Chapter 14: The Banquet

That night, beneath an ancient banyan tree in the rear courtyard of Susu Medical Hall, Di Jiang had set up a banquet. The table was modest, with only two people seated—her and Zhong Xu.

The dishes were carefully selected by Di Jiang herself at the eastern market earlier that day and personally prepared in the evening. There were two main courses, a soup, and a dessert. Even the tea warming beside them had been brewed by her own hands. Every detail was meticulously crafted, reflecting her utmost effort.

“I know Master Zhong doesn’t drink alcohol, so I’ve specially prepared a pot of tea for you—Qi Zi Hua Cha. This tea is made from the stamens of seven types of flowers that bloom during this season. It has a sweet taste, cool nature, balanced warmth, and is very refreshing—perfect for enjoying at the end of spring. Please try it.” Di Jiang handed him a teacup. Zhong Xu accepted it hesitantly but eventually drained it in one gulp.

“Excellent tea, Shopkeeper Di’s skills are remarkable,” Zhong Xu murmured, his gaze lowered as he appeared visibly stiff and uncomfortable.

Indeed, Wen Yao had suddenly stormed into his coffin shop, grabbed him by the ear without explanation, and dragged him over to the pharmacy. Confused and alarmed, Zhong Xu assumed something terrible must have happened to Di Jiang or Shuxiang again. He had been filled with anxiety and uncertainty throughout the journey. However, upon entering the inner courtyard, instead of chaos, he found a beautifully laid-out feast awaiting him.

Zhong Xu kept his head bowed, sipping cup after cup of tea. Di Jiang silently refilled his cup whenever it emptied, watching him quietly while contemplating something unknown. Neither spoke, both seemingly reluctant to break the serene stillness of the garden.

After what felt like an eternity, it was Zhong Xu who finally broke the silence. Lifting his eyes slightly, he gave a faint smile and asked, “Shopkeeper Di, why did you invite me here today?”

“Heavens! You don’t even know why I invited you?” Di Jiang widened her eyes dramatically, feigning shock. “I thought you understood my intentions!”

Zhong Xu grew even more bewildered, his face flushing red. “What intentions?”

“I invited you to express my gratitude.”

“Gratitude for what?” Zhong Xu furrowed his brow, genuinely puzzled.

Di Jiang smiled gently. “Though Prince Wu ultimately rescued me, Master Zhong’s kindness toward me is something I will never forget.”

Zhong Xu’s expression dimmed as he lowered his eyes once more. Taking another sip of tea, he seemed to gather courage before shaking his head and saying, “It was due to my lack of foresight that placed Shopkeeper Di in such peril. My skills proved insufficient to save you when you needed it most. Though I had good intentions, there was little I could do. If you’re thanking me for that, then I dare not accept such praise.” With these words, he raised his teacup and offered her a respectful toast.

Di Jiang looked surprised, having never seen Zhong Xu behave this way before. Previously, he had always kept his distance—stubborn, self-righteous, and unwilling to listen to anyone else. But now… he was unrecognizably different, earning newfound respect.

“What about Shuxiang and Wen Yao? Is Shuxiang alright?” Zhong Xu asked.

“Thank you for your concern, Master Zhong. The young one is fine,” Di Jiang replied with a smile. “Don’t just talk—try my cooking. It’s famous across the three realms.”

“The three realms?” Zhong Xu frowned again.

Di Jiang chuckled awkwardly. “Just a boastful way of speaking. Master Zhong needn’t take it seriously.”

“Mm.” Zhong Xu nodded and picked up some food with his chopsticks. The dish was colorful, though its ingredients weren’t immediately identifiable. Without further thought, he popped it into his mouth. Before swallowing, he couldn’t help but exclaim, “Delicious! Shopkeeper Di, your culinary skills are extraordinary. What is this made of?”

“Well,” Di Jiang placed a finger on her lips conspiratorially, “this dish is called ‘Seven Apertures Lingering Heart.’ That one is ‘Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea.’ The soup is ‘Thousand Threads Hundred Treasures,’ and the dessert is ‘Jade Cake.’ These are all secret recipes—not to be shared with outsiders.”

“Oh…” Zhong Xu nodded blankly, falling silent as he focused solely on eating.

Di Jiang watched him for a moment before teasing lightly, “But since Master Zhong isn’t an outsider, perhaps telling you wouldn’t hurt.”

“Hmm?” Zhong Xu’s eyes lit up, clearly eager to learn the secrets behind these dishes.

Di Jiang smiled faintly and explained directly, “The ‘Seven Apertures Lingering Heart’ uses chicken hearts as the main ingredient. ‘Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea’ consists of eight types of vegetables. ‘Thousand Threads Hundred Treasures’ is made from deep-sea silverfish, and ‘Jade Cake’ is steamed using mulberry leaf juice mixed with flour.”

Zhong Xu couldn’t stop praising her, nodding repeatedly. “I used to think meals were merely routine necessities, but now I realize food can truly be this delicious.”

Di Jiang’s smile deepened as she watched Zhong Xu finish every last bite of the dishes. Yet, she hadn’t told him everything.

The chicken hearts came from Fei Tuo, a mythical bird akin to—but distinct from—the phoenix, which lived under the wutong trees in Kunlun. The eight vegetables were rare herbs cultivated in the Heavenly Emperor’s garden, sprouting only once every hundred years. The deep-sea silverfish originated from the scales of the Dragon King, and the mulberry leaves used for the jade cake were harvested from the Bodhi tree where the Buddha attained enlightenment.

Each ingredient was an invaluable treasure of the world.

“Burp—” Zhong Xu let out a satisfied belch and realized the plates in front of him were completely empty. Meanwhile, Di Jiang hadn’t touched a single bite. He laughed awkwardly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

“Sorry, I ate everything...”

“It was all prepared for you—what’s there to be embarrassed about?” Di Jiang covered her mouth and chuckled. Seeing the moon rise above the willow branches, she ushered Zhong Xu out. “It’s late. Master Zhong, rest early.”

“Oh, alright.” Zhong Xu stood up, drank another cup of tea, and then left with a satisfied expression.

After seeing him off, Di Jiang stretched lazily and called out toward the upper floor, “Go clear the table.”

“Understood,” Wen Yao replied in a listless tone, clearly bored.

Earlier, Wen Yao had been banished to the attic with strict orders not to disturb the banquet. Her room faced the main street, while Shuxiang’s room overlooked the inner courtyard. She had squeezed into Shuxiang’s room, craning her neck to peek through the window cracks. But to her disappointment, all she could see were the gentle breeze rustling the leaves and the occasional glimpse of their white robes. Not a single word reached her ears.

Wen Yao sighed deeply, on the verge of stomping her feet in frustration. She was so desperate that she almost wanted to rush over to Zhong Xu’s house, grab him by the collar, and demand, “How did you manage to steal our shopkeeper’s soul? She’s always been a lazybones who wouldn’t lift a finger for chores, yet today she spent half the day working hard just for you, even setting aside important matters. Zhong Xu, what kind of charm do you possess?”

But she ultimately held back. These words could only stay in her heart. If she dared to ask, it might provoke that stubborn Taoist, and who knows how the shopkeeper would punish her…

After tidying up, Wen Yao saw Di Jiang sitting composedly in the main hall. As soon as she emerged, Di Jiang smiled and said, “Let’s go meet that immortal.”

“Aren’t you going to rest, Shopkeeper?”

Di Jiang shook her head. “Until this matter is resolved, how can I sleep soundly?”

“But couldn’t you have waited until after solving it to invite Master Zhong? Why did it have to be today…?” Wen Yao muttered under her breath. Di Jiang shot her a sharp glare and said, “If you had told me earlier that Master Zhong was severely injured, I might have done all this sooner. You may not feel it because of your tough skin, but he’s just an ordinary mortal. What if his damaged spirit turns him into an idiot? Are you going to compensate me with another Zhong Xu?”

“I’ll give you Prince Rui’an instead!” Wen Yao blurted out impulsively. The result? Another sharp rap on the head from Di Jiang.

“If you ever say such nonsense again, I’ll cut out your tongue,” Di Jiang glared fiercely at her before striding out of the shop, heading straight for the Jingzhao Prefecture office.

The two moved stealthily without alerting anyone, deliberately concealing their presence so ordinary people couldn’t see them. When they arrived at the prefecture office in a rush, they coincidentally witnessed Minister Zhang Tianmiao of the Ministry of Works arriving with his concubines to identify the body.

Minister Zhang had been away on official duty for three months and hadn’t paid much attention to Zhang Siyao. Upon hearing that Zhang Siyao had married into Yangchun Manor and died tragically within half a month, he aged ten years in anger.

“Let’s follow them,” Di Jiang tilted her chin toward the Zhang family. Obediently, Wen Yao followed.

“My child—!” Inside the morgue, Concubine Liu of Minister Zhang wailed uncontrollably, her face distorted with grief. Both Di Jiang and Wen Yao felt a pang of sorrow.

If the Madam of Yangchun Manor’s earlier performance was an act, then Concubine Liu’s anguish was undoubtedly genuine, pouring forth from the depths of her heart. What mother wouldn’t be devastated to see her child meet such a tragic end? Naturally, she would want to tear the murderer apart limb by limb—it wouldn’t suffice to quell her hatred.

As Concubine Liu sobbed beside the body, Minister Zhang stood nearby, glaring furiously at his trembling wife, Lady Shen. Almost immediately, tears streamed down his face, and his entire body shook like a sieve. Lady Shen, seeing this, scrambled desperately to his side, whimpering, “My lord, please don’t get angry—it’s not worth ruining your health!”

Slap! A sharp slap echoed, sending her sprawling to the ground.

“This is the fine son-in-law you found for me!” Minister Zhang was so enraged he couldn’t speak. He slapped Lady Shen again, and she immediately knelt, sobbing pitifully.

“You dare cry?! After what you’ve done!” Furious, Minister Zhang kicked her to the ground.

Lady Shen immediately silenced herself, too terrified to make another sound. She cowered in a corner, fearing another kick if she provoked him further.

Beside them, Concubine Liu wept bitterly, her cries echoing throughout the entire prefecture office. Her voice carried not only grief but also resentment, as though venting years of suppressed grievances against Lady Shen.

Minister Zhang embraced Concubine Liu, consoling her gently. “I will seek justice for our daughter, my love. Don’t grieve any longer; take care of yourself first…” Holding Concubine Liu, tears streamed down his aged face, filled with unbearable sorrow.

Concubine Liu cried even harder, her wails growing louder. The gleam in her eyes, occasionally darting toward the kneeling Lady Shen, seemed sharp enough to kill.

“Let’s go,” Di Jiang sighed, no longer wanting to witness the scene.

Earlier, Di Jiang had learned that Minister Zhang had four daughters and three sons. Lady Shen bore only one son and one daughter, while Concubine Liu bore three daughters and one son, clearly indicating her favored status in the household.

Lady Shen’s decision to marry Zhang Siyao off to Meng Changle was undoubtedly ill-intentioned. But as for Concubine Liu, her sincerity seemed equally questionable. For instance, the dowry Yangchun Manor provided must have been substantial enough to fill her coffers. Her current display of sorrow likely stemmed not solely from her deceased daughter but also from ulterior motives.

The affairs of noble families in the capital were too convoluted for Di Jiang to fathom. She decided it wasn’t worth dwelling on further.