Old Madam Xie personally tasted several dishes, and they were all unbearably salty.

If one dish was a bit salty, it could be explained as a cook’s mistake. But for the vast majority to have salt added so recklessly was clearly intentional.

The old lady was quite angry and had no idea how to explain this away.

Yuan Shi had never experienced such a scene and could only smile awkwardly.

Xie Ping kept her head lowered as much as possible, trying to minimize her presence.

“On behalf of the Xie family, I apologize to everyone.” Yun Chu stood up, her face full of sincere regret. “For such a huge mistake to occur at the birthday banquet is due to my improper household management. I will first punish myself with three cups here.”

She had just picked up her wine cup.

Qin Mingheng spoke: “Everyone in the capital knows Madam Xie is still ill. This birthday banquet was not organized by Madam Xie either. It’s not your turn to punish yourself.”

“I am the mistress in charge of the Xie residence. Even if I didn’t personally organize it, it’s still due to my inadequate supervision. I deserve punishment.” Yun Chu picked up the wine cup and tilted her head back to drink it all.

Qin Mingheng’s brow furrowed tightly, and he was about to stand.

Then he saw Xie Jingyu at Yun Chu’s side take away the wine cup from her hand and directly drink three cups himself.

Qin Mingheng’s gaze instantly became dark and obscure, with a faint trace of a smile hanging at the corner of his lips: “Lord Xie and Madam Xie truly have a deeply affectionate marriage. How enviable.”

For some reason, Yun Chu detected a slight hint of mockery in these words.

She ignored that thread of discomfort and spoke: “The Xie residence will arrange for people to go to restaurants and prepare a feast as quickly as possible. Please wait a moment. For now, we’ll first serve longevity peaches and longevity noodles so everyone can partake of the blessings.”

Madam Yun Lin Shi nodded: “I’ll arrange for people to assist as well.”

The Yun family was second to none in the capital. With Madam Yun’s help, everyone knew the feast could be prepared quickly, and the atmosphere eased considerably.

Servants brought out the longevity peaches—made from flour in the shape of red peaches with large longevity characters written on them. The largest longevity peach was placed before the birthday celebrant, Old Madam Xie, and the remaining tables each had a large platter.

The old madam, having experienced one mishap after another, looked considerably dispirited. Now she forced herself to muster energy to cut the longevity peach.

However, as soon as the peach was cut open, the old lady was frightened badly. She retreated repeatedly and actually fell from her chair, directly overturning the longevity noodles as well.

Those below looked up and immediately fell into chaos.

“Good heavens, why are there so many worms inside the longevity peach!”

“My goodness, it’s normal for real peaches to have worms, but how can something made from flour have so many disgusting things!”

“This is an inauspicious omen!”

Yun Chu’s eyes narrowed.

Last night after the little fellow fell asleep, he had a dream and talked in his sleep, saying something about worms. Could these mishaps at today’s birthday banquet be the little fellow’s doing?

No matter how bold He Xu was, he would only dare to substitute inferior goods and embezzle some silver. Dead fish, excessive salt, worms… it must have been Chu Hongyu who did this.

Did that little fellow know she wasn’t happy at the Xie family, so he was helping her vent her anger?

Seeing the old madam so frightened she collapsed on the ground and the Xie residence in complete chaos, she did feel quite a bit of her pent-up anger released.

“Everyone, don’t panic.” Xie Jingyu stepped forward, trying to maintain composure. “Green worms connect to green pines, green pines signify a hundred years of longevity—this is an auspicious sign. That it frightened everyone is the Xie family’s fault. The feast hasn’t arrived yet. Why don’t you all have some tea first? These tea leaves are tribute goods from the Western Regions presented to the palace. You’ll know once you taste them.”

Among those attending the banquet, aside from the Yun family and Marquis Xuanwu, the rest were all minor officials of the fifth, sixth, and seventh ranks who had basically never seen what tribute goods were like. Hearing Xie Jingyu say this, they could only suppress their thoughts of taking leave and wait in their seats to drink tea.

This time, Xie Jingyu had Xie Shi’an personally oversee the tea preparation from start to finish without any oversights, which was why he dared present it before everyone.

Palace tribute goods were naturally of the finest quality. Those who had just been frightened all brightened up and began conversing pleasantly.

The old madam was escorted away by the Xie family’s female relatives to wash up and change again.

“Bang!”

A cup smashed to the ground.

Xie Ping was so frightened her knees went weak: “Old Madam, it’s all my fault. I didn’t prepare the birthday banquet properly. I made the Xie family a laughingstock. Please beat me to death!”

The old madam raised her foot, wanting to kick Xie Ping.

But Yuan Shi stopped her: “Things have already happened. Blaming Miss Ping now is useless. Besides, Miss Ping is an unmarried young lady. Having her manage such a major event was improper to begin with. Miss Ping is too young, Chu’er is ill, and you, Old Madam, are advanced in years. If we trace accountability, it’s actually my fault. If I had the talent for household management, how could the Xie family have become the laughingstock of the capital…”

“Mother, now is not the time for self-recrimination.” Yun Chu said lightly. “Nanny Zhou, take some people and place He Xu under guard.”

“Right, first tie up He Xu.” The old madam said hatefully. “He even dared to sabotage his master’s birthday banquet. I see he’s tired of living. After the birthday banquet ends and the guests disperse, I’ll have him flayed alive!”

Xie Ping trembled all over.

After the birthday banquet ended, the old madam would certainly punish her as well. She didn’t know what awaited her.

Nanny Zhou immediately led people to apprehend He Xu.

He Xu had been quite prominent recently. First, Chen Defu had given him several shops to manage personally, so he had many subordinates under him. Then most matters for the old madam’s birthday banquet were also handled by him, and he had skimmed off who knows how much profit. Earlier, while managing the birthday banquet, he had taken out silver to buy some wine and pig head meat and was eating, drinking, and gambling with several of his subordinates at the back gate.

Just as they were having a great time, he was suddenly seized by Nanny Zhou’s people.

“What are you doing? What are you doing?” He Xu struggled violently. Having drunk alcohol, he was quite strong, and two matrons could barely hold him down.

Nanny Zhou had someone strike He Xu directly with a club, then stuffed his mouth, and four matrons together dragged him away.

Just as they reached the corridor, they encountered He Shi, who had come looking for He Xu.

He Shi opened her mouth in shock: “Nanny Zhou, what’s going on? What did Steward He do wrong?”

“If it’s not something Nanny He should concern herself with, ask fewer questions.” Nanny Zhou said coldly. “Today is the old madam’s birthday. There are many distinguished guests in the residence. With Nanny He’s status of being confined under punishment, you shouldn’t wander about everywhere… The madam lifted Nanny He’s confinement for one day out of the madam’s magnanimity. Don’t waste the madam’s kind intentions.”

Having said this, she left with the still-struggling He Xu.

He Shi was anxious and worried. She quickly pulled several people aside to inquire and soon learned what had happened in the front courtyard. Her heart instantly sank to the bottom.

He Xu being taken away was his own doing.

But why should her Miss Ping have her reputation ruined?

She suddenly understood. The madam claimed illness and threw all the birthday banquet matters to a thirteen-year-old young lady to manage—wasn’t this deliberately ruining Miss Ping’s reputation?

Brother An was punished by the madam to kneel in the ancestral hall.

Brother Wei was given family discipline by the madam.

Now Miss Ping’s marriage prospects had also been destroyed by the madam.

The madam truly had deep schemes!

After this banquet ended, Miss Ping’s entire life would be finished.

She couldn’t just watch this happen.

Thinking of this, He Shi hurriedly ran toward the front courtyard. She had to find Xie Jingyu to discuss remedial measures.