Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 102

“Honestly, look at you. Why are you bringing that up again?” Wang Wenshan asked helplessly.

“All right, all right. Mingxu didn’t actually say anything, did he? We have only just returned, so it is natural for the boy to harbor some resentment.

“Didn’t you say just two days ago that if our relationship was strained, we could slowly mend it? Why are you in such a hurry?

“The guests outside are waiting for us. Hurry and wipe your tears. We need to go receive them.”

Only then did Madam Wang dab the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief. She glared at him.

“Only the members of your Wang Family know how to make me suffer!”

With that, she put on a cloak with a fur collar and went to the front courtyard to entertain the guests.

Cang Chuli declined the maid who offered to guide him and followed the pebble path alone in the direction he remembered.

Beyond this moon gate lay his mother’s maiden quarters.

*Ruyi Courtyard.*

Cang Chuli stopped before the name on the plaque for a long while. When he had been very young, his mother had once brought him back here.

Only after a long pause did he lift his foot and step into the little courtyard he had not visited in more than a decade.

Cang Chuli went inside the room, while Chuqing and the others remained at the door.

The sun was out today, and they were all dressed warmly, so it was not particularly cold.

Xia Heng did not give the matter much thought. This was where his late mother had once lived. It was only right that Cang Chuli might want some time alone.

With no one else around, the four of them sat under the corridor to bask in the sun, two facing inward and two facing outward.

That way, two people would always have the general’s door in view and could respond promptly if he gave any orders.

Chuqing pulled a handful of sunflower seeds from her pouch and divided them among the four. Xia Heng accepted hers as naturally as could be.

Mo Qing and Mo Bai, however, looked down at the seeds and sighed.

Mo Qing patted Mo Bai on the shoulder.

*Brother, your fiancée is straying farther and farther from the proper path.*

“Don’t toss the shells around,” Xia Heng instructed as she cracked a seed between her teeth. “Give them all to me afterward. I’ll put them in my bag and take them away.”

One had to behave responsibly wherever one went!

After the awkward experience of having nowhere to throw her rubbish last time, she now kept a trash can in one compartment of her system storage.

Mo Bai scrubbed a hand over his face.

At least she still knew enough to carry the sunflower seed shells away.

Before long, a maid arrived. She looked rather startled to find the four of them sitting under the corridor eating sunflower seeds, but her distraction lasted only an instant before she said politely, “The master has arranged a winding-stream drinking game in the central courtyard. He asks whether the young master would care to join.”

“No, thank you. Our young master never takes part in such activities,” Mo Bai said, rising to decline.

The maid did not press the matter. After saying she understood and giving a bow, she left.

“Shouldn’t we ask the general?” Chuqing asked, looking at Mo Bai.

“There’s no need. The young master never joins this sort of event. If anyone asks, we can refuse directly.”

Xia Heng looked puzzled.

“A winding-stream drinking game? The sun may be out today, but it’s still winter! Between the water and the cold wine, aren’t they afraid they’ll spend the afternoon with diarrhea?”

Everyone in the General’s Mansion knew how insistent she was about hot food. Now that she mentioned it, they all found her observation quite reasonable.

When it was time for the evening banquet, the Wang Family sent someone to summon them.

Before Mo Qing could knock, Cang Chuli emerged from the room.

Mo Qing and Mo Bai went to the rear quarters where the male servants were taking their evening meal, while Xia Heng and Chuqing followed behind Cang Chuli.

The Wang Family had arranged separate tables for their male and female guests.

Xia Heng spotted Xiao Yaqing and Madam Xiao among the women. Xiao Yaqing’s eyes brightened when she saw her, and she gave a tiny wave. Xia Heng responded with a slight nod. With so many people present, it would not do to appear overly familiar.

She even spotted Huyan Lie among the male guests. Where in the world had Madam Wang acquired connections like these?

Cang Chuli had just reached his seat and had not yet sat down when an enthusiastic voice called out to him.

“Mingxu!”

Lin Feng strode over and reached out to slap Cang Chuli on the shoulder.

This time, Cang Chuli did not evade him and took the blow squarely.

Xia Heng noticed that Lin Feng had struck his right shoulder. Her eyes flickered, but nothing showed on her face.

“You brat, you really did come! You must have a good drink with Uncle Lin today!” Lin Feng boomed.

“Oh, General Lin! You mustn’t be so heavy-handed!” Madam Wang exclaimed with feigned concern. “How could our Mingxu’s slight frame withstand a slap like that? Not everyone is as powerfully built as you. Mingxu, did that hurt?”

The sheer falseness of Madam Wang’s concern made Xia Heng cringe.

Still, what Madam Wang said was true.

Although both men were generals, there was a considerable difference in their builds.

Cang Chuli himself was tall—about six feet—but Lin Feng appeared even taller. The contrast in their physiques was more striking still. Lin Feng was broad-backed, thick-waisted, and powerfully built. Standing beside him, even Cang Chuli somehow looked a little small.

“Ha! Madam Wang, you are underestimating Mingxu,” Lin Feng said. “He has practiced martial arts since childhood. If he cannot withstand one slap from me, then he might as well hand you his title as General of the Northern Pacification! Hahaha!”

Madam Wang turned and saw that her husband had nearly finished exchanging pleasantries with the guests. Only then did she smile.

“Look at me. My concern simply threw me into confusion! General Lin, please do not take offense. We owe you a great deal for your help on our journey. When we encountered that band of outlaws, our household guards alone might not have been enough.”

“You are too polite, Madam Wang,” Lin Feng replied. “It was merely our duty. I am not worthy of your thanks.”

“How could you not be? You are the Wang Family’s benefactor! The banquet is about to begin. General Lin, please take your seat, and do make yourself at home.

“Mingxu, you should sit as well.”

Only then did Lin Feng return to his seat with a broad smile.

Madam Wang went back to the head table and spoke quietly to Wang Wenshan. Wang Wenshan nodded, rose to offer the opening remarks, and the banquet formally began.

Perhaps on Huyan Lie’s account, the Wang Family had even specially hired Hu dancers to perform.

Wine cups crossed back and forth around the hall. The Hu dancers’ fiery performance stirred the men’s side of the banquet into a commotion.

At just the right moment, a group of young and beautiful maids took their places behind the guests to pour wine. Some unmarried men even pulled the maids down beside them to drink together.

Cang Chuli glanced back at Xia Heng.

She understood at once. Hurrying forward, she took the wine jug from the maid.

“I’ll do it.”

The maid holding the jug glared at her. When Cang Chuli said nothing even after a long wait, however, she had no choice but to hand it over reluctantly.

Xia Heng pursed her lips and pretended not to notice.

*Miss, you must understand—it isn’t me standing in your way. This master of mine won’t permit it.*

Carrying the jug, Xia Heng went over and whispered a few words to Chuqing, then returned to Cang Chuli’s side to await his orders.

No one noticed Chuqing retreat a few steps and vanish around a corner.

Before long, she quietly returned with a jug identical to the one in Xia Heng’s hand.

The two exchanged jugs, then took up positions on either side of Cang Chuli as though neither had ever left.

Cang Chuli picked up the cup Xia Heng had filled and took a sip. His gaze shifted slightly.

This wine…

His eyes swept over the banquet. Everyone was still absorbed in the Hu dancers, and no one paid any attention to his side of the room.

He tilted his head slightly and looked at Xia Heng.

Her expression was perfectly natural as she stood at his side in her signature ramrod-straight posture.

*Those two slaps from Lin Feng must have torn his wound open again. Why would he drink wine now? Water will do!*

Cang Chuli looked away almost at once. It was enough to know that she had made the switch.

After that, he held the cup to his lips and took a sip every now and then.