Chapter 387 Prestige

Chapter 387: A Formidable Reputation

The guests dispersed, the long-prepared celebration feast at the Song household came to an end. The front courtyard was calm, while the back courtyard had just wrapped up an invisible "battle."

The hired cooks had initially harbored resentment, feeling the Song family was a pain in the neck with all their threats and intimidation. But since they were officials, common folks didn't mess with officials, so they swallowed their complaints, picked up their final pay, and prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, before they departed, Huang Ye handed each of them a red envelope containing six taels of silver—several times more than what their Master paid them. Their earlier frustrations were instantly forgotten as they beamed from ear to ear, showering congratulations with increasingly over-the-top flattery.

The servants dispersed to clean the courtyard and kitchen. Gui Qian said, "Alright, we've all worked hard all day. Once things are cleaned up, let's eat. We've got plenty of good food today—eat up and get some rest. We'll finish the cleaning tomorrow morning."

The household had stocked up more than enough food. That evening, the Song servants laid out several more tables of food, while Meng Wan and the rest gathered in the Hongcao Courtyard. The other kids had been picked up by their folks after taking their medicine, and Chang Jinhua stayed inside to keep an eye on A Yan.

"Xiao Ci, there's nothing more for you here. Go on back—A Xun's still waiting for you." Meng Wan urged Chu Ci to leave first, since it was, after all, their wedding night, already delayed way too long.

Walking him to the door, Meng Wan added: "No need to come pay your respects tomorrow morning. Let A Xun sleep in late, and come to your grandmother's place for dinner in the evening."

Chu Ci nodded shyly, blushing as he headed back to the bridal chamber.

Chang Jinhua had cried her eyes out and now held the frail A Yan tight, refusing to let go. "We've got no grudge against the Shen family—why would they go this far?"

Poisoning was something Chang Jinhua had never even heard of back in her village. Ever since she learned of it in the Hongcao Courtyard that day, a chill had settled in her bones, and she was still on edge even now.

Meng Wan was silent for a moment, then turned to exchange a glance with Song Tingzhou. His eyes were filled with deeply complicated emotions. They both knew A Yan's poisoning had a lot of hidden layers, and now wasn't the time to explain everything to Chang Jinhua. The less the family knew about those court schemings, the better.

"Mother, it's also my fault for rubbing people the wrong way out there. We'll be more careful from now on—I swear nothing like this will happen again." Meng Wan sat down next to her, doing his best to comfort her.

"Even if you had a spat with someone out there, that's no reason to come poison a kid on our happiest day. It's the evil in people's hearts—how can that be blamed on you?" Chang Jinhua didn't know much about big principles, but she knew it was someone with bad intentions who'd gone after a kid like A Yan.

Seeing her getting more upset, Meng Wan quickly changed the subject. "Mother, didn't you say Yu Geer and Song Zhi are engaged? Have they set a date yet?"

At the mention of another happy occasion, Chang Jinhua perked up a bit. "Song Zhi's family wants their son to get married soon. Once he's back from Changping at the end of the year, they'll start getting ready for the wedding with Yu Geer."

"His eldest aunt isn't gonna stir up trouble again, is she?" Meng Wan still remembered last year's village mess and that woman's shameless, quarrelsome ways.

Chang Jinhua ran her hand through A Yan's loose black hair, all her attention on her grandson. She hadn't even noticed when Lu Chunfang left that day. She chatted with Meng Wan as if it were just everyday talk: "After her Que Geer got divorced last year, Song Zhi's eldest aunt settled down a lot. Song Zhi's dad works as a cart driver in the prefectural city, and Song Zhi makes money writing books. Together, they've saved up enough to buy a small one-courtyard house in the city. The plan is to move Yu Geer to the city after the wedding—they won't be going back to the village."

Meng Wan had looked out for Yu Geer out of respect for Chang Jinhua. Now hearing he'd found a good home, he said sincerely, "That's great. When he gets married, I'll add to his dowry."

Chang Jinhua was distracted. "Ah, we'll see when the time comes."

Wei Ying and Zhi Fan, both sharp and capable, had come to the Hongcao Courtyard to keep Zhu Yan company watching over A Yan. The three took turns on night watch, so the courtyard was well covered. Song Tingzhou urged Chang Jinhua to head back to her own room and rest. "Mother, please get some rest. Tomorrow I'll go to the Shuntian Prefecture and interrogate the culprit. You needn't worry too much."

Though Chang Jinhua was worried about A Yan, she also hated to see Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou working all day without proper rest. She didn't linger and was escorted back to her own courtyard by the couple.

A hot bath washed away the day's exhaustion. Meng Wan lay in bed with his hair still half-damp, fatigue spreading through every limb. He didn't want to move a single finger, but his mind was preoccupied with other matters that kept him from falling into deep sleep.

The blanket lifted at one corner as Song Tingzhou, carrying the scent of bathwater, gently pulled Meng Wan into his arms.

"Was it the one up top?" Meng Wan asked softly, almost like a sleep-talker. Had Song Tingzhou not been pressed close against him, his chin buried in Meng Wan's slightly damp hair, he wouldn't have heard the words at all.

Song Tingzhou pressed his lips to Meng Wan's ear, his breath warm. "No. It was those great aristocratic families. Xue Sheng intercepted two groups of people in the alley."

Meng Wan's lips parted slightly. "Killing two birds with one stone?"

Moonlight spilled through the white window paper onto the bed curtains. Song Tingzhou sighed softly within the canopy. "Indeed... two birds with one stone."

But those two birds would not be him and Shen Chongshan.

In the following days, what buzzed through the capital was not that the Shuntian Prefecture magistrate had tried a bizarre poisoning case, nor that Consort Rong of the harem had been confined to her palace, nor that the madwoman-like Second Madam Shen had stormed the Song residence only to be arrested and locked up in the Shuntian Prefecture. Rather, it was the ferocity of Lord Song's husband, Meng—who had single-handedly infuriated Princess Qin to the point of fainting, and even made County Lord Ningping suffer a humiliating defeat.

This added another victory to Meng Wan's record, following his two New Year's Day banquet verbal battles with the favored consorts of the late emperor and the current one.

The benefit was that the invitations that had piled up on the desk like snowflakes since Song Tingzhou's promotion had vanished. Meng Wan no longer needed to think of excuses to decline them, and his ears enjoyed some peace.

The downside was that whenever Meng Wan went out now, he felt less like a person and more like a fierce beast descending from the mountains—people fled from him. Rumors about just how formidable Meng Wan's temperament was spread through the streets. Those ladies and gentlemen who had personally experienced it didn't dare spread things openly, but they certainly gossiped plenty.

"His temper is far too fierce. In all my years, I've never seen any household's husband behave so wantonly."

"He's a real tough nut. By his own account, he doesn't care about face at all."

"I've seen hotheads before. Setting aside the ill-mannered Second Madam Shen, Lady Zhu of Lord Kou's household caused quite a few scenes when she first arrived in the capital."

"You can't compare the two. That Meng Fulang is sharp. He may have played the fool and thrown his weight around that day, but his words and actions were watertight. He can accuse others, but no one can accuse him."

"True enough. That day when he said he'd change into his court robes and petition the emperor, I thought he was just bluffing. Who would've thought he actually went the next day?"

"The emperor rebuked Consort Rong because of him, and when Second Madam Shen went to make a scene, she got thrown into the Shuntian Prefecture. The two families' feud is truly set in stone now."

The Shen family was newly risen in this dynasty, and Shen Chongshan oversaw the salt transport—they wanted for no money. Even though Shen Chongshan was still serving in Yangzhou, with only his second brother's family and his own son and daughter in the capital, the Shen residence was still a grand four-courtyard mansion in the finest location of the inner city.

Third Miss Shen was pacing frantically in the courtyard. "Elder Brother, what do we do? Second Aunt won't be tortured in the Shuntian Prefecture, will she?"

"Second Aunt was far too reckless. I'd barely gotten leave from the Hall of Supreme Harmony when I heard she'd stormed the Song residence. The Shen family is already in the wrong—her outburst only made things worse between the two families." Before her stood a handsome young man in his twenties, with a gentle, refined bearing. Even with his brows furrowed in worry, his warmth shone through. He was Shen Chongshan's eldest legitimate son, Shen Hui.

Shen Hui had placed in the second tier of the imperial examinations and was supposed to be at the Hall of Supreme Harmony learning court etiquette from the Ministry of Rites officials, so that when he faced the emperor at the end of the month, his conduct would be beyond reproach.

But news of Consort Rong's confinement had spread too widely—even he had heard of it. He had to request leave and return home to ask what had happened.

No sooner had Shen Hui left the palace gates than word hit him that his elder aunt had been arrested and taken to the Shuntian Prefecture. With Shen Chongshan away and Second Uncle also in Yangzhou, only Third Miss Shen—an unmarried young lady—was home. Even though she was a resourceful girl, such a huge matter was enough to make anyone panic.

"I told her clearly at home and even sent Yu Shu to watch over her. Yu Shu knows martial arts too—how could she not have stopped her?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Third Miss Shen froze completely.

"Qiong Hua... Qiong Hua was arrested for poisoning and taken to the Shuntian Prefecture. Yu Shu... Yu Shu couldn't also be..." Despite the bright daylight, a chill shot straight through Third Miss Shen's skull, exploding in her mind. Even the sunlight couldn't dispel the cold.

Shen Hui steadied his sister, his tone incredulous. "The poisoner was Qiong Hua? How is that possible? She and Yu Shu were both by Father's side—he specifically had you bring them along when you returned to the capital."

"It must be Father's political enemies—they planted these two spies beside him!" Third Miss Shen was terrified by her own speculation. "Brother! Call Yu Shu over right now. She must have deliberately provoked Second Aunt. Otherwise, though Second Aunt is blunt, she wouldn't keep charging into trouble."

Second Madam Shen was boorish and tactless, but she wasn't a fool. How could she go handing the Song family a weapon against them after already offending them?

Shen Hui thought more deeply about his sister's words. "Don't rush. Yu Shu is at home—she can't run anywhere. Whether she's a spy or not, don't act rashly for now. I'll write to Father first."

"And as for Second Aunt—you're not to go to the Shuntian Prefecture to inquire. That's no place for a young lady. Her storming their gates was unsightly, but it's hardly a major crime. She'll be released in a couple of days."

—

Unlike the Shen siblings' suspicion and unease, the Song household had been peaceful since the celebration. Both masters and servants alike had rested soundly for several days.

After taking several doses of Chu Ci's medicine, A Yan had cleared the remaining toxins from his system, but he had lost a great deal of weight—his once-round chin now showed distinct definition. Chang Jinhua was determined to fatten him back up, and the back courtyard was filled with delicious aromas every day.

The former small garden in the back courtyard had been turned into large vegetable plots. Morning dew still clung to the tender green leaves; if they weren't fortunate enough to be shaken off by a breeze and fall into the soil, they'd be dried up by the fierce midday sun.

A Yan's leave had been extended, and Tong'er had also found an excuse to request time off from Zheng Su. The two children were now chasing the snow wolf around the courtyard, trying to teach it to climb trees. Wei Ying and Yun Que sat on small stools under the eaves doing needlework, while Zhi Fan and Zhi Mao waited by the vegetable plots to pick produce.

The newly sprouted chives were a vivid green, growing in neat, lush rows. Meng Wan held a bamboo basket in his left hand and a pair of dull scissors in his right, snipping the chives at the roots with a crunch-crunch sound. Soon he had a basket piled high, which he handed to Zhi Fan and Zhi Mao to clean.

"Mother, is one basket enough?" Meng Wan called toward the kitchen.

Chang Jinhua stepped out of the kitchen to reply, "That's enough. Pick some shepherd's purse and spinach too—I'll make a cold dish."

"I'll go, I'll go! It's my turn with Tong'er, Papa!" Yan and Tong'er came running over, their noses and foreheads beaded with sweat.

The weather in Shengjing was pleasantly cool, and the two children were simply playing for fun.

Meng Wan handed them the basket, "Go on, but don't trample the seedlings in Grandma's garden."

Today, the family was making dumplings, with fillings ranging from pure meat, chive and shrimp, to mushroom and egg—something for everyone.

Meng Wan washed his hands and went into the kitchen to help Chang Jinhua knead dough. Before long, Chu Ci arrived with A Xun.

"Did you see Jin Shuang and the others off?" Meng Wan asked.

A Xun washed his hands and came over to help, "We walked them to the city gates, and Uncle Natuo wouldn't let us go any further."

Because of a casual remark Meng Wan had made, he had adopted Chu Ci as his son, which suddenly bumped up Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou's standing, and A Xun had started calling people by these new titles too.

Meng Wan was taken aback by what A Xun called him, "Did you call him that in front of Uncle Natuo too? Did he say anything?"

A Xun curved his lips, dressed in the spring clothes Meng Wan had bought him, the bright-colored jacket making him look lively and cute, "He said he'd get married and have children as soon as possible."

"Haha!" Meng Wan laughed heartily.

Another one had his defenses broken.

Chu Ci listened silently from the side, occasionally looking up at them, his features gentle, far more soft-spoken than the increasingly commanding Song Tingzhou.

Chang Jinhua had prepared all sorts of fillings and brought over a basin of meat filling first, asking the young couple, "When you went to clear the poison for the Zhao family's young master, did you also cure the eldest daughter-in-law's illness? Her mother-in-law came by early this morning to thank you, bringing a cartload of gifts. Your father was still sleeping in, so I entertained her. They're all in the back storage room now; after we eat, have someone take them back to your courtyard."

A Xun shook his head, helping roll out dumpling wrappers while speaking without pausing his work, "My husband and I lack nothing; our courtyard is nearly overflowing. Her daughter-in-law had a breast tumor, which is difficult to treat, and will need adjusted prescriptions."

Meng Wan held a wrapper in his left hand, filled it with his right, and with a quick twist of his fingers, shaped a plump dumpling in an instant. In the brief moment it took to wrap one dumpling, his mind had already turned over a thought, "You're skilled in medicine, and as a young male practitioner, you'll surely make a name for yourself in Shengjing. Our family is not what it once was; few reckless ones would dare cause you trouble, but you must still be cautious. When entering others' inner quarters, always have a young attendant by your side."

A Xun nodded obediently, "I understand, Papa."

Meng Wan: "..." Though he'd heard it for a few days, he still wasn't quite used to it. He'd gone from being Brother Meng Wan to Papa.