In the late afternoon, guests arrived at Wuqing Marquis Mansion one after another.
The male guests stayed in the front, while the female guests went directly to the garden to listen to the opera and have a feast at the same time.
Before the banquet started, Emperor Jingshun sent Eunuch Ma to deliver a birthday gift to Madam Qi.
Madam Qi knelt in front of everyone with a solemn expression to thank the emperor for his grace.
At that moment, except for Princess Huayang, all the other female relatives present looked at Madam Qi with envy. Her son-in-law was the emperor, her daughter was the empress, and she had a grandson who was crowned the crown prince at a very young age. Madam Qi's life was not lived in vain. She did not have to do anything and all the wealth and glory came to her. In terms of status, few women outside the palace could surpass her.
After Eunuch Xiao Ma left, the banquets at both places officially began.
The ladies listened to the opera, while the gentlemen drank heartily.
Qi Jin, Chen Jingzong and several young military officers sat at the same table, while the older guests were personally entertained by Wu Qinghou.
Those who could sit at the same table with Qi Jin were all his close colleagues and friends. Some of them Chen Jingzong knew, while others were introduced by Qi Jin after they met.
"The prince consort stole the show in the last martial arts competition. I heard that the emperor also rewarded you with a golden spear a few days ago. I wonder if you can take it out someday so that we can also admire the divine weapon bestowed by the emperor?"
"Yes, the last person to be awarded the precious spear by the emperor was General Qin. It shows that the emperor has high hopes for his son-in-law!"
General Qin is a famous general in our dynasty who fought against the Japanese pirates. Almost everyone, from the elderly to the little children, knows him. He is now stationed at the northern gate of Jizhou.
Chen Jingzong smiled and said, "I dare not compare myself with General Qin. If you are interested, I will host you and invite you all to drink next time."
"You are so straightforward, come on, let's have another bowl!"
When men, especially a group of military officers, get together, no matter what they talk about, they are worth drinking a bowl of wine, and they must drink strong liquor. If Qi Jin only prepares a few jars of ordinary wine, he will be laughed at by his colleagues.
Chen Jingzong never refused any toast from others.
Qi Jin was the host today and was persuaded to drink a lot of wine. He and Chen Jingzong's hands almost never left the wine bowls. If anyone dared to say "I can't drink anymore", the others would tease the other person.
However, no matter how much they could drink, there was only so much their stomachs could hold. Halfway through the meal, Chen Jingzong apologized and left to go to the toilet.
"I'm traveling with the prince consort." Qi Jin followed with a smile.
Chen Jingzong glanced at him, slowed down, and let Qi Jin lead the way.
On the night of the sixth day of the first lunar month, the air was chilly, there was a crescent moon in the sky, and the lanterns hanging in the corridor swayed gently in the wind. Even though the place was bustling with people talking, it still seemed a bit desolate and bleak.
The clean room has arrived.
This is the clean room specially prepared for the male guests today. It is divided into several small rooms by screens. The servants will clean up after the guests have used it.
At that time, the bathroom was empty, so Chen Jingzong picked a small room at random, and Qi Jin went into the room next to his.
Neither of them spoke, only the sound of water, and there was even a faint sense of competition.
After fastening their belts, the two of them walked out almost at the same time and went to the washstand to wash their hands together.
Qi Jin was the host and took the initiative to pick up the kettle and pour water into the copper basin in front of Chen Jingzong.
Chen Jingzong smiled but didn't say thank you.
Qi Jinyi washed his hands silently.
Chen Jingzong finished washing first, shook his hands and was about to go out when suddenly a white brocade handkerchief flew past his eyes and fell to the ground, swaying gracefully like a snowflake.
The white and somewhat worn handkerchief was embroidered with a large red peony, which almost took up the entire center of the handkerchief, and was dotted with a few dark green leaves around it.
Even if Chen Jingzong didn't know needlework, he could tell that the person who embroidered the handkerchief was not very good at it.
At this time, Qi Jin bent down, picked up the handkerchief with great care, and gently brushed off the dust that might be on it. He looked at the peony again, smiled, and whispered to Chen Jingzong: "Huayang learned needlework when she was eight years old, but she didn't like it. After she finally embroidered a complete peony, she wanted to take it out to show everyone. She would be happy only if everyone praised her for her good embroidery."
What he meant was that the handkerchief in his hand was the first finished peony handkerchief embroidered by Huayang.
Chen Jingzong glanced at Qi Jin and suddenly snatched the handkerchief!
Qi Jin's face darkened and he reached out to grab it back!
Chen Jingzong had already taken a few steps away and said to him with a smile: "I don't know how to appreciate it, but my hands are wet too, so I'll just lend them to you."
Having said this, he wiped his hands roughly with a handkerchief.
Qi Jin rushed over without thinking. He had carefully kept this handkerchief for more than ten years and had never actually used it to wipe his hands or sweat. How could Chen Jingzong be worthy of it
He wanted to take the handkerchief back, but Chen Jingzong seemed to be afraid of him and handed it to him with a smile. However, when Qi Jin grabbed the handkerchief to take it back, Chen Jingzong did not let go.
Silk is delicate to begin with, and this handkerchief was an old one that had been put away for more than ten years. Under the strength of the two young military officers, which was like two tigers fighting each other, there was a loud ripping sound, and the handkerchief was torn into two pieces. Some silk threads hung down from the broken parts, floating gently in the cold wind that came in through the window.
Qi Jin's face turned pale, but he still wanted to snatch the other half away.
Chen Jingzong moved his hand away, and before Qi Jin could react, he quickly and casually tore the half handkerchief in his hand into several pieces, leaving it in tatters.
Qi Jin threw a punch.
Chen Jingzong leaned over and grabbed his fist: "It's just a handkerchief. Huayang was really willing to give it to you at the beginning. Now if you go to her to ask for another one, she will definitely be willing to give it to you."
Qi Jin heard some hidden meaning and looked at him coldly.
Chen Jingzong continued to hold his wrist. "You don't deserve to know what happened between her and me, but I can tell you one thing. She once said that she only gave me a handkerchief as a gift. This one of yours was either not embroidered by her, or you stole it when she wasn't paying attention. If it's the former, it's broken, so why bother? If it's the latter, you don't deserve to keep it."
Qi Jin sneered: "I am not worthy, but you are? If it weren't for Elder Chen, you wouldn't even be able to see her."
Chen Jingzong: "Yes, so I am very grateful to my father and swear that I will respect him well in my life."
Qi Jin had never seen such a shameless person. Thinking that her noble cousin was forced to marry such a rustic and uncouth man, Qi Jin threw away the half handkerchief and attacked with all her strength, perhaps because she was drunk or because she could no longer suppress her anger.
Compared to his anger, Chen Jingzong was actually still laughing. He fought back and mocked, "I thought a nobleman like you would be broad-minded, but I didn't expect that you are not as magnanimous as a rough man like me. After all, it's your mansion hosting a banquet today. If you really hurt me, how are you going to explain to the Marquis and his wife?"
Qi Jin just took action.
Chen Jingzong: "Why don't we go somewhere else? This place is not clean. I'm afraid I might get something on her by accident and stink her."
He stood in a corner where the light couldn't reach, lowered his eyes and flexed his wrists.
Chen Jingzong picked up the half handkerchief on the ground and continued to tear it into pieces.
Qi Jin looked at his actions and suddenly smiled: "She has given me so many birthday gifts, what's the harm if you tear up this handkerchief?"
Chen Jingzong: "She treats you as her cousin, you know it better than anyone else."
Qi Jin: "I know better, she won't like you."
Chen Jingzong: "This is a matter between me and her, it has nothing to do with you. But you, your wife is almost as thin as a bamboo pole, if you are a real man, treat her better."
Qi Jin: "You are kind and gentle to women."
Chen Jingzong walked to a copper lamp, lifted the lampshade, put the broken pieces of handkerchief in his hand into it, and watched the flame quickly burn the silk handkerchief into ash, leaving no thread. Chen Jingzong replaced the lampshade, turned around, looked directly at Qi Jin and said, "Because she is soft-hearted and can't bear to see others suffer. If she knew that Tian's previous illness was caused by you, she would be very disgusted. You, her cousin, will only make her disgusted."
Qi Jin sneered: "Of course you say it easily, if I really let you marry a woman you don't like, will you treat her well?"
Chen Jingzong: "If I don't like someone, I won't marry him."
Qi Jin sneered.
The only person above Chen Jingzong was at most a cabinet minister, but he had to face a queen.
Qi Jin wanted to be with his cousin, so he could offend everyone except the Queen and her aunt.
His aunt wanted him to get married, so he had to. His aunt asked his grandmother why he had no children after such a long marriage, so he had no choice but to let Tian get pregnant.
It was Tian's own fault that she failed to keep the child. She became depressed and increasingly weak, causing her cousin to worry as well.
Chen Jingzong washed his hands again and prepared to leave. Before leaving, he turned sideways, looked at Qi Jin and said, "I have something to say to you."
Qi Jin had no expression on his face.
Chen Jingzong looked him up and down and said calmly, "People like you are not worthy of her at all."
Before he finished speaking, he opened the curtain and walked away.
Qi Jin listened to his footsteps gradually fading away.
Why do you say that a man who can marry his cousin only because of his father is not worthy
If it weren't for my aunt's interference, if it weren't for Emperor Jingshun being so cowardly and obeying my aunt's orders, and really letting my cousin choose between him and Chen Jingzong, would my cousin have fallen in love with Chen Jingzong
The prince respected his aunt, and so did his cousin. His aunt asked her to marry into the Chen family, and his cousin had no choice but to compromise!
.
It was almost the first watch when the dinner at the Marquis' Mansion finally ended.
Huayang, surrounded by his grandmother, aunt and others, came to the front yard.
Chen Jingzong, Wuqing Hou, and Qi Jin and his son were all waiting here.
Huayang first looked at Chen Jingzong's expression. Apart from the smell of alcohol, he looked no different from usual. Then he looked at his uncle and cousin, who also had gentle smiles on their faces.
"Uncle, grandmother, we'll be leaving first."
Huayang stood beside Chen Jingzong and said goodbye with a smile.
Marquis Wuqing nodded, and Madam Qi looked at the maids lovingly and instructed them to hold the lantern for her granddaughter.
Huayang had been socializing all day and was a little tired. When she finally got into the carriage, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Chen Jingzong then stepped in and sat down at the other end of the couch tactfully.
Huayang couldn't help but observe him. This night in her previous life left too deep an impression on her. The drunk Chen Jingzong looked at her as if she were prey and might pounce on her and tear her to pieces at any time.
Huayang had witnessed her father abusing a palace maid, so she was afraid that Chen Jingzong would force her after drinking.
Of course, their relationship was much better in this life. Chen Jingzong, who could enjoy himself almost every other night, was not so unsatisfied.
Chen Jingzong leaned against the corner of the car window, raised his hand and pinched his forehead, his two straight eyebrows were deeply furrowed.
Huayang: "Drank too much, feeling uncomfortable?"
Chen Jingzong glanced at her, lowered his eyes and said, "Well, I've been drinking every day recently, and I suddenly couldn't stand it tonight."
Huayang was about to say something sarcastically, saying that he deserved it, but he remembered that his father-in-law's grandfather also had an accident due to drinking. Then, seeing that Chen Jingzong looked so rarely distressed, Huayang swallowed his words.
There was warm water in the car. Huayang filled the tea bowl half full and handed it to him.
Chen Jingzong held his forehead with one hand and tried to take the tea bowl with the other, but he was so drunk that he failed to reach it several times.
Huayang had no choice but to sit next to him, holding his shoulders with one hand and bringing the tea bowl to his mouth with the other.
Chen Jingzong kept looking at her.
While enduring the smell of alcohol on him, Hua Yang said coldly: "Whether there is a banquet tomorrow or not, just cancel it."
Chen Jingzong still looked at her.
Huayang had no experience in serving others, and lifting the tea bowl was tiring, so he urged him to drink it quickly.
Chen Jingzong drank it all in one breath.
When Huayang turned around to put the tea bowl away, Chen Jingzong suddenly hugged her from behind and rubbed against her cloak hood: "I want to sleep with you tonight."
Huayang: …
(End of this chapter)