The Tea Tasting Convention came to an end, and guests from every direction gathered their belongings and departed Chuzhou City one by one.
The small street vendors, who had been bustling for the past half month, seized the quiet of tonight’s thin crowds to pack up their stalls ahead of time and return home to replenish supplies, intending to resume business the next day.
Tao Xianzhi was pacing in front of an eating house on East Market Street when a voice calling his name made him whirl around, stopping him dead in his tracks.
He had invited Fu Jingxuan for a drink tonight.
Second Master Fu arrived right on time, but he had brought an extra person along.
Seated at the table, Young Master Tao felt a bit awkward. He had planned to boldly order two jars of strong liquor and drink until no one could go home, but after noticing the uninvited guest beside him, he hesitated, withdrew his raised finger, and told the waiter instead, “Start with a pot of fruit wine and two side dishes.”
The waiter called out loudly, presented the teapot with both hands, named the dishes aloud, and then darted off.
Tao Xianzhi had not anticipated that Fang Zesheng, who had long been living in the inner courtyard of the Fang residence, would show up tonight. Seated at the square table in the eating house’s main hall, he spoke with some awkwardness, “My meeting with Jingxuan was arranged at the last minute, so I couldn’t reserve a private room. I hope the Head Merchant can forgive me.”
Fang Zesheng said, “It doesn’t matter. I heard Young Master Tao is leaving tomorrow, so I came along to see you off.”
Flattered, Tao Xianzhi immediately picked up the teapot to pour him a bowl of coarse tea. “I left in a hurry with Lord Song today and haven’t had the chance to ask how the Head Merchant’s health is recovering?”
Fang Zesheng said, “It is no longer a major concern; I appreciate Young Master Tao’s concern.”
“Not at all, not at all.” Tao Xianzhi exchanged pleasantries with him. Taking advantage of the moment Fang lowered his eyes to drink tea, he quickly wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and looked toward Fu Jingxuan.
Fu Jingxuan knew full well that he was somewhat intimidated by Fang Zesheng, but he didn’t just sit by to watch the show either. Once the wine and dishes were served, he poured him a cup and began chatting idly as they usually did.
Fang Zesheng did not drink, sitting off to the side alone in silence.
Tao Xianzhi was used to this; even when they gathered as youths, Young Master Fang had always been like this—cold, quiet, and distant toward everyone.
“The atmosphere at Yunhe Tower today was far too bizarre. Luckily, I had the foresight to ask you out in advance.” Tao Xianzhi had juggled two social engagements; first, he had shared a few bites with his grandfather and Lord Song, then found a random excuse to slip away and join Fu Jingxuan. Although he was also in business, he still disliked the internal maneuvering and power plays at the dinner table; seeing too much of it made him nauseous and was hard to stomach.
“Oh?” Fu Jingxuan said. “Lord Song is quite interesting; surely he wouldn’t make the gathering so hard to swallow, right?”
“If it were only Lord Song, it would have been fine, but today the prefect of Chuzhou, Lord Feng was also there. I heard previously that he was away on official business, but he rushed back specifically today to see Lord Song off.” Tao Xianzhi said with disdain, “You didn’t see Wang Xiuhe’s arrogant face; she finally saw her backer arrive and actually dared to sit as an equal with your father and my grandfather!”
The official affairs throughout the Chuzhou region were tightly controlled by Wang Xiuhe, much of it owing to Lord Feng’s support; although the local officials wielded authority, their monthly salaries were not particularly generous. In earlier years, there were still benefits to be quietly skimmed, but in recent times the imperial court had overhauled the administration and severely punished a number of corrupt officials who took bribes, making it hard for merchants to gain entry to official circles; they could hardly even find a way to offer silver or gifts. Some officials were genuinely frightened and no longer dared to take anything, while others altered their approach, accepting benefits more discreetly or even secretly conducting business with merchants.
Lord Feng was one such person; every time Wang Xiuhe settled a tea account, it had to pass through his hands so he could pocket some of the wealth along the way.
“Officials and merchants have always been in cahoots; what prominent family hasn’t paid silver to smooth the way? But no one is like her, outright tearing the Fang family in two and crudely turning it into a profit-generating tool for herself and Prefect Feng.” After Tao Xianzhi finished his indignant outburst, he suddenly remembered that Fang Zesheng was still at the table. He snuck a glance at him, and when he saw no response, he awkwardly fell silent and turned the conversation to something else.
By the time they were halfway through their drinks, a fresh wave of patrons had already come and gone into the eating house.
Fang Zesheng sat quietly at the table, listening as their conversation drifted from weighty matters to trifles; nothing but talk of flowers and plants, calligraphy and paintings, and assorted curios.
Second Master Fu was in a good mood today, drinking cup after cup until his cheeks were slightly flushed, hovering in a state of being half-drunk.
He had thought he could pause for a moment while Tao Xianzhi went off to the latrine, but instead he ended up drinking two more cups by himself. Only after the wine pot was drained did he look around in a daze, lifting the empty pot to signal the waiter.
Fang Zesheng hesitated for a moment, then reached out to block him by placing his hand back on the table. “Drink less.”
Fu Jingxuan narrowed his eyes at him, then suddenly rested his chin on his hand and leaned in close, asking with a smile: “The Head Merchant controls me so tightly, forbidding me from attending drinking parties and limiting how much I can drink. And even though you are my husband, you keep talking about divorce. With this twisted, overly sentimental mind pulling in every direction, what are you really thinking?”
Fang Zesheng felt his face heat up at these words. He wanted to pull away, but he was pinned in place by the sweet scent of fruit wine, unable to move.
He was indeed indecisive.
When he did not see this person, he could remain unperturbed.
But once he saw him, he could not bear let go.
The human heart is difficult to control. Fang Zesheng knew he should be more decisive and give an answer, yet he could not suppress his inner thoughts or control his true heart.
It was like how great principles are clearly stated; understanding them is one thing but actually putting them into practice is something else entirely.
If he weren’t disabled, he naturally wouldn’t have delayed until now. But at this point, he could no longer postpone it. Being able to see him again and spend a few days as husband and wife was already a blessing from heaven. How could he drag him down with a pair of useless legs and ruin his entire life?
Fang Zesheng closed his eyes. Just as he was about to speak to Fu Jingxuan, a loud “crash” came from the neighboring table—
“I’ll teach you to spout such nonsense! Today, I’ll beat you to death, you foul-mouthed brute!”
A wave of panic swept through the hall. Hearing the commotion, many people looked over in unison. A drunken brute had overturned a liquor table and was hoisting a long bench, preparing to smash it down upon a young man in green robes. The young man was of a slender build, and even the headpiece tying his hair was green. “How am I foul-mouthed?! It’s your wife who’s been having an affair with Wang Ping, the tofu seller from West Street! I was kind enough to warn you; why can’t you see the truth?!”
The drunkard’s eyes were bloodshot as he swung the bench wildly from side to side. “Bullshit! My wife is virtuous and kind; she only went to buy a piece of tofu, and you’ve twisted it into slander like this! How is she supposed to face anyone after such rumors?!”
“You’re only worried about how she’ll face others; why not think about how you’re being laughed at all day as a cuckold! Hey, hey, hey, you’re really going to swing that—!” To evade the drunkard’s attacks, the gentleman clad in green scurried around the various tables. Flushed with rage, the drunkard paid no attention to the bystanders, smashing a large amount of tableware. He must have been drinking alone, heavily intoxicated, for he staggered back and forth swinging a long bench. After a brief, dizzy pause, he wandered dazedly around the hall, and the moment his eyes caught a flash of bright color, he charged straight for it.
Fu Jingxuan had been waiting for Fang Zesheng’s response. Hearing the noise, he intended to watch the spectacle but before he could even turn his head, his wrist tightened and his vision went dark. The next moment, he tumbled into a warm embrace; his nose filled with a faint scent of medicinal herbs.
Fang Zesheng grabbed his hand and shielded him firmly beneath himself. With his back turned upward, he took a heavy blow from the bench and asked, “Are you hurt?”
