Chapter 263: Going With The Flow
A few days later, officials and nobles from various mansions received invitations from Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion, inviting them to the banquet celebrating the eldest legitimate son’s return to the family at Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion.
Not long ago, the Great General Who Protects the Nation had just found his wife and daughter, and that banquet was grand in scale, especially the scene where the Great General Who Protects the Nation personally welcomed his wife and daughter home, which was extremely spectacular.
With the Great General Who Protects the Nation’s banquet as a comparison, everyone paid particular attention to Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion’s arrangement. The banquet spread arranged by the Great General Who Protects the Nation back then could be called top-tier, with every table featuring precious dishes. Calculated, the silver money spent just on the dishes alone amounted to several thousand taels, not to mention the fine wine and pastries. Someone roughly estimated that the banquet cost over ten thousand taels of silver.
Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion’s banquet was different. Under everyone’s witness, Zhou Wangshu and Su Yaoguang first entered the Xia Family’s genealogy, and under the blessings of the clan elders, formally returned to the family.
The entire ceremony was extremely tedious, making people want to doze off. Many guests couldn’t hold out and went out for a stroll midway, planning to return for the meal after the ceremony was held.
“Eldest Young Master and Young Madam return to the family, recorded in the genealogy, ritual completed, serve the wine.”
As the clan’s oldest elder announced the completion of the ceremony, a servant brought fine wine. As long as Zhou Wangshu and Su Yaoguang drank that cup of wine, today’s ceremony would end there.
Zhou Wangshu and Su Yaoguang drank the wine.
Jiang Yihuan stood in the crowd, watching Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu drink that cup of wine, her eyes full of excited expression.
However, after waiting and waiting, she didn’t get the result she wanted to see.
What’s going on?
Wasn’t there supposed to be poison in that cup of wine?
She had specially arranged for her maidservant to poison it, just waiting for her to be poisoned on the spot, then watch Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion and the Great General Who Protects the Nation tear into each other right there and start fighting.
“What’s going on?” she asked the maidservant.
The maidservant shook her head, fearfully saying, “Master, I really did it, I don’t know where the problem is.”
Zhou Wangshu and Su Yaoguang separated, with Zhou Wangshu going to entertain the male guests, and Su Yaoguang following Cheng’an Marchioness to greet the female guests.
Jiang Yihuan frowned: “No, I still need to find an opportunity to do it again, otherwise I’ll miss this great chance today.”
A maidservant brushed past her.
A note appeared in Jiang Yihuan’s palm.
She squeezed her palm, walked to the nearby corner, and unfolded the note to look at it while no one was paying attention.
The note had only one address: Linqi Courtyard.
“Go inquire if there’s a Linqi Courtyard in the mansion.” Jiang Yihuan instructed the maidservant beside her.
The maidservant accepted the order to scout the news and soon returned, reporting the location of Linqi Courtyard.
Jiang Yihuan guessed this was sent by someone from Xiao Yanci. He must have seen that Su Yaoguang and Zhou Wangshu weren’t poisoned and wanted to ask her why she didn’t follow the original plan. She had to go explain, otherwise that bastard man would misunderstand that she wasn’t obedient and badmouth her in front of Marquis Jing’an, ruining her life of glory and wealth—that would be too great a loss.
Jiang Yihuan didn’t let the maidservant follow and went to Linqi Courtyard alone.
Linqi Courtyard was an empty courtyard with no one living there, but it was kept quite clean.
As soon as Jiang Yihuan pushed the door and entered, she immediately felt this was a good place for a rendezvous, further confirming that the note was sent to her by Xiao Yanci.
Today was Zhou Wangshu’s day of reuniting with ancestors, and Su Rende and his wife, as in-laws, must have come too. The people of Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion were very attentive to them, and for a moment, everything was harmonious and joyful.
Su Yaoguang generously greeted the female guests.
In her previous life, whenever she attended such banquets, she was always bullied and mocked by those noblewomen. To avoid losing face for Xiao Yanci, she worked hard to learn to be an official family madam, worked hard to fit into their circle, and worked hard to make herself seem less out of place.
Now she didn’t need to curry favor with others or seek their approval; no matter how rude her actions were, no one mocked her to her face. Even if something unpleasant happened, others would first ask if she was injured.
Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion’s banquet was far inferior to the Protector General’s Mansion.
The noble circle also liked to compare, but the Protector General’s Mansion’s strength was there; I’m afraid no official’s family except the royal family would dare to make such a grand gesture.
“Fire! Fire!” someone shouted loudly.
Upon hearing there was a fire, the crowd hurriedly left the banquet spread and ran outside.
When they ran out of the courtyard where the banquet was held, they found the fire location was not far from there. Even to leave Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion, they had to pass through there, so they rushed in that direction.
“What’s going on?” someone said. “Isn’t this an empty courtyard? It’s not dry weather now either; it shouldn’t catch fire so easily.”
“There seems to be someone inside!”
Two servants helped out a woman with disheveled clothes.
Immediately after, a naked man was also helped out.
“That… that woman isn’t the Second Madam of Jing’an Marquis Manor, is she?” someone pointed at Jiang Yihuan and shouted.
“The man looks a bit familiar! Too far, can’t see clearly.”
“The man is Prime Minister Wang’s new son-in-law, the current third scholar Xiao Ci.” Another person said, “My eyesight is good; I absolutely won’t mistake him. Even though he’s not wearing clothes now and his face is smudged black by smoke, it’s more or less him; I dare say it’s definitely him.”
“This man and woman in this deserted courtyard, causing the empty courtyard to catch fire—to say the two weren’t burning with passion and caused this, I wouldn’t believe it.”
In the crowd, Su Yaoguang looked at the figures of Jiang Yihuan and Xiao Yanci, a mocking look flashing in her eyes.
These two were truly persistent ghosts, appearing everywhere. However, today’s matter probably wasn’t a coincidence; it was likely a trap set by her little fox at home, though she didn’t know what game he was playing.
“Ah, can’t blame them really; after all, old affections are hard to forget!” Su Yaoguang pretended to casually say this, then quickly covered her mouth, looking as if she had said the wrong thing.
The people nearby immediately took the bait and curiously asked, “What do you mean old affections are hard to forget? Did these two have an affair before?”
“No… you misheard…” Su Yaoguang looked troubled. “Madam Li, just pretend you didn’t hear what I said earlier; absolutely don’t spread it.”
Madam Li grew even more curious and lowered her voice: “Su family younger sister, we’re so close now; I’m your old customer. You have a secret but won’t tell me—is that appropriate?”
“This matter is of great importance and can’t be spread, otherwise it won’t just destroy one family, but two families. I don’t want to be the sinner.”
“Tell me; I definitely won’t tell others.”
“Then you absolutely can’t say it; I’m only telling you alone.” Su Yaoguang said, leaning close to Madam Li’s ear and telling her that Jiang Yihuan was Xiao Yanci’s original principal wife.
Madam Li’s eyes widened: “What? You say Jing’an Marquis Manor’s Second Madam is Xiao the third scholar’s original principal wife?”
Su Yaoguang covered Madam Li’s mouth.
However, by now many people had already heard this. Su Yaoguang turned around, and pairs of eyes were staring straight at them, full of shock.
“Madam Li, how could you…” Su Yaoguang said annoyedly, “I didn’t say anything, and you all heard nothing. Today’s fire should be an accident.”
Wang Ruyan was present today, and Marquis Jing’an was also present.
Su Yaoguang was today’s highly attention mistress of the house, always surrounded by many people; Wang Ruyan watched her from the crowd with no chance to approach.
At this moment, Wang Ruyan came running over, clearly having heard some news and come specifically to verify if it was true.
When she saw the naked Xiao Yanci, her eyes were full of anger after humiliation and unwillingness from betrayal.
Marquis Jing’an also appeared.
Marquis Jing’an was a middle-aged man with rugged looks but fairly upright features. A delicate woman like Jiang Yihuan marrying him was no different from raising a daughter, no wonder she received his favoritism.
Since ancient times, men love beauty, especially young beauty. Even if Marquis Jing’an was a real man, he couldn’t escape this custom. Plus, Jiang Yihuan’s skill at seducing men was masterful; Marquis Jing’an falling into her hands was not wronged at all.
Seeing Jiang Yihuan unconscious, Marquis Jing’an coldly picked her up and strode away.
At this time, no one stopped him.
“Marquis Jing’an really can endure. His woman lost face here, caught with her adulterer by everyone, and he could still pick up Second Madam without changing expression.”
“If I were him, I’d directly write a divorce letter right now and divorce that unchaste woman.” The official beside said, “Too humiliating; actually sneaking around in someone else’s home and getting caught by so many people.”
“I think the most humiliating is them sneaking around in someone else’s home without paying attention to safety, actually burning someone else’s courtyard like this.”
“Strange, why is the fire growing bigger, even burning the next door?” someone looked toward the next door.
“No one in the next door, right?”
“Next door…” A servant reacted and shouted loudly, “Oh no, next door is Second Young Master’s courtyard. Today the servants in Second Young Master’s courtyard should all be outside helping; Second Young Master is locked alone in the room—everyone, quickly go see how Second Young Master is…”
When Cheng’an Marchioness hurriedly arrived, the neighboring courtyard had already been swallowed by fire snakes.
She looked desperately at the fire dragon in front of her and asked the servant beside her: “Where’s Second Young Master? Has Second Young Master come out?”
“No.” The servant beside trembled as he spoke.
Zhou Wangshu appeared, took a bucket from a servant and poured it over himself, immediately drenching himself thoroughly. Then, he grabbed a soaked cotton quilt, covered himself with it, and rushed into the sea of fire.
“Oh my god! Lord Zhou actually ran in to save Second Young Master! Such a big fire, anyone would be afraid, but for Second Young Master he didn’t even care about his own life—this is too great.”
“Lord Zhou is truly loyal and righteous. Compared to that Second Young Master who only indulges in wine and women and causes trouble, with an eldest legitimate son like Lord Zhou returning, Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion has truly found a treasure.”
Su Yaoguang worriedly said: “This idiot, such a big fire—how dare he?”
Cheng’an Marchioness hadn’t expected Zhou Wangshu to rush into the sea of fire to save someone. Such a big fire—even if she threatened those servants, they wouldn’t dare rush in. But he did.
So many people witnessed his heroic moment of saving his brother.
However bad Xia Zhen’s reputation was, his reputation now was that good.
“He’s out, he’s out…” someone pointed toward the sea of fire, watching one person carrying another, with the carried one covered in a cotton quilt, rushing out just like that.
Su Yaoguang went up to meet him.
Zhou Wangshu appeared carrying Xia Zhen, and Xia Zhen’s current appearance was like a piece of black charcoal; the big fire not only burned his clothes to ashes but directly charred him.
“Oh my god! Is this person still alive?” someone saw Xia Zhen’s current state and retreated in shock and fear.
“What exactly happened?” Marquis Cheng’an was drinking with colleagues, wanting to use this opportunity to win over people and climb onto Su Rende this in-law’s thigh.
However, the wine there had just been served, and they hadn’t had two cups yet, when they heard someone shouting about the fire.
They saw the fire snakes in the sky and knew this was no small matter, so they hurried over here.
Someone whispered a few words in Marquis Cheng’an’s ear.
When Marquis Cheng’an learned this fire was caused by a pair of adulterers, with the man being Prime Minister Wang’s Mansion’s son-in-law and the woman being Duke Zhenguo’s Mansion’s currently favored Second Madam—their identities revealed, he immediately felt an urge to curse.
Though that dog man and woman sneaking around on his turf had nothing to do with him and wasn’t his arrangement, with Jing’an Marquis Manor and Prime Minister Wang losing face on his territory, he would also face their anger.
“Marquis, Marquis, quickly look at our Zhen’er; he’s burned like that, don’t know if he can survive.” Cheng’an Marchioness saw Marquis Cheng’an appear and cried as she pleaded.
Xia Zhen was burned like this, like a black charcoal still breathing. He even smelled the aroma of roasted meat coming from him.
“Marquis, my husband was also injured saving someone.” Su Yaoguang said, “We should indeed call an imperial physician; whether it’s Second Brother or my husband, both need treatment from the Imperial Hospital.”
“The Head of the Imperial Hospital is at the banquet today; quickly invite him over to take a look.” Marquis Cheng’an instructed the servant beside him.
The servant hurriedly invited the Head of the Imperial Hospital from the wine table.
The Head of the Imperial Hospital first checked Xia Zhen’s injuries, since he looked the worst; if not treated promptly, he might not keep his life.
“How is it?” Cheng’an Marchioness asked.
“He has no good flesh left on his body; when the rescuer saved him, he was probably already surrounded by the fire. The rescuer was very brave to extinguish the fire for him and carry him out. In his condition, we can only take it one step at a time; this subordinate official can’t guarantee he’ll wake up. Anyway, he’s not dead now; whether he lives tomorrow depends on his own will.”
“No matter what, please do your utmost. As long as he survives, our Marquis Cheng’an’s Mansion will support him for life. Sigh, this child has never let people worry since he was young, but who let him be my son? Which father doesn’t love his own child? Seeing him like this now pains me too.”
“Imperial physician, please trouble you to check my husband. When my husband rushed in to save someone, the fire was already very big. Even though he poured water on himself, it was still very dangerous.” Su Yaoguang said to the imperial physician.
The imperial physician hurriedly took Zhou Wangshu’s pulse and examined his body, saying: “Lord Zhou does have burns of varying degrees. I’ll prescribe some medicine; if he applies it daily, he’ll recover faster. However, burns of this degree may leave scars, so Lord Zhou should prepare himself mentally.”
