Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 140: Wedding Hijinks

Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Wedding Hijinks

Zhang Boxin curled his lip disdainfully, "Terrible drinking capacity."

Prince Duan and Prince Kang came to offer their congratulations. The two princes shared a fairly good relationship with Princess Huaying and helped Lin Cheng fend off drinks during the banquet. Prince Kang and Xie Xun, however, were old rivals, the kind who always found themselves at odds. During the Lantern Festival, Xie Xun had kicked Prince Kang into the river; later, Prince Kang had intended to take Fengyu as his concubine, but within two days Feng Shu had invited him to Wangjiang Restaurant for tea, leaving him drenched in cold sweat. Suspecting that Xie Xun had tattled on him, Prince Kang begrudgingly agreed to bury the incident within himself, yet he couldn’t help but hold a grudge. The more he saw Xie Xun, the less he liked him. When Xie Xun poured wine for Lin Cheng, Prince Kang stepped in to block it.

Xie Xun thought, "Overestimating yourself." It took less than the time for a stick of incense to burn before Prince Kang became inebriated. Drunkenly grabbing Xie Xun’s collar, he asked, "Do you like Fengyu?"

Xie Xun’s expression shifted slightly. In front of so many eyes, was this man spouting nonsense to ruin Fengyu’s reputation? Xie Xun retorted, "Do you want me to throw you into the river again so you can cool down?"

"You’re avoiding the question; you’re feeling guilty!" Men often have a territorial instinct akin to primal animals. Prince Kang felt Fengyu belonged to him since he had compromised her purity. The idea of Xie Xun taking her infuriated him, and he couldn’t help but provoke Xie Xun further: "She’s my woman!"

"Keep dreaming in broad daylight!" Xie Xun grabbed the wine jug and poured it directly into Prince Kang’s mouth. Nearby onlookers tried to intervene, but the group of young heirs egged him on. Zhou Liyu and the others obeyed Xie Xun’s every word, and those trying to intervene were scared off by Xie Xun’s sharp gaze, not daring to get involved.

"You do like her!" Prince Kang, still intoxicated, seized the moment as if catching Xie Xun red-handed, slurring, "You’re guilty!"

With coldness settling in his brow, Xie Xun lifted his leg and kicked him toward the edge of the lotus pond. After several rounds of drinks, many tables were now thoroughly intoxicated. Seeing Xie Xun beating up Prince Kang drew little surprise from the crowd.

Prince Kang, though unable to handle the beatings, seemed to enjoy provoking Xie Xun. Despite being battered, he never learned his lesson. Half-lying by the lotus pond, he grinned cheekily as he pointed at Xie Xun, muttering, "Guilty, guilty..."

Xie Xun flexed his fingers, forming a tight fist. Lin Xiao, having just ushered a round of guests, noticed Xie Xun’s stance and hurriedly stepped in to stop him. "Calm down, young lord. He is Prince Kang, after all..."

"It’s precisely Prince Kang I’m beating. Move!" Xie Xun said coldly. If Prince Kang’s nonsense continued, by morning, the entire city would be buzzing with scandalous rumors about him and Fengyu.

Lin Xiao dared not step aside. As the host, he couldn’t allow Prince Kang to meet a mishap during the banquet, knowing full well the consequences for the Lin Family. Before Lin Xiao could even say much to placate Xie Xun, he turned to find Prince Kang already sprawled over a rock, deep asleep and snoring.

Everyone: "..."

No one else dared provoke the young marquis. Leading the Kyoto Capital Guard, Xie Xun had gotten Lin Cheng drunk and kicked Prince Kang, yet no one dared interfere. The reputation of the Kyoto Capital Guard was already poor. Amongst them, the group of young heirs took full advantage of Xie Xun’s backing, avenging their grudges while others watched helplessly. Scions of noble houses often had people they disliked, and this became the prime opportunity for revenge. The heirs drank until they collapsed, leaving the Lin Mansion in chaos.

The banquet descended into bedlam. Lin Xiao was overwhelmed, fearing one moment someone might raise their hand, and the next that someone else might start fighting. Whatever he dreaded, it came true; the young marquis led the drinking spree yet remained unscathed, indulgently reclining by the lotus pond in a slightly drunken haze, entertained by the spectacle. As the group of heirs competed in drinking, a disagreement erupted. Somehow, Zhang Boxin ended up punching Zhang Bolan, his legitimate elder brother whom he had long disapproved of for his arrogance and disdain.

"How dare you act like you’re better than me as an elder brother!"

Being punched in front of everyone left Zhang Bolan shocked. Not one to back down, he fought back.

Attempting to mediate, members of the Forbidden Army sided with Zhang Bolan. Unable to bear this, Zhou Liyu snapped; if you’re bullying my brother, what am I here for?

Both the Kyoto Capital Guard and the Forbidden Army, consisting largely of noble sons, escalated into a brawl, utterly ruining the wedding feast. Lin Xiao found himself helpless, unable to stop the Kyoto Capital Guard without offending them or the Forbidden Army. At wit’s end, he threw up his hands and gave up. "Fine! Do whatever you want; I’m done hosting!"

At this point, things spiraled out of control. The Kyoto Capital Guard and the Forbidden Army clashed during Lin Cheng’s wedding banquet, while the young marquis reclined lazily by the lotus pond. He even considered playing the flute to spice up the chaos.

Enjoying the show, Xie Xun drawled leisurely, "If the Kyoto Capital Guard loses, you all have to run around the capital three times tomorrow."

Everyone: "..."

The realization was clear—Xie Xun had come solely to cause trouble.

Although Zhang Boxin had been ordered to stir up trouble, he hadn’t intended to fight Zhang Bolan. Nevertheless, Zhang Bolan’s sharp tongue pushed him beyond his limit, and emboldened by alcohol, he acted. With Xie Xun backing him, Zhang Boxin fought even harder. The bottled-up frustration from Zhang Bolan’s frequent condescension coupled with Mr. Zhang’s favoritism finally exploded. Punching Zhang Bolan square in the face, Zhang Boxin aimed specifically for his features, ensuring that Zhang Bolan wouldn’t be fit to report to the Forbidden Army Army Office for at least five days.

The Forbidden Army couldn’t tolerate their deputy leader being beaten to such an extent. Bottles smashed, tables overturned, dishes flew, and shards littered the ground. Injuries flared among both the Kyoto Capital Guard and the Forbidden Army, leaving the guests shrieking and scattering from the chaos.

This was undoubtedly the most infamous wedding mishap among distinguished families in the capital’s history.

The Lin Family stood utterly dumbfounded.

Zhou Liyu and Cai Wensen found themselves equally appalled. Though their orders had been only to stir trouble, their intentions had merely been to get the groom drunk and exchange a few verbal jabs. But they had never anticipated the situation escalating into a full-blown brawl between the Kyoto Capital Guard and the Forbidden Army.

Zhou Liyu grimaced. "It’s overdone. Way overdone."

Meanwhile, the young marquis lounged next to the lotus pond, observing the chaos. Occasionally blowing a whistle for added cheer, Zhou Liyu and Cai Wensen steeled themselves, relinquishing their concerns. With backing in place, they resolved simply to fight. If anyone dared to object, fists would settle it.

The scene was pure pandemonium. The bewildered guests had been left with mouths agape, witnessing what was undoubtedly the capital’s most oh-so-dramatic spectacle to kick off the new year.

Minister Gong of the Ministry of Revenue, having been bested by Xie Xun before, clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Truly the offspring of Marquis Zhenbei. Like father, like son, with that same spoiled temperament."

Years ago, Marquis Zhenbei had also brought chaos to someone’s wedding, leading factions into a brawl.

Was crashing weddings a hereditary vice of the Marquis Mansion?

The clash between the Kyoto Capital Guard and the Forbidden Army at Lin Cheng’s wedding became the talk of the town, stories spreading like wildfire. While good news rarely traveled far, bad news was unstoppable. Hearing about her daughter’s wrecked wedding, the imperial consort wept bitterly, pleading Emperor Jianming to intervene.

What could Emperor Jianming possibly do? These unruly heirs, drunk and impulsive, hadn’t fought on-duty. No punishable offense seemed apparent.

The Marchioness refrained entirely from intervening. Ever since her children reached adulthood, she let them do as they pleased. When Mrs. Lin approached the Marchioness to cry about the situation, the Marchioness casually remarked, "He didn’t hit anyone himself."

Mrs. Lin returned, utterly defeated. What was supposed to be a magnificent wedding that would showcase their family’s deep favor with the emperor—graced by Emperor Jianming’s attendance—had instead turned into chaos.

Recuperating from illness, Fengyu burst into laughter after hearing the news. She sent a gift to Xie Xun through Zhang Da.

Third Miss Fengyu was nothing if not blatant, gifting Xie Xun a chest full of gold without subtlety.