Chapter 468

Accompanied by a series of light footsteps, four figures emerged from behind the rockery.

At this time, the sky had already darkened considerably; light from the lanterns at the eaves seeped through the cracks in the rockery and fell on the four people, illuminating their four distinctly different faces clearly.

The leading person was Lady Yu, with Qin Keqing standing beside her; behind them were two unfamiliar young women, who looked about seventeen or eighteen, following one after the other beside Lady Yu.

The woman in front wore a water-red cross-collared shirt, over which she draped a moon-white embroidered dark-flowered waistcoat; she was graceful and slender, with sloping shoulders and a slim waist, her movements bearing a natural gentleness; her black hair was tied in a simple bun secured with two silver pins, each pin tipped with a tiny plain orchid, with no other adornment.

Her skin was extremely white, her figure plump, she had an oval face, her features soft, her eyebrows were faint distant-mountain brows, her eyes were gentle almond eyes, the corners slightly drooping, giving her a timid, deer-like innocence when she looked at people.

Her lips were thin, her lip color extremely pale, like a peach blossom petal washed in water; at this moment her face seemed to show a hint of surprise as she lifted her gaze to look at the young man not far away.

The other wore a pomegranate-red embroidered waistcoat, beneath which was a dark-green silk-cotton skirt, her waist tied with a bean-green silk cord from which hung a small silver sachet that jingled continuously with her movements, as if she carried a string of tiny bells.

Her crow-black hair was not done up in a proper bun but loosely tied in a disheveled horse-tail bun, at the side of which was slanted inserted a red-gold pearl-tipped hairpin; her brows and eyes were much more intense than the previous woman's, her brows were dark black willow-leaf brows, slanting into the temples, giving her a natural heroic air;

Her eyes were upturned phoenix eyes, pupils dark and bright, her gaze holding no trace of timidity but rather a near wanton curiosity and openness; her nose bridge was high, her lip color a lovely red, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, she stood behind Lady Yu, craning her neck slightly to look at the young man.

Just as the group walked out, Jia Jing and Xue Baichai also stopped talking and turned to look.

Jia Jing frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over the approaching four, and he roughly understood the identities of the two women following Lady Yu.

Who else could they be but Yu Erjie and Yu Sanjie?

These two had often come to Dong Fu to visit their elder sister Lady Yu these past days; although Jia Jing had never met them, he had also heard reports from the Bureau of Martial Affairs, or rather, without his nod they could not enter the Dong Fu gate.

"It's Lady Yu Eldest and Lady Qin!" Baichai stepped forward a few paces, her almond eyes beneath her willow-leaf brows flickering slightly, and she spoke softly.

As a resident relative, Baichai naturally ought to address them more formally; moreover, since Jia Zhen had been expelled from the clan, it would be improper to call her "Eldest Lady Zhen".

Today Lady Yu wore a moon-white cross-collared vest, with only a plain silver hairpin on her head, and no other adornments anywhere, making her appearance even more plain than usual.

At this moment she also happened to look up and see Xue Baichai stepping out from behind Jia Jing, her steps pausing slightly, her beautiful face showing a hint of surprise and astonishment,

her clear, watery eyes froze for a moment, then a flurry of panic rose; she hurriedly lowered her head, walked slowly forward, and performed a respectful bow, her voice tinged with cautious probing:

"I did not know the Duke was here; I have rashly intruded, please forgive me!"

How could a lone man and woman be together at dusk without something going on?

I really underestimated the tactics of this Xue family maiden……

Qin Keqing stood beside Lady Yu, wearing a light-blue embroidered vest, with a goose-yellow sweat towel tied at her waist; her figure was graceful, and the natural flirtatious air between her brows and eyes could not be suppressed.

She likewise stepped forward and performed a graceful bow, lowering her head, her voice soft as a evening breeze brushing the pond surface:

"Greetings, Uncle and Miss Baichai!"

The kinship between Qin Keqing and Xue Baichai is rather distant; indeed, in the original work the two never interacted in their lifetimes, so addressing her as "Miss Baichai" here counts as a respectful title for an unmarried young lady.

However, the way they address Uncle Jia Jing is quite the contrary, showing a hint of intimacy!

Baichai gave the two women's slightly doubtful gazes no notice, without any affectation, she lightly returned the bow, then turned her gaze to Jia Jing without speaking.

Jia Jing lifted his eyes to glance at the two, gave a slight nod, acknowledging their salute, and then asked in a calm tone:

"What are you all doing here?"

Lady Yu pursed her cherry lips, her face showing a hint of timidity, and spoke softly:

"In reply to the Duke, after dinner I thought the sky was still early, so I brought them out for a stroll to aid digestion; I had intended to go to the pine and cypress grove over there, but I did not expect to meet the Duke and the Xue family maiden here."

Needless to say, Lady Yu's attitude toward Jia Jing was extremely humble!

The reason for this is, firstly, naturally because Jia Jing's status is noble, his usual dignity in the manor awe-inspiring, which makes her feel a degree of reverence.

Secondly, it is because Lady Yu's father is dead and mother gone; her current stepmother, whom her father married after her mother's death, treats her poorly, and since Jia Zhen's exile she has even tried to force her to remarry for her own benefit.

In other words, Lady Yu now has no proper relatives or support; if it were not for Jia Jing's decision to let her reside in Dong Fu, giving her a monthly stipend so she need not worry about food and drink, her situation would be dire indeed.

Therefore, her attitude toward Jia Jing also carries a hint of ingratiation.

Jia Jing nodded and said:

"Taking an evening stroll after a meal is quite good, in line with the way of health preservation! I see your complexion is a bit better than before."

Qin Keqing's clear autumn-water eyes beneath her willow-leaf brows seemed to reflect the swaying lanterns at the eaves; she let out a soft sigh and continued in a gentle voice:

"If it were not for Uncle's care, we poor wretches would not know where we might have ended up; how could we enjoy such peace and stability as we do now? Uncle's kindness, even if I were to bind myself with grass and ring in the next life, I could never repay it fully."

This remark basically refers to Jia Zhen's scandalous affair and his tolerance of not forcing them to observe widowhood!

Upon hearing this, Jia Jing's face remained indifferent, and he waved his hand, saying:

"Just live well in the days to come, and that will be the best repayment!"

"I imagine the matriarch has also told you this! You are still young; my meaning is, there is no need to spend a lifetime as a widowed woman, whether to observe widowhood should be according to your own wishes, and I do not insist! If one day you wish to return to your clan and remarry, you may say so directly; the clan will not stand in your way!"

Although Lady Yu and Qin Keqing seem to be living well in Dong Fu for now, the future is uncertain; spelling things out in advance can also ease their worries.

Qin Keqing's snow-white skin and jade-like countenance showed a hint of seriousness as she spoke softly:

"Thank you, Uncle, for your consideration. I… for now I only wish to remain peacefully in Dong Fu to live my days; the matter of remarrying has never crossed my mind."

As she spoke, her gaze involuntarily flicked quickly to Jia Jing's face, then immediately dropped, a faint blush quietly rising at the base of her ears.

Meanwhile, taking advantage of the pause in Jia Jing and Qin Keqing's conversation, Lady Yu turned sideways, bringing the two young women behind her to the front, and introduced them with a smile, her vermilion lips slightly parting:

"These two are my younger sisters from my natal family. Mother went to the capital a few days ago, and because the sisters have also reached the age for marriage proposals, she brought them along. I was just planning to bring them to pay respects to the Duke in the next couple of days, and today it happened to turn out that we met first."

"Second sister, third sister, quickly come and pay your respects to the Duke!"

"You's eyes flashed, and her words seemed to carry a few unusual undertones."

"What does it mean to have reached the marriage‑proposal age and come to pay respects to the Duke?"

"Jia Jing furrowed his brows slightly, and in the lingering light of the lamp, with the distance now closer, he could see a few more details clearly."

"You's second sister appeared even more gentle and quiet in demeanor, twisting the hem of her robe with both hands, head lowered, looking somewhat shy!"

"You's third sister, however, bore a hint of heroic spirit, her appearance radiant, and her eyes seemed to still conceal a touch of fierce vigor!"

"Even when faced with Jia Jing's sharp gaze, she showed no fear; instead, she lifted her bright, sparkling eyes to stare directly at him, her look bearing an unmistakable curiosity and… admiration."

"The two stepped forward, bowed once, and said in unison:"

"Greetings, Duke!"

"You's second sister spoke like a kitten, and after completing the bow, she retreated."

And You Sanjie's beautiful eyes under her willow‑leaf‑thin eyebrows fluttered; her gaze lingered unceasingly on the young man dressed in a dark‑crimson‑bordered python robe, tall and upright, with a cold, stern face and an imposing bearing, her pretty face showing a hint of excitement as she said in a coquettish voice:

"Duke! I never expected to actually see you in person today! That battle in the northwest earlier this year—your victory was truly exhilarating! At the time, below Yu Lin Cheng..."

You Shi gently tugged at her sleeve from beside, lowered her voice and scolded:

"Third sister, what are you saying! In front of the Duke, why are you so improper!"

You Sanjie finally let out an "oh", closed her remark, reluctantly stepped back half a pace, yet her eyes remained glued to Jia Jing as if she had seen someone remarkable.

Jia Jing, however, grew a bit interested and asked in a deep voice:

"Have you been to Yu Lin Cheng?"

Now we must recount the background of You Erjie and You Sanjie!

In the original work, You Erjie and You Sanjie were not originally surnamed You; it was their stepfather's surname.

Their mother, You Lao Niang, became a widow after bearing the two sisters with her first husband, later remarried into the You family, after which the sisters took the You surname.

Because the You household originally had an elder sister, also called You Shi, the two were thereafter called second sister and third sister.

It is unknown how affluent their biological father's family was, but it likely was not poor, otherwise they would not have been betrothed to the Zhang family of the imperial granary.

Logically, in the Da Han Empire today, the age of feudal Neo‑Confucianism is at its peak, and widows from families with even modest wealth and status are expected to remain chaste.

Yet You Lao Niang had already borne two children to her deceased husband—though not sons, and their family circumstances would still permit her to remain widowed, she still chose to remarry, which was an extremely bold act at the time.

One possibility is that her in‑laws' uncles and cousins bullied her for having no son, seized her inheritance, and left her destitute;

Another possibility is that she hoped to marry into the You family, which was richer or more powerful than her late husband's household.

In any case, the still‑charming young widow cheerfully married You Lao Die, bringing along the two little dependents.

However, only a few years after her remarriage, her second husband also died, which perhaps explains some of the rumors.

You Lao Niang had not yet borne a son with You Lao Die, and her two children were both daughters of her former husband, so her standing and prospects in the You household were understandably bleak.

At this point, her youthful prime had passed, making another remarriage to improve her life impossible.

Her only hope lay in her daughters; unfortunately, her elder daughter You Erjie's betrothed Zhang family had already declined, and marrying into them would only bring suffering, so she had to find a way to break the engagement.

Finally, You Lao Niang set her sights on the step‑daughter You Shi, who was the matriarch of Ning Guo Fu, and brought You Erjie and You Sanjie to the capital to seek refuge with You Shi, hoping for a support in her later years.

So the question arises: from where did You Lao Niang bring You Erjie and You Sanjie to the capital?

The original text contains no record!

Hearing You Sanjie mention Yu Lin Cheng, could they have come from the northwest?

Nevertheless, it's not impossible, since the You family, where You Shiyong resides, is rooted in the northwest.

Listening to Jia Jing's inquiry, You Sanjie's pretty face, more delicate than a flower, showed excitement as she replied hurriedly:

"Our family only left Yu Lin Cheng for the capital a few months ago! It was precisely because of the incursions of False Qing and the Northern Yuan that the northwest became unsafe, and my mother resolved to come to the capital to seek out her elder sister."

"We didn't expect the Northern Yuan's Mongol Tartars to arrive so swiftly; we hadn't even managed to leave before we were besieged inside Yu Lin Cheng."

"... At that moment, everyone in the city thought this disaster unavoidable, but at the crucial instant, you, Duke, arrived with troops, charged alone on horseback, routed fifty thousand Northern Yuan Mongol Tartar cavalry, slaying their generals and raising their banners—how heroic and invincible!"

"After the battle, the whole city spread the Duke's fame; I was skeptical, so I disguised myself as a man and went to the city gate to see, and discovered it was all true!"

She grew more excited as she spoke, her face flushing bright red, her eyes shining like two flames, completely forgetting propriety, and continued:

"You don't know, we come from the northwest, and the Northern Yuan Tartars descend almost every year to raid fields, seize grain, livestock, and people; the people of our region hold a hatred toward them as deep as the sea."

"You eradicated them, which is a tremendous gratitude for us! Folks from our side say you are a celestial star descended to earth, the Da Han Empire's towering hero and great champion; many even privately erected shrines and temples in your honor!"

You Sanjie looked up with a face as radiant as blooming peach and plum, her expression full of the emotion of seeing an idol, resembling a modern fan worshipping a star.

Beside her, You Erjie also lifted her head and said softly:

"After arriving in the capital, third sister learned that the Duke and elder sister are of the same family; you can't imagine how delighted she was, constantly pleading with elder sister to meet you!"

You Shi, with a hint of caution, forced a smile and said:

"Third sister is usually that boyish‑like temperament; Duke, please don't be surprised!"

At this moment, Jia Jing's expression softened, his eyes calm, and he said in a clear voice:

"Third sister is flattering me; what's there to be surprised about!"

"However, the disaster of the Northern Yuan is not a one‑day cold; the pacification of border troubles is not the work of a single person. Without the imperial court's full support and countless border soldiers fighting bloodily, even ten Jia Jings could not level Wolf Mountain."

"Since you came from the northwest and have personally endured the suffering of war, you should know that today's peace is hard‑won. You need not thank me later; just remember this peace was bought with countless lives. Living well is the best tribute to them."

This can be considered a warning to the two ill‑fated women.

In the original work, You Erjie died after swallowing gold, and You Sanjie slit her own throat; although both bore the stain of yielding to Jia Zhen and his son, they were merely pitiable victims of feudal Confucian oppression!

Jia Jing originally held no prejudice against the two; in his view, they had done nothing harmful. Perhaps You Erjie coveted wealth a bit, but how many in the world do not seek fame and profit?

As long as they do not commit illegal or disorderly acts, it does not violate his principle.

Fortunately, Jia Zhen and Jia Rong are now gone, and the two's fate should change thereafter!