Chapter 108: Family Background
The Marquis’s Residence!
Xu Ruojin was stunned by those four words.
In her view, this was merely the territory of Zhonglin County.
Though Madam Liang came from a noble family, she had been relegated here due to the Liang family’s disgrace.
Now, suddenly, Madam Yan, hailing from the residence of a national duke, appeared out of nowhere, leaving her truly bewildered.
What on earth was going on?
Were there simply too many officials nowadays, with a single lightning strike able to take down several at once?
Why did they all seem to gather right before her eyes?
“What else did Madam Fang say?” Xu Ruojin pushed aside her inner resentment and continued to ask Hongxing.
Hongxing considered carefully before replying, “Madam Fang only said these two sentences, then asked us to tell you that when the cart reaches the mountain, there will surely be a path. You are a blessed person and will surely overcome this difficulty.”
Xiao Ke added, “She also told you not to panic when things happen.”
“That was all she said before sending the two of us back,” Hongxing rubbed her hands, looking a bit disappointed. “Unfortunately, my status isn’t high enough to follow Madam Fang and ask more questions, so that’s all we got. Second Miss, is it any use to you?”
“It is useful — extremely useful. Every single word matters!” Xu Ruojin sighed in relief. “I will never forget Madam Fang’s kindness to me for my entire life.”
Hongxing didn’t quite understand. “She only mentioned Madam Yan’s status.”
“That’s exactly what she said,” Xu Ruojin replied.
Not wanting to explain too much to Hongxing and Xiao Ke, she told them to go eat and rest in the afternoon. She would talk with them in detail in the evening.
Hongxing knew that with Xiao Ke present, the Second Miss wouldn’t say much, so she followed Chun Cao away.
Xu Ruojin looked at the box containing the white silk ribbon and smiled softly.
She suspected this white silk ribbon wasn’t from her father but from Madam Yan herself.
A young lady of noble birth would never tolerate the illegitimate grandson of a Ministry of Personnel official defying the matchmaking arranged by her family.
So she would rather die than become a concubine, not because it would disgrace the Xu family, but because it would sully the Yan family’s reputation.
Suddenly, Xu Ruojin admired Zhang Zhongheng.
Didn’t he know Madam Yan’s status? Yet he kept causing trouble in this matter, likely bringing trouble upon the Zhang family as well.
The situation was becoming increasingly intriguing.
But she did not want to be the target everyone aimed at.
What choice did she have?
At this moment, Zhang Zhongheng listened to the servant’s report with raised eyebrows. “The Yan family is coming? What are they coming for?”
“Not only the Yan family, Madam also received a letter today saying that the Second Master of the Eldest Lord’s mansion will accompany the Yan family’s young master.”
Zhang Zhongheng inhaled sharply. “Second Brother? He’s coming with the Yan family?”
“Yes, that’s apparently what it said.”
“!” Zhang Zhongheng immediately cursed loudly, “They’re coming here just to pick a fight with me.”
“Madam is also troubled by this...” the servant said hesitantly.
“Let them come. Who’s afraid? If they have the guts, let them take on the responsibilities of our ancestral legacy!”
Zhang Zhongheng sneered with thinly veiled resentment. The Eldest Lord’s mansion was the Zhang family’s legitimate line, and the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate offspring was very clear within the main household.
Though he could swagger in Zhonglin County, within the Zhang family’s mansion he was a junior, unable to hold his own among his peers, often mocked.
Especially Zhang Zhongliang, the Second Brother from the eldest uncle’s branch, who was a graduate of the imperial examination, was arrogantly domineering and constantly scolded him from a high position.
The servant dared not speak further and quietly waited nearby.
Zhang Zhongheng felt chest tightness from anger. “Any news from Xu Ruojin?”
“Her maid went to the Liang family today.”
“What?” Zhang Zhongheng jumped up in fury. “She sent her maid to the Liang family?”
“Yes, she specially sent the maid to deliver wine.”
“That wretched woman!”
If he had been merely annoyed before, now he was furious, pacing back and forth, gesticulating wildly.
“Wretched woman! She actually sent someone to the Liang family. Does she have any shame? Doesn’t she know her relationship with Liang Xiao...? Damn it! She’s doing this just to spite me!”
The sound of dishes crashing to the floor echoed as Zhang Zhongheng seemed ready to smash everything in the room.
The servant knelt down in fright.
Zhang Zhongheng clutched his chest, “Wretched woman, that damned woman, I will make sure she meets a miserable end, a miserable end!”
For several consecutive days, Madam Yang busied herself arranging the household furnishings.
She put away the gaudy gold, silver, and bronze items and displayed elegant, cultured utensils that, though less flashy, were worth many times more.
But since the master had ordered it, she had no choice but to attend carefully.
These days, the master rested in Lady Liu’s room, which made Madam Yang acutely aware of her unstable position.
She imprisoned Li Qiuping in the courtyard, forbidding her to leave, and assigned Madam Huang to watch over her. Xu Zilin was sent to her maternal family’s village with New Year’s gifts, essentially being sent away.
Only two children remained at home: Xu Ruojin and Xu Zimo.
Though Xu Zimo was also somewhat unruly, he was still young, and Madam Yang knew she couldn’t straighten him out in just a few days.
Fortunately, Xu Zimo didn’t like to show off; when in company, he kept his head down and ate quietly, speaking not a word unless addressed, so Madam Yang was not too worried.
As for Xu Ruojin, she kept to herself in her room reading after receiving the white silk ribbon, ignoring the outside world... and Madam Yang preferred not to see her.
On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, the day before the Little New Year, Yan Hongwen, the young master of the Yan family, arrived in Zhonglin County accompanied by Zhang Zhongliang.
County Magistrate Yuan had long been informed of this and had prepared a banquet at the finest restaurant in Zhonglin County, awaiting the arrival of the two young masters to host a welcoming feast.
The accompanying officials included Deputy Magistrate Jiang and Xu Yaohui.
The top three officials of Zhonglin County’s government were all present, leaving no fault for the Yan and Zhang families to find.
Other invitations were set aside for later; this banquet was not for them.
Since Yan Hongwen and Zhang Zhongliang were both young, Yuan also invited his son Yuan Yang, and Deputy Magistrate Jiang, unable to decline, brought his son Jiang Zhongrui as well.
With Xu Zilin absent from Zhonglin County, only Xu Yaohui was present.
Yuan delivered a lengthy welcoming speech while Yuan Yang served the guests.
Xu Yaohui sat quietly, smiling without speaking, letting Yuan take center stage.
After all, Yan Hongwen’s visit was for the marriage alliance between their two families. The true intentions of Master Yan would only be revealed after the banquet.
Yan Hongwen was young, the youngest son of the Yan family, only sixteen years old.
He was fair-skinned and delicate, slender in build, with refined manners; even his way of holding chopsticks followed a particular etiquette.
Yet he only held himself to these standards, never demanding others do the same, making people feel that a young master born to a noble family was indeed different.
Yuan gestured to Yuan Yang to pour wine. “Upon arriving in Zhonglin County, the first cup to welcome you must be filled to the brim!”
“Wait a moment,” Yan Hongwen’s clear voice rang out, his smile radiant, his peach-blossom eyes narrowing as a meaningful gleam appeared.
“Before coming here, I heard that Miss Xu has developed a new brewing method for wine, with a rich aroma. Some say two cups will make one unsteady. I wonder if today I have the honor to taste it?”