Chapter 893

The Marquis’s mansion, Daiyu’s courtyard.

The bedroom was soft and fragrant, the incense burner exhaling sweet smoke, the charcoal fire glowing faintly red; Zi Juan lay on the side couch, wrapped in brocade quilts, her lovely face flushed, sleeping soundly.

Her left arm extended beyond the covers, the purple floral nightgown pulled up slightly, revealing a smooth, snow-white arm, adorned with a twisted silver bracelet at the wrist.

Outside the window, darkness reigned; only far to the east did a faint streak of dawn glow, weak and dim, still hours away from lighting the sky.

A slender hand emerged from the embroidered bed, skin like snow, fingers luminous; against the room’s darkness, it gleamed like jade, elegant and exquisite beyond words.

The bed curtains had just been drawn back when Zi Juan awoke on the side couch and said, “Miss, it’s not even dawn yet—why not sleep a little longer?”

Daiyu rubbed her eyes and replied, “I lay down before Hai Shi last night, but my shoulders ached and I couldn’t sleep again, so I might as well rise early.”

Zi Juan laughed, “You only lay down early last night, but you tossed and turned for ages, wriggling for half an hour before falling asleep—hardly overslept.”

Zi Juan lifted the emerald embroidered bed curtains, hooking them on the old copper rods, and saw Daiyu already sitting up, her hair tousled, her eyes bright as stars.

She wore a pale moon-white embroidered night robe with a crossed collar, the front slightly loose, revealing a flawless, luminous expanse of chest and neck, radiating a languid grace, heartbreakingly lovely.

Zi Juan sat beside the couch and tenderly placed her hands on Daiyu’s shoulders, massaging gently.

She tilted her head and smiled, “Miss, isn’t it because Third Young Master has left that the garden feels so quiet? You’re feeling uneasy, aren’t you?”

Daiyu laughed, “You’re always too talkative—I’m not uneasy at all. Third Brother’s campaign won’t last just ten or fifteen days.”

“He’s only been gone two days—he’s barely arrived there yet. It’s just today is the Lantern Festival, and with him missing, the household feels dull, that’s all.”

…

After Zi Juan rubbed her shoulders for a while, Daiyu felt relief, threw back the quilts, and rose from bed; Zi Juan hurried to fetch a coat and draped it over her.

The two went behind the screen for a moment; Daiyu shed her night robe and emerged wearing a white silk jacket edged with peach-pink trim, paired with a green pleated skirt.

She sat before the dressing table and said, “Today I should rise early. Though both mansions have cut back on opera, wine, and feasts due to Third Brother’s departure,”

“the Lantern Festival won’t be quieter than last year. Everyone knows Third Brother is a military talent—last time he marched to Liaodong, the pomp was immense.”

“Now he’s heading north to campaign against the Mongols, countless eyes are watching. Today, visitors to both mansions will surely be numerous.”

“Third Sister will be summoned to the Western Mansion; Yun Sister won’t be spared either—they’ll both have to entertain the elder female relatives.”

“I should rise early too, pay my respects to Grandmother, then hurry back to help Second Sister with preparations.”

Zi Juan, seeing Daiyu speak seriously, couldn’t help bursting into laughter.

She said, “Miss, you’re growing ever more virtuous and capable. Though Third Young Master is away, with Second Sister and you managing the household,”

“everything inside and out is handled so meticulously—I always say Third Young Master is the luckiest man alive.”

Daiyu snorted, pinched Zi Juan’s hand, and said, “Third Brother has never treated me poorly—he even had physicians cure my chronic illness.”

“Now that he’s away, helping Second Sister is only natural—why do you need to say so much?”

Zi Juan laughed, “You’re right, Miss. You rise so early to pay respects to Grandmother, then rush back—like you don’t want to stay long in the Western Mansion.”

Zi Juan had served Daiyu for years; though mistress and maid, they were like sisters, deeply attuned—Daiyu needed only half a sentence for Zi Juan to sense her meaning.

She continued, “I know your heart best—is there some reason behind this?”

…

Daiyu smiled, “You’re the cleverest, of course there’s a reason. On the Lantern Festival, all the elder female relatives visit.”

“Grandmother’s kin hold the highest status, her title is noble, and she’s of advanced age—so naturally, the most relatives come to call.”

“This year is different from before—Second Branch just welcomed a new bride. Yesterday I heard the Lady and daughter of the Xia family came to pay their respects to Grandmother.”

“When they come calling, Second Aunt and Baoyu will surely come too. You know Baoyu’s nature—now that Third Brother isn’t home,”

“Baoyu, lacking restraint, will once again feel tempted to show off.”

“He might start babbling nonsense again, performing for all these ladies.”

“If I meet him and he says something foolish in front of the Xia ladies, it’ll be far too embarrassing.”

“I won’t go near that bad luck—I’d rather stay in the Eastern Mansion and do as we please—it’s far more relaxing.”

“With Third Brother away, there’ll be no male guests visiting the Eastern Mansion—only female relatives and companions of his classmates and colleagues.”

“Like the wife of Minister Chen of the Ministry of Revenue, or Miss Cai of Scholar Cai’s household—they’ll likely come, and they’re cultured and refined; their idle chatter about women’s affairs is truly delightful.”

…

Zi Juan laughed, “Miss, you’re truly a female Zhuge Liang—you’ve planned everything perfectly, won’t suffer the slightest loss, so sharp and clever.”

“Miss, I once heard from the elders that before marriage, too much contact between men and women breaks the feng shui—so why is Miss Xia coming again?”

Daiyu replied offhandedly, “Baoyu and Miss Xia marry in March; it’s only January now. After the Lantern Festival rituals, they can avoid each other.”

“Besides, how to avoid each other is best left to Grandmother and Second Aunt—they know the rules best; it’s none of our concern.”

After Zi Juan finished dressing Daiyu, she sent a young maid to fetch breakfast, served Daiyu her meal, then a maid from Yingchun arrived to summon her.

The sisters gathered separately, chatting and laughing, then went to the Western Mansion to pay respects to Jia Mu.

By the time they entered Rongqing Hall, the sky had just brightened fully.

After chatting with Jia Mu for a while, Xue Yima and Baochai arrived, making the hall even livelier.

Then Lin Zhixiao’s wife drew back the curtain and entered, saying, “Grandmother, Lady Shi of the Shi family has arrived and has just passed through the second gate.”

Jia Mu was slightly puzzled—on past Lantern Festivals, her nephew and his wife always came to pay respects; why only one today?

…

Jia Mu sent Xiangyun to greet her aunt; shortly after, Lady Li of the Zhongjing Marquis entered the hall, smiling and exchanging pleasantries with Jia Mu.

Jia Mu asked, “You’re here early today—the sky’s barely brightened. Why didn’t Xiangyun’s Second Uncle come?”

Lady Li of the Zhongjing Marquis replied, “On the Lantern Festival, my lord must come to pay respects to Auntie.”

“But last night, the army suddenly sent word that Third Young Master Jia Cong’s trusted personal guard had come overnight to see my lord.”

“The city gates were closed, but the guard showed his token and Jia Cong’s personal letter, so they opened the gates in the middle of the night.”

“After reading the letter, my lord’s face turned grim—he intended to enter the palace immediately, but the palace gates were locked, so he had to wait until tomorrow.”

“Yet he didn’t rest—he spent the whole night patrolling the Nine Gates, returning home just before dawn.”

“Before he could even attend morning court, the palace sent word summoning him immediately.”

“That’s why he didn’t come to pay respects today.”

…

Yingchun, Daiyu, and the other sisters, upon hearing Jia Cong’s name, all felt a jolt—wasn’t he already leading troops to Tongzhou? Why send a trusted guard back to the city with a message?

Moreover, the Zhongjing Marquis’s reaction to the letter was unusually grave, and he’d been summoned to court so early—it sounded like something major had happened.

Jia Mu asked, “What urgent matter is it? Why did Jia Cong send such an urgent letter to Xiangyun’s Second Uncle?”

Lady Li of the Zhongjing Marquis replied, “A letter sent overnight like this must concern a major military achievement. I’m just a woman—I wouldn’t dare ask further.”

“My lord received the imperial order early this morning and entered the palace—I’ve been anxious ever since.”

“That’s why I came here so early—to inform Auntie, since it concerns Jia Cong.”

Yingchun, Daiyu, and the others, seeing that Lady Li herself didn’t know the details, couldn’t help feeling uneasy…

…

The Great Zhou Imperial Palace, Qianyang Palace, rear hall’s warm chamber.

Zhongjing Marquis Shi Ding entered the warm chamber and saw Emperor Jiazhao poring over memorials, his expression stunned, furious, and grim, radiating an inexplicable aura of killing intent that chilled the bones.

Emperor Jiazhao, seeing Shi Ding enter, said, “I’ve just received Jia Cong’s urgent memorial: his mounted scouts discovered remnants of Mongol troops at Wawu Town.”

“Numbering no fewer than fifteen thousand cavalry, Wawu Town has fallen; the townspeople may have been slaughtered.”

“Jia Cong’s guard arrived in the city last night, but since the palace gates were locked, the direct memorial only reached the palace this morning.”

“Wawu Town is only twenty li from the Divine Capital. A force of this size, composed of elite Mongol remnants, is a dire threat to the capital.”

“That’s why I’ve suspended morning court and summoned you here immediately.”

“I’ve been informed by the palace guards that you patrolled the Nine Gates last night and strengthened the city defenses—did you also receive word?”

Shi Ding bowed solemnly and replied, “Last night, when Jia Cong’s guard entered the city to deliver the memorial, he also delivered a letter to me, detailing the enemy situation.”

“I intended to enter the palace immediately to report, but the gates were locked—I had no way to gain entry.”

“So I spent the night patrolling the Nine Gates and reinforcing defenses, to prevent any surprise.”

“Fortunately, Your Majesty issued an edict yesterday ordering strict wartime precautions, sealing the Nine Gates and reinforcing them with heavy troops—so even if the enemy dares to covet the capital, the city remains secure.”

Emperor Jiazhao exhaled slightly, saying, “At least Jia Cong thought ahead and sent you a letter—if not, the city defenses would have been delayed a full night.”

“With over ten thousand elite Mongol cavalry lurking nearby, the garrison inside the city, caught unprepared, might have faced disaster.”