Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Fragrance of Wine

Strictly speaking, bringing betrothal gifts should not require Zhang Zhongheng’s personal appearance. Yet today, he, too, had come to the Xu family’s residence.

Madam Yang received him courteously, offering tea, while Zhang Zhongheng maintained a faint, sardonic smile, his mind occupied entirely with thoughts of Xu Ruojin.

He had not intended to involve himself in the matter of betrothal gifts. It was only yesterday that his servant brought him a message, having gleaned some information from the Xu household about Du Er and the old Du woman.

Upon hearing the full account, Zhang Zhongheng’s first reaction was disbelief. But the servant insisted it must be true, since the old Du woman, who’d been driven out by the Xu family, had relayed the same story.

Thinking back to his arguments with Xu Ruojin, Zhang Zhongheng began to feel uncertain. He realized he could no longer discern what kind of woman she truly was.

Once, she had seemed meek, pushed into the lake without resistance. Then, in private quarrels, her words had left him speechless. When Li Zhonglin was drunk and he had deliberately set obstacles for her, she had overcome them with such resolve that even the men present were left dumbfounded, while he himself was forced to withdraw in defeat.

“Xu Ruojin.”

After wavering for a moment, Zhang Zhongheng resolved to see her today while delivering the betrothal gifts. Whether he would marry her or not could wait; what he could not abide was his inability to control a woman—especially one he had once so thoroughly looked down upon.

After a few pleasantries with Madam Yang, Zhang Zhongheng expressed his desire to meet the young lady of the Xu family.

Madam Yang had intended to refuse, but seeing that Zhang Zhongheng had come in person, she feared that turning him away would only spoil the rare “harmony” between the families.

Chunca, who had not yet left, was sent to the second young lady’s quarters to deliver the message.

When Xu Ruojin heard Chunca’s explanation, her heart turned cold. Though the words “marriage alliance” were ever present around her, and she had used the situation to secure better treatment and privileges for herself, she could not suppress her deep loathing and aversion for Zhang Zhongheng.

Last time, he had incited trouble, trapping her in a stalemate; now, to think he would come and demand to see her again?

Absurd!

Who did he think he was?

Did he imagine he could do whatever he pleased? Absolutely not!

It had been a long time since Xu Ruojin had felt such righteous anger; her pale face, flushed with indignation, even startled Hongxing.

“Second Miss, what’s wrong?” Hongxing waved her hand before Xu Ruojin’s eyes. “Madam is waiting. You’d better hurry and change your clothes.”

“I won’t!” Xu Ruojin’s refusal was adamant. “I’ve already said, because of the matter with the rice seedlings, I will not leave my own courtyard before marriage. Chunca, go and tell them I am reflecting behind closed doors, and dare not break my earlier promise. Ask Mother to forgive me.”

“What?” Chunca was startled. “Why not use this opportunity to have Madam lift the punishment forbidding you to leave your courtyard?”

“No!” Xu Ruojin would not yield. “Just say as I told you. Go now.”

Chunca could only sigh in resignation. Seeing that Second Miss had no intention of changing her mind, she hurried off once more toward the main residence, silently hoping that Madam would not lose her temper in public, lest Second Miss suffer again.

After Chunca left, it took Hongxing a while to realize just how much Second Miss disliked Young Master Zhang. But watching her sit there, cheeks puffed with anger, Hongxing dared not ask further, deciding instead to consult Chunca later that evening.

Madam Yang waited for a good while, and was surprised when only Chunca returned to the main hall.

Chunca steeled herself, greeted both Madam Yang and Zhang Zhongheng, then reported, “Madam, Second Miss says she must abide by her previous promise to reflect behind closed doors, and asks your forgiveness.”

“What?” Madam Yang nearly fainted from anger. “Is she trying to drive me mad?”

Zhang Zhongheng was also taken aback. He hadn’t expected the Xu family’s daughter to defy her mother’s command, nor did he understand what was meant by “reflecting behind closed doors.”

Chunca kept her mouth shut. Feeling Zhang Zhongheng’s gaze upon her, Madam Yang forced an awkward smile and tried to explain, “That stubborn girl—it's my fault for spoiling her. Please, Young Master Zhang, don’t hold it against her.”

“Not at all. It was I who was presumptuous.” Zhang Zhongheng drew out his words, looking at Madam Yang. “But what is this ‘reflection behind closed doors’? She’s still young—whether indulged or willful, I hope you’ll be lenient and not too harsh.”

“Oh, Young Master Zhang, your words are truly sweet. If that girl knew you pleaded on her behalf, she’d be so embarrassed her face would turn red.” Madam Yang’s smile wrinkled her whole face. “It’s nothing serious, really. I haven’t treated her harshly. She’s just strong-willed, and to be honest, not to make you laugh, some time ago the mother and son of the Du family bullied her maid, and she couldn’t let it go, so she investigated and uncovered the truth.

“She argued with me a bit in the process. I didn’t say much, but she felt she was in the wrong and volunteered to confine herself in reflection.” Madam Yang spread her hands, her expression bitter. “Those who know her temperament understand; those who don’t might think I’m a cruel mother.”

“Madam Xu, you seem the very picture of kindness. How could anyone take you for a vicious or malicious person? Impossible,” Zhang Zhongheng replied, his tone laced with sarcasm. Madam Yang felt uncomfortable but could hardly protest without embarrassing herself.

Yet with Xu Ruojin refusing to meet, Madam Yang felt the situation was awkward and tried to recover, suggesting tentatively, “Perhaps you’d care to visit her courtyard yourself…”

“No need.” Zhang Zhongheng stood, his tone cold, raising an eyebrow. “A man and a woman alone, even with the engagement set, are not yet husband and wife. Meeting privately would go against propriety. As a man, I wouldn’t mind, but it might harm her reputation. I’ll take my leave.”

Madam Yang’s face froze, and she could not even muster a smile. If she failed to recognize Zhang Zhongheng’s contempt now, she must be impossibly dense.

She ordered Madam Huang and a servant to see the guest out. Though she didn’t wish to move, for fear of being accused of neglect, she forced herself to accompany Zhang Zhongheng to his carriage as he left the Xu household.

Once inside, Zhang Zhongheng dropped his façade, muttering through clenched teeth, “Stubborn woman! Refuse to see me, will you? I’ll see to it you have no choice in the end!”

As the carriage disappeared from view, Madam Yang clenched her fists and turned back toward Xu Ruojin’s quarters. “Wretched girl, using words to embarrass me and make me lose face—let’s see how tough you really are!”

Xu Ruojin, meanwhile, listened as Chunca breathlessly relayed the events that had just taken place. She had already anticipated that Madam Yang would come to complain, but merely shrugged, unconcerned.

As for that scoundrel Zhang Zhongheng, even sparing him a glance felt like it would cut a decade from her life.

She would rather endure Madam Yang’s scolding than risk dying before her time.

Taking out a jar of wine that had been fermenting for ten days, Xu Ruojin removed the wax seal. As the fragrance of strong liquor filled the room, Yangtao outside the door could not help but sniff the air repeatedly, exclaiming, “What a delicious aroma!”