CHAPTER 328: CHAPTER 328: WEDDING IN PROGRESS (PART 2)

Tong Minzhi appeared cautious, asking, "The Grand Commander came to the mansion yesterday and secretly gave me a set of Golden Monkey’s scholar’s four jewels... I... If I block the gate today, is it a bit... a bit..."

Xiqiu chuckled, unexpectedly realizing that Fourth Master Xiao had already bribed them in advance: "Since you’ve accepted the gift, you have to do him the favor, right?!"

Tong Minzhi nodded in agreement: "I’m determined, but Third Brother says he lacks nothing and just wants the Grand Commander to agree to teach him martial arts through the door; otherwise, he won’t open it."

Tong Xiyan burst into laughter, rolling on the bed: "Sixth Sister, don’t stop him... Let Third Brother block the gate; I really want to see how he manages to get Fourth Master Xiao to agree!"

Xiqiu also laughed.

As they were speaking, the banquet outside ended, and Chunliu and Bihuai returned to greet Xiqiu and then followed Old Madam Shi to take a carriage to the Xiao Mansion.

After a while, a series of firecrackers went off in the courtyard in front, and Tong Xiyan jumped up: "I’m going to the front to take a look." She was curious to see what would happen if Fourth Master Xiao was blocked outside.

Xiqiu nervously twisted her handkerchief, pacing back and forth in the room, not even caring about Tong Xiyan. Chunyan supported her: "Miss, please sit and rest for a bit."

At this moment, Xiqiu’s heart felt like a drum, and she could even hear her own heartbeat — is this how every bride feels?

She couldn’t find an answer, so she held Chunyan’s hand and said, "Go pour me a cup of tea."

"Miss, the concubine instructed that you shouldn’t drink water in the morning. Wait until you reach the Xiao Family and have a break to drink some, as there won’t be time to use the toilet now." Chunyan said, her voice shaking, seemingly more nervous than Xiqiu.

Starting today, they would be moving to a new environment, and from now on, the Tong Mansion would only be referred to as her natal family!

Chunyan had always thought that it was good for Sixth Miss to marry early, so they could go to the groom’s house. With the groom protecting the young miss, she wouldn’t have to be so cautious, and they would have more freedom in their duties. But as the moment approached, she was so nervous that she forgot the instructions given by the Second Lady.

Xiqiu walked to the window, opened it, and took a deep breath of the cold air facing the bamboo grove...

Tong Xiyan lifted her skirts and raced eagerly to the front yard with Daiju and Xinqin. Amidst the sound of firecrackers, Fourth Master Xiao’s welcoming party had already arrived outside the main gate of the Xiao Mansion. Tong Qunazhi and Tong Minzhi guarded the door bolt with vigilant eyes, with Jiang Shilin, Ren Jun, and Tong Shen Zhi standing behind...

Suddenly, a hoarse voice came from outside: "Open the door!"

"We won’t open it unless you answer my questions, then we’ll let you in." Tong Quanzi and Tong Minzhi couldn’t recognize the voice, so they held onto the door bolt tightly... Tong Minzhi asked seven or eight questions, and the responses from outside were fluent. Tong Quanzi insisted on learning martial arts, and someone shouted loudly, "Get past my three moves first, then I might reluctantly take you as a disciple!"

In just a few moves, both of them conceded completely. Tong Minzhi was already having second thoughts, after all, he had accepted someone’s favor, and Tong Quanzi couldn’t hold on alone, so he turned to Tong Shen Zhi for help: "Big Brother, quickly!"

Tong Shen Zhi looked at him without any reaction, then turned his face aside expressionlessly, he too had accepted a gift from Fourth Master Xiao that was an authentic piece by Lu Baizhang.

Tong Quanzi then looked at Jiang Shilin, who shrugged with both hands, indicating he was powerless!

Who dared to offend Grand Commander Xiao.

With no other choice, Tong Quanzi turned to Ren Jun for help, Ren Jun, in a magnanimous gesture, took a few steps forward, grabbed Tong Quanzi’s hand, stuffed a wad of red envelopes in it, and then directly opened the door!

Tong Quanzi, hugging a bunch of red envelopes, was squeezed to the side of the door, glaring and shouting: "Traitor!"

Ren Jun ignored him and went directly to welcome the groom inside.

Fourth Master Xiao, in a bright red wedding suit, stepped in impressively and spiritedly. Ren Jun folded his arms and saluted, and Jiang Shilin and Tong Shen Zhi joined him. But seeing the person following behind Fourth Master Xiao, they were stunned.

"Prince Rong!" The legitimate son of the former Crown Prince, Brother to Princess Chengning.

Prince Rong greeted everyone with a smiling face, and following him was a burly man who shouted loudly: "Who just said they wanted to have a few moves?"

Tong Quanzi heard this, pushed aside everyone, jumped out, puffing his chest: "Me, this young master!" The man, seeing Tong Quanzi’s appearance, burst into laughter and said to Fourth Master Xiao, "Your brother-in-law is quite interesting!"

Tong Quanzi’s face turned crimson, Jiang Shilin hurried to smooth things over: "General Chen!" Formerly the legitimate son of Old General Hong, Jizhou General Chen Huaide, currently ordered back to the capital for debriefing.

Tong Quanzi quickly dropped his defiant demeanor, showing a look of admiration.

General Chen returned the salute, and Jiang Shilin led everyone into the main hall, where Fourth Master Xiao bowed to the First Master. Due to Prince Rong’s presence, the First Master only made a few symbolic remarks before leading everyone to the banquet. The First Master offered the seat of honor to Prince Rong, but Prince Rong said, "Today Lord Tong is the father-in-law, so you are the highest here, there are no official ranks only in-laws!"

The First Master laughed and did not decline further, seating himself at the head of the table!

Jiang Shilin offered a symbolic toast, followed by Ren Jun and Tong Shen Zhi each offering their own. No one dared to genuinely impose on Fourth Master Xiao to drink, but at that moment, Tong Minzhi appeared with a large bowl of wine, offering it to Fourth Master Xiao: "Grand Commander, I toast to you!"

Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow at Tong Minzhi, while Chen Huaide waved a large hand and said, "I’ll drink it!" Prince Rong, smiling, pulled him back: "This bit of wine, Old Fourth won’t mind, moreover, this is a toast from the brother-in-law, there’s no reason not to drink."

Fourth Master Xiao also laughed heartily, accepted Tong Minzhi’s bowl, and was about to drink it all when Tong Minzhi gestured with his chubby hand: "Wait." Then he took another bowl of the same size from Tong Quanzi’s hand and pretended to clink glasses with Fourth Master Xiao.

The First Master frowned, and seeing the situation, Jiang Shilin immediately went to stop Tong Minzhi: "Brother-in-law is still young, there will be plenty of opportunities to drink with your Sixth Sister’s husband later on, can we save this bowl for now?"

Ren Jun encouraged from the side: "Drink!"

The First Master looked displeased as he glanced at Ren Jun, becoming more and more dissatisfied with this son-in-law.

Fourth Master Xiao looked at Tong Minzhi, smiled and said, "Somebody, store the wine from my brother-in-law, we’ll drink it three years later!" With that, he drank it all in one go.

Tong Minzhi’s face turned red as a beet!

Tong Xiyan was watching from the door, seeing how lively it was inside, and after a while, quickly ran back to Xiqiu’s courtyard. Xiqiu sat in the room looking anxious, and she cheerfully recounted the events in front to her. Worried about Tong Minzhi, Xiqiu anxiously asked, "He didn’t drink, did he?"

Tong Xiyan laughed and replied, "With so many people, how would it ever be his turn to drink." Compared to Ren Jun’s arrogance and Fourth Master Xiao’s cold solemnity, Jiang Shilin seemed much more gentle and interesting, which made Tong Xiyan very happy!