Chapter 16: It’s Me! (VIP Announcement)…

Chapter 16: It's Me! (VIP Announcement)...

This family banquet was particularly lively.

Cheng Mingyu personally escorted his mother to the banquet hall, toasted three times, and then excused himself.

A major case had occurred at the Jiaozhou Garrison, where Lu Xusheng discovered someone smuggling weapons and colluding with Northern Qi. This case involved a high-ranking official and had exceeded the jurisdiction of the Military Governor's Office. The case was transferred from Lu Xusheng to the Censorate, and such an earth-shattering case naturally required Cheng Mingyu, the Left Censor-in-Chief, to personally handle it.

After the toast, Cheng Mingyu, without time to eat, immediately returned to the palace. It was only after the old mistress had the steward prepare a food box and send it to the carriage that he could have something to eat.

After Cheng Mingyu left, Cheng Mingjiang, the Second Master of the northern mansion, took over hosting the banquet.

The men were drinking in the banquet hall at the front courtyard, while the women were dining and watching operas in the flower hall.

Cheng Yian was seated at the third table in the east of the flower hall, where all the married ladies were seated.

"An An, it hasn't been long since you got married, but you look much better than before. It seems life at the Duke's mansion is treating you well."

Cheng Yian chuckled and replied to her cousin, "It's not bad. I'm still young and don't handle much. I just follow the mistresses and sisters-in-law, learning as I go."

Another married lady sighed, "In my opinion, there's no need to vie for control of the household. Isn't it better to live comfortably?"

Everyone in the capital's noble circles knew about the affairs of the Lu Duke's mansion. Cheng Yian had a gentle nature and couldn't compete with the main branch's 'Buddha-faced Bodhisattva' of the Lu family. Nowadays, 'Buddha-faced Bodhisattva' wasn't a compliment; it referred to those who appeared kind and gentle on the surface but acted viciously in private.

"Once the old mistress is gone, you should consider living separately. With Lu Xusheng's capabilities, what title couldn't he secure? Don't get involved; don't entangle yourself." This cousin whispered advice to her.

No matter what they said, Cheng Yian took it all in stride.

The incident where Lu Xusheng defended Cheng Yian had spread throughout the capital, making everyone envy her for marrying such a good husband.

But nothing is ever perfect.

"Oh, I heard your mother-in-law is quite formidable. Has she given you a hard time?"

At the mention of mothers-in-law, the married ladies at the table had endless stories and grievances to share. No matter their background, every family had its own troubles, and the conversation soon shifted away from Cheng Yian.

By mid-afternoon, the sun had hidden behind the clouds, leaving a cool breeze that rustled the late-blooming osmanthus flowers. Seeing that it was getting late, Cheng Yian decided it was time to leave.

Glancing at the main table, she saw the old mistresses from various branches gathered around the northern mansion's matriarch, thoroughly engrossed in the opera. According to etiquette, juniors couldn't leave until the elders gave permission. Cheng Yian had no choice but to sit a little longer, thinking that if it came to it, she could have Ru Lan sneak out and send a message, asking Qiu Qing to pretend to deliver a message from Lu Xusheng, saying there was an urgent matter at home and they needed to leave early.

As she pondered this, she suddenly noticed a familiar steward hurriedly making her way toward her along the edge of the room. The steward's eyes were filled with anxiety, and her expression was grim.

This steward was one of her father Cheng Mingyou's female stewards. Could something have happened to Cheng Mingyou?

Sure enough, the steward approached and whispered in her ear,

"Madam, you must come quickly. Our Second Master is causing a scene after drinking."

Cheng Yian was startled and gave the steward a suspicious glance. Without a word, she took her maid and headed to the front courtyard.

Today was the matriarch's birthday banquet, and all branches of the Cheng family in the capital had come to attend. Even relatives from nearby counties who could make it within a day had arrived. The banquet hall in the front courtyard was packed, and Cheng Mingyou had unexpectedly become half the center of attention.

After all, he had suddenly become Lu Xusheng's father-in-law.

Lu Xusheng was known for being fiercely protective of his own, and his ruthless reputation on the battlefield was well-known. With such a formidable son-in-law, Cheng Mingyou could practically strut through the capital.

Even if he didn't need to curry favor, he still had to engage in some polite conversation.

Cheng Mingyou was constantly surrounded by people.

Those clan brothers gathered around him, toasting and congratulating him on becoming Lu Xusheng's father-in-law, a position of honor. Even those masters who had previously looked down on him now, for the first time, bowed their heads in his presence.

Cheng Mingyou was clearly the center of attention, but he felt no joy; instead, he was filled with frustration.

He despised this kind of sycophantic behavior. If possible, he didn't need a daughter like Cheng Yian, nor did he need such wealth and status. He wanted his Fu Er, he wanted Fu Er to live well.

Feeling uneasy, he recklessly downed the wine, until his face turned red and his head felt heavy and foggy. Occasionally, figures would sway before him—some handsome, some gentle, some with sinister looks, some with deep and mysterious expressions. Their faces were all different, but every single one bore the surname Cheng.

As long as they were surnamed Cheng, they were suspects.

Who was it?

Who had bullied his Fu Er? Who had taken her away?

The self-mockery of being suddenly praised and the resentment built up over the years converged in his chest, suddenly erupting through the barriers of reason like molten lava. In that moment, Cheng Mingyou suddenly stood up, sweeping the wine cups and tea bowls off the table, then left his brothers behind and staggered away.

This sudden turn of events shocked everyone at the banquet.

Cheng Mingyou had always been known for his wild and arrogant demeanor, but no one expected him to be so domineering.

What kind of occasion was this, to tolerate such behavior?

The clan members scolded him incessantly.

Pointing at Cheng Mingyou's disheveled back, they reprimanded Cheng Mingze, the elder master of the fourth branch,

"If the son is not disciplined, the father is to blame. Your father has passed away, so it falls to you, as the elder brother, to discipline him. Go quickly, fetch him back, and make him apologize to the elder master."

There was a reason why the northern mansion's old lady was called the elder master. Back then, when the main branch's previous elder master died young, the Great Jin Dynasty was facing internal and external troubles. The Cheng family was also being encroached upon by other powerful families, risking decline. It was she who assisted the young Cheng Mingyu in taking over the position of clan leader. Cheng Mingyu went to Northern Qi to save the country from peril, while the old lady stayed in the Cheng family, rallying the Cheng family members to counterattack, breaking through the encirclement of other powerful families, and gradually elevating the Cheng family above them, leading to its current flourishing state.

The old lady commanded immense respect within the entire Cheng family and was revered as a female Zhuge Liang.

Thus, the clan members, young and old, respected her deeply, and no one dared to disrespect the elder master.

Cheng Mingyou's actions had provoked public outrage.

"That's right. If he was unhappy, he could have just not come. Why throw things and show such a face at the banquet? The elder master has never mistreated him. The main branch has always protected your fourth branch. His position as a secretary was also secured by Mingyu for him. Not only does he not show gratitude, but he also repays kindness with enmity, making a scene on such a joyous occasion!"

Several senior clan elders scolded Cheng Mingze.

The elder master, flushed with embarrassment, repeatedly bowed and apologized, "Uncles, please don't be angry. I will go and discipline him."

With that, he glanced at the third master, Cheng Mingtong, and the two brothers left the banquet to follow Cheng Mingyou.

Just as they rushed into the South Mansion gate, they saw Cheng Mingyou kick open the meeting hall in the South Mansion. He had somehow grabbed a wine jug and sat down boldly, slumping in the central armchair, his eyes filled with mockery and defiance as he looked at his two brothers outside the door.

Seeing this, the elder master shouted angrily, "You scoundrel! After drinking some wine, you don't even know who you are anymore. Someone, quickly brew some sobering soup, so he can drink it and sober up to apologize to the elder master."

Instead of getting angry, Cheng Mingyou laughed. In a fit of rage, he threw the wine jug in his hand, which coincidentally landed right in front of the elder master's feet, startling him into jumping back several steps.

"You, you, you are simply defying heaven!"

Just as he was roaring, the fourth branch's old lady and Cheng Yian, along with others, hurried back.

Not only that, but clan members from various branches, curious and eager to watch the drama, quietly stepped over the threshold, crowding around to watch the spectacle.

Seeing his mother standing outside the door with a cane and Cheng Yian standing pitifully beside the old lady, Cheng Mingyou felt as if a fuse had been lit.

He stared at the face that resembled Fu Er's, his cheeks twitching and contorting. With a loud shout, he leaped over the threshold and rushed towards the old lady.

"Mother, with the heavens above and the earth below, I care for nothing else today. Tell me, who is that man? Who was the man who harmed Fu Er back then?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yian staggered back two steps.

What was going on? From Cheng Mingyou's tone, it seemed her mother had been wronged?

Had the elderly mistress deceived her?

Cheng Yian's almond-shaped eyes turned red, her sharp, piercing gaze turned to the elderly mistress.

The elderly mistress's fingers trembled with anger beneath her sleeves, yet she restrained her temper, striving to maintain her composure as she spoke to Cheng Mingyou,

"My child, I understand your pain. Come with me to my room, and I will tell you everything from beginning to end."

It was better than causing a spectacle here.

The crowd of clan members behind them was growing larger. If they stayed any longer, things would spiral out of control.

Cheng Yian's heart raced, her mind in chaos. Cheng Mingyou's words hit her like a bolt of lightning. Of course, she wanted to know the truth, but the elderly mistress was right—this was not the place to discuss such matters. It concerned her mother's reputation, and she would never allow anyone to insult her mother.

She steadied herself, took a deep breath, and prepared to follow the elderly mistress.

As for Cheng Mingyou, he hesitated, unsure whether to obey.

But they had overlooked one person.

Miao Shi rushed into the crowd with her daughter.

Hearing Cheng Mingyou's words, she was taken aback.

What did this mean?

Could it be that the late mistress had an affair with someone? Or had someone coveted her?

Recalling Cheng Mingyou's coldness toward Cheng Yian, could it be that Cheng Yian was not Cheng Mingyou's flesh and blood?

At the thought of this possibility, Miao Shi, who had always felt inferior, suddenly felt a surge of triumph. She jumped up and shouted,

"Wait! No one leaves!"

She stood with hands on hips and scanned the crowd of clan members inside and outside, then raised her voice,

"Today, we're not going anywhere. We'll settle this matter right here."

"What is Cheng Yian's true background? Is she really your flesh and blood, Sir? And what about Xia Shi? How did she die?"

"Since, as you said, someone wronged her, let's make it clear today. Every grievance has its source, and every debt has its debtor. We should stand up for whoever deserves it and seek revenge for whoever was wronged!"

After all, it was Cheng Yian and her mother who would be shamed—what did it have to do with her?

If Cheng Yian wasn't Cheng Mingyou's flesh and blood, did that mean the marriage to the Lu family should rightfully belong to her daughter? Had Cheng Yian stolen her Qian'er's marriage?

No, she had to reclaim the honor that belonged to her daughter!

The elderly mistress could see right through Miao Shi's scheming. Unable to tolerate her stirring up trouble, she slapped Miao Shi across the face,

"How dare you! With your elders present, how can you shout like this?"

"Someone, drag her away!"

Alas, the Miao family was, after all, of shepherdess origin, and she had no qualms about losing face. She immediately covered her face and fell to the ground, wailing,

"What kind of world is this? Oh, I can't go on living!"

Seeing her mother struck, Cheng Yiqian was overwhelmed with shame and anger, quickly shielding her from anyone who tried to approach.

The old women were momentarily at a loss for what to do.

The old lady, seeing this, was so enraged that she hunched over, gasping for breath, "Rebellion! Rebellion..." Her already frail body swayed as if about to collapse.

Cheng Mingyou, at this point, could no longer hold back. His eyes locked onto the Master, and he suddenly lunged forward, grabbing the Master's collar,

"Was it you? I noticed how differently you treated An'an. On the day she returned home, you looked at Lu Xusheng as if he were your own son-in-law, being very attentive. Is that not so?"

The Master immediately cried out in distress, pulling at his arm to try to free himself, "I saw that An'an had married well and wanted to curry favor. In the future, they could help my two sons advance. Rui'er and Yaoyer are also Lu Xusheng's brothers-in-law, aren't they? This would be beneficial for our family in every way. Why shouldn't I be good to An'an?"

Cheng Mingyou, however, did not believe him for a moment. He suddenly bared his teeth in a cold laugh,

"On the day Fu'er came to our door, when she offered tea, your eyes almost popped out looking at her. Now you're pretending to be a virtuous man like Liu Xiaohui!"

Xia Fu's beauty was once renowned throughout Suzhou.

The Master's face instantly turned beet red, with his wife and children glaring at him from all sides.

He could admit to anything but this, "This is not true, don't falsely accuse me!" The Master jumped up in anger.

Knowing that a hundred mouths could not clear him, he suddenly pointed to the sky and swore,

"Brother, I swear to heaven, it wasn't me. If I lie, may I have no place to rest in death!"

Cheng Mingyou looked at him suspiciously and suddenly dropped him, his sinister gaze shifting to the third master, Cheng Mingtong, pushing him back several steps. Finally, he grabbed Cheng Mingtong by the front of his robe and coldly sneered,

"So it's you?"

When it came to the elder master, his elder brother, Cheng Mingyou still had some reservations, but with his younger brother, he revealed his ferocity, like a lion ready to bite at any moment.

The third master, Cheng Mingtong, looked miserable, unable to even cry, "second brother, it's really not me, not me..." He was always more timid by nature, much like the fourth elder master in the past. Now, trembling with fear, his lips quivering.

Seeing his guilty expression, Cheng Mingyou's eyes nearly bulged out, "How could it not be you? Our elder brother was already married, and Jin family would never agree to him taking another wife. Only you, only you were unmarried at the time. You're soft-hearted, and whatever our mother told you to do, you couldn't have refused. So it was you who took Fu Er and fathered this bastard, wasn't it?"

He raised his hand, his pale fingers pointing sharply like thorns at Cheng Yian.

His knuckles were distinct, veins bulging.

Cheng Yian watched the finger pointing at her face, her complexion gradually paling.

So it couldn't be hidden anymore, could it?

This day had finally come.

And just then, a figure of remarkable integrity and strength suddenly stepped forward from behind. The person grabbed Cheng Mingyou's finger and forcefully twisted it, pushing him forward, then stood protectively in front of Cheng Yian and spoke firmly,

"It was me."