Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Face of Infatuation

Li Qiuping’s head throbbed with anger after hearing the maid’s report.

She had expected that, after her words, her mother-in-law would instruct the banquet to be held in the main house. Who could have guessed that not only would her mother-in-law refuse to host, but would require everyone to come to her own courtyard instead? Worse yet, she’d have to pay for the banquet out of her own pocket. She had hoped her elder brother’s visit would give her an opportunity to assert herself, but instead, she’d lost both silver and face!

Clutching her stomach in frustration, Li Qiuping could only suppress her indignation when she saw her brother sitting at the side, calmly sipping his tea. She had no choice but to agree and ordered the maids to make preparations.

“Brother, you come all the way here and don’t even help your sister save face. You just spend your time playing games with the eldest and third young masters. Do you even care for me at all?” Li Qiuping frowned, twisting her handkerchief tightly in her hands. “At the banquet tonight, you must speak a few fair words for me. I am the eldest daughter-in-law of the Xu family and am with child—I deserve more attention, don’t I? Why should all the favor go to that second girl who is about to be married off?”

“Why bother comparing yourself to someone who’s leaving the family?” Li Zhonglin looked at her and said, “You must remember, you are the Xu family’s eldest daughter-in-law. Your words carry weight. Once you give Xu Zilin a son, you should discuss with your mother-in-law about taking over the household. If you keep your eyes fixed on a mere girl all day, how can you ever amount to anything?”

“With my mother-in-law’s overbearing temper, do I even dare to fight her?” Li Qiuping was full of resentment. “If I could win, I wouldn’t need you to back me up.”

“Just watch what I do tonight. But you must show some initiative yourself. Keep Xu Zilin content and everything will be yours. Stop focusing on the maids around you; find two pretty ones to keep him at home, and he won’t be running off all the time.”

“Whose brother are you, giving me such rotten advice?” Li Qiuping’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Li Zhonglin frowned. “I’m just telling you the truth. Whether you listen or not is up to you.”

“If you pass the provincial exam this year and become a presented scholar, then no one in the Xu family would dare cross me,” Li Qiuping said, her face full of expectation.

With his chin held high, Li Zhonglin replied with an air of confidence, “That’s only natural. Just wait for my good news.”

Meanwhile, Xu Ruoji and Xu Zimo were enjoying tea and a lively conversation, but when a maid came to summon them to dine at the eldest daughter-in-law’s courtyard that evening, their faces fell, all spirit gone.

“Mother sent someone to call us, so we have to go. After all, it’s our sister-in-law hosting the banquet. Let’s just treat it as a chance to enjoy a good meal. You haven’t had stewed duck shreds and braised pork knuckle in ages, have you?” Xu Ruoji’s comforting words eased Xu Zimo’s heart a little.

Glancing over her own accessories, Xu Zimo decided to take everything off and had Chun Cao pack them away. “I’d rather wear nothing at all than risk someone coveting them and having to give them up.”

Xu Ruoji smiled, lips pressed together, and told Chun Cao to put the items away, to be returned later when Xu Zimo’s servant arrived.

The siblings timed their arrival at Li Qiuping’s courtyard precisely.

By that time, the tables were already arranged in the main hall. Xu Yaohui was busy at the county office and could not return, so the highest-ranking present was Madam Yang.

Madam Yang sat at the head seat, sipping her tea. When she saw Xu Zimo and Xu Ruoji enter together, she frowned slightly. “Why are you so late?”

They should have arrived before Madam Yang…

“I had something to discuss with Second Sister,” Xu Zimo replied, noticing there were two tables, one for men and one for women. He really didn’t want to sit with Li Zhonglin, but seeing Xu Zilin’s watchful gaze, he had no choice but to go over.

Xu Ruoji curtseyed slightly to the women’s table before quietly taking a place beside Madam Yang.

Li Zhonglin’s gaze became fixed on that graceful, slender figure.

He had long heard of the Xu family’s second daughter, but had never paid her any mind. If she was so disregarded in her own family, what could she possibly amount to? Outsiders might not know Xu Ruoji’s background, but Li Zhonglin did—she was the illegitimate daughter Xu Zhupu had brought home after her mother vanished.

Just now, his sister had spent half the afternoon complaining that this girl was to be registered under their mother-in-law’s name and become a legitimate young lady. Li Zhonglin had said it was just Xu’s father trying to curry favor with the Zhang family—he was only doing what must be done. But he never expected the second girl to be so beautiful.

Those almond-shaped, enchanting eyes—one glance, and they were unforgettable.

How lucky that Zhang boy was to have such a beauty, yet he let her fall into the lake? What a fool.

If only he had been present, he would have leapt in to rescue her, making a fine story for the ages…

“Hey, what are you staring at?” Xu Zilin waved his hand, snapping his brother-in-law out of his daze as he stared, spellbound, at his sister.

Startled, Li Zhonglin quickly composed himself and forced a smile. “Is that the second young lady of the house? It’s my first time meeting her.”

“Well, you’ve met her now. She’s just a girl—what difference does it make whether you know her or not?” Xu Zilin knew exactly what kind of man his brother-in-law was and would never let him have his way. It wasn’t that he was especially protective of his sister, but she was soon to become the young mistress of the Zhang family—a hope shared by him and his father. How could he let someone like Li Zhonglin cause trouble?

Li Zhonglin hastily waved his hands. “Of course, of course. She’s your sister, but isn’t she also mine? I came here to visit Qiuping during her pregnancy, but also to congratulate the second young lady on her upcoming marriage. How could I not offer a toast in person?”

As he spoke, Li Zhonglin stood up and approached the women’s table.

Madam Yang immediately sensed something was amiss.

But since Xu Ruoji had stood quietly behind her since entering, she could find no fault, and could only blame her brother-in-law for his lack of decorum, though she could not scold him openly.

“Aunt, forgive my boldness, but may I offer my personal congratulations to the second young lady?” Li Zhonglin addressed Madam Yang, though his eyes lingered on Xu Ruoji.

“She’s just a girl; she doesn’t understand such things.” Madam Yang’s dismissive words did nothing to deter Li Zhonglin, who continued to stare at Xu Ruoji, unwavering.

Previously, Xu Ruoji had only heard third brother’s scathing remarks about this brother-in-law and hadn’t felt much aversion. Now, with him standing before her, his leering eyes roaming over her, she found him utterly despicable.

Li Qiuping, sitting to the side, glared resentfully at her brother. What was there to see in that girl? He was so transfixed he’d nearly lost his senses! With her mother-in-law already on the verge of anger, Li Qiuping had no choice but to smooth things over. “Second Sister, this is my own brother. His learning needs no praise—he’ll sit for the provincial exam next year. You should stand and pay your respects.”

“Don’t exaggerate, sister. We’re all family—why compare scholarly achievements?” Li Zhonglin spoke modestly, but his arrogance was plain for all to see.

At the other table, Xu Zilin and Xu Zimo exchanged a look of utmost disdain at his brashness.

Xu Ruoji ignored Li Qiuping and looked at Madam Yang instead.

Madam Yang gave her a slight nod, signaling her to get it over with. She couldn’t allow a grown man to linger at the women’s table any longer.

“Respectful greetings to my elder cousin,” Xu Ruoji said.

“No need for formality, Sister Ruoji,” Li Zhonglin replied, making no move to leave. Looking at the two tables, he suggested, “Since I am the only outsider, and there are just six of us, why not combine the tables and dine together? It would make us feel more like a family. Sister Ruoji, what do you think?”

His words took everyone aback, eyes wide in astonishment.

Xu Ruoji blinked, feeling goosebumps at every utterance of “sister.” This was the very definition of overstepping boundaries!

Why couldn’t the heavens strike him down with a bolt of lightning and send him flying a hundred thousand miles away?