Chapter 83 -

Chapter 83: Chapter

The next morning came, and Yimei had already left early for the Wenlong Pavilion to get things ready for the banquet.

Meanwhile, back at the Bai manor, the other family members had already started getting ready.

"You look good... Mother will be happy that you look so presentable," An Yulan complimented Wenjiang, who looked at her with annoyance.

"Shut up... I don’t even know why we are going to this stupid banquet in the first place. I’d rather relax and have a few sips of wine than spend the whole day with a bunch of strangers," he frowned.

An Yulan looked at him and rolled her eyes. She felt like slapping his face at that moment.

"You are about to take the imperial exams... building and maintaining connections is very important, trust me," adjusting her hanfu, she stood up, ready to leave.

"I’ll go check if the carriage is ready... stay here, I’ll be right back." With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Wenjiang alone.

"Wench... who do you think you are to stop me from having wine? Even my mother can’t stop me," he said angrily as he stood up, ready to take a bottle from his secret stash. But to his surprise, even his secret stash had been tampered with.

He marched straight toward his secret stash, eager to grab a bottle, but to his absolute horror, every single jar was gone. His hidden stock had been completely cleared out.

"Damn it!" he yelled, slamming his fist onto the wooden table.

Just then, a sudden shadow flickered past the window, followed by the faint rustle of a heavy parcel being set down on the outer sill.

Wenjiang froze, his eyes darting toward the window. "Who’s there?!"

He rushed over and threw the wooden shutters open, peering out into the garden. The shadowy figure was already long gone, disappearing into the morning mist without a trace.

Wenjiang frowned, but as his gaze drifted down to the windowsill, his eyes went wide with pure, greedy shock.

Sitting right there were two stoneware jars sealed with red ribbon. He snatched one up, pulled the cork, and took a quick whiff. The rich, fiery aroma of high-grade Fire-Wine instantly filled his nostrils, a brew far more potent and expensive than anything he had ever tasted. Tucked beneath the ribbon was a small, folded note: To reward my hardworking husband before the banquet.

A victorious grin spread across Wenjiang’s face. "Hmph! So the wench pretended to be strict in front of Mother, but sneaked this over to keep me happy! At least she has some sense."

Without a second thought, he lifted the jar and took a long, deep gulp, letting the scorching liquid burn down his throat.

Down the corridor, Madame Liu and Bai Xiuying were giggling as they carefully packed their "rare Cloud-Mist Tea" jar into an ornate wooden box, completely unaware that their supply had already been swapped for bitter Stink-Weed.

Meanwhile, in the main courtyard, the family gathered near the carriages, dressed in their finest robes. Madame Zhang scoffed loudly, fanning herself with a snide grin. "Where is the First Branch? Yimei ran off early like a kitchen maid, and Zhengyu is probably hiding in his room as usual!"

An Yulan sneered in agreement. "He hasn’t left his courtyard in three years. Did anyone actually expect him to show up?"

Before Madame Liu could join in, a heavy set of wheels crunched smoothly against the gravel path.

The arrogant chatter died instantly. Every head turned toward the archway.

Rolling out from the inner gallery came a sleek black-and-gold wheelchair. Sitting tall and imposing in it was Bai Zhengyu, dressed in regal navy robes embroidered with silver dragon patterns. His sharp jawline, flawless posture, and icy, dark eyes commanded the entire courtyard. Behind him, Qinqin and Xiao Yu held their heads high, pushing the chair with absolute confidence.

Madame Zhang’s fan froze mid-air. Madame Chen gasped, and An Yulan stumbled back in pure shock.

Zhengyu didn’t say a single word. He simply raised one dark eyebrow at his stunned relatives, his lips curling into a faint, freezing smirk that sent a shiver straight down their spines.

Madame Zhang swallowed hard, forcing her voice to stay sharp. "And where is your wife? Running off early while the rest of the family travels together?"

Madame Liu scoffed right behind her. "No manners at all! Leaving her husband to get around alone while she runs around town before dawn!"

Zhengyu didn’t even look at them directly. He slowly adjusted his sleeve, his voice calm and cold as he cut right through their complaints.

"Yimei is simply getting ready," Zhengyu said, his dark eyes sweeping over them with clear disdain. "Unlike people who sit around doing nothing, my wife stays busy. She will meet us there."

He leaned back in his chair, a faint, mockingly cold smirk playing on his lips.

"The rest of you can leave for the Minister’s estate now," Zhengyu added, waving his hand dismissively. "I will arrive when I am ready. Try not to make fools of yourselves before I get there."

Madame Zhang opened her mouth to snap back, but the sharp authority in Zhengyu’s tone shut her up instantly. Bai Xiuying quickly hid behind her mother, while An Yulan looked around nervously, wondering why her husband, Wenjiang, was taking so long.

Without waiting for another word, Zhengyu signaled Xiao Yu, who turned his wheelchair smoothly toward his waiting carriage.

Madame Zhang glared at the empty space beside An Yulan as everyone started getting into the carriages. "Where on earth is Wenjiang?" she demanded, snapping her fan open. "Is he trying to make the entire family late?"

Madame Chen looked around anxiously, frowning. "Yulan, where is your husband? Didn’t you just leave his room?"

An Yulan’s face flushed with embarrassment. She lowered her head, nervously clutching her handkerchief. "I... I don’t know where he went, Mother. He was in his room a moment ago. I’ll send the servants to go get him right away..."

Before she could call a servant, Bai Xiuying suddenly pointed down the path. "Look! Cousin Wenjiang is coming already!"

Everyone turned to look. Wenjiang was stumbling slightly as he walked toward the carriages, his cheeks unusually flushed and a strange, goofy grin plastered across his face. He didn’t even look toward his mother or wife.

Instead of joining An Yulan in her carriage, Wenjiang stumbled straight toward the second carriage, where Bai Kang (Madame Zhao’s son) and Bai Ruizhe (Madame Liu’s son) were already sitting.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Wenjiang slurred out, practically throwing himself inside and squeezing in between his two cousins.

"Wenjiang! What are you doing in there?!" An Yulan called out, her voice tight with panic.

"Leave me alone, woman!" Wenjiang barked back from inside the carriage, letting out a loud, sloppy laugh as he clapped Bai Kang on the shoulder. "I’m riding with my brothers today! Driver, let’s go!"

Madame Chen and An Yulan could only watch in horrified confusion as the carriage pulled away first, completely unaware that Wenjiang was already heavily drunk on the Fire-Wine Yimei had sent him.

With all the carriages finally moving out of the Bai manor gates, the family set off toward the Minister of War’s estate, unconscious that every single one of them was walking straight into Yimei’s masterfully prepared trap.