Cheng Family Banquet

In March, apricot blossoms bloom. After a spring rain, raindrops fall on the apricot blossoms, leaving them damp with dew.

The plum blossoms at Jianjia Pavilion have faded, and greenery is sprouting from the soil, marking the passing of the seasons.

"My lady, the master went to the Apricot Garden Banquet today." Danhong picked up a comb and gently combed through Sui Zhixu's hair.

The young woman in the mirror had dark circles under her eyes; a single glance from her would make it hard to rest. She mumbled a reply to Dan Hong in a daze.

Danhong frowned with heartache, "My lady can't stay up so long. There's plenty of time to read books. What if you ruin your health? I'll have to give you a calming soup early in the future so you can get some rest."

"It's alright." Sui Zhixu patted Dan Hong's hand on her shoulder. "Just apply some powder to cover it up."

"My lady may not say it out loud, but she cares about everyone. She's afraid the head of the family will worry. Oh, no, now there's also the second mistress." Dan Hong muttered to herself, her face drooping as she resignedly applied powder to Sui Zhixu.

"That brat who ruined my wife actually became a third-ranked scholar, and his parade through the streets on horseback really made him the center of attention. The head of the family and the adults should have prevented him from taking the imperial examination. That shameless brat, ugh, I don't know where he came from, and his elders at home don't know how to teach him. He blatantly steals other people's horses."

"When did you become Auntie's apprentice?"

Sui Zhixu covered his hand and yawned, "Alright, Father and Mother really deserve to be impeached by the censors. The title of Tan Hua is good, but he should be fortunate enough to live up to it."

Dan Hong pouted, "Yes, my good wife. After all, this year's top scholar is the master's disciple. The mere third-place scholar can't possibly surpass us. The master and the head of the family have good judgment; both top scholars are their disciples. Isn't that better than him?"

Dan Hong hummed and hawed, then suddenly pulled out an invitation. "By the way, my lady, the Cheng family's lady sent an invitation, saying she'll invite the Chang'an lady and her gentlemen to the Marquis's mansion to enjoy the flowers in a few days."

Sui Zhixu accepted the invitation card, which emitted a faint floral fragrance, giving it a serene and tranquil feel.

"That one from the Marquis of Wu'an's residence?"

“That’s right, Prince Cheng was the previous top scholar in the imperial examination, and now he’s a fourth-rank official, serving as the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel!” Dan Hong said proudly, as if she were a member of the Cheng family.

"See how tolerant you are? Since you are Father's student, then go ahead. Danhong replied to the letter, saying that I will definitely arrive."

The results had just been released, and there were quite a few unmarried young men among the newly appointed scholars. The Cheng family's flower-viewing banquet was actually a place for the young men and women to find a match. Sui Zhixu waved the invitation in his hand, wondering if the brother and sister would come. Let's wait and see.

She wasn't so generous as to easily forgive the person who caused her to fall off the cliff.

They should experience the feeling of falling from a great height, lifted high and then dropped.

At noon, Cong Lan returned in a huff.

Upon learning the news from the maid, Xu hurriedly went there.

"My lady, my lady, sob sob, how dare that shameless brat bully me."

Outside, Sui Zhixu stopped in his tracks, turned his ankle, and headed toward the bare plum tree in the courtyard.

She said that the whole household knew why her father was angry, and that it was because she had been careless.

As soon as Sui Zhixu stepped out of the courtyard, he bumped into Sui Chengyu, who was hiding around the corner.

"Cousin, I followed you when I saw you coming." Sui Chengyu walked out with an embarrassed smile.

Is this kind of thing common?

"It's quite common; it happens every now and then."

Xu nodded slightly. No wonder Dan Hong looked strange when she saw her coming. She originally thought something had happened at the Xingyuan Banquet.

Sui Zhixu raised his hand to his forehead.

The father truly brought out the full potential in his face.

On the other side, Sui He saw Sui Zhixu's figure outside the house. After the person left, he slapped Cong Lan on the head in a bad mood.

"Look what you've done."

"My wife."

"If you call me again, I'll throw you over there to see your mother." Sui He turned his head away, refusing to look at Cong Lan.

Cong Lan raised her peach blossom eyes and hugged Sui He from behind, pressing her cheek against his. "No, she's probably already been reincarnated. My death is useless. I'd rather grow old with my wife than die."

"Smooth-talking." Sui He closed his eyes, still not looking at him, but did not let go of Cong Lan.

"From now on, you're not allowed to be disrespectful in front of Ah Xu. Act like a father!" Sui He angrily poked Cong Lan's head and shouted, "Look at Ah Xu, he's been home for two months and he still calls me father and mother respectfully."

"She won't even call me 'Mother' once." Sui He lowered his head, unable to hide his grief, then looked up angrily and said, "Don't expect her to call you 'Father'!"

Cong Lan took two steps back after being called, and touched the tip of her nose embarrassedly, "Ah Xu has a cold personality..."

Noticing that Sui He's expression was off, he said, "This situation didn't develop overnight, but as long as we show more care, Xu will definitely become closer to his wife."

With a gentle expression, Sui He pulled Cong Lan aside and discussed in detail how to influence Sui Zhixu.

All of this was completely unknown to Xu Zhi, who was busy reading and learning to read, which impressed Yue Ling.

A few days later, the Cheng family banquet arrived.

Sui Chengyu and Danhong stood aside, watching in surprise as Sui Zhixu chatted and laughed amidst the clinking of glasses.

"What you're doing is like playing with fire!" Yueling sat by the water mirror, her eyes wide as she looked at Sui Zhixu, who was no longer as cold as before.

"I will follow in your footsteps and live up to your mother's reputation."

Sui Zhixu's smile was unrestrained yet not arrogant, carrying a hint of humility, which drew praise from all who saw him.

As Cheng Yu swallowed, she said, "How come I remember the Cheng family's flower-viewing banquet was for brides and grooms to meet? Cousin, what's going on? Um, it doesn't seem like a matchmaking event, it seems more like an alliance-making event?"

"I'm so angry! Even if you really liked a man, I wouldn't care, but what are you doing? You're asking for death, asking for death, asking for death! You don't have the power under the Prince of Xuanping... no, you beast, have you lost your memory? Ahhh, I can't stand you anymore, you madman, you madman!" Yueling exploded, speaking recklessly, all the words coming out at once. When she stopped, she was panting heavily, and had no recollection of what she had just said.

After drinking the wine, he smiled and said goodbye to the other person.

As the other person walked away, she suddenly said to Yueling, "A person without memory is like a duckweed without roots."

“You do not know the cause of my death, cannot tell me about my past, and cannot interfere with my karma. I only know that I have a grudge against Prince Xuanping. I often hear his voice, even see his portrait, and hear his name from other people.”

“Here.” Sui Zhixu touched her chest and frowned. “It hurts so much. I don’t even understand why. This pain, which comes from the depths of my soul like a brand, still exists when I move from one body to another. I don’t even know what I am now. Am I the Sui Zhixu of the past, or the nameless me?”

As Xu looked up at the sky, he saw clouds drifting across the horizon, and a sense of righteousness welled up within him.

"His fortune comes from me. I attracted the attention of the Heavenly Dao, so a portion of his fortune will naturally return. Isn't that what you said? Yueling, once you've made a decision, don't go back on your word." Sui Zhixu took a deep breath, a self-deprecating smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"The title of the young master of the Sui family is enough to cause a stir in Chang'an."

Sui Zhixu rubbed her neck. Fan Lingzhang thought that imitating her ability to speak human language and ghost language really took a lot of effort.

How did he manage to laugh? She could imitate five or six parts of it in ten minutes, making it easy for her to fool people.

The image of that beautiful face flashed into her mind; she thought it was probably because of her face.

Xu Chao waved to Cheng Yu and Dan Hong, then walked alone along the path. "You don't need to say anything more. Just think of me as crazy. Even if I die this time, I will definitely drag him down with me."

The green bamboos on both sides of the pebble path stand tall and proud, having survived a cold winter.

She reached out and touched a bamboo leaf. The slender, resilient, dark green bamboo leaf, tinged with yellow, curved and swirled in her hand. The book recorded that as bamboo enters autumn and winter, its leaves become even more resilient to resist the cold wind.

In the warm spring of March, the bamboo leaves that grew armor to protect against the cold last year have become old leaves. Some fell in autumn and winter, while others survived the accumulation of heavy winter snow, but they can no longer be preserved now.

"Do you think your life is worthless? Do you think I can bring you back after you die? Impossible, I'm telling you! This is the only time, and the last time!"

“I never thought of asking you to save me again. I only have one life, and I am already lucky to have been given a second chance. Don’t worry, I will protect this life well before Prince Xuanping dies. Prince Xuanping has many secret guards, and the Sui family is not bad either. Besides, don’t I still have you? You told me that if I attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao, my luck will return to me. When you attracted the attention of the system, I had already made up my mind. Since I have already made up my mind, please don’t stop me.”

Yueling stopped talking, perhaps because she was angry with her.

As Sui Zhixu walked, he came across a group of people gathered around the pavilion. Sui Zhixu had intended to rest for a while, but unexpectedly, there were people there.

As soon as Sui Zhixu turned to leave, the mocking laughter behind him echoed loudly all around, causing Sui Zhixu to stop in his tracks.

"How did someone like you manage to win the favor of the Eldest Princess?"

"have no idea."

Seeing that she had taken a few steps back, her delicate face filled with fear and unease, reminded her of Sui Chengyu for no reason, she took a few steps forward.

The elegantly dressed lady asked, "Are you and the Princess on good terms? Is Lady Xu engaged? Does His Highness intend to arrange a marriage for you?"

Everyone present looked curiously at the young lady standing in the center. As everyone knows, the Princess liked to act as a matchmaker and had helped many couples get married.

Su Zhixu frowned and increased the speed at which he rubbed his thumb and middle finger together.

Recently, a thin callus has appeared on the knuckle of my thumb, and it doesn't feel as good as before.

"It's not because you grew up on the estate and don't know anything, that the princess is too embarrassed to introduce the young men of Chang'an to you, is it?"

"Who doesn't know what kind of mansion the Marquis of Anyuan is? His mansion is so dilapidated, it's better if it didn't exist at all."

Xu took two more steps forward and happened to see the mocking look in the eyes of the dignified woman in front of the trapped woman.

She remembered that her father's student, Prince Cheng, seemed to have a marriage agreement. He was dignified and generous, and was always well-liked by the ladies of Chang'an.

Her intuition told her that this was the one.

She remembered An Yuanbo. He married into the Ming family and inherited their title. Unlike Cong Lan and Sui He, their relationship was one of utter misery. An Yuanbo frequented brothels and indulged in philandering.

It's unbelievable that someone who married into the family has fallen to such a state.

"Lady Liu?"

"What are you doing now? Bullying the weak? It's you again, Liu Xi. Do you just enjoy..."

The first dish came from Sui Zhixu, the second dish... Sui Zhixu turned his head to look.

The three young women stood together, and the one who spoke had a round face and a fierce demeanor.

"Oh, so it's Lady Cui and the others." She turned to look at Sui Zhixu, sized him up, and put on a gentle smile. "You must be Young Master Sui."

"Come, let me introduce you," Liu Xi said to everyone. "This is the daughter of Brother Zhijie's mentor, Cong Xiang, and the head of the Sui family. She recently returned home and has already been recognized by the head of the Sui family as the young master of the Sui family."

"Young Master's situation is not much different from Madam Xu's. How come Madam Xu is doing so badly? Speaking of which, you were banished to the manor because of some kind of rebellion, right? Hahaha."

Seeing the woman getting closer and closer to the lake, Xu shouted sternly, "Enough! I may not be as well-read as Lady Liu, but I know when to stop. I've lived in the Taoist temple for many years and I understand this, so surely Lady Liu understands it too. Aren't you afraid of tarnishing your father's reputation for being kind and benevolent to the people by acting like this!"

"What do you mean by that, young master?"

Liu Xi just smiled and didn't take Sui Zhixu's words to heart.

Sui Zhixu felt annoyed. She had come here to relax, but instead she encountered someone who bullied her and showed no remorse whatsoever.