Chapter 98 Full Moon Banquet

Chapter 98: The Full Moon Feast

After Wu Zhaoyuan left, life returned to its usual calm. In the blink of an eye, it was the day for the neighbor Jiang family's Full Moon Feast.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate. From early morning, the sky was overcast with thick clouds and rain began to drizzle.

The wind blew the fine raindrops against the window, pattering against the glass.

Song Tingzhou got up to close the window, and the warm bed lost its source of warmth as a burst of cold air rushed in, making Meng Wan grumble in annoyance. "Why are you getting up so early?"

The room was dim and quiet, perfect for sleeping in.

Hearing his movement, Song Tingzhou quickly closed the window and returned, pulling back the covers and wrapping his arms around Meng Wan. "I'm not getting up. It's just raining outside; I went to close the window."

Meng Wan kept his eyes closed and snuggled into his arms, content, but after a while, he couldn't stand it anymore and pressed a hand against Song Tingzhou's chest, pushing back a little.

"You're poking me! I want to sleep!" Meng Wan protested.

Song Tingzhou followed him, pinning Meng Wan against the wall, yanking him close, no arguments allowed. "Mm, sleep."

Though he said that, his hand roamed under the covers. Meng Wan's breath hitched, and he craned his neck and bit Song Tingzhou's neck hard. "You... huff... why are you so annoying?"

Song Tingzhou sucked in a breath, and he suddenly rolled over, pinning Meng Wan beneath him. "Mm, my fault. Let me kiss you for a bit. It's still early before I go to the prefectural school."

He found Meng Wan's soft lips without missing a beat, tilted his head, licked them, then started sucking gently. It was so tender that a sleepy Meng Wan couldn't help but respond.

His tongue entered Meng Wan's mouth, chasing Meng Wan's tongue, making it dance.

Meng Wan looped his arms around Song Tingzhou's neck, tilting his head back to kiss him. Wet, slurping sounds filled the room, and the warm breath sprayed between their mouths and noses, turning Meng Wan's face bright red.

Song Tingzhou released his lips and tongue, seeing his hair disheveled, his long lashes, like butterfly wings, fluttering, his cheeks flushed, his lips kiss-swollen and wet. No matter how he looked at him, he was just so damn lovable.

His chest ached with a swell of affection he couldn't shake, so he just tugged his collar open, showing off his firm, muscular chest.

In his early years, he often did farm work at home. Even without deliberate training, his muscles were smooth and well-defined, like a stallion in its prime, ready to gallop across an open field.

...

The smell of cooking drifted out of the Song family kitchen. The chimney smoke thinned out. Song Tingzhou quickly washed up, threw on his outer robe and rushed out of the room, heading to the backyard to get his horse and grab his conical rain hat.

Chang Jinhua called out from the kitchen door. "Da Lang, you're not eating breakfast?"

Song Tingzhou led his horse out without turning back. "No, Mother. Save some hot water and plain congee for Wan'er. I'm leaving now."

Watching him go, Chang Jinhua muttered softly, "That child, really. Good thing the rain's not heavy, or his shoes'd be soaked by the time he gets to school."

Meng Wan didn't get up until noon. Feeling sheepish, he snuck a peek out the window. Seeing no one outside, he went to the kitchen, grabbed a bucket of warm water and one of cold, and hauled them to the bedroom. After a bath and a change of clothes, he felt human again.

In the kitchen, a small pot held a steamer basket containing a bowl of plain congee and two red bean buns. Meng Wan drank half a bowl of congee and ate one red bean bun, just enough to take the edge off. He'd save his appetite for the Jiang family feast that afternoon.

In the afternoon, the sky stayed gray and the rain kept falling, but it wasn't heavy either. Chang Jinhua changed into a nice brocade outfit at home. She wore a reddish-brown long gown that buttoned up the front and hit just above the knee, with a slightly darker cloth skirt underneath.

It was a happy occasion at the Jiangs', so she figured she should dress bright.

She said the same to Meng Wan. Since most of Meng Wan's clothes were greenish, he dug out the vermilion long gown Uncle Nie's wife had given him years back. This garment was bright under sunlight, but on a gloomy day like this, it actually looked pretty good, matching Meng Wan's youthful vibe.

The entrance of the Jiang family was bustling with people. A few were relatives of the Jiang family, but most were friends of Old Master Jiang's business associates.

Chang Jinhua and Meng Wan went over with umbrellas. Old Master Jiang was greeting guests himself at the door, showing how big a deal this was to him.

Chang Jinhua offered a polite congratulations, and Meng Wan followed suit.

Having been neighbors for so many years, Old Master Jiang had seen Meng Wan a few times before, but even so, a flicker of admiration crossed his eyes at the sight of him today. He exchanged a few pleasantries, then called a servant to show them to their seats.

The Jiangs had set up tables in both the front and back courtyards. Because of the rain, the tables couldn't be placed in the courtyard. The front hall and side rooms had tables, while in the back, the women's area stretched from the main hall into the side rooms.

After Chang Jinhua paid the gift money, she spotted some familiar faces from Huaxi Alley and sat down with a few neighbors. A round of polite chatter was unavoidable, mostly praising Meng Wan for being good-looking and capable.

After being neighbors for a few years, everyone knew Chang Jinhua liked hearing that.

Then, while the hosts had not yet appeared, they chatted about other things.

"At the Jiang family's Full Moon Feast, why isn't Jiang Fulang coming out to manage things?"

Someone in the know lowered her voice and said, "That concubine gave birth to a son and is feeling very proud now. A few days ago, Jiang Fulang had some kind of conflict with her again, got scolded by Old Master Jiang, and couldn't bear the loss of face, so she ran back to her mother's house."

Having been neighbors for so many years, they couldn't help but feel indignant for him.

"Men are all like that. Before that concubine came, the couple lived peacefully for over twenty years. Now, she can't even compare to a bought good."

Meng Wan nearly choked on his melon seeds and took a big gulp of tea.

Someone else spoke sharply, "He had too good a life when he was young. In a family like ours, which man doesn't have a concubine? If he were a virtuous wife, he should have arranged a concubine for Old Master Jiang when he was young, instead of waiting until he was forty!"

Meng Wan nodded in agreement, put down his teacup, and started cracking melon seeds again. "What Madam Wang says is reasonable. Look at you—you have two sons and three daughters, and you still keep bringing concubines into the house for Master Wang. Truly virtuous."

The ladies at the table couldn't help but purse their lips and smile. It wasn't that Madam Wang voluntarily arranged concubines; it was her husband who was lecherous, scooping up singers and performers and dragging them home.

Seeing Madam Wang's expression—half pleased, half as if she had swallowed something foul—Meng Wan continued, "But... I heard your second daughter has been married for three years without children. Don't wait too long. You should start arranging a concubine for your son-in-law in the next couple of years, right?"

Chang Jinhua pinched Meng Wan under the table and said with a smile, "Don't listen to his nonsense. I heard your second son-in-law is a good man, treating you and Master Wang like his own parents. That's really something."

The second son-in-law was from a down-and-out family, barely able to afford food, relying on the Wang family's support. How could he dare to take a concubine?

Madam Wang's expression stiffened, and she quickly changed the subject.

Before the feast began, Concubine Tao came out holding the child. It was cool on rainy days, so the child was wrapped in a big red swaddling blanket, making it hard to see clearly. But Concubine Tao was dressed brightly.

The Jiang family dealt in cloth. She wore a rose-red satin outfit that was even more ostentatious than the clothing of the legitimate wives present.

Old Master Jiang led the mother and child around each table to toast the guests.

When they reached Meng Wan's table, Concubine Tao fidgeted with the gold hairpin in her hair and straightened her clothes, which had gotten wrinkled from holding the child.

Some people leaned in to look at the child, praising how well he was raised, how fair and cute he was. But Meng Wan truly had no interest in children, let alone someone else's.

Concubine Tao held the child in her arms, her face turned elsewhere, but her eyes were constantly observing Meng Wan's every move.

He was also wearing red today. Were there gold threads embroidered on it? Tacky.

That silver hairpin was so old-fashioned. Wasn't he supposed to be very capable? He couldn't even afford a gold hairpin. Could it all be fabricated?

In her mind, she repeatedly slandered Meng Wan, as if that could cover up the inferiority she refused to admit.

Concubine Tao twisted her handkerchief, deliberately pressing it under her chin to appear demure, and said in a sweet voice, "This husband seems unfamiliar to me."

The wives and husbands at the table were all legitimate spouses who had entered the family properly. They were unwilling to pay attention to a concubine. They only praised the child out of consideration for Old Master Jiang and Madam Jiang's face.

Some who had good relations with Madam Jiang wished they could throw her two dirty looks. Consequently, the scene fell silent for a moment, with no one picking up Concubine Tao's words.

Meng Wan had just eaten some shrimp, and leisurely wiped his hands with a handkerchief before looking up to answer, "My home is next door. My husband's surname is Song."

Concubine Tao had clearly intended to strike up a conversation with Meng Wan with that posture just now, but now that Meng Wan was looking at her and speaking, her eyes darted away, her gaze flitted past him.

"I haven't really seen you around."

After saying this, she continued fiddling with the handkerchief in her hand, not even paying much attention when the child slid down a little. She seemed more interested in a stranger than her own son.

Master Jiang's heart was with his son, and he was slightly displeased. "Alright, give me the child and go back to the back."

Concubine Tao didn't want to go to the back courtyard. After handing the child to Master Jiang, she looked at Meng Wan bitterly. His expression was indifferent, his eyes unfamiliar, as if he had long forgotten who she was.

"Your handkerchief is quite unique, Meng Fulang."

Meng Wan looked at her in surprise. "I just made it from some unused plain cloth at home. Master Jiang runs a fabric shop, so your household shouldn't lack for cloth, should it?"

It was only then that he noticed Concubine Tao's handkerchief was very similar to his, practically identical—in fact, exactly the same—a simple piece of cloth with crooked hem stitching.

"So Concubine Tao also likes to make handkerchiefs from scraps?" he said, somewhat surprised.

Concubine Tao's face went from red to green, and she could no longer contain herself; she beat a hasty retreat. Running back to the back courtyard, she locked herself in her room, frantically picked up the scissors from her embroidery basket, and cut the handkerchief in her hand into pieces.

All she cared about was what others had discarded.

That person could sit at the feast and chat and laugh with everyone else, while she had to hole up in the back courtyard serving an old man.

After cutting the handkerchief, Concubine Tao's emotions calmed down a bit. A mocking smile curled the corner of her mouth.

Serving anyone was the same. She had managed to drive away Jiang Fulang today. That Meng didn't have a child either. Since she was fertile, why couldn't she go and bear one for the Song family as well?

The feast at the Jiang household was done well—it was a proper banquet. There was even a dish of venison called "Deer Embrace Spring," made with spring vegetables and venison, tender and delicious, very popular.

Since their home was just next door, they walked back in just a few steps. The rain had stopped, and the sun even peeked out for a while.

As soon as they entered the house, Chang Jinhua asked Meng Wan, "I felt like Concubine Tao seemed to recognize you."

Even she had noticed, so it was impossible for Meng Wan not to sense her strange attitude. Of course, it couldn't be ruled out that she was just an attention-seeking personality.

"We've been neighbors for over three years. Saying she's never seen me must be a lie. Maybe she holds some grudge against me." As a young man who went out every day to do business, there were always people gossiping behind his back. There was no helping it—who told him to be too outstanding? Some criticism was normal.

"Who holds a grudge against you?" Song Tingzhou followed them in right after. With the weather warming, the academy let out at the Shen hour (3-5 PM) again.

Xue Sheng stepped forward to take the horse's reins from him and led it to the back to feed it hay.

Meng Wan pretended to sigh. "Naturally, people who envy my talent and beauty!"

The orange glow of the sunset spilled over the gray buildings, bathing them in a layer of gold. The gold thread along the hem of Meng Wan's long gown caught the sunlight, making his fair face glow with a warm radiance.

Song Tingzhou came over and took his hand. "Then they're envious of the wrong person."

"Huh?" Meng Wan stared at him wide-eyed.

Song Tingzhou smiled faintly. "They should envy me for being able to marry such a husband—one who possesses both beauty and talent."

Meng Wan turned away, grinning to himself.

Nice, nice. This guy has improved fast; he now knows how to say sweet things.

Chang Jinhua and Meng Wan weren't eating dinner at home, so Song Tingzhou said he'd have something simple. Bi Yun prepared the meal: a pot of rice, scrambled eggs with spinach, and stewed tofu with carp.

After dinner, before it got dark, Meng Wan accompanied Song Tingzhou for a walk down the street to buy some household odds and ends, like needles and thread.

Passing a cosmetics shop, Song Tingzhou coughed lightly and said quietly, "We're out of facial moisturizer at home."

Meng Wan shook off his hand without hesitation. "Go in and buy it yourself. I'm going home first."

Song Tingzhou couldn't help but laugh at his retreating figure, then turned and entered the cosmetics shop. He was a regular there—it was always a bit unusual for a grown man to frequent such a place. After paying and shooting the breeze for a bit with the shopkeeper, Song Tingzhou went back to find Meng Wan.

He saw him standing at the entrance of Huaxi Alley, staring intently into the alley as if observing something.

Song Tingzhou hurried over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Meng Wan pulled him into the alley and pointed to the carriage in front of the Jiang family's house, a little way ahead. "It looks like Jiang Fulang has returned from his in-laws' home."

Song Tingzhou didn't understand what was so interesting about that. He didn't even know that Jiang Fulang had gone back to his in-laws.

Meng Wan didn't know how to explain. "Let's go home first. I have something to ask Xue Sheng."

Back home, Meng Wan summoned Xue Sheng to the study. "That day you followed the Wu family out of the city. Do you still remember the appearance of that young man in the red robe who was in the sunken boat?"

Xue Sheng thought for just a moment, then said to Meng Wan, "It was too dark that night. Even with the torches lighting the area, I only remember the red mole between his brows. As for his face... I can't recall it at all. There probably weren't any other distinguishing features."

Meng Wan frowned deeply. "That's weird. Just now, when I saw Jiang Fulang return from his in-laws' home, he had an unfamiliar page with him, and right in the middle of his brow there was a red mole."

Song Tingzhou was also quite surprised. "What a coincidence!"