Volume One, Chapter Fourteen: What on Earth Is Going On in Broad Daylight?!

“Since the matriarch does not object to me going out, I shall visit the shop these few days.”

Seeing that Chu Yao no longer fussed over handing control of the household affairs to the steward, Madam Li secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but her thoughts quickly shifted to another matter.

“Yao’er, the day after tomorrow, the mansion will host a banquet for Wen Yuan’s superior, colleagues, and their families. How are your preparations coming along? I heard from Wen Yuan that his superior is about to be promoted. The position of Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments is about to be vacated. Wen Yuan is very focused on this opportunity. This banquet must be handled properly. We have specially invited the wife of his superior—the young lady Jiang from the Duke’s Mansion. You must seize this chance to build a good relationship with Lady Jiang. If we can establish a connection with the Duke’s Mansion, Wen Yuan’s official career will surely sail smoothly from then on…”

Indeed.

At this moment, Madam Li was unaware of Chu Yao’s ties to the Duke’s Mansion. She did not say another word and certainly would not assist her nominal husband in the slightest.

According to Jiang’s previous words, Cheng Jinxi was expected to make a significant move at this banquet.

Chu Yao smiled faintly. She was eager to witness the spectacle.

She wondered what expressions Madam Li and Cheng Wen Yuan would wear at that time.

The day of the banquet arrived in the blink of an eye.

Early in the morning, Madam Li dressed meticulously and solemnly to stand outside the mansion gate with Chu Yao to welcome guests.

The male guests were personally escorted to the main hall by Cheng Wen Yuan.

The female family members were led into the inner courtyard by Madam Li and Chu Yao.

Today, over a dozen women arrived, among whom Lady Jiang, wife of the Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, was the most distinguished.

Madam Li hurried over to the Duke’s carriage parked before the mansion, wearing a broad smile to greet Lady Jiang.

Supported by her maid, Lady Jiang descended from the carriage and only nodded slightly at Madam Li.

Her gaze then bypassed her and fell directly on Chu Yao.

“Young Madam Cheng, how have you been recently?”

Chu Yao nodded, “Thank you for your concern. All is well. Lady Jiang, please come inside.”

Madam Li quickened her pace to follow.

Seeing her daughter-in-law chatting and laughing side by side with Lady Jiang, her thoughts raced.

Seizing the rare opportunity, she pulled Chu Yao aside and quietly voiced her lingering doubts.

“Yao’er, did you know Lady Jiang before this?”

“I met Lady Jiang a few times before my marriage.”

“Are you close?”

“Not really, just acquaintances.”

“You know people from the Duke’s Mansion—why didn’t you tell Grandmother earlier? If we had known sooner, we could have leveraged the Duke’s connections to make our Marquisate flourish long ago!”

Madam Li’s voice was tinged with frustration.

“Grandmother, you’re overthinking. I only met Lady Jiang a few times and there’s nothing significant between us.”

“You won’t know unless you try. You—”

“Grandmother, I’m going to attend to the guests.”

Chu Yao did not want to entertain Madam Li any further and, without waiting for her to finish, found an excuse and left.

Madam Li was left standing there, staring blankly at her retreating figure.

Meanwhile, in the Autumn Evening Courtyard—

“Miss, your servant has inquired. The heir is still in the front hall entertaining guests and has drunk quite a bit.”

“Go to him yourself and quietly tell him that Yue’er suddenly has a stomach ache and needs him to come immediately.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Cheng Jinxi glanced at the teacup before her, her lips curling into a sly, wicked smile.

In the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Cheng Wen Yuan hurried in.

“Where is Yue’er? Jinxi, how is Yue’er?”

Cheng Jinxi quickly composed her expression and stood to greet him. “Wen Yuan, you’re here.”

“How is Yue’er?”

“She was just crying from stomach pain but went to the bridal chamber and felt better afterward. She even went out to play with the maid just now. Perhaps I was overreacting; I thought her previous indigestion hadn’t fully cleared.”

Cheng Wen Yuan exhaled in relief. “Good to hear she’s fine.”

Seeing him turn to leave, Cheng Jinxi hastily lifted the teacup and handed it to him.

“Wen Yuan, you’ve had quite a bit to drink, haven’t you? Your face is flushed. Have some strong tea to sober up.”

Cheng Wen Yuan had always appreciated her attentive care; seeing the gentle warmth in her eyes, he smiled and took the cup, draining it in one gulp.

“There are still honored guests in the front hall. Since Yue’er is fine, I must hurry back.”

As he turned, a sudden dizziness washed over him.

“Wen Yuan, what’s wrong? Are you drunk?”

Cheng Jinxi stepped forward swiftly to steady him.

“A bit drunk,” he admitted.

A fierce heat surged from his lower abdomen upward, making him restless.

His gaze grew hazy as he looked at the alluring figure before him, inexplicably finding her today especially enticing.

His throat grew dry and parched with desire.

An overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms and lavish her with affection overwhelmed him.

His burning eyes traced her graceful curves as his Adam’s apple bobbed twice.

“Jinxi, you look stunning today…”

He opened his arms to encircle her slender waist, burying his face in her hair to inhale deeply.

“Jinxi, I want you, right now… please…”

“Wen Yuan, isn’t this inappropriate during the day?”

“Jinxi, I just want you, okay…”

“Wen Yuan, you—”

Without giving her a chance to finish, Cheng Wen Yuan lifted Cheng Jinxi horizontally and headed toward the bed.

…

Meanwhile, Lady Jiang and Chu Yao, accompanied by several other ladies, had left the banquet to stroll in the mansion’s small garden.

Madam Li clung behind Lady Jiang, attempting several times to engage her in conversation, but Lady Jiang offered no smiles.

Seeing Lady Jiang chatting and laughing with Chu Yao, seemingly ignoring her as the matriarch of the Marquisate, Madam Li’s heart sank with a twinge of jealousy.

Lady Jiang had a prior appointment with Cheng Jinxi and naturally kept her attention on that matter.

Suddenly, Lady Jiang gently tugged Chu Yao’s hand.

Understanding her meaning, Chu Yao led her toward the Autumn Evening Courtyard.

After a few steps, a porcelain-white little doll ran up, followed by the maid Xiao Cui.

She ran while calling out with a childish voice, “Young Madam, Matriarch, Auntie suddenly fell ill. Please come quickly.”

Lady Jiang smiled faintly.

This was Cheng Jinxi’s signal.

Feigning ignorance, she looked at Chu Yao. “Who is this child? And who has fallen ill?”

Chu Yao quickly replied, “This is Yue’er. The ‘Auntie’ she refers to should be the eldest Miss of Autumn Evening Courtyard, Cheng Jinxi.”

“Since she is ill, we must go see her.”

Though Madam Li was unsure what was happening at the Autumn Evening Courtyard, she had always been annoyed by Cheng Jinxi.

Now, she did not want Cheng Jinxi to spoil the mood of such a distinguished guest, so she hurriedly stepped forward to advise against it.

“She’s just a relative temporarily residing in the Marquisate. Lady Jiang’s status is so noble; how could we allow a trivial matter to ruin her enjoyment? Chu Yao, you stay with Lady Jiang and the other ladies to continue enjoying the flowers. I will go check on it.”

“If a member of the Marquisate’s family is unwell, how could we ignore it? We should all go. Perhaps we can be of some help.”

Lady Jiang paid no heed to her admonition and, taking Chu Yao’s hand, headed toward the Autumn Evening Courtyard.

Arriving at the courtyard, they found the doors and windows tightly closed.

Lady Jiang led the way, with Chu Yao close behind, and they stopped at the door.

From where they stood, they faintly heard low, passionate sounds coming from inside.

Lady Jiang understood immediately and signaled the maid to push open the door.

As it opened, they glimpsed a man and a woman, intertwined in a frenzy, their bodies flushed pale.

The room was filled with an intoxicating atmosphere.

“Oh my! What is happening in broad daylight?”

A young woman hurriedly turned away, covering her face, unwilling to look any further.