Madam Cui felt a throbbing pain in her head and stepped forward at a few paces.
“This is the main banquet. Leave at once. Don’t come here and make a fool of yourself.”
Zhang Chengzhou’s eyelid twitched violently. Earlier, his elder brother’s wife had already sent the word that his nephew had been betrothed to the eldest daughter of the Lin family. That nephew of his was gifted and intelligent, but completely uninterested in women. It had not been easy for him to finally secure a marriage arrangement. If anything went wrong at today’s banquet, his imposing elder brother would likely beat him to death.
“Get out at once!” Zhang Chengzhou barked.
Aunt Xing sobbed softly. “The young master will soon come of age, yet you have been away from home for so long. Now I hear the family is forming a marriage alliance with the Lin family. The young master is also your son—he is even a year older than Third Young Master. I only beg you to take pity on us and arrange a virtuous wife for him.”
As she spoke, her gaze subtly drifted toward Lin Jingchu—her intention was obvious.
Zhang Tianxing looked at Zhang Chengzhou expressionlessly.
Cold sweat broke out on Zhang Chengzhou’s back. He now wanted nothing more than to slap this ignorant woman across the face.
The second young lady of the Lin family held the status of a marquis’s legitimate daughter. Her biological father was a third-rank official, a formidable figure in court. Moreover, his elder brother’s wife had already said Madam Xia intended to betroth her younger daughter to his legitimate son, Zhang Chuxiao. That was a match their second branch would need great fortune just to reach.
He was already worried that the Lin family might look down on his legitimate son—yet this wretched woman dared to dream of marrying her son, an illegitimate one, to that young lady instead.
Normally, he found her flirtatious behavior in the inner courtyard somewhat charming. But now, in front of so many guests, her conduct made him utterly humiliated.
“Why are you not properly staying in the inner courtyard? How dare you come here and spout nonsense? Do you even understand the rules?” Zhang Chengzhou’s face alternated between green, white, and red. In front of the Lin family, he could not erupt and could only force himself to endure it.
Zhang Chuxiao coldly ordered, “Gag her and drag her out.”
The servants in the hall immediately stepped forward and forcibly dragged Aunt Xing away.
The expressions of everyone present turned unpleasant.
“Zhang Chuxiao, you’ve gone too far! How dare you treat my mother like this? I will not let you off!” Zhang Chuxu pointed at Zhang Chuxiao.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Old Madam Zhang struck the table repeatedly. The wrinkles on her face seemed to deepen with anger. “Silence! You dare behave so improperly in front of guests? All of you, get out!”
“……”
What had originally been a harmonious banquet ended in displeasure because of the disturbance caused by a concubine and her illegitimate son.
Madam Cui personally escorted the Lin family’s mother and daughters out.
“That concubine was originally my second brother-in-law’s maid. My sister-in-law passed away early, and my second brother had no intention of remarrying, so she managed the household. Now she has grown increasingly improper. Once the second branch has a proper mistress and the family is divided, she will be nothing but an insignificant thing unable to affect anything.”
“You are too kind,” Madam Xia replied smoothly. “Every family has its troubles. I will discipline my household properly and ensure they do not speak nonsense outside.”
The Zhang family had been unusually warm today, making her feel somewhat uneasy. After this incident, she finally felt more grounded.
Inside the carriage, Madam Xia looked at Lin Jingchu. “You saw everything today. What do you think of the Zhang family?”
“The Zhang concubine is pretentious, Second Master Zhang is overly filial and short-sighted, Second Old Master seems acceptable, and Third Young Master Zhang is quite good-looking.”
After seeing so many people today, Lin Jingchu could not remember most of their faces. Her way of avoiding confusion was to label everyone, and Zhang Chuxiao was indeed good-looking.
“Stop joking. I’m asking you seriously. Do you want to accept the marriage with Third Young Master Zhang?”
Lin Jingchu thought for a moment.
“Yes.”