Surviving in the General's Mansion - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The Housewarming Banquet 2

“Thank you all for honoring us with your presence.”

A spirited-looking lady strode in, followed by several maids.

Cang Chuli set down his teacup and rose to his feet.

“The banquet has been prepared. Please move to the side hall for the meal.”

The maids skillfully began guiding the guests.

“Thank you, Madam Xiao!”

“Thank you, Aunt Xiao!”

Qian Zimo called out brightly.

Madam Xiao smiled and nodded at him.

“Mingxu, it has been many years. You’ve grown taller again.”

“Mingxu” was Cang Chuli’s courtesy name.

Back then, the Marquis of Northern Pacification, Cang Er, had personally searched through every book in the residence to choose it.

It came from the verse, “The pond light ripples with rosy clouds, the dawn sun first shines warm and bright.”

It meant bright and warm.

He had hoped his son would grow into an openhearted gentleman.

Every family close to the Marquis of Northern Pacification knew about it, and once regarded it as a charming story.

Only, no one knew when people had stopped calling him that.

“Aunt Xiao, congratulations on moving into your new home.”

This was the first time Xia Heng had heard Cang Chuli say anything pleasant since transmigrating here.

Madam Xiao did not seem to pay much attention to what he had said. She simply stepped forward and took hold of Cang Chuli’s forearm.

She looked him over again and again, studying his brows and eyes, then his stature, murmuring nonstop,

“Good, good…”

Her eyes reddened, tears welling in them.

Cang Chuli stood where he was and let her examine him, keeping the arm she held obediently in place.

“How did you get so thin? Have you been eating properly lately? Auntie is back now. From now on, come to our manor to eat.”

Madam Xiao squeezed Cang Chuli’s arm and asked with concern,

“Why are these clothes so stiff? Are they warm enough? Sigh, that residence of yours is full of men. They really can’t be relied on…”

Cang Chuli listened carefully and answered each question in turn.

“I just returned from the Northern Frontier. I didn’t rest well on the road, so naturally I lost some weight. A little nourishment and I’ll regain it.

These clothes don’t wrinkle easily. They’re convenient, and I’m not cold.”

Madam Xiao nodded repeatedly as she listened, then tugged him toward the side hall.

“Come, eat first! I had them make Buddha Jumps Over the Wall today. You must nourish yourself properly!

Your Uncle Xiao was delayed by the shipment and hasn’t returned yet. Once he comes back in a few days, we’ll visit you together. The weather is turning cold, so it’s time you added a few things…”

Chuqing and Xia Heng hurried after them.

All along the way, Madam Xiao held on to Cang Chuli without letting go.

She kept talking about what they had brought back from the Southern Border this time, saying she would have everything sorted out and sent to his residence.

Cang Chuli could not get a word in edgewise beside her.

Following behind them, Xia Heng watched and thought to herself,

From ancient times to the present, no one can escape a relative’s concern. No one.

The side hall was very spacious, with two rows of banquet tables laid out, one for the men and one for the women.

Huaxia Kingdom had no rule forbidding men and women from sharing the same banquet, so separating the tables was enough.

When Cang Chuli and the others took their seats, the women’s side also stirred up quite a commotion.

Xiao Mansion had also prepared a separate banquet for each household’s servants and maids. Usually, they ate in shifts, so Xia Heng let Chuqing go first.

A banquet like this generally did not require servants to portion out the dishes. With so many people seated, if every family sent up one maid, what kind of chaos would that become?

So, most of the time, they would only call their own maids over when needed.

Xia Heng obediently stood slightly behind Cang Chuli, keeping herself in line with the other maids as she waited to be summoned at any moment.

But just by standing there, she became somewhat eye-catching.

Xia Heng had not been born a maid in the first place. Back then, it was precisely because she had some beauty that the Xia family had sent her to the General’s Mansion.

Her skin was naturally fair, and these days she had been eating well at the General’s Mansion, leaving her complexion rosy and bright.

As she stood there, she also held herself perfectly straight, unlike the other maids, who shrank back timidly and did not even dare raise their heads.

Even with her homemade mask on, her brows and eyes were enough to catch people’s attention at a glance.

And once people noticed her, there were even more covert, teasing looks.

Xia Heng remained unmoved.

What a joke. What kind of looks had she not seen in the hotel industry? Forgive me for saying so, but everyone here is trash.

“Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend Xiao Mansion’s housewarming banquet!”

Madam Xiao stood at the head seat, with Xiao Yaqing supporting her by her side.

Though they were clearly only two women, no one dared look down on them.

“My husband, Xiao Huan, had important business to attend to and could not make it back before the housewarming banquet. I hope everyone will forgive his absence.

Today, we have prepared a little wine. I hope you will all do us the honor of tasting it.”
“Madam, you are far too modest! This Drunken Spring Breeze is worth its weight in gold these days, and still impossible to find! For such fine wine, this old man will have to thicken his skin and drink a few extra pots today. Hahahaha!”

“If even the Old Wine Master says so, then we must all savor it properly! Madam Xiao, you mustn’t be reluctant to part with it!”

Madam Xiao smiled faintly.

“For wine brewed by our own household to receive such favor from all you lords is its good fortune. However, fine wine though it may be, please do not overindulge.

“All right, I won’t say anything more to annoy everyone. Let the banquet begin!”

The Old Wine Master’s hair was already white, but he did not lose out to the younger guests in the slightest.

Holding his wine cup, he downed one cup after another. With a satisfied smack, the wine slid down his throat. Then he stroked his handsome beard, narrowed his eyes, and savored the lingering taste with endless enjoyment.

He had sampled countless fine wines and had something of a reputation in the capital.

Any wine that earned even one word of praise from him could sell out across the capital.

For that reason, his home was piled high with fine wines sent from all over, all hoping for his appraisal.

The Xiao Family’s wine was indeed different from anything he had drunk before.

It was not like the watery wines of the south, light in flavor and impossible to get drunk on no matter how many bowls one drank.

Nor was it like the northern shaodaozi liquor, which burned from the mouth all the way to the heart with a single sip.

Drunken Spring Breeze, Drunken Spring Breeze.

One sip truly made a man feel as though he were drunk on the spring wind itself.

Its fragrance was rich and mellow, smooth on the tongue, and slipped down the throat in a single silken line.

Paired with a small dish of peanuts…

Bliss! Pure bliss!

After several rounds of wine, some of the young masters from noble families could no longer sit still.

“General Cang truly is a pillar of the state. But with such a delicate little beauty, shouldn’t you have hidden her safely away in your residence? Aren’t you afraid she’ll be eaten up if you bring her out?”

A Little Fatty in a blue-green robe spoke in a shrill, sarcastic tone, eyes narrowed.

Cang Chuli continued eating as if he had not heard a word.

Xia Heng also kept her gaze straight ahead.

Being ignored by both of them at once, the Little Fatty could not hold back any longer.

“Everyone says the General of the Northern Pacification is brave and skilled in battle, decisive in killing, yet never goes near women.”

“Seeing you today, it seems one really can’t believe everything people say!

“Ah, this student isn’t very good with words. Surely the general won’t take offense, will he?”

As he spoke, he covered his mouth and even tossed Cang Chuli a provocative look.

Xia Heng was a little surprised. It was her first time seeing this particular breed of green tea.

“What people say is correct.”

Cang Chuli raised his head and looked straight at him. The Little Fatty immediately averted his gaze.

With a light flick of Cang Chuli’s right hand-

Snap.

A chopstick shot straight out and knocked the wine cup from the Little Fatty’s hand.

“This general is indeed brave and skilled in battle.”

“Cang Chuli!”

The Little Fatty flew into a rage from embarrassment.

“Are you trying to murder the family member of an important court official!?”

“Oh?”

Cang Chuli leaned back, the corner of his mouth curling up with malicious amusement.

“So you do know you’re merely a family member?”

The Little Fatty’s breathing quickened, and his face flushed bright red.

“Do you know who my father is!?”

Here it came. The Li Gang meme might be late, but it never failed to arrive.

“Grand Secretary Liang said just the day before yesterday that his son was disappointing, and that since he couldn’t teach you himself, he wanted the Emperor to speak on his behalf and invite Grand Tutor Lin to give you some guidance.”

The Little Fatty straightened in his seat and even adjusted his clothes, thinking, Now you know how formidable my father is, don’t you?

My father even dares to ask the Emperor for people!

“In this general’s opinion…”

The Little Fatty turned his head aside and rolled his eyes.

“There is no need for Grand Tutor Lin. This general is quite suitable, isn’t he?

“Come with this general to the Northern Frontier for a while. There are few people there, so someone like you, who doesn’t know how to speak, won’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing. That way, you won’t offend people for no reason.”

The Little Fatty had originally had his head turned away, but the moment he heard this, he snapped around to face Cang Chuli directly, his mouth falling open in shock.

Standing behind Cang Chuli, Xia Heng went through every sad thing that had happened to her recently.

That was close. She had almost failed to hold back her laughter.

As expected, it had to be you!

Your father can’t manage you? Then come with me. I’ll manage you!

“N-no need…”

“Then it’s settled. This general will speak to Grand Secretary Liang tomorrow.”

The Little Fatty was about to cry.

Who settled anything with you!? Only a ghost would want to go to that man-eating place called the Northern Frontier!!!

I just couldn’t stand you, so I wanted to show off with a few words!

Aren’t we supposed to trade veiled insults, show off our literary talent a little, have a verbal sparring match, and then call it done?

Why doesn’t this man play by the rules!?