Cheng Jinzhou was still reeling from the excitement, staring blankly at Liu Bin with wide, unblinking eyes.
Heaven have mercy, he thought. I'm only twelve years old! Even if I said something inappropriate, the punishment shouldn't be an arranged marriage!
Liu Bin, however, was practically glowing with excitement. He swayed slightly, like a tiger prowling through a butcher's shop, and pointed at Cheng Jinzhou. "Such remarkable insight for one so young!"
"Magistrate Liu..." Cheng Jinzhou's father finally snapped out of his daze and stood up awkwardly.
"Forgive my boldness," Liu Bin said with a bow and clasped hands, "but I couldn't help but be impressed."
Cheng Jinzhou inwardly scoffed. "Impressed"? Who picks a son-in-law like they're choosing a prize catch? If this were the 21st century, watching the evening news would give you a heart attack.
Despite his resistance, Cheng Jinzhou's parents, Cheng Yuan'an and his wife, were visibly pleased.
The Liu family was a prominent clan in Hexi, and more importantly, they had long-standing ties with the Zheng family—Cheng Jinzhou's maternal relatives. With Liu Bin holding a high-ranking official post and a hereditary title of Count, it could even be said that the Chengs were the ones climbing the social ladder.
From a matchmaking perspective, the two families were well-matched.
Within minutes, Cheng Yuan'an nodded. "I will inform my parents before making a final decision."
That was as good as an agreement. Cheng Jinzhou was indeed a direct-line descendant, but there were plenty of other eligible grandsons in the Cheng family—especially if one counted all four branches of the Qing, Yue, Yuan, and Long lines.
Nearby, Cheng Bingxun gnashed his teeth in envy. He had long dreamed of improving his family's fortunes, and having a Transport Commissioner as an in-law—a solid sixth-rank civil official—was beyond his wildest hopes.
Cheng Jinzhou's mother couldn't stop smiling. She had entertained similar thoughts before, and now the marriage would strengthen ties between the Cheng family of Shaonan, the Zheng family of Hexi, and the Liu family of Hexi—paving a smoother path for her son's future.
As congratulations poured in, the twelve-year-old Cheng Jinzhou could only sit in stunned silence, unable to muster even a wry smile.
The already lavish banquet grew even more extravagant with the addition of the prospective in-laws. Not only were all the direct-line grandsons of the Cheng family's four branches invited, but many retainers and outsiders were also in attendance. Star Scholars like Wu Zong were present, along with painters, musicians, sculptors, and literati. The atmosphere grew lively as guests debated, joked, and traded sharp-witted barbs.
Cheng Jinzhou sat quietly among his cousins, with Cheng Jinhao—still resentful after their last confrontation—seated beside him. Though they disliked each other, their similar status made the seating arrangement unavoidable.
The adults merrily drank rice wine, and the Qing branch, being the most populous, soon had uncles and cousins urging Cheng Jinzhou to join them. His father, the prefect, didn't stop them—despite his official rank, he drank like a pedantic scholar.
Tipsy and drowsy, Cheng Jinzhou was about to collapse onto the table when a burst of laughter erupted.
"Cheng Jinzhou, look at your betrothed!" a red-faced guest shouted, heedless of decorum—though no one scolded him.
Cheng Jinzhou barely heard, his vision blurry as he mumbled to himself, "The scholars of the Great Xia Dynasty… so dignified in public, yet so unrestrained at banquets. Like tea leaves—swell up at the first drop of water..."
Some of the less "steeped" guests murmured admiringly about Liu Bin's daughter, their praises varying with their temperaments—some calling her "exquisitely delicate," others "flawless as jade," and still others "graceful and ethereal."
Dazed and jostled, Cheng Jinzhou only caught his cousin Cheng Jinhao's bitter whisper: "The best tomatoes always get eaten by pigs."
Unburdened by the strictures of Neo-Confucianism, Miss Liu stood composed in the hall, observing her inebriated betrothed as others observed her. At twelve, she was old enough to harbor vague hopes for the future.
As the renowned daughter of a prominent official in Longdong, Liu Qingshuang had her own circle where future husbands were a common topic. But facing a drunken Cheng Jinzhou unprepared left even her quick wit at a loss.
Liu Bin, lost in dreams and wine, had clearly not considered how ill-advised it was to introduce the children in such a setting.
Cheng Jinzhou's mother, more perceptive, was delighted to see the young Liu heiress's beauty. She drew the girl close while directing servants to tend to her son. "My maiden family is in Hexi," she told the noblewomen nearby. "Seeing Miss Liu feels like looking at my younger self."
"Of course you're happy—she's your future daughter-in-law," said Fourth Aunt, masking her envy. The Liu family's status—a sixth-rank Transport Commissioner with a hereditary title—was illustrious, and the match was the envy of many. That the offer had come from the Lius made it all the more prestigious. Who would have guessed, a month ago, that the sickly Cheng boy would land such fortune?
Cheng's mother introduced Liu Qingshuang to the ladies as if she were already family, bypassing the usual mother-in-law tensions with startling speed.
Cheng Jinhao watched his future sister-in-law with growing resentment. At nearly fifteen, he understood matters between men and women all too well. The sight of the graceful Liu Qingshuang stoked his frustration, especially compared to the disheveled Cheng Jinzhou.
Seizing a moment when no one was looking, he yanked his page aside. "Xiao Guizi, fetch me some zhedi grass."
"Now?" The boy shivered.
"I want to see what my dear cousin ate to get so lucky," Cheng Jinhao muttered, bitter as a rhino trampled by an elephant.
Xiao Guizi retreated wordlessly. Zhedi grass was a potent laxative—rumored to leave victims writhing on the ground. Discovery meant certain death, but refusal wasn't an option.
He returned with a pinch of powder as the banquet reached its peak. Chaos reigned outside the head table, and Xiao Guizi slipped unnoticed to Cheng Jinzhou's side. Cheng Jinhao gave a subtle nod before standing to propose a toast.
Banquets were where noble sons learned from their elders.
Amid the clamor, the powder vanished into Cheng Jinzhou's cup.
Cheng Jinhao clinked his cousin's cup with a smirk. "Everyone, drink! Cheng Jinzhou too!"
The crowd cheered as some overeager child forced the wine down Cheng Jinzhou's throat.
Cheng Jinhao retreated, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Half a minute later, Cheng Jinzhou lurched sideways, his stomach revolting spectacularly—revealing the full, undignified spectrum of his recent meal.
Liu Qingshuang, who had been watching, finally frowned in displeasure.
Fourth Aunt seized the moment, fanning herself with a scented handkerchief. "The air is stifling here. Let us retire."
What had been appetizing aromas now became an olfactory assault, driving the ladies away. Liu Qingshuang followed without a word.
The men, hardier souls, merely avoided the epicenter. Wu Zong, undeterred, boomed, "I specialize in land measurement—whether marshland, valleys, or newly cleared fields, my calculations are flawless. Magistrate Liu, if you need surveying, I'm your man!"
Hearing "measurement," the still-retching Cheng Jinzhou lifted his head and slurred, "In an era without calculus, how can you claim flawless calculations?"
...