The music stuttered to silence. The patriarch and General Sun Bin paused mid-conversation, the courtyard's multitude frozen in astonishment. Even the newlyweds halted their progress, with Gong Zi paling slightly at the disruption.
Han Fei arched a brow.
"Young Master Ximen Qing," the patriarch greeted, concealing all trace of displeasure beneath the practiced mask of courtesy. "What a splendid day to see you." He performed a precise fist-and-palm salute. The younger man, however, returned only a smirk, declining even the courtesy of respecting the elder's seniority.
The unexpected arrival of the Ximen heir cast a shadow over the proceedings. Guests' appetites already waned, and murmurs rippled through the crowd. His audacity, tempered only by the authority of his admiral father, transformed what was meant to be a flawless ceremony into a scene charged with tension.
"Just passing by," Ximen Qing intoned, a sly amusement glinting in his eyes. "I could not help but notice such a buoyant atmosphere. Ah, it appears a wedding is underway, no wonder the wine flows so freely. Yet, I confess my confusion, dear patriarch, perhaps you might illuminate our ignorance." The scion relished their discomfort. General Sun Bin's gaze narrowed to a blade's edge, yet the weight of his stare did little to intimidate the young heir. "To my knowledge, young Master Gong Zi is not one given to the creation of art or verse. Though our interactions are few, I am aware of the limits of his aptitude. More crucially, Qian Jin esteems those who can actually wield a firm hand in painting. A bird confined to its cage all its life, surely it must crave the open sky?"
The patriarch coughed lightly, feigning indifference. Even amidst the fastidious formalities of the Upper Ring households, brazenly exposing another's shortcomings is considered uncouth.
"Though it is true my son did not pass this year's Civil Service Examinations," the elder said with measured calm. "Latent talents may yet manifest in ways unforeseen."
But Ximen Qing pressed on, undeterred. "Certainly, yet while it is commendable that Gong Zi has captured Lady Qian Jin's affections, one cannot help but wonder if the sentiment is truly mutual."
The patriarch's expression stiffened. "What insinuation do you harbor? Today is an auspicious occasion, a celebration of our families' unity and shared future. I would ask you to respect that. Please, come in, savor the moment, and honor our wishes."
A servant stepped forward, bearing a tray of wine for the unexpected visitor.
Ximen Qing's smirk widened, he isn't obtuse enough to actually attend this ceremony and allow the patriarch to sully his reputation as only a mischievous interloper. Even the assembled guests betrayed a flicker of disdain, and that includes the Zhang Tribe, who looked upon the intrusion with unmistakable offense.
"No need, my esteemed patriarch," Ximen Qing replied, his smile that of a cultivated gentleman masking his unbridled appetites. A scholar who surrenders to the pleasures of the flesh rather than the rigors of study may flout conventional morality, yet at least he avoids treason. "Hearing that Gong Zi and Qian Jin are to wed, I have brought gifts, specifically for the lady herself." An attendant in purple garb appeared behind him, carrying a tray of items.
The Gan Jin patriarch's brows drew together. Three objects glimmered with gilded embellishment. A handkerchief, a pair of shoes, and most provocatively, a silken hat dyed in a very specific shade of green. The elder's composure faltered, a reaction too subtle for common eyes but keenly noted by plenty of Upper Ring guests.
To the untrained gaze of servants and waitresses on the balcony, these are mere luxuries of gold and silk. But every discerning household member recognized the coded message. Even the crippled General Sun Bin, veteran of campaigns and strategist of renown, perceived the latent insult.
"Lady Qian Jin and I have been acquainted for some time," Ximen Qing continued, unflinching despite the growing glares. "It is lamentable that such beauty has been confined so strictly. Naturally, a caged bird longs to glimpse the pleasures beyond its bars."
A hundred interpretations rippled through the courtyard. Lady Qian had seldom left her parental home, and the sanctity of General Sun Bin's estate is inviolable.
"What is it you insinuate?" Sun Bin demanded, his expression darkening as he maneuvered his wooden wheelchair forward, every inch of his presence commanding a certain level of respect. "Of all the people that I want here, you are not one of the invited!"
Ximen Qing's smug grin never wavered. He chuckled, courteous yet laden with subtle mockery. The gifts, though trifling, conveyed a scornful implication. The hat dyed in a particular shade of green bespoke infidelity, casting aspersions on the impending marriage.
The patriarch remained stoic, suppressing irritation as tension thickened. The retainers upstairs are oblivious, watched the unfolding drama with puzzled eyes.
"Young Master Ximen Qing," the elder said, voice measured yet edged with steel. "It serves neither your honor nor your prudence to impugn my daughter-in-law's virtue without cause. To question the validity of this union without evidence is most unseemly."
"Oh very?" Ximen Qing countered, eyes glinting with daring. "I can only imagine the tiresome vigilance of shielding a lady behind compound walls. Have you and General Sun Bin ever considered that an elegant lady might, in secret, indulge in unforgettable pleasures beyond your notice?"
The courtyard fell into stunned silence. From the third-floor windows to the ground below, servants and retainers alike could not avert their gaze from the daytime spectacle. Ximen Qing didn't even bother with the subtle insinuations.
"Watch your tongue, boy," Sun Bin growled, restrained fury evident in every word. "Count yourself fortunate that I cannot rend it from your mouth in my condition. My daughter understands right from wrong. She will never stoop to your vulgarity. No dog such as you has any say in this matter."
Again, Ximen Qing did not flinch, not even the slightest twitch of offense betraying him. As the most reviled figure in the Upper Ring, he made no pretense of propriety. Rather, he flaunted his licentiousness with brazen amusement. The absence of reproach from his own father only fueled the man's appetite for women, particularly those already bound in matrimony. Insults ricocheted harmlessly off him, evoking only a soft, sardonic chuckle.
Sun Bin, lacking the polished refinement of the Upper Ring nobility, wielded his words like blunt instruments, which is clumsy and ineffective against a man born to navigate such verbal duels. Though Ximen Qing remained notorious, he is nonetheless recognized as a scholar of rare talent, and in this arena of rhetoric, the general found himself at a distinct disadvantage.
"My, my," Ximen Qing purred, amusement dancing in his eyes as he gestured to the commander's crippled legs. "Such scathing words from our duty-bound general! I merely came to present some gifts to Lady Qian Jin, I did not expect such harsh reciprocation."
The patriarch attempted to regain decorum, invoking tradition and virtue. Smearing Lady Qian Jin's name and provoking the Sun family in this manner is beneath all civilized men, he intoned. Promiscuity, after all, is despised across the Four Nations, and someone of Qian Jin's prudence would never indulge in such impropriety.
Before the elder could launch into a full discourse on virtue and propriety, Ximen Qing struck first with another audacious gambit.
"My dear patriarch," he ventured, eyes glinting with calculated audacity. "If Lady Qian Jin is not immaculate, does that mean—"
"Enough!" the elder bellowed, the entire courtyard shuddering at the sudden eruption. "The matter between me and General Sun Bin have already been decided. If you are not here for food and wine, you are free to leave. And take your so-called gifts with you."
Ximen Qing's smile twisted, relishing in knowing mere words forced the patriarch to lose composure. "Oh, I have already acquired what I came for," he said smoothly. "Though I understand you Gan Jin men prize untouched virtue, I cannot help but marvel at the irony. Young master Gong Zi is about to claim a woman already deflowered."
A hush fell over the courtyard. Even the retainers on the third floor gasped, scandalized by the audacity and complete disregard for etiquette.
General Sun Bin and the patriarch, though incensed, refused to lend credence to such a baseless accusation. To them, it is clear that the Ximen family sought only to soil the honor of others while preserving their own prestige. Yet the claim that Lady Qian Jin and Ximen Qing had cohabited in secret seemed preposterous beyond measure.
"Hmph, with a scoundrel like you?" Sun Bin said dismissively "Perhaps your lies might sway the gullible elsewhere, but do you truly think the people here would fall for such nonsense?"
The walls of Sun Bin's estate meant a scandal of such magnitude is unimaginable, a fantasy impossible to enact.
"What if I could prove it?" Ximen Qing challenged, his gaze locking on the general. "You know your daughter well. Perhaps I could describe a feature of Lady Qian Jin… beyond the mere experiences we might have shared."
The onlookers grimaced, uncertain whether to be horrified or entertained by this shameless display. As for General Sun Bin, he summoned for his jian, prepared to end the farce and remove the unwanted guest's head despite the possibility of enraging the city's admiral.
Before Ximen Qing can further cast words of immoral offence, a man in white stepped into the fray, leisurely fanning himself with a paper fan dyed to match his attire. Hope flickered in the patriarch's eyes, while Ximen Qing paused, momentarily unsettled.