Su was secretly angry, but she was also a little afraid of her now, so she didn't dare to force her as hard as she had forced Zhenyuan. She still couldn't help but say, "I've spotted a good prospect. He's a high-ranking official who wears a gold fish pouch. Do you want to go and take a look at him too?"
Zhen Shu, still engrossed in the book, chuckled and said without looking up, "Is this one seventy or eighty? Someone who can wear a goldfish pouch must be nearing the end of their life."
Su said, "No, it's a young man."
Zhenshu thought she was also having a delusional dream like Zhenyi. She wiped her feet, put away her book, and was about to go downstairs to get some water when she walked downstairs. She said as she walked, "Then you can go and find a prince or marquis for Zhenyi. He or marquis who are sixteen or seventeen years old. He or marquis was her favorite when she was a child."
As Su followed them up the stairs, she continued to defend herself, saying, "It's true, absolutely true."
She wanted to say that Aunt Su knew everything, but fearing that hearing Aunt Su's name would anger Zhenshu even more, she swallowed the words back. However, this also made her determined to go with Aunt Su to see what the young high-ranking official was like.
The next day, she got up early and sent a message to Aunt Su, asking her to discuss things with the high-ranking official so that she could personally visit him and take a look before making a decision.
Grandma Su always insisted on doing things herself, and having been to the Futian Prefecture several times, she knew the place well. So, she went to the gate of the Censorate as usual, explaining to the yamen runners that she was there to see the Deputy Inspector. The runners reported this, and soon someone came running to fetch Grandma Su. The young official who arrived was handsome and polite, and upon inquiry, learned that he was not married. Grandma Su was even more delighted to hear this, thinking that she had found another promising match.
This minor official was none other than Huang Zijing, now working as a gofer for Du Yu at the Censorate. He led Granny Su to Du Yu's residence and found it bright and spacious, far more upscale than the residence of the Prince's Prefect. When he had seen Du Yu a few days ago, he had merely thought of him as a handsome young man. But today, sitting behind that large desk, wearing a tall turban and official robes, he exuded an air of authority, which strengthened Huang Zijing's resolve to bring Zhen Shu and Du Yu together.
When Su Shi expressed her desire to meet him, Du Yu was naturally overjoyed. However, he recalled how Su Shi had abandoned Zhen Shu alone in the Wuling Mountains and fled in her carriage, and he felt that his mother was somewhat dishonest. Although he had not yet met his mother-in-law, he already felt a bit of dislike for her.
He set a day off and waited at home. He grabbed Huang Zijing and the other person to tidy up the small courtyard. He also busied himself adding some ordinary household items and cleaning the house until it was sparkling clean. He then sent Huang Zijing to the Marquis's residence to fetch a few new clothes that Yang had prepared for him. He picked out a dark-colored cross-collar robe and wore it. He and Huang Zijing sat quietly at home waiting.
Madam Su followed her aunt out furtively through the alleys until they reached the small courtyard rented by Du Yu. Seeing that the alley wasn't far from the East Market, she felt somewhat relieved. She looked around suspiciously, waiting for her aunt to knock on the door. As soon as her aunt knocked, Huang Zijing came out, smiling and bowing, saying, "Greetings, Auntie; greetings, Madam."
Madam Su hurriedly agreed, and then had her great-aunt Su brazenly pulled her into the courtyard, pointing and saying, "What do you think of this little courtyard?"
In Su's mind, a high-ranking official shouldn't live in such a small courtyard; after all, she herself came from the Song family. She simply nodded and said, "It's alright."
Du Yu had already come out to greet her, though he was smiling, he was clearly uncomfortable. He noticed that Madam Su looked flustered, like a thief, and remembered that she was still unhappy when she threw the chastity book into the heart of Wuling Mountain. He bowed and said, "This humble official, Du Yu, greets Madam Song."
Madam Su nodded in agreement and gestured for them to sit down in the main room. Looking around, she saw no paintings or calligraphy on the walls, and the room was empty and didn't seem like a permanent residence. She asked Du Yu, "Where are your parents?"
Du Yu said, "My mother has passed away, and my father lives separately in the capital."
Su felt a little displeased, but seeing that he was well-mannered and had a proper appearance, she didn't think he was a child who had lost his manners. So she asked, "Where are you on duty now?"
Du Yu said, "The Inspectorate of the Capital Region is a deputy position."
Madam Su nodded again and accepted the tea that Huang Zijing offered: "I saw someone guarding the shop the other day, was that you?"
Du Yu replied, "Yes."
Madam Su wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and said, "For the sake of my daughters, I'm shameless and unafraid to lose face. She's just that stubborn, as you probably know. She's getting a bit fixated on things now, and even though she's in her twenties, she still refuses to get married. I've worried about her a lot."
Du Yu said, "I know."
Su asked again, "But I wonder if you dislike her?"
Du Yu clenched his fist and pondered for a long time before saying, "I have a past with her, know her character and admire her. Please, Madam, speak on my behalf."
Madam Su nodded and took a sip of tea. She looked at Aunt Su, who never drank tea. Aunt Su's eyes darted around as she winked at Du Yu. Seeing Madam Su looking at her, she quickly asked on her behalf, "I'm afraid you're the kind of person who will run away after taking advantage of someone. I, your niece, wouldn't dare to easily entrust my daughter to you."
Du Yu said, "I work in the Censorate, so I don't usually go there."
Madam Su was used to hearing promises, and seeing that he only said a few words and was completely unlike the sincere person her great-aunt had described, she gave her great-aunt a look and prepared to leave. Seeing that the young man didn't seem as happy as he had been in her presence before, her great-aunt quickly spoke up for Madam Su, saying, "Although I've seen your government office and your clerk's quarters, I haven't met my niece yet. Besides, if we're going to discuss marriage, your father must also give his permission before we can hold the ceremony and establish the ancestral hall, don't you think?"
Du Yu said, "Yes. My father already knew about our affair, but he was too busy with official duties to get away. Besides, he and I have never gotten along, and he rarely interferes in my affairs."
When Su heard that his father was on official business, she asked, "Does your father also serve in the court?"
Du Yu said, "He is the Protector-General of the Army."
Now, both Granny Su and Madam Su were shocked. Everyone knew Du Wu, the Protector-General of the Imperial Guard, Duke Du. No wonder Du Yu, at such a young age, had risen to the position of Deputy Inspector. The two were somewhat skeptical, but having so brazenly captured such a high-ranking son-in-law, Madam Su's heart was already in her throat. She swallowed hard and said, "Don't try to fool us."
Du Yu smiled bitterly and said, "I'm sure you all know that I committed a crime in the capital and fled. Back then, in the Wuling Mountains, my wife abandoned Zhenshu and left. The person who was with her in those mountains was me."
This time, it was Su's turn to be shocked. Back then, in the Wuling Mountains, she abandoned Zhenshu, only telling others that she had encountered bandits and was fleeing for her life. Few people knew that she had actually been frightened away by a false alarm. Now that this young man had said it, she was beginning to believe it. If it really was him, it was no wonder that Zhenshu was unwilling to accept him. He had gone to Liangzhou for three years to live a carefree life, while Zhenshu had to leave her hometown because of such a reputation and couldn't even hold her head up in the capital.
Su said with some resentment, "Our whole family suffered because of that incident, so it's only right that she ignores you now."
Du Yu remained silent, standing with his sleeves down.
Grandma Su smoothed things over, saying, "After all, it happened three years ago. If it weren't for that incident, you'd probably be cremated and lying on the ground in Huixian County by now. It shows that sometimes bad things can turn into good things. If you ask me, since the two children have a past relationship, we, as elders, should try to bring them together so that they don't let their childish tempers ruin their life's most important matter. What do you say?"
Su nodded slowly, holding her teacup in silence. Du Yu also remained silent.
After leaving Du Yu's house, Aunt Su said, "Since that's the case, we should come up with a plan to suppress Zhen Shu's temper and make her humble herself and get along with this young master Du. What do you think?"
Madam Su said, "Let's do as you wish, Auntie."
Grandma Su then raised her head and pondered for a while before saying, "In my opinion, we don't need to tell Zhenshu first. Just like last time, you can lure her out to Du Yu's courtyard. Then we can lock the gate and let the two of them have a good talk inside. That should solve the problem."
Su agreed wholeheartedly and nodded, saying, "Alright."
However, Aunt Su always liked to keep some tricks up her sleeve, so Madam Su was shocked this time but didn't ask any questions. Little did she know that when Aunt Su said she would be confined to the courtyard, she had another plan. It turned out that she was a matchmaker and knew quite a few tricks to seduce women. So she swung her bound feet and went home to prepare. Madam Su also went back to the small building in the backyard to wait.
A few days later, Granny Su arranged Du Yu's day off and, early in the morning, went to the East Market again, carrying her small basket. This time, however, her basket contained some things. Upon reaching Madam Su, she first took out two warm steamed cakes and asked, "Has Second Miss had breakfast?"
Madam Su said, "I'm afraid not yet. She has many paintings and calligraphy to be framed today, and she's busy downstairs."
Grandma Su hurriedly said, "Quickly go to the kitchen and put away all the food you can find. Don't let her eat it. I have something good for her."
Madam Su brought the steamed cake over and smelled it. It had a sweet smell, so she asked with some suspicion, "I'm afraid there might be something bad mixed in here, right?"
Grandma Su laughed and said, "What's wrong with you taking a bite? It's just some steamed cakes I made; it won't hurt anyone else."
After taking a couple of bites, Su found it indeed sweet and delicious. She then went downstairs and instructed Wang Mama to bring all the food upstairs.
Zhenshu had gotten up early and helped Zhao and the others for half a day. Now she was hungry and thirsty. Seeing that Wang Mama was not in the kitchen and there was nothing to eat in the house, she went upstairs and asked Su Shi, "Where did Wang Mama go?"
Su said, "I'm afraid she went out to buy things."
Zhenshu said, "Why didn't you prepare breakfast? I'm starving."
Madam Su brought out the reheated steamed cake and said, "Eat quickly, this is the steamed cake she prepared."
Zhenshu, unsuspecting, took the pieces and ate them with relish, finding them very sweet. She ate two pieces before feeling full. Rubbing her stomach, she asked for water. Madam Su quickly brought her a cup of hot tea. Seeing her hurriedly go downstairs, she anxiously called out to Aunt Su and asked, "Are you sure everything's alright?"
Grandma Su countered, "How was it after you ate it?"
Su said, "It's nothing."
Zhenshu went downstairs and saw a man come in. She bowed and said, "Young shopkeeper, my house is not far from here, just behind the back street. Since it is a new house, I need to put some calligraphy and paintings up. However, I don't know anything about calligraphy and paintings, so I need you to go and consult me. Is there anyone who can accompany me?"
Zhenshu felt a little flushed and hot-hearted and wanted to go out for some fresh air. She pulled Xing'er over to take a look and then called Huang'er over, saying, "Come on, let's go take a look."
She and Huang'er followed the man outside. The wind made her feel increasingly dizzy and lightheaded, and she thought she must have eaten too much steamed cake too quickly. She found a tree and rested under it for a while, thinking she would feel better soon, and continued walking. Sure enough, not far ahead, the man said, "It's the courtyard ahead."
When Zhenshu saw him push open the door and gesture for her to enter, she wanted to invite him in first, but her body went limp and she stumbled inside. Huang'er saw this and hurriedly went in to help her up, but then saw Madam Su and Aunt Su waving behind her, saying, "Go and keep watch in the shop, we're going in."
When Huang'er saw that it was the mistress, he had no choice but to go back to the shop.
Seeing his mother behind him, Ding Dalang bowed to Su and said, "Sister, I'll leave you here to trouble you. I need to hurry home."
After saying that, he left.
Grandma Su slung a large lock over the door, twisted it a couple of times to lock it, took a square of oilcloth from her small basket and laid it on the ground, then reached out and pulled Su Shi, saying, "Let's sit here and keep watch now, and they'll come out happily to thank you for your great kindness in a little while."
Su's heart pounded even harder, and she asked repeatedly, "Is there really something in your cake?"
Grandma Su asked with a smile, "Did you taste it?"
☆、108|Chapter 108
Su was anxious, her hands clasped together. She listened intently for any sound from the courtyard, but after a long while, she heard Du Yu come over and pry open the door, asking, "Is anyone home?"
Just as Madam Su was about to open her mouth, her great-aunt quickly covered her mouth and told her to shut up, and the two of them remained seated.
Zhen Shu hadn't thought anything of it at first, but as she entered the room, her legs went weak and she couldn't muster any energy. With her eyes half-closed and her face flushed, she saw Du Yu and gave him a push, saying, "What, it's you?"
She was as limp as someone who was drunk, and when she reached out to push him away, she fell into Du Yu's arms. Du Yu quickly helped her to sit down inside and asked, "Why did you come alone?"
Zhenshu shook her head, clutching her burning chest, and said, "I don't know..."
At this moment, her whole body felt weak and limp, and her head was spinning. Gradually, even her tongue went limp in her mouth and she couldn't make a sound, only humming incessantly.
Du Yu then realized that Aunt Su's advice to Zhenshu might mean he should do it this way. He hurriedly ran out to pull the door open, only to find it locked from the outside, and no one answered his calls. Anxious that something might happen to Zhenshu lying there, he rushed back and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Zhenshu's skin flushed red from the heat, and she reached out to loosen her belt. Du Yu opened her outer garment and fanned her continuously. Seeing that Zhenshu was still moaning, he wondered if those two old hags had drugged her. Then he thought that Su Shi had abandoned Zhenshu in the deep mountains; she might be capable of such a thing to change her nature. So he asked Zhenshu, "Did they drug you?"
Zhen Shu felt dizzy from time to time, and her voice was also hazy, but she could hear what was being said clearly. After a long while, she managed to lift her head with difficulty, still mumbling. Du Yu, who had loved reading military books and erotic books since childhood, thought to himself: Could it be that I've stumbled upon something like this today?
Seeing that Zhen's face was flushed and her eyes were filled with a hazy lust, he couldn't help but start to have wild thoughts. He thought that if he didn't help her, she would suffer. He just didn't know how strong the drug was and whether it would endanger her life.
But he still had a conscience, and after much restraint, he ran to the outer room and shouted, "Is anyone there?"
Before Su could answer, Aunt Su pressed her down again. It wasn't difficult for Du Yu to leave the courtyard, but figuring out how to find a doctor and how the doctor would treat her was a problem. For Zhen Shu's reputation, he dared not act on his own, so he had no choice but to go back inside and ask Zhen Shu again, "Are you willing?"
Zhenshu's mind was a complete blank, but she knew that Du Yu was probably going to come and fuss over some bedroom matters with her again, so she managed to squeeze out a "no" after a long pause.
Seeing that she was unwilling, Du Yu did not dare to force her. However, he had been waiting for her for three years and was now on the verge of exploding. He thought to himself that they were a proper couple who had bowed to heaven and earth, and perhaps this time he could really make her change her mind. So he got on the bed and persuaded her, "We are a proper couple. Such things have happened before. You don't need to be afraid of me. I'm just helping you out this time. If you are still unwilling, I promise I will never bother you again, okay?"
Zhenshu was unaware of the schemes plotted by Madam Su and her aunt behind the scenes. She had a vague feeling that someone was trying to harm her. Naturally, the first person she thought of was Du Yu. She was both angry and furious, but she was now like a drunkard, unable to even muster a fierce look. Only two lines of tears kept flowing from the corners of her eyes.
Du Yufu whispered in her ear again, "It was your mother and your great-aunt who said they wanted to match us up and told me to wait for you here."
Zhenshu gritted her teeth, thinking to herself that Su Shi had been keeping quiet for so long because of this. She was too weak to get up and was probably under some kind of drug. She didn't know if it would be life-threatening. Her eyes searched for Du Yu. Du Yu was already itching to get back, and seeing her made him even more restless. He knelt by the bed and said, "I really didn't know they would use this method to bring you back. If you want to, close your eyes. If you don't want to, that's fine. I'll carry you out to find a doctor."
Zhenshu continued to stare at him, her mind hazy and her eyelids heavy, yet she dared not close her eyes, forcing them open so that Du Yu would see her unwillingness. Du Yu, however, could no longer restrain himself. He sighed, took off his clothes, and said, "I can't worry about that now. We've already paid our respects to heaven and earth, and I've observed three years of mourning for you. It's only right that you let me sleep for a while. From now on, if you don't want to, I promise I won't bother you again."
He climbed onto the bed, circled around, and lay on top of her. Seeing her tear-streaked face and slightly parted lips, a sweet, metallic scent of alcohol emanating from them, he felt a surge of excitement and, panting, immediately leaned down and nibbled at her soft tongue. Looking up at Zhenshu, who was still staring at him intently, tears streaming from her eyes, a pang of conscience and unbearable guilt rose within him. He pleaded, "My dear wife, please close your eyes, okay? I'll take that as a yes."
After saying that, he buried his head behind her ear and nibbled for a long time. When he finished and looked up, he saw her still staring at him expectantly. At this moment, Du Yu had no sense of morality or ethics, and didn't even know his father's surname. He was a wild and unruly person, so he simply pressed his lips to Zhen Shu's eyes, rubbing them against her wet, long eyelashes to make his lips covered in tears.
Zhen Shu was overwhelmed with tears, which streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls. Though she could neither open her eyes nor speak, she knew that Du Yu had climbed on top of her and penetrated her. She felt ashamed, angry, and speechless, and then, feeling a dull ache in her head, she fell into a deep sleep.
Hearing that there was still no sound in the courtyard, Madam Su asked her aunt, "There might really be something in your steamed cake, right?"
Grandma Su then smiled and said, "That steamed cake contains aged wine lees and a lot of sugar, making it sweet and delicious. It's slow to dissipate when eaten cold or in small amounts, but it dissipates quickly when eaten hot and then exposed to the wind. She's just like a drunkard, and she'll sober up after the effects of the alcohol wear off."
Upon hearing this, Madam Su angrily slapped her grandmother-in-law and said, "My Zhenshu has never touched alcohol since she was a child. Even a little bit of alcohol can make her dizzy for half a day. How could you give her that stuff?"
Grandma Su said, "They'll be all better soon, so why are you in such a hurry?"
The two sat back down by the door, but Madam Su was too anxious to sit still and paced back and forth. There was no movement from inside the courtyard. Du Yu sat with his head down in a chair, his hand supporting his forehead, for an unknown amount of time before finally approaching as dusk fell. He gently patted Zhenshu's face and asked, "Are you feeling any better?"
Zhenshu slept soundly. When she woke up, she found herself fully dressed and seemingly clean. Du Yu was also dressed neatly and standing beside her. She thought she had just had a ridiculous dream. She tried to get up but couldn't. Du Yu had to reach out and help her up. Her whole body ached and her head felt like it was about to explode. With her eyes closed, she said, "Give me some water to drink."
She took the water Du Yu offered and drank it all in one gulp before clutching her head and crying out, "It hurts!"
Du Yu hurriedly came up to rub her soothingly, but Zhen Shu glared at him and he could only stand awkwardly by the bed.
Zhenshu held her cup and covered her head for a long while before asking, "Was it Aunt Su who came up with this idea for you?"
Du Yu nodded in agreement, then Zhen Shu asked, "When did you get involved with her?"