Chapter 59: Counterattack and Returning Home [Thank You All for Your Support, Grateful

As he spoke, he glanced at the crowd nearby.

Wu Dangzi beside him rolled her eyes and said loudly:

“Some families haven’t wronged their elder sister—why are you afraid of their younger brother? I say, someone’s heart is just crooked!”

“Do people marry daughters-in-law just to persecute them?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,”

“No decent family would marry their daughter into such a household.”

As she spoke, Wu Dangzi shook her head.

Someone took it personally, furious.

“You! What do you mean by that?”

“Me? What do I mean? The Xu family has an elder sister who married out—widowed, she raised her young son to become a Jinshi! She was officially recognized by the court as a virtuous, chaste woman! She received a chastity arch! And yet someone here is spouting nonsense! When trouble comes, all you do is cry and wail, you flashy, dramatic creatures! I say, that’s the mark of a family ruined.”

After Wu Dangzi finished, the noble ladies at the gathering all covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and laughed along.

Who in Bianjing didn’t know that this lady of the Han family’s eldest branch was famous for weeping—nicknamed “Tear Well,” her tears came on command?

And Wu Dangzi of the Yongchang Marquis’s household was a renowned noblewoman among Bianjing’s official families, known for her warmth and kindness,

and whether noble or scholarly families, all their unmarried daughters hoped Wu Dangzi would take notice and recommend a good match.

She was also the sole owner of Bianjing’s premier noble social and sporting venue—the Jinming Pool Polo Club—

so no one dared offend her; if she refused to invite you, you’d be laughed to death.

The eldest daughter of the Han household clenched her teeth and fell silent, vowing never to attend this ridiculous gathering again.

But thinking of her own children waiting to be married off, she swallowed her anger.

Fragrant robes, tangled hair, laughter and chatter filled the air.

Wu Dangzi lowered her head and sipped her tea.

Her thoughts turned:

The one who had acted that day had been silenced—the trail had gone cold.

Who knew if among these laughing noblewomen, one wasn’t the mastermind behind it all?

In another guest room, unmarried noblewomen were also talking about the Xu daughter.

Many who had attended the Emperor’s birthday banquet boasted about seeing Xu Zaijing draw his bow and shoot an arrow.

Those with younger brothers declared they’d raise their sons to be like Xu Zaijing—the ultimate sister-protector.

One noblewoman complained:

“I have no younger brother, only older brothers! Ugh, so frustrating!”

A close friend beside her said: “Then just find yourself a husband like that.”

“I wouldn’t dare marry a sister with that kind of strength—why are you blushing?”

“Pfft, pfft, pfft!”

A close friend scolded playfully: “You little shameless thing—don’t you fear your own lady mother punishing you?”

The unmarried noblewomen in the room burst into laughter and teasing.

In the great capital of Bianjing, new gossip quickly became the talk of the town, and Pingmei’s affair gradually faded.

The Xu household.

Before the first lunar month ended, preparations for Xu Zai’s wedding were in full swing.

Xu Zaijing’s task was to hold his brother’s black stallion by the ears, urging him to bond more closely.

After all, on the wedding day, Xu Zai would ride that fine steed.

The black stallion, upon hearing Xu Zaijing’s voice, shook its head—annoyed by the nagging.

On the twenty-sixth day of the first lunar month,

on the day of Xu Zai’s wedding, Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingye arrived from the Gu household.

Several unmarried cousins from the Sun household also came.

Relatives from Daizhou’s ancestral home arrived as well.

The wedding procession was adorned with red silk and brocade—so many people made it truly grand.

Arriving at the Xie household, red double happiness characters were pasted everywhere, servants wore red silk sashes, adding abundant joy.

Besides Xie’s own sons and daughters blocking the gate, there was also Zheng Jun’s second son—the heir of the Zhongjing Marquis’s household.

Fortunately, for literary skill there was Gu Tingyu; for martial prowess, Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the Daizhou relatives.

After a contest of wit and strength at the gate, they entered the Xie household’s courtyard without trouble.

Inside the Xie courtyard, those who had heard of the Lantern Festival incident no longer cared about drinking.

They all gathered around Xu Zaijing, scanning his face, eyes, and build, some even casually patting his arms, pinching his thighs, nodding as they touched him.

Had Xu Zaijing not known these older brothers were all married men of upright character, his hair would have stood on end.

Had it not been a wedding day, and wrestling matches forbidden, he felt they’d strip down and fight him right then.

Several of these youths, who had joined the military as officers—like Zheng Jun—actively recruited Xu Zaijing, inviting him to join their ranks once he came of age.

Soon, Xu Zaijing saw the sister-in-law his elder sister had spoken of.

The new bride appeared, and both her husband’s and her own family’s younger ones began to tease her.

It diluted the sorrow of parting.

She served tea, received her parents’ advice, bid them farewell, and was carried out the gate on her brother’s back, then placed into the bridal sedan.

Musicians played wedding music ahead, Xu Zai rode atop the black stallion adorned with red silk flowers.

Behind them followed one hundred and twenty-eight chests of dowry from the Xie household.

Xu Zai, riding the fine steed, was truly radiant with joy.

The grand wedding procession arrived at Quyuanjie, firecrackers crackled, and the new bride entered the house.

Before leaving, several Zheng brothers clapped Xu Zaijing on the shoulder, inviting him to visit their homes.

Along Quyuanjie and on the Hou Fu’s riding grounds, many carriages and horses stood parked.

All female servants and retainers of the Xu household wore red silk sashes,

the Yongyi Marquis’s residence brimming with joy.

Xu Minghua and Sun Shi sat at the head, flanked by their two sons and two daughters, waiting as the newlyweds paid respects to their in-laws before being led to the bridal chamber.

Relatives and friends followed inside,

amid the noisy, lively atmosphere,

the Xie bride, petite in stature, lowered her round fan; by the time she performed the wine-sharing and hair-binding rituals in the bridal chamber, her face was flushed crimson.

Soon after, Xu Zai was dragged out by his relatives and friends.

Fortunately, Sun Shi had cultivated friendships with Wu Dangzi, Bai Dangzi, and others, and the managing matrons sent to help had eased the burden on the Xu household.

That night, Xu Zaijing, hoping to eavesdrop, was chased off by his sister-in-law’s maidservant—his plan failed.

The next day, the Xu household’s eldest daughter-in-law, Lady Xie, accompanied by her husband, served tea.

The unmarried younger brothers and sisters received gifts from their new sister-in-law.

Sun Shi gave her daughter-in-law a jade bracelet of exquisite quality.

Lady Xie was petite, with a gentle face and dewy skin; her gaze toward her husband was filled with admiration.

She had indeed married up—from the second daughter of a viscount’s household to becoming the future Yongyi Marquis’s lady—many of her childhood friends were envious.

Finally, Sun Shi took a wooden box from behind her maidservant.

“This is a wedding gift from your aunt in Yangzhou.”

Lady Xie opened the box—it contained a precious red-gold hairpin, far from ordinary.

Xu Minghua, Sun Shi, their eldest son, and daughter-in-law conversed.

Outside, Xu Zaijing and the others had left Sun Shi’s room and were now intently watching the animals in the courtyard.

Along with Lady Xie came a pair of tiny golden-bedded, silver-curtained cats, and a pair of hunting dogs as part of the dowry.

These four animals, fluffy and adorable, were at their cutest stage.

In the following two days, Xu Anmei brought one of the cats to a noblewomen’s tea gathering in the capital, and thanks to the cat, she made many close female friends.

Delighted, she used her private silver to craft a small golden bell, tying it to the cat’s neck with a red string.

When Xu Zaijing saw it, he removed the tiny clapper inside—the golden bell no longer rang.

Though it was improper to say so, once his sister-in-law learned of this, her gaze toward Xu Zaijing was filled with gratitude.

In the house beside the riding grounds, Xu Zaijing’s master had taken charge of the pair of hunting dogs.

Three days after his wedding, Xu Zai brought his new wife back to her parents’ home.

After paying respects to her parents, Xu Zai and the male members of her family went to the front courtyard for drinks.

Lady Xie Er conversed with her mother and sisters-in-law on women’s matters.

Lady Xie, full of concern, asked her daughter:

“Your husband is a scholar, and he seems gentle enough.

But I’ve heard that the youngest Xu son, Fifth Young Master, is fierce and violent.

He once beat up Rong Xian, that little demon of the Qi State Duke’s household—have you suffered under his cruelty in the Xu household?”

Lady Xie Er shook her head:

“Mother, where did you hear such nonsense? My Jing-ge is the most tender, thoughtful boy! Mother, do you know about the cat we sent?”

“What? Did that wicked boy harm it?”

“Mother, no—it was my little sister. She made many close friends because of the cat, and she treasures it dearly.”

She used her private money to buy a golden bell and hung it around the cat’s neck.

“How can you do that? A cat with a bell can’t catch mice! The old servants in the house always said a cat wearing a bell will go mad.”

The second young lady’s sister-in-law exclaimed in surprise.

“You’re right, but I’ve only just married into the Xu family, and my little sister-in-law meant well—how could I refuse? It was Jing-ge who was thoughtful—he removed the clapper from the bell, so it made no sound, and only then did I feel at ease.”

“That does show thoughtfulness.”

“Mother, there’s more—these past few days, I’ve heard our servants say that Jing-ge, though so young, rises every morning to practice martial arts.”

“Oh? It’s rare to find such an ambitious young man in a family of military nobility. Then the rumors about your elder sister-in-law being fierce, violent, and jealous must be false?”

“My elder sister-in-law took after my mother-in-law—both come from military families. When men are off fighting, a woman must be strong to manage the household.”

Xie’s mother nodded.

“Good. Then I’ll have to prepare a thank-you gift for the Liang family—for arranging this match.”

“Mother, I think our second daughter has forgotten her own mother now that she’s married. She keeps saying ‘my family’—oh, our Xie family has become outsiders!”

“Sister-in-law, how can you say that~” The second young lady blushed.

“Your husband—how is his health?” Xie’s mother asked.

The second young lady’s face turned so red it could boil water, yet she still whispered:

“My husband—he’s been sparring and wrestling since childhood with my mother-in-law’s nephews, and he’s never lost. He’s in excellent health.”

“That’s good. Once you have a child, your mother will rest easy.”

The second young lady nodded vigorously, noticed her sister-in-law’s gaze, and gave her a hard slap.

Then the women of the family burst into laughter.

“Erniang, I heard your elder sister-in-law’s future husband is going to take the imperial examinations?”

Thank you all for your generous support!

Today’s recommendation is up, so I’m posting early.

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(End of Chapter)