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To think she climbed onto her master’s bed!
Madame Wu was too preoccupied to consider sending maids to Song Jingyun and Jiang Mixia. She didn’t even have time to excuse herself to Jiang Mixia before hastily leading the maid away.
Without Madame Wu’s hostess presence and lively demeanor, the banquet once again descended into formality.
Jiang Mixia finished her tea, then motioned for a maid to approach.
“What instructions do you have, Lady Jiang?” the maid inquired politely, bowing respectfully.
“It’s getting late, and it seems Madame has urgent matters to attend to. I won’t trouble her further. Please convey my regards to her; I will take my leave now,” Jiang Mixia said, gesturing for the maid to inform Madame.
As the guest prepared to depart, it was evident that Madame Wu’s affairs would not be resolved quickly. The maid, accustomed to such situations, knew how to handle it. She bowed to Jiang Mixia, saying, “I will inform Madame shortly. Safe travels, Lady Jiang.”
Afterward, the maid escorted the two individuals, seeing Jiang Mixia off.
Observing Jiang Mixia’s departure, the wives of the newly successful candidates also began to take their leave one by one.
The maids were busy seeing the guests out.
As Jiang Mixia exited, she happened to spot Song Jingyun emerging from the courtyard.
“Wife.” Song Jingyun hastened towards Jiang Mixia upon seeing her.
A strong whiff of alcohol met Jiang Mixia as he approached, causing her to instinctively take a couple of steps back. She waved her hand to fan away the scent, asking, “How much have you been drinking?”
Jiang Mixia was certain that her husband had consumed quite a lot of alcohol.
As he had approached, she felt as though it was not a person walking towards her but rather a barrel of wine heading her way.
“I didn’t drink much,” Song Jingyun scratched his head. “I’d say about two casks, maybe.”
“There were so many toasting guests, especially on the magistrate’s side. I couldn’t refuse, so I had to have a few extra drinks. But rest assured, my dear, I am not even slightly drunk.”
“And the others?” Jiang Mixia inquired.
“I reckon none of them are sober,” Song Jingyun replied somewhat sheepishly.
Jiang Mixia pondered.
It seemed her husband’s tolerance for alcohol remained steadfast.
Thinking about the magistrate’s frequent insistence on drinking with her husband…
Recalling Madame Wu’s distasteful attempt to gift her a maid and the subsequent failure to do so, she imagined the magistrate mingling with the household maids instead.
It was truly a case of lifting a stone only to drop it on one’s foot.
Jiang Mixia felt a deep sense of satisfaction and promptly tugged at Song Jingyun’s sleeve. “Let’s head back quickly. Have a couple of bowls of sobering soup, get some good rest, and prevent a headache.”
“Alright!” Song Jingyun nodded emphatically.
Indeed, his wife was the most caring towards him.
During the banquet, the magistrate had been murmuring, suggesting that his wife hadn’t taken good care of him, especially now that he had recently passed the civil service examination and should have suitable attendants by his side.
Song Jingyun understood the magistrate’s intentions and could sense what he was planning.
Plotting against him while belittling his wife was simply intolerable!
Consequently, he repeatedly toasted the magistrate, making him drink to the point of unconsciousness. Only then did he call for assistance to help the magistrate back for rest.
As the maid came to support the magistrate, casting scrutinizing glances and even hinting at assisting him to rest, Song Jingyun could discern the magistrate’s intentions—this was likely the person he intended to foist upon him.
Hence, Song Jingyun feigned anxiety, insisting that such matters were best handled by their servants, sparing the lady from any trouble.
Observing the maid’s evident pause and thoughtful expression, Song Jingyun hurriedly apologized, complimenting her exceptional appearance and demeanor, assuming she was a lady of the house. He expressed regret for the misunderstanding and asked for her forgiveness.
The maid reassured him and, after a moment of contemplation, assisted the magistrate and did not reappear.
Later on, there were faint murmurs of the magistrate’s wife angrily storming into the courtyard.
Seeing that things were settling, Song Jingyun took his leave, promptly exiting to find Jiang Mixia.
Encountering his wife, he felt a sense of peace wash over him.
Leading Jiang Mixia back to the inn, they had a couple of bowls of sobering soup and enjoyed a restful sleep.
The next day, news of the magistrate’s drunken debauchery during the day spread throughout Xingnan Prefecture. Subsequently, rumors surfaced of Madame Wu coercing virtuous women into unsavory activities, staining her reputation.
Subsequently, news spread of the magistrate seizing farmland, causing harm and destruction, driving a victim to seek justice in the capital, risking their life to avenge their family.
The magistrate found himself in a precarious position, with rumors swirling about his actions, including land grabbing and disregard for human life, leading to tragedy. This prompted someone to head to the capital to lodge a formal complaint, seeking retribution at all costs.
Within days, an imperial envoy arrived in the capital to investigate the magistrate’s conduct, stirring up a frenzy of rumors and discussion in Xingnan Prefecture.
Despite the commotion, Song Jingyun and Jiang Mixia remained unfazed. They packed their belongings, boarded a carriage, and set off for home.
With the autumn examinations concluded, Song Jingyun was now an accomplished candidate and looked forward to celebrating with his family. Additionally, preparations for the next year’s spring examinations began.
As they journeyed home at a leisurely pace in the swaying carriage, unconcerned about time constraints, they savored the peaceful return journey.
Traveling from dawn till dusk and resting overnight, the journey back home took a full four to five days before Jiang Mixia and Song Jingyun reached the outskirts of Jiang’s village.
As they arrived at the village entrance, they found a large crowd gathered.
Jiang Youcheng and Liu Shi were surrounded by the villagers. Upon spotting the carriage carrying Song Jingyun and Jiang Mixia approaching, they hurried forward to greet them.
“Father, Mother.”
Song Jingyun and Jiang Mixia quickly alighted from the carriage, exchanging greetings with the villagers. “How did you all know we were returning today?”
“It wasn’t that we knew you were coming back today. It’s just that the villagers learned of Jingyun’s success in the examination and eagerly awaited your return. They’ve been gathering at the village entrance every day, hoping for your arrival. Upon seeing the carriage now, they knew it was you returning, so they all came out to welcome you.”
Jiang Youcheng beamed with excitement and pride, “Jingyun is the first scholar of our Jiang family village. Everyone is thrilled!”
“Yes, our Jiang family village has finally produced someone promising.”
“The ancestral graves of our Jiang family have stirred with joy, with our ancestors watching over us!”
“Let me tell you, this is just the beginning. With Jingyun leading the way, we will surely see more scholars emerging in our village one after another.”
“Hey hey hey, let’s not just talk. Jingyun and Xia have traveled for several days and must be exhausted. Let’s allow the children to rest first. Even if we want to celebrate, let’s wait a couple of days before visiting. Let them reunite and enjoy themselves for a couple of days.”
“That’s right, let’s all head back for now. In a couple of days, I’ll arrange for a feast in the village! We’ll have a grand celebration!” Jiang Zhengxin chuckled, calling out.