“Can Big Sister drink alcohol? Is it not bad for her illness?”
“Don’t let her chronic fever fool you; her tolerance is actually better than mine,” Madam Xiang replied with a light chuckle. “Besides, a small sip for pleasure won’t hurt.”
Jiang Shishu nodded slightly. She knew very little about her eldest sister’s condition, so she took the Eldest Young Madam’s word as gospel.
As they strolled, the group arrived at the Flower Hall.
Before they even crossed the threshold, the sound of laughter drifted from within. An old servant outside announced in a raised voice:
“The Old Madam has arrived! The Madam has arrived! The Eldest Young Madam, the Eldest Young Lady, and the Third Young Lady Jiang have arrived!”
The moment the announcement ended, the crowd inside, who had been huddled together, dispersed and walked quickly toward the door. As Jiang Shiyuan supported her grandmother inside, she happened to see a young man, who had been standing with his back to them, turn around.
His sharp-featured face carried a natural air of nobility.
With eyebrows slanting toward his temples and eyes full of hidden depth, a lazy smile played upon his lips. Yet, upon closer inspection, those eyes held a shimmering authority that commanded respect without the need for anger.
His attire set him apart from the other young men. Already possessing a sturdy and well-built frame, he wore a crimson-gold python-patterned robe with narrow sleeves today, making him appear even more imposing and tall. He wore black court boots, and a gold belt with a chilled-horn pattern was cinched around his waist, accentuating his narrow waist and broad shoulders. Hanging from the belt was a jade pendant with a long tassel, engraved in bold, powerful calligraphy with the character “Pei.”
He was Pei Zisu, the nephew of Jiang Shiyuan’s aunt, Madam Pei. He was also the renowned Young General Pei of the Pei Family Army in Hanzhou, a man whom everyone followed with absolute conviction.
He walked over with a straight back. His movements seemed casual, yet every step carried the inherent pressure of a military leader. The four brothers of the Wang family were considered some of the most handsome and wealthy bachelors in the capital, but in his presence, they seemed somewhat eclipsed.
His face was more exquisite than a woman’s, yet it lacked any hint of effeminacy. Instead, he was like the scorching sun; his very presence seemed to make everything else in the world lose its luster.
“Zisu greets the Old Madam. Greetings, Aunt.”
Madam Pei looked at her nephew, her eyes filled with pride. Her brother and sister-in-law were such serious and disciplined people, yet they had produced a son who shone like radiant light. With him there, even her own four sons looked plain. She smiled and teased:
“You are the guest of honor today. You must drink a few extra cups later.”
“Rest assured, Aunt. In the matter of drinking, I have yet to meet a well-matched opponent!”
He naturally had a massive capacity for alcohol. In the army, they drank the harshest spirits; the fine wines of the capital were merely enough to wet his throat. He feared nothing.
Such a lack of modesty caused the Second Cousin, Wang Kuan, to look over with a playful glint in his eye. He whispered an order to a maid, and soon, several empty bowls the size of peonies appeared on the table, waiting to be claimed.
The Flower Hall was spacious; even with over a dozen people inside, it did not feel crowded.
Standing among the five or six men, Pei Zisu was easily the most eye-catching. Jiang Shiyuan paid her respects and offered greetings to everyone present. When it came to Pei Zisu, she was not shy, greeting him with effortless grace.
“A’nian greets Cousin Pei.”
“Cousin, you are too kind. Is your health better?”
“The medicine has been constant, so my spirits are naturally good. Thank you for your concern, Cousin Pei.”
“That is good.”
Beside her, Jiang Shishu also offered a greeting to Pei Zisu, but he merely gave a short “Hm” and said no more.
“Today is a welcome feast for Zisu. It is rare for my brother-in-law’s family to visit as well. Please, take your seats; let us have a proper family reunion dinner.”
The speaker was the master of the Wenyuan Marquis Mansion, Marquis Wang Jinli.
He was Jiang Shiyuan’s biological uncle, a few years older than his brother-in-law, yet he looked younger and more handsome. Years of wealth and status had imbued him with a sense of tranquility and ease, and his brocade robes added a touch of airy elegance.
Perhaps the late Old Marquis had been exceptionally handsome, for the Wang children all inherited a unique beauty. Among them, Jiang Shiyuan was the most outstanding. Consequently, Pei Zisu, whose eyes had not left her since she entered, now wore a faint, subtle smile.
Standing next to him, the Third Cousin, Wang Hong, found it inexplicable. He had never seen Pei Zisu smile before; the man usually wore a cold, somber expression that made the new recruits in the army take the long way around just to avoid him.
But before that thought could fully form, it was interrupted.
“Grandmother, my stomach is growling so loud it’s making a scene! Why don’t we take our seats first?”
The one speaking was the Second Cousin, Wang Kuan. Of the four grandsons, he resembled Old Madam Wang the most—round-faced and slightly plump with thick eyebrows and large eyes. He had been working at the Ministry of the Guards recently, braving the elements every day, so his complexion was no longer as fair as before.
Nonetheless, he was a person who brought joy to those who saw him. Coupled with his naturally lively personality, his single sentence made Old Madam Wang laugh.
“You mischievous monkey! Everyone, sit and eat.”
Old Madam Wang took her seat, still firmly clutching Jiang Shiyuan’s hand. Left with no choice, Shiyuan had to sit beside her. Everyone in the Marquis Mansion was used to this and simply found places around the table.
Jiang Shishu was nervous, but she forced herself to sit calmly beside her father, Jiang Huaishan. Madam Xiang happened to sit on her other side and whispered:
“Don’t be nervous. Eat whatever you like.”
“Yes, thank you, Eldest Young Madam.”
Pei Zisu’s seat was directly across from Jiang Shiyuan. To his left and right were the brothers Wang Kuan and Wang Hong. Seeing the small wine cups being removed and replaced by large wine bowls, he arched an eyebrow at his secretly smug Second Cousin, Wang Kuan. Then, he saw Wang Kuan raise his cup first.
“Cousin Zisu is a busy man. It wasn’t easy for him to come to the capital, so naturally, we must show him proper hospitality. However, given his tolerance, even if the four of us brothers combined our efforts, we might not be his match. Therefore, to ensure a fair celebration, let’s toast our small cups against your large bowls. What do you think, Cousin?”
Wang Kuan looked at Pei Zisu with a wicked grin, clearly intending to give him a grand “welcoming” prank!
He hadn’t said anything a few days ago because of the dragon boat race, but today, since they had set this “Hongmen Banquet,” he was determined to see Pei Zisu return in defeat! He couldn’t let him be so arrogant—what was that about never meeting a well-matched opponent?
Hmph!
The confused Jiang Huaishan glanced at his second nephew, his expression showing he found this inappropriate. Using a tiny cup for oneself while arranging a massive bowl for the guest—and speaking with such sarcasm? How had the family atmosphere changed so much after all these years?
Just as he was thinking this, a stern scolding suddenly erupted from the side. He turned to see Wang Su, the eldest son of the Marquis Mansion. Wang Su had been a cold-faced person since childhood; forget Jiang Huaishan, even the residents of the Marquis Mansion rarely saw him smile.
“Enough of this nonsense. If Zisu downs those bowls of wine, will he even be able to eat his dinner? Sit down.”
The moment he spoke, Wang Kuan dared not say another word.
After all, if you asked around the capital, you’d find that the second son of the Marquis Mansion feared nothing—except his eldest brother’s cold face and scoldings. Wang Su was the “Living Yama” who had once chased Wang Kuan down the street with a bramble switch to whip him. Thus, no matter how much Wang Kuan acted out or how smug he felt, he would always hunch his back and try to slip away like a mouse whenever he saw his brother.
He was so startled that a good amount of wine sloshed out of his cup. Pei Zisu reached out to steady it for him, his eyes full of laughter and a smug “what can you do to me?” look.