Chapter 5: The Resentful Couple

Xie Wu's mind raced, running through every possible scenario in an instant.

Du Minghui said, "You saved my life back then, and my family wishes to thank you personally. However... my grandfather wants to see you primarily for the sake of the Shen family's business. As you know, our Du family's ancestral home is in Yizhou, and many in our clan rely on mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing. But Yizhou's silk weaving is far inferior to that of Shu or Jiangnan. Consequently, the silk is either sold elsewhere or kept locally to be woven into ordinary fabrics. Whether they are mulberry farmers, silkworm farmers, or weavers, the income in Yizhou is far lower than in Jiangnan or Shu."

Xie Wu understood. "Does the Elder Lord Du mean he wishes to cooperate with the Shen family?"

Du Minghui said somewhat sheepishly, "When I returned from Shu recently, I spoke to my grandfather about the weaving workshops there. Your Shen family's Shu brocade is renowned as the finest in the region, and my grandfather hopes the Shen family can open workshops in Yizhou. I have heard that the Shen family's silk is exported far into the Western Regions, but since Shu has many silk merchants and weavers, the Shen family cannot dominate the market alone. The best silk from Yizhou could be supplied to the Shen family preferentially; if a partnership is formed, both sides might benefit."

"A-Wu, rest assured, my Du family is not a group of unreasonable people. If negotiations fail, it matters not; my grandfather will certainly not make things difficult for you." Seeing Xie Wu lowering her eyes in thought, Du Minghui grew somewhat uneasy.

She had originally only intended to comfort her grandfather by telling him interesting stories from Shu, never expecting him to take such an interest in the Shen family. He had even gone so far as to say he wanted to meet her personally upon hearing that A-Wu, the adopted daughter who held such significant influence in the Shen family, had arrived in the capital.

Although Du Minghui hoped her clansmen and the people of Yizhou could have better lives, she would feel ashamed and guilty if her friendship caused her friend any trouble.

Seeing this, Xie Wu tapped her forehead with a smile and said, "How could I not trust the character and reputation of the Elder Lord Du? Moreover, it is our honor that the current Chancellor holds the Shen family in such high regard. When the Tianyi Workshop ran into trouble last year, it was thanks to the Du family's discreet assistance that things were settled. I must visit in person to express my gratitude."

Last year, when the manager of the Tianyi Workshop offended both Princess Nanjing and the Empress's natal family over a single garment, it was the Du family who had stepped in privately to smooth things over.

It seemed the Du family had already intended this back then.

Du Minghui blinked, saying in pleasant surprise, "You are willing to see my grandfather?"

"It would be my honor," Xie Wu smiled. "When the Elder Lord is free, I shall pay him a visit personally."

Du Minghui said joyfully, "That's wonderful! I will send word to my grandfather immediately. A-Wu, you are truly kind."

Xie Wu looked at her, smiling without a word.

"The Heir Apparent has returned!" a servant's voice called from outside.

Qin Zhan, the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Shu, was twenty-four years old. He was tall and martial, with sharp brows and bright eyes, exuding a commanding presence.

Born into high nobility and possessing exceptional talent himself, he should have been at the height of his vigor, yet a faint layer of melancholy always seemed to shroud his brow.

He strode in quickly from outside, accompanied by a charming and beautiful woman. However, because he was walking so fast, the girl was clearly struggling to keep up with his pace.

Upon seeing Xie Wu and Du Minghui sitting in the flower hall, Qin Zhan's expression shifted. He pulled the woman beside him into his arms and said intimately, "Careful, don't trip."

This display seemed specifically staged for Du Minghui's benefit.

Xie Wu's eyes darkened slightly. Even if it was an act, it was a bit excessive to perform it in front of an outsider like her.

It seemed Du Minghui was still avoiding the core of the issue; their relationship had actually worsened since arriving in the capital.

"I heard the Consort was entertaining guests; so it is Miss Xie," Qin Zhan said indifferently.

Du Minghui looked calmly at her husband, who was currently embracing a stranger, and replied, "Otherwise, who did the Heir Apparent think it was?"

"Who knows? How could I possibly manage the guests of the Consort?" Qin Zhan said leisurely, his words laced with sarcasm.

Du Minghui took a slow breath, gave Xie Wu a slight, subtle smile, and looked at Qin Zhan. "The Heir Apparent is too modest. May I ask who this lady is?"

Qin Zhan pushed the woman in his arms forward slightly and said, "This is Miss Xianyun from Shuiyue Pavilion. I have already redeemed her; she will be living in the Prince's manor from now on."

Du Minghui nodded. "I see. Someone, come! Clear out the Yicui Pavilion in the back courtyard for Miss Xianyun to reside in. All her provisions are to follow the old precedents set for the concubines."

Du Minghui's maid responded from outside the door, gave Qin Zhan a resentful glare, and turned to leave.

"You!" Qin Zhan's expression stiffened. He stared coldly at Du Minghui and said in a low voice, "Xianyun is a woman I favor; her allowances shall be equal to those of a Side Consort."

Du Minghui did not argue, merely nodding. "That works too. When I left last year, my mother gave me twenty thousand taels in banknotes; it won't be difficult to support a few concubines and side consorts."

Qin Zhan's expression fluctuated wildly. He stared at Du Minghui for a long while before finally letting out a cold laugh, turning to walk out with the woman named Xianyun.

Silence fell over the flower hall. After a long moment, Du Minghui managed a bitter smile. "A-Wu, you've come for your first visit only to witness such a spectacle."

Xie Wu frowned. "Does the Du family know he acts this way?" There were many couples in this world who lived separate lives, but someone like Qin Zhan, who refused to grant his wife even a shred of dignity in front of outsiders, went far beyond mere "living under one roof with different dreams."

Du Minghui sighed softly. "What if they know? And what if they don't? Sometimes... I truly envy you."

"If it truly becomes unbearable, it is not as if there are no women who seek a divorce these days. But the Du family..."

Du Minghui shook her head. "No, you know this marriage was bestowed by His Majesty. How could a divorce be so easy?" If the Du family insisted on a divorce, the Emperor might not stop them openly, but he could use countless other pretexts to make life difficult for them.

Hearing this, Xie Wu's heart stirred. "His Majesty is..."

The Imperial Court had always been wary of the vassal princes, and the vassal princes were no less wary of the Court.

The Emperor's sudden decision to bestow the marriage between the Chancellor's direct granddaughter and the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Shu was a clear signal to the Prince of Shu's manor: this was a nail the Emperor had driven into their residence.

The Prince of Shu's manor could neither defy the imperial decree nor pull out this nail, nor did they dare to truly accept her. It was a suffocating situation from every angle; it was no wonder Qin Zhan's attitude toward Du Minghui was so complex.

The current Emperor had been on the throne for only eight years. While his governance might not be exceptionally brilliant, his mastery of political maneuvering was top-tier.

The Du family's second daughter had married the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Shu, while the eldest daughter, Du Mingxuan, had entered the palace as a Noble Consort, even giving birth to a prince three years ago.

The Prince of Shu's manor would not trust Du Minghui, and the Du family could not ally with the Prince of Shu's manor for her sake. By using Noble Consort Du and the young prince in the palace to keep the Du family in check, the Emperor had also severed any possibility of the Prince of Shu's manor finding a reliable ally in the capital.

In the end, Du Minghui had become the most innocent victim.

Du Minghui's eyes reddened slightly, yet she struggled to maintain a smile. "A-Wu, you're right. One doesn't die from a lack of love; silver is more important. I'm fine, don't worry."

Xie Wu could not bear to see her forcing a smile and said softly, "That's right. I'll give you a 1% discount on this year's goods."

Du Minghui teased, "You won't even give me a half-percent discount?"

"No," Xie Wu said solemnly. "Silver is truly important."

Du Minghui burst into laughter. "You stingy thing!"

"How about ten percent off then?"

"..."