Her father and elder brother are not around tonight. She clearly knows that medicine is not easy to get. Why did she do this alone? You insist on saving her, yet you don’t even know what she is thinking in her heart!”

Duan Ningyuan’s face turned pale, and suddenly shaked the reins. Duan Wenyin was startled: “What are you trying to do?”

“Going to Jingzhao mansion, there are some questions that I have to ask clearly in person.”

“What if she still lies to you?” Duan Wenyin sneered.

Duan Ningyuan was silent: “I have my own way to make her tell the truth!”

“Stop right there! The Teng family have made up their minds on withdrawing from the marriage, and now are unable to find any evidence that you and Dong Erniang had an affair. You go find Dong Erniang at this time, and just by chance, what if someone finds out about something. No one will be able to stop the Teng family. At that time, everyone will know that you are responsible first, and everyone will criticize you behind your back. Even if you want clear answers, why don’t you wait till after the Teng family dispels the idea of breaking off the marriage?”

Duan Ningyaun stiffly held the reins tightly. Even if he did not care about himself, it was also necessary to take into consideration the reputation of Duke Zhen’s mansion.

“Forget about this Dong Erniang. Before, you have said that you do not like the daughter of a general, but tonight, you have also seen Yu’er. Although her face was covered, in terms of her physique and bearing, which bit of her is not better than Dong Erniang? I have seen her appearance, and she really is a one of a kind beauty in a hundred.”

Duan Ningyuan was impatient hearing this: “Sister, the matter with Erniang can not wait any longer. If I really were to wait until she is bludgeoned, even if she is not disabled, she will be injured for half a year. While she still has not yet been convicted, I must go there tonight. The magistrate is not in the city, and recently it happened to be Meng Fanzhong on duty.”

Duan Wenying was stunned. To have inquired everything so clearly, it can be seen that there were arrangements made in advance.

She thought hatefully. Her younger brother has his foot deep in mud right now8deep in trouble, and urgently needs a dose of medicine9needs something to wake him up from being muddled or confused. Dong Erniang has made such a fuss, and it might be a good thing. When her younger brother clearly sees what type of person Dong Erniang is, she can use this as a perfect opportunity to completely break off their relationship.

Duan Wenying heavily signed: “Forget it, since you insist on going, I can not stop you. It’s just that when you go, you must be careful, and you must not give someone a hold on yourself. After tonight, you must forget about this Dong Erniang. Take your heart back, and patiently wait for the marriage with Yu’er.”

Duan Ningyuan did not reply, and was at the heart of a struggle. He must think of a perfect method to temporarily cope with this situation. He has repeatedly deduced in his mind, and finally made up his mind: “Don’t worry, Dong Erniang and I will not ‘meet’, and others won’t know that I came to look for her. This matter will also not leak out. How could I give someone a hold of myself? Sister, you should go back to the mansion first. I will return soon after I go.”

***

The Teng family’s carriage did not go too far when they directly met the father and son of the Du family.

After meeting face to face for a while, the coachman took the lead in holding the reins: “My Lord, eldest master.”

The father and son each rode a horse, and in a rush to get here, they were drenched in sweat as if it had rained. Du Yuzhi’s riding skills were not good, so when he dismounted, his body swayed a little.

Teng Yuyi and Madam Du lifted the curtain to confirm with a glance, and hurriedly got out of the carriage. When they got closer, they found that Du Yuzhi’s face was like gold paper. Madam Du hurriedly and anxiously stepped forward to support him: “My Lord does not need to worry. Lan’er has already taken the medicine, and has gotten better.”

Du Yuzhi grabbed Madam Du’s hand, panting and wanting to ask carefully. Du Shaotang rushed to his mother’s side: “mother, where is sister? What exactly happened? Huh, cousin Yu?”

Du Yuzhi calmed down and astonishingly asked: “Yu’er, why are you with your sister and yi mu? Didn’t you say in your letter that you would be in Chang’an in two days? By that way, where is Lan’er right now? Quickly let me take a look.”

Teng Yuyi replied to the urgent words: “Sister is in the carriage right now, and she had just taken the medicine. It is no longer a serious problem now.”

Du Yuzhi was restless, and needed to get on the carriage to take a look for himself in order to be reassured. Madam Du followed him into the carriage, and roughly explained tonight’s incident. She grasped her daughter’s hand in disappointment: “It is considered lucky among all the misfortunes. To have met such a big evil spirit, yet one could still live. Tomorrow, the little Taoist priest from Qingyun Temple will come to our doorstep to visit. It is reckoned that after recuperating for a little bit, she will be fine. My Lord, look. Lan’er’s complexion is getting better and better.”

Du Shaotang crammed in behind them, and silently looked, with faint tears in his eyes.

Teng Yuyi looked at her biao di10biao di = younger male cousin. He was less than eleven years old, and at the age of being sensible, he was tall enough, but was just too narrow and thin. His appearance seemed to be no different than his mother and sister. With white skin and bright eyes, he was born with a delicate and pretty oval face. If it were not for the fact that his hair was tied up, one would mistaken him for a young lady at first glance.

When Du Shaotang was a child, he would always follow behind her and biao jie. If they played on the swing, he would also play on the swing. When they fought for daylilies, he would carry a colorful basket to pick the flowers for them.

After being severely beaten by uncle a few times, Du Shaotang did not dare to get tired hanging around in the residence. Later on, he entered the Imperial Academy11Imperial Academy = the highest educational body in imperial China to study. He was consistently good at studying, but it’s just that his temperament was not upright and outspoken enough, and tends to easily cry when things happen.

I remembered that once uncle sighed in regret. It would be good if both siblings could be switched around. The daughter’s temperament was simple and calm, but was naturally very confident. The son’s temperament is slow-moving and soft; therefore, one does not know when he will be able to be independent and support himself.

However, yi mu said: “Whose family’s young master was born to be able to raise the heavens and support the oceans?12metaphor for great ability and strength. In the future, when he is older, he will go out with you, and gain more experience. With more and more experience, it will be fine.”

In the previous life when biao jie was murdered, yi mu also fell ill. Teng Yuyi and Du Shaotang were undressed13“undressing” means that you can’t “undress” because of overworking and being busy, idiom. They were boiling soup and preparing medicine under the corridor everyday.

Because Teng Yuyi wanted to investigate her biao jie’s murderer, she was secretly busy and on the move constantly. However, Du Shaotang was different, and having lost the protection of his mother and sister, he was just like a branch that had lost its vine. He could not make up anything in his mind, and only knew how to bathe his face with tears.

Thank you for reading! lol I just realized how many footnotes there are for this chapter