Chapter 102: The Reason

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Xu Ruo Jin saw that Chun Cao’s small face had already turned purple and couldn’t help but stick out her tongue. She urged Hong Xing to quickly bring some warm water. “Rinse your mouth quickly. If it’s spicy, why are you still enduring it so long?”

Little Ke disregarded all rules and poured down whoever brought it to her, wiping her mouth before saying, “You didn’t say anything, so I just held it in.”

“Spicy?”

Xu Ruo Jin brought up the word again. “What kind of spicy? How does it compare to ordinary wine?”

“Uh…”

Little Ke was stunned. “I haven’t drunk any other wine.”

Xu Ruo Jin instantly rolled her eyes to the sky—so she had chosen the wrong person to ask. Naturally fermented wine is rich and mellow, with a stronger alcohol flavor. If she hadn’t tasted ordinary wine, how could she make a comparison?

Jiang Mingshuang asked Chun Cao to pour another cup and held it to her nose. “It smells so fragrant, with a hint of medicinal herbs.”

“The cup you took was mixed with licorice and bupleurum, and I even added dried tangerine peel. It should have a sweet note, but I don’t know what Little Ke means by spicy.”

Xu Ruo Jin blamed herself for being lightheaded from the wine and had to wait a moment for Hong Xing to try it.

Suddenly, Jiang Mingshuang took a sip, startling Xu Ruo Jin. “Don’t scare me like that. How can you just easily take a sip?”

“Cough, cough!”

Jiang Mingshuang coughed lightly a couple of times, then set the cup down. “I understand now why the young masters all said it was good that day. The wine’s flavor is intense—although fragrant, it packs a much stronger punch than usual.”

She shook her head with a bitter smile, then continued, “It’s good, but it’s a wine meant for men.”

Hearing this, Xu Ruo Jin sighed. “It seems I was overthinking it. There should be many kinds of wine, not every kind suitable for everyone.”

“If there were such a tavern, business would surely be booming. Men would be eager to drink strong liquor.”

Jiang Mingshuang’s suggestion struck a chord with Xu Ruo Jin. The reason she was so determined to experiment was to one day set up a stall and make money on her own.

Money is the foundation of stability.

Empty-handed, constrained in action, tightly controlled—any idea in the mind is just a dream.

After recording Jiang Mingshuang’s tasting notes, Xu Ruo Jin pulled her over to the desk to drink tea and chat.

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The maids wisely withdrew, while Hong Xing took the maids and elderly attendants who had come with Jiang Mingshuang to the side chamber for refreshments, leaving Chun Cao nearby to continue embroidering the wedding gown and listen to instructions.

Xu Ruo Jin then asked Jiang Mingshuang the real purpose of her visit today. “I’m already very touched that you came to see me. But now everyone is avoiding the Xu family. Even if you have this intention, Madam Jiang won’t let you out. Your concern for me is useless; you can’t get into the Xu household’s doors.”

“Speak plainly—do you have something to tell me?”

“Knew you were smart!” Jiang Mingshuang was adept at social niceties outside, but she knew that with Xu Ruo Jin, directness was better than beating around the bush.

“The rumors outside have been spreading fiercely these days. I had planned to come see you earlier, but my mother truly would not allow it.”

Jiang Mingshuang’s lips twitched bitterly. “Don’t blame her for this. Father’s official position is in a precarious middle ground, and mother has always avoided causing trouble whenever possible.”

“How could anyone blame Madam Jiang? What she did was only right.”

Xu Ruo Jin took it in stride. “So why did you come today?”

“The day before yesterday, my mother received the invitation from the young madam of the county magistrate’s mansion. The full-month celebration was held, and she went personally to thank and toast the other ladies. But during the banquet, Madam Zhao suddenly brought up your betrothal to Zhang Zhongheng.”

Jiang Mingshuang glanced toward Chun Cao and lowered her voice, leaning closer.

“She proposed that you enter the Zhang family as a concubine, so the Zhang family would save face…”

Xu Ruo Jin bit her tongue hard, tasting a faint trace of blood.

Seeing things were not well, Jiang Mingshuang quickly grabbed her hand to comfort her.

“My mother spoke to me about this at home, so I thought I should tell you. She agreed too. Ruo Jin, I know you’re strong-willed, so I wanted to prepare you in advance, so that if it suddenly happens, you wouldn’t be so upset as to harm yourself.”

“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

Xu Ruo Jin patted her hand in return. “Just that you came to tell me means a great deal. I had already expected this, but I never imagined those flattering the Zhang family would be so shameless.”

Xu Ruo Jin sneered, “Concubine? Whatever you call it, it’s just a mistress!”

“I really didn’t expect it to come to this. Had I known earlier, I would have tolerated more rather than argue with them.”

Jiang Mingshuang’s deep worry made Xu Ruo Jin laugh.

Seeing her smile, Jiang Mingshuang frowned in surprise. “Are you really okay? Even laughing?”

“Of course. Though the matter is disgusting, it’s no surprise that nasty people do nasty things. What’s more, I gained a good friend from this. How could I not be happy?” Xu Ruo Jin smiled warmly at her, and Jiang Mingshuang chuckled softly.

Neither spoke further; they set aside the topic and resumed sipping their tea.

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Zhang Zhongheng had been quite pleased these past few days.

Secluded indoors, playing the role of the wronged one, he laughed endlessly each day listening to the servants report the rumors swirling outside.

Even a sip of plain water tasted sweet.

The Xu and Liang families both suffered a heavy blow from this affair—how could he not be delighted?

But Madam Zhang had said that Xu Ruo Jin would inevitably enter the Xu household. This marriage could not be delayed; regardless of the Xu family’s feelings, they had to consider Lord Yan’s status—someone even the old patriarch must show respect to.

Zhang Zhongheng only said he understood and told his mother to rest assured.

After hearing the servants’ reports, he crossed his legs and ordered:

“Let the rumors about Xu Ruo Jin die down, but with Liang Xiao… escalate it. If he doesn’t die, I swear I won’t stop!”

“My lord understands. But what about Miss Mo? How do you plan to handle her?”

The servant’s question darkened Zhang Zhongheng’s face. Mo Rong wasn’t faking—she was truly ill…

The rumors about her were partially due to Zhang Zhongheng’s private threats and intimidation.

“Put that aside for now. I have no time for her.”

Zhang Zhongheng then asked about Xu Zilin. “How is he?”

The servant hurriedly replied, “He hasn’t returned to the Xu residence. He was at the Rose Pavilion a few days ago and has been at the gambling tables recently. His luck has been good.”

“Have you made arrangements with Jin Si at the casino?”

“It’s already settled. The young master gave the orders—how could Jin Si refuse? That would be foolish.”

“Tonight, let him start losing. Lose for three days straight!”

Zhang Zhongheng’s sinister gleam appeared. “After three days of losses, I’ll intervene personally. Make sure to tell Jin Si to put on a good show—he mustn’t blow my cover.”

“I’ll go immediately.”

Zhang Zhongheng laughed wickedly. “Xu Ruo Jin, I’m just waiting to see how you’ll kneel and beg for mercy!”