Chapter Twenty-One: Attending the Banquet

"What?" In the room, Su Yang hurriedly told Li Doukou to hide, watching as Peach Blossom rushed in, flustered. "Is she out of her mind?" Unable to suppress a shiver, he thought to himself that twisted, perverse people truly couldn't be judged by ordinary standards. Just today, she had seen him get a little close to someone else and acted as if she'd overturned a jar of vinegar. And now, she'd sent him a whole room of maidservants? Was she ill?

"My lady is not mad," Xichun quickly entered from outside, about the same age as Wang Chunxiao. Her figure was slender, demeanor poised and reserved, possessing the air of an extremely traditional woman—so strict, a man merely touching her foot would make her feel unclean, ready to hang herself as a martyr. In these times, virtuous and steadfast women were many. Even Liu Wenxiang's maid Xiliu was such; Xichun must have been influenced by her.

"So, which maid is she sending me now? There aren't many left in our household, are there?" Su Yang asked.

"My lady wants me to inquire which one you prefer."

"What, I get to choose?"

"My lady will consider it, but if she says you may choose, then choose." Su Yang sized up Xichun, then wrote two characters on a sheet of paper, sealed it in an envelope, stamped it, and said, "Take this to your lady."

"Feigning mystery," Xichun remarked, taking the envelope and returning to Wang Chunxiao's room. Peach Blossom quickly locked the door and went back in to ask, "Master, is the eldest lady sincere, or is she scheming something?"

"I'm confident I'm clever!"

"But, as your man, I can't fathom the thoughts of a perverse mind. I truly can't...!"

"Let it be, let's sleep." With that, Su Yang swept up the soft Peach Blossom in his arms. "Tonight, I wish to test my eloquence!"

Li Doukou, emerging from the wardrobe, blushed with shame, watching as the unabashed couple entered the inner room, the curtain drawn, sighing deeply as she pressed her head to listen.

...

In Wang Chunxiao's room, she had removed the garish makeup from her face, clad in light gauze, her fair skin subtly revealed. Her long legs were straight and graceful, her petite feet exquisitely formed, toes pink and fragrant, exuding a tranquil, youthful charm.

Xichun handed her the envelope. "Master wants you to open it yourself."

"My lady, I wager the envelope says 'Meihua.' When Meihua's family was in trouble, the master was so eager to help—if there wasn't something between them, that would be odd."

"Meihua?" Wang Chunxiao's gaze turned icy. "That useless scholar doesn't rise early unless there's something to gain. If he had no designs on Meihua, why meddle?"

"My lady, what if it really is Meihua?"

"If it is Meihua, then let her be a maid in my room for life. I can't stop him from flirting with women, but I can ensure the woman he fancies will never have him, so she'll suffer forever."

"My lady, why not just enforce family discipline?"

"It's not so simple. If it were just after he entered our family, perhaps, but now if we punish that scholar, Mother will be the first to object. That scholar is now Mother's pillar."

"Many things are no longer discussed with me, her daughter, but with the son-in-law."

"And I'm worried—if he flirts with Xia He next, do we enforce family discipline on her too?"

"And what about Mother next time?"

As Wang Chunxiao spoke, she opened the envelope, and the two big characters came into view: Xichun!

"My lady, is it Meihua?" Xichun leaned in, just in time to see her own name written, her face turning pale. Before she could explain, a delicate foot kicked her, knocking her to the ground.

"We grew up together. If you liked that poor scholar, you could have just told me!"

"Instead, you sneak around doing shameful things!"

"Tell me, when did you start flirting with him?" Wang Chunxiao was furious, her chest heaving, tears glimmering in her eyes. She never imagined her childhood maid and closest confidante would secretly seduce her man.

"My lady, I haven't! I'm innocent with him!" Xichun quickly explained, "He must have guessed your thoughts, that's why he deliberately wrote my name."

...

The next morning, Liu Wenxiang led Su Yang, Wang Chunxiao, Wang Xiahe, and others to the main branch of the Wang family to celebrate Wang Shangfu's birthday.

Were they ordinary friends, Su Yang, as the Wang family's son-in-law, could have gone alone; but Wang Shangfu was close family, so the main branch's women also hosted.

In these chaotic times, robbery, crime, and even the kidnapping of beautiful women was common on the streets. Sometimes, household men would grab kitchen knives to fight back, sending the thugs fleeing. Obviously, these so-called thugs were likely townsfolk, bullying the weak and fearing the strong. The authorities kept their distance, unwilling even to patrol, which led to such disorder.

Fortunately, Su Yang's family had a martial guard with a blade and a servant watching over them, so no fools dared approach.

Liu Wenxiang had wanted to ride in the carriage, but decided against such ostentation, opting instead for a black veiled hat to cover her face, saving much trouble.

The group traveled in silence.

...

The scenes in the streets frightened Liu Wenxiang and Wang Xiahe. Wang Chunxiao was depressed, glaring fiercely at Su Yang now and then; Peach Blossom, pregnant, had not come along.

Besides, the three personal maids—Xiliu, Xichun, and Xixia—also followed.

At Wang Shangfu's house, the gates bustled with guests. After delivering their gifts, Su Yang and the others entered the courtyard. The women were entertained by women, the men by men, boasting and drinking.

"Brother-in-law, welcome!" Wang He Wen, the Wang family's eldest son, greeted Su Yang warmly, though a murderous glint lurked deep in his eyes.

"Thanks, all is well."

"Sit at this table, all Wang family here—eat, drink, make yourself at home. I'll see to the other guests."

"Go ahead, brother-in-law," Su Yang nodded. At this table sat only family, either his father-in-law's uncle or great-uncle; they had attended his wedding. Though he was merely a son-in-law, he conversed freely, though some spoke with a hint of mockery, which Su Yang ignored.

Seeing Su Yang arrive, Wang He Wen assumed Wang Xiahe was also here. He slipped to the backyard to notify Liang Baihe—it was time to act.

In the backyard, Liu Wenxiang and her group ate fruit, drank tea, chatted about family matters. The topic of Wang Chunxiao's healed legs was popular gossip among the women.

"Xiahe, try the milk tea Aunt prepared."

"This is newly brewed bamboo rice wine, have a taste...!"

"This is Hundred Flowers Fragrance, it's delicious...!"

Wang Shangfu's wife kept introducing Wang Xiahe to various drinks. Soon, Wang Xiahe needed to use the restroom. Xixia was busy drinking with other maids, so Wang Xiahe went alone.

After trying several restrooms, all occupied, she asked a maid and decided to use the one in the backyard garden, which should be empty.

The main branch had a wealthier estate than the second, the yard larger, and a sizable back garden. It was spring, flowers competing in bloom, their fragrance filling the air.

"Hey, where did this little beauty come from? Come, drink with your big brother!" Wang Xiahe was about to head back when a drunken guest from the front stumbled into the garden, swaying with a wine jug, leering as he lunged at her.

Never having encountered such a scene, Wang Xiahe screamed and dodged, her clothes pulled into disarray.

"Haha, pretty girl... There's no one here, so be good and drink with me, or I'll take you right here...!" The drunk lunged again and again, but Wang Xiahe was agile, her clothes a mess, yet calling for help was useless.

"Stop!"

"Who are you? Mind your own business! Get lost!"

"If you try anything else, don't blame me for being rude!"

"Oh... I'm Zhang Ban, never afraid of anyone. You're looking for trouble...!"

"Ah... Please, young master, spare me!"

"Miss, are you all right?" In front of Wang Xiahe stood a gentleman in white, folding fan in hand, fair-faced, elegant as jade.

"Phew... That was close. Thank you for saving me." Wang Xiahe patted her budding chest in gratitude.

"It was my duty. May I know your name?"

"Wang Xiahe."

"Wang Xiahe, what a lovely name. I am Liang Baihe, temporarily staying here due to the unrest outside the city."

"Young master, I'll be going now."

"Mm." Liang Baihe nodded, seeing Wang Xiahe's shy, hurried departure, feeling delighted. This girl was already within his grasp; with two or three more encounters, he could have her.

She must have been captivated by his handsome appearance, hence her shyness.

Soon, this incident would replay in Wang Xiahe's mind, even as she lay down for sleep, envisioning his dashing, gallant rescue.

Before sleep—the time when a woman's heart is most easily stirred. Wait three or five days, appear before her again, and win her heart.

After a few meetings, no woman could resist offering herself, even married women; he'd succeeded many times.

"Young master Liang, how did it go?" Behind a rockery, Wang He Wen emerged and asked.

"Nearly assured."

"With two or three more meetings, she'll be in my bed," Liang Baihe said confidently.

"Master Liang is impressive."

"Who'd have thought—such a fresh, lovely girl, truly rare."

"Does she suit your taste?"

"Immensely!"

"Hahaha!"

...

After returning, Wang Xiahe immediately told her mother about the garden incident. Clearly, this 'hero saves beauty' was staged. Liang Baihe and the drunk were acting, thinking she wouldn't notice.

From the moment Liang Baihe appeared, Wang Xiahe felt something off—why were so many guests from the front wandering into the back?

When Liang Baihe fought the drunk, it looked fierce, but the drunk barely got hit, never fought back; not realistic, as even a drunk would grab a knife to defend himself.

Full of holes, Wang Xiahe was not some foolish girl—young, but clever.

As for the reason, she couldn't guess, but it was clear they intended to target the second branch.

And, they would start with the younger daughter. Liu Wenxiang felt a surge of anxiety.

This place was no longer safe.

"Xichun, go fetch the master, we're leaving," Liu Wenxiang commanded sternly.

At this point, the main branch still wouldn't give up on seizing the second branch's assets; so, family ties were meaningless now, better to cut them off forever.

Xichun hurried to the front yard, still shaken by last night's events, worried in her heart.

The master wrote my name—does he really fancy me?

Last night, after the lady scolded her, she cried under the covers. If the lady truly sent her to the master's room...

Xichun shook her head hard, trying not to dwell on it.

The front yard was more crowded than the back; servants carried dishes, noise and chatter filling the air. Xichun spotted Su Yang and hurried toward him.

"Hey, where did this maid come from? She's a real beauty! Come, drink with me!" Another lewd voice sounded. Chen Shaokun, son of the Chen family, dressed in finery, reached out to grab Xichun.

"Ah, let go!" Xichun was startled, pushing him away. Chen Shaokun stumbled and fell, eliciting laughter from the crowd and causing him to lose face.

"Bang!" The porcelain wine jug crashed to the floor, ringing out. The drinkers paused, turning their gaze.

"What happened?"

"A maid offended Young Master Chen!"

"That Chen son is a wastrel—eight wives already, greedy and lustful."

"Rumor has it he loves to punish his wives; the girls who marry him are covered in scars."

"This year, two of his concubines died—no wonder."

"Offending Young Master Chen, that maid's doomed!"

The crowd discussed, eager to see how Chen would punish her.

"Young Master Chen, what's wrong?" Wang He Wen hurried over to help him up. The Chen family was about as influential as theirs, and because of business, the Wang family depended on them.

"What's the matter?"

"Is that your maid?"

Chen Shaokun climbed up, furious, his tone harsh.

"Oh, she's from the second branch, named Xichun—seems to have offended you."

"Say the word, Young Master Chen, whatever punishment she deserves, we'll see it done," Wang He Wen said with a smile.

"Never mind punishment!" Chen Shaokun said, "But I can't let it go, or my reputation will suffer. That maid looks decent—I’d pay to buy her as a concubine."

"How about it, Young Master Wang?"

"All as you wish, Young Master Chen. It's just a maid. I'll go discuss it with the second branch; I'll cover the cost." Wang He Wen patted his chest.

In a few words, the two decided her fate. Xichun trembled with fear, unwilling to be this man's concubine.

Panicking, she tried to leave, but several Wang family servants blocked her way.

"What are you doing?" Xichun's voice quivered with fear.

"You offended Young Master Chen and want to run?"

"Stay put! I’ll fetch your mistress and send you to Young Master Chen’s room as a concubine," Wang He Wen sneered.

"My family's maid is not to be sold or blocked from leaving," Su Yang finally saw the situation. Chen Shaokun's bodyguard had ninth-rank skill, just what Su Yang needed to display his own strength—to deter future troublemakers.

He had been pondering at the table how to reveal ninth-rank prowess to scare off bandits.

And now, the opportunity presented itself.

"Master, save me!" Seeing Su Yang approach, Xichun felt a surge of gratitude and quickly waved to him.