Xing Muzheng slowly nodded and looked toward Qian Jiaoniang, who had just entered with Li Qing’s wife.
Li Qing instructed Qian Xiao’e, “Go invite Great Uncle and Great Aunt, and the young master too—time to eat.”
Qian Xiao’e responded and was about to go when Qian Jiaoniang stopped her. “Why is it just us here? What about Uncle and Aunt? Invite them to sit too. It’s not right for the younger generation to sit before the elders.”
Qian Xiao’e jumped in fright. The general’s wife wanted her parents to dine with them? That would scare them half to death!
At a loss, she looked to her husband. Li Qing quickly smiled and said, “Madam, you’re too kind. My in-laws have never seen such a grand scene before. If they come, they probably won’t even dare eat.”
Qian Jiaoniang scoffed, “What grand scene? You all are the ones with fortune. You eat here—we’ll go eat in the kitchen with Great Uncle and Great Aunt.”
Li Qing and Qian Xiao’e hurriedly tried to stop her. Xing Muzheng finally spoke: “We’re the guests now—you are the hosts. How can guests overpower the hosts? Go invite the elders to eat with us.”
To anyone who’d served in the army, the Commander’s word was law. Li Qing dared not object and left with Qian Xiao’e to fetch them.
Outside the hall, Qian Xiao’e whispered to her husband, “How come your Commander looks even younger than you?” But young as he was, he still gave off such an imposing air. And so good-looking too.
“Don’t be fooled by his youth,” Li Qing said. “He’s a fierce warrior in battle—if not for him, would your husband even have made it back alive?”
Qian Xiao’e gasped. “Without the Commander, you’d be dead?”
“Isn’t that right?” Li Qing was one of the elite cavalry directly under Xing Muzheng’s command.
Qian Xiao’e said, “Then we must properly thank the Commander!”
Li Qing dragged his in-laws over despite their protests. By the time they arrived, the four members of the Tian family were already seated. Seeing the setup, Qian Xiao’e’s parents were so frightened their legs went weak; they didn’t even dare sit. Qian Jiaoniang stepped forward with a smile and said, “Uncle, Auntie, how should I address you? We’ve really put you through a lot today.”
Li Qing’s father-in-law quickly said, “This old man’s surname is Qian.”
“Oh, what a coincidence! We’re from the same clan!” Qian Jiaoniang exclaimed joyfully, guiding the elder couple to their seats. “Who knows, we might even be relatives!”
Liu Ying sneered inwardly. Just as expected—no class. Eager to cozy up to poor relatives.
Tian Linwen kept a smiling face, but his beard almost stood up from rage. From the moment Qian Jiaoniang arrived, she had them stay in that ominous “death house.” And now she had these lowborn people sit at the same table as them? He was now the uncle-in-law of Dingxi Marquis—how could he share a table with such people? And his nephew was letting her do as she pleased!
Old Qian, somewhat reassured, sat down and asked with a raised head, “So what’s your father’s name?”
Qian Jiaoniang paused, then sat down beside Li Qing’s mother-in-law with a smile. “Oh, my memory! I’ve forgotten even my own father’s name.”
She doesn’t even know her parents’ names? Could it be she lost them when she was a child? Old Qian and his wife exchanged a glance and didn’t dare ask more.
Xing Muzheng knew—she remembered. She simply didn’t want to say it. In her heart, her parents were bad people. They wouldn’t even let her eat at home and had sold her to a man about to go off to war, not caring if she would end up a widow.
Xing Pingchun and Li Ding came laughing into the room, but immediately straightened up when they saw Xing Muzheng. They crisply called out, “Father. Mother.”
Qian Jiaoniang asked, “Did you two wash your hands? If you have, then come sit and eat.”
Xing Pingchun cheerfully held up his hands. “We washed!”
“Then go sit at that table.” Qian Jiaoniang pointed to the side table.
Li Qing quickly said, “Let the young master sit at the main table, there’s room.”
Qian Jiaoniang replied, “They’re just kids. No need.”
Xing Muzheng instructed Xing Pingchun, “Don’t eat too much. After dinner, go hold horse stance for half an hour.”
Xing Pingchun pulled a long face. “Yes, I know.”
The wild boar meat from the mountains was indeed delicious, and Old Qian’s cooking was quite good. Everyone ate heartily. Xing Muzheng was toasted several times, and Tian Linwen, being addressed as ‘Uncle-in-law,’ was also made to drink quite a few cups.
Liu Ying helped Tian Linwen back to their room. As soon as he sat down, his temper flared under the influence of alcohol. “That wretched woman! She actually made us stay in that cursed house. I’m going to give her two slaps right now!”
Liu Ying quickly grabbed him, sighing and coaxing, “Husband, just endure for now! That Qian woman is so arrogant these days, and our good nephew is shielding her. If you go and hit her, he might start distancing himself from us!”
Tian Linwen snorted heavily and staggered back to the bed. After a while, he barked again, “Then go call our good nephew and say to him what I taught you!”
“Now?”
“Yes, now!”
“But today… it’s not the best time…”
“I said now! Why are you dawdling?”
“All right, all right! I’ll go now!”
Liu Ying left the room, grabbed a passing guard, and asked him to summon Xing Muzheng. Returning inside, she poured tea and helped Tian Linwen drink it. He finished the tea, but their nephew still hadn’t come. Tian Linwen glared at Liu Ying. “Where is he? Why hasn’t he come?”
Liu Ying said, “Walking takes time, and Muzheng did drink a few cups. He might have gone to sleep…”
Just as she spoke, there was a knock at the door. Liu Ying rushed to open it, smile already on her face—only to find it wasn’t Xing Muzheng, but Qian Jiaoniang. Her face instantly fell. “What are you doing here?”
Qian Jiaoniang beamed. “Auntie, weren’t you smiling just now? Why the cold face as soon as you see me? Are you waiting for someone?”
“This has nothing to do with you. Why are you here?”
Unbothered by her coldness, Qian Jiaoniang walked right in with a tray in hand. “I noticed Uncle had a few drinks, so I specially made some hangover tea for him. I also brewed some red date tea—Auntie, have some too.”
Tian Linwen, still lying against the bed, grumbled with drunken irritation, “I’m not drinking your stuff. Take it away!”
Qian Jiaoniang set the tray on the table, still smiling. “What a temper, Uncle, after drinking. Never mind—it’s the thought that counts. If you want to drink it, drink it. If not, pour it out. Oh, by the way—how’s the room? My mother used to love doing embroidery there. She kept a few potted flowers on the windowsill and would embroider from their patterns. The handkerchief she once gave you, Auntie—that was embroidered right in that room.”
Liu Ying squirmed uncomfortably and waved her off like a fly. “All right, all right, you can go now!”
“Aunt?” came a voice from the door.
Liu Ying jumped and turned with a forced smile—only to see that Xing Muzheng had arrived.
Tian Linwen also straightened up immediately.
Qian Jiaoniang gave Xing Muzheng a sidelong glance, smiling. “So Auntie was waiting for the Marquis. If there was something to say, why not say it earlier in the main hall?” Her beautiful eyes swept across them with a hint of sarcasm. “Don’t tell me… you were speaking ill of me?”
Xing Muzheng stepped inside. “What nonsense are you spouting? What bad things could Aunt and Uncle possibly say about you?”
Liu Ying gave Tian Linwen a look; he responded with a wink.
Xing Muzheng looked at the tray on the table and asked Qian Jiaoniang, “What are you doing here?”
“I came to deliver hangover tea for Uncle.”
“Oh?” Xing Muzheng raised an eyebrow. “Then where’s mine?”
Qian Jiaoniang chuckled. “You seem sharp and clear, and your speech is perfectly fine. Why would you need hangover tea? Anyway, since you all have things to discuss, I won’t disturb you.”
With that, she turned to leave, and thoughtfully closed the door behind her.
