Yun Chu Ling

Chapter 40: An Ominous Omen

Xie Laotaitai personally tasted several dishes and found every single one unbearably salty.

If only one dish had been too salty, it could have been dismissed as the cook's mistake. But with most dishes overwhelmingly salted, it was clearly intentional.

The old lady was furious, completely at a loss for how to explain this away.

Yuan Shi had never faced such a situation before and could only offer an awkward smile.

Xie Ping kept her head lowered, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible.

"On behalf of the Xie family, I apologize to everyone," Yun Chu stood up, her face filled with sincere regret. "Such a major mishap at the longevity banquet is due to my poor management of the household. I shall first punish myself with three drinks here."

Just as she raised her wine cup.

Qin Mingheng spoke up, "Everyone in the capital knows that Madam Xie is still recovering from illness. This longevity banquet wasn't organized by Madam Xie either, so there's no need for you to punish yourself."

"As the mistress of the Xie household, even if I didn't personally oversee the preparations, it's still my failure in supervision. I deserve the punishment." Yun Chu picked up her cup and was about to drink it all in one go.

Qin Mingheng frowned deeply and was about to stand up.

When he saw Xie Jingyu take the wine cup from Yun Chu's hand and drink three cups in succession.

Qin Mingheng's eyes instantly darkened, a faint, elusive smile playing on his lips. "Minister Xie and Madam Xie share such a deep marital bond, it's truly enviable."

For some reason, Yun Chu detected a hint of sarcasm in his words.

Ignoring her discomfort, she said, "The Xie residence will send people to prepare a new banquet at a restaurant as quickly as possible. Please wait a moment. For now, let's serve the longevity peaches and noodles so everyone can share in the blessings."

Madam Lin Shi nodded in agreement. "I'll arrange for people to assist as well."

The Yun family was among the top families in the capital. With Madam Yun's help, everyone knew the banquet would be quickly arranged, and the atmosphere eased considerably.

Servants brought out the longevity peaches, which were shaped like red peaches made from flour and inscribed with the character for longevity. The largest peach was placed before the birthday star, Xie Laotaitai, while each table received a large plate of them.

Having faced one mishap after another, the old madam looked quite dispirited. She forced herself to gather her spirits to cut the longevity peach.

However, as soon as the peach was sliced open, she was so frightened that she stumbled backward and fell off her chair, overturning the longevity noodles in the process.

Those below looked up and immediately erupted into chaos.

"Heavens, why are there so many worms inside the longevity peach!"

"Oh my god, it's normal for real peaches to have worms, but how could flour-made peaches have so many disgusting things?"

"This is an ominous omen!"

Yun Chu narrowed her eyes.

Last night, after the little one fell asleep, he had a dream and muttered something about worms. Could all these mishaps at today's longevity banquet be the little one's doing?

No matter how bold He Xu might be, he would only dare to cut corners and embezzle some silver. Rotten fish, excessive salt, worms... it must have been Chu Hongyu's work.

Did that little fellow know she was unhappy in the Xie family and decided to vent her anger for her?

Seeing the old madam terrified and collapsed on the ground, and the Xie residence in chaos, quite a bit of her pent-up frustration had indeed been released.

"Everyone, please don't panic," Xie Jingyu stepped forward, trying his best to remain calm. "Green worms symbolize green pines, and green pines represent longevity—it's actually an auspicious sign. Our apologies for startling everyone. Since the banquet isn't ready yet, why not enjoy some tea first? This tea was tribute from the Western Regions to the palace—you'll understand once you taste it."Apart from the Yun family and Marquis Xuanwu, the other guests at the banquet were all minor officials of the fifth, sixth, or seventh rank who had basically never seen tribute goods before. Hearing Xie Jingyu's words, they had no choice but to suppress their thoughts of taking leave and remain seated to drink tea.

The tea served this time had been personally supervised by Xie Shi'an under Xie Jingyu's instructions, with no oversights from start to finish, which was why they dared to serve it to the guests.

The imperial tribute was naturally of the finest quality. The previously frightened guests gradually relaxed, their faces brightening as they conversed cheerfully.

The Old Madam was escorted by the Xie family's female relatives to freshen up and change.

"Crash!"

A cup shattered on the ground.

Xie Ping's knees went weak with fear. "Old Madam, it's all my fault! I failed to properly prepare the birthday banquet. I've brought shame upon the Xie family. You may as well beat me to death!"

The Old Madam raised her foot, intending to kick Xie Ping, but Yuan Shi stopped her. "What's done is done. Blaming Ping Jie'er now is useless. Besides, Ping Jie'er is an unmarried young lady—it was inappropriate to assign her such a major responsibility in the first place. She's too young, Chu'er is ill, and you, Old Madam, are advanced in years. If we must assign blame, the fault is actually mine. If I had any talent for managing a household, the Xie family would never have become a laughingstock in the capital..."

"Mother, now is not the time for self-blame," Yun Chu said calmly. "Mama Zhou, take some people and have He Xu detained."

"Yes, first we must tie up He Xu," the Old Madam said bitterly. "How dare he meddle with the master's birthday banquet? He must be tired of living. Once the banquet ends and the guests have dispersed, I'll flay him alive!"

Xie Ping trembled all over.

After the banquet concluded, the Old Madam would surely punish her as well. She had no idea what awaited her.

Mama Zhou immediately took some people to apprehend He Xu.

He Xu had been living large recently. First, Chen Defu had entrusted him with several shops to manage personally, giving him many subordinates. Then, he was put in charge of most arrangements for the Old Madam's birthday banquet, from which he had skimmed no small amount of profit. Earlier, while the banquet was underway, he had used some silver to buy wine and pork head meat, and was eating, drinking, and gambling with a few of his lackeys by the back gate.

Just as they were getting into the swing of it, Mama Zhou's people suddenly seized him.

"What are you doing? What do you think you're doing?" He Xu struggled violently. Drunk, he was exceptionally strong, and two maids could barely hold him down.

Mama Zhou had someone strike He Xu squarely with a club, then gagged him. Four maids together dragged him away.

As they reached the corridor, they encountered He Shi, who had come looking for He Xu.

He Shi's lips parted in shock. "Mama Zhou, what's going on? What has Steward He done?"

"These are matters that Nurse He need not concern herself with. Ask fewer questions," Mama Zhou said coldly. "Today is the Old Madam's birthday, and there are many distinguished guests in the residence. Nurse He, being under punishment, should refrain from wandering about... The mistress lifted your one-day confinement out of kindness. Do not squander her goodwill."

Having said this, she left with the still-struggling He Xu.

He Shi was frantic with worry. She quickly pulled aside a few people to inquire and soon learned what had happened in the front courtyard. Her heart instantly sank to the depths.

He Xu's arrest was his own fault.

But why should her Ping Jie'er's reputation be ruined?

It suddenly dawned on her: The mistress had claimed illness and thrown the entire responsibility for the banquet onto a young lady of only thirteen. Wasn't this deliberately meant to tarnish Ping Jie'er's reputation?An Ge'er was punished by the madam to kneel in the ancestral hall.

Wei Ge'er was subjected to domestic discipline by the madam.

Now Ping Jie'er's marriage arrangement has also been ruined by the madam.

The madam's schemes run truly deep!

Once this banquet concludes, Ping Jie'er's entire life will be utterly ruined.

She couldn't stand by and watch such a thing happen.

Thinking of this, He Shi hurried toward the front courtyard, determined to seek out Xie Jingyu to discuss remedial measures.