Chapter 43: The Top Scholar's Wife (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Face-to-face birthday greetings were reserved for close relatives; an outsider like the wife of a top scholar was only expected to offer a formal salute during the banquet.

Along the way, many curious gazes were cast upon her.

After all, a country-bred wife of a scholar daring to show her face in such a place was clearly an object of ridicule in the eyes of these so-called high-born ladies.

Unexpectedly, however, this lady walked with an elegant, poised gait, appearing perfectly composed among the noblewomen. As she drew closer, her beauty proved to be one in ten thousand, and those who had intended to mock her found themselves unable to laugh. In their place rose a wave of incessant whispering.

This was exactly the effect Yue Tang wanted.

She paused and addressed the female attendant leading the way: "I am a country girl and do not understand many of the rules. Is there a secluded and quiet place where I might sit?"

The Du family wanted to win over Xu He and had to flatter him, so they secretly loathed this scholar's wife who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

Had they not been busy today, the Du family would have loved nothing more than to drag her out and humiliate her in public.

But since she wished to avoid the crowd now, it was for the best.

Today's grand banquet was the first legitimate, large-scale event held by the Du family since they had taken control of the Imperial City Command. If she were to be provoked into causing a scene, it would only spoil the mood.

The attendant forced a smile: "Of course. Please follow me, My Lady."

The young woman led Yue Tang and Lan Qin to a small building in a corner of the garden, arranged for tea and refreshments, left a young maid to wait at the door, and then departed.

Lan Qin unfolded the layout of the Marquis's manor that Wei Zhang had obtained, along with the map of the Marquis's study sentry points drawn by Zhang Shaode that night.

She lowered her voice: "Based on the position, although the study is separated from here by this garden, it is quite secluded. Since almost all the Du family members are at the front for the official ceremonies today, it will actually be easier to move."

Wei Zhang had already scouted the Du residence and was familiar with the routes. When he had checked last night, the Du family's defenses were indeed twice as heavy as before.

However, Wei Zhang had already made secret preparations. After splitting up from the outer courtyard earlier, they had been lurking on the periphery of this garden, waiting for Yue Tang to signal the right moment to act in coordination and draw away the hidden sentries.

Yue Tang studied the map, calculating that a round trip would take at least fifteen minutes at the fastest, and with the time needed to navigate, it would take a while.

If someone were to walk in from the door—

She glanced at the young maid outside the door and said to Lan Qin, "Call that maid in."

Lan Qin nodded.

Once the maid entered, Yue Tang propped one foot up on her chair and looked at her askance: "Go pour a cup of tea."

The maid could not hide her disdain, but she turned and left.

Yue Tang took the tea, waited until she reached the door, and then said, "Go fetch some fruit."

The maid's expression was already quite unpleasant, but she still went.

The third time, just as she had stood steady, Yue Tang ordered her to bring a footstool. The maid did not move.

Later, when she was called in to massage legs, the maid simply ran far away, saying she wouldn't even turn back even if offered money.

The moment had arrived. Yue Tang gave Lan Qin a look, swiftly stripped off her outer garments, and, dressed in sleek and low-profile attire, leaped out through the rear window.

The location of Du Minghuan's study was very clever.

This small courtyard was flanked by the main courtyard to the west and Du Yu's courtyard to the east, with the front courtyard to the south and a lotus pond to the north.

This meant there was no risk of eavesdropping from the east or west, and no one could approach from the north. The door leading to the main courtyard was perfectly positioned to host visiting guests for conversation.

At this moment, the courtyard was as quiet as night, with only a few guests occasionally walking near the garden side.

After leaping into the lotus pond and under a tree, Yue Tang blew a whistle.

She then looked up and around, seeing Wei Zhang making hand signals to her from beneath the eaves of the opposite building, pointing to her front left.

Knowing he had breached the defenses there, she immediately leaped onto the roof beams and entered the study!

Just as her feet hit the floor, voices came from outside the door: "Don't let Xu He play tricks. The Marquis said that today, this adopted son must be accepted, whether he wants to or not!"

It sounded like one of Du Minghuan's close attendants.

Hiding beneath the curtain, Yue Tang held her breath.

A quick glance showed there was an inner room, but the room itself was not large; one could see everything just by turning around.

Seeing that the person was already at the door and about to push it open while speaking, she turned toward her path of entry, intending to retreat first.

But at that moment, someone else came rushing over, shouting urgently: "Quick, to the front courtyard! Hurry! Prince Jingyang has arrived! The Marquis ordered us to go to the front courtyard immediately to prepare the welcome!"

The hand pressing against the door retracted.

The foot Yue Tang had extended forward also pulled back!

Prince Jingyang was here?

This was definitely not good news.

With his arrival, the Du family's defenses would undoubtedly be tightened!

"Princess!" Wei Zhang also entered, clearly having heard the commotion.

Yue Tang waved him off before he could speak: "Find them, quickly!"

...

Prince Jingyang's procession was already quite grand. Yan Bei had ordered Gao An to add extra personnel, making the momentum and scale of the arrival enough to cause a sensation throughout half the city.

Upon reaching the Marquis's manor, the entire alley was blocked by the garrison.

No one in the entire Guangling Marquis Manor had expected him to come; after all, in the past three years, his visits to the manor could be counted on one hand. Last time, Du Minghuan had specifically asked Gao An, and Gao An had said he wouldn't come. So, what wind had blown him here?

Regardless, this was a momentous occasion!

The prestige of today's birthday banquet was instantly elevated several levels.

Not only did the Du father and son rush out to welcome him immediately, but even the birthday celebrant, the old matriarch, came to the gates.

Yan Bei was dressed formally today, wearing a narrow-sleeved robe of purple with gold trim, a gold fish pouch hanging from his jade belt, and a golden beam crown on his head.

Though he was a father, his face was kept very clean; he possessed three parts more stability than a youth and three parts more unbridled spirit than a young man.

After descending from his carriage, the child, A-Li, whom he held by the hand, was also dressed in a small prince's outfit of purple and gold, with his hair in two small buns. His right hand was held by his father, while his left hand clutched a small woven reed duck.

Though the child was not as plump and fair as the typical wealthy children, his features were so delicate that, being leaner, he appeared even more refined, much like his father.

Usually, Yan Bei appeared most often in the imperial court or the Privy Council and rarely showed his face in public. Among today's guests at the Du residence, almost no one below the fourth rank had the fortune to see him, let alone the ladies present.

The appearance of the father and son was enough to dazzle everyone!

However, fearing they might upset this "living Buddha," once Yan Bei had completed his formal greetings to the matriarch, the Du father and son quickly escorted them to a specially cleared pavilion in the small garden, isolating them from the gasps of the crowd.

Yan Bei sat A-Li on his lap and said, "A-Li hasn't seen so many people; I'll let him settle here first. Go attend to your business, and come back later."

The Marquis of Guangling had intended to serve him without leaving his side, but hearing this, he could only obey.

Once Yan Bei saw him walk away, he immediately set A-Li down and instructed Cui Xun: "Dispatch a group of the men brought here to various locations to scout today's guests.

"Also, arrange for men to investigate Du Minghuan's study.

"Once everything is settled, invite Du Minghuan and his son to sit with us."