Expensive jade pedestals and golden cups, along with spring snow, were placed on the corridor. They bloomed in the wind, and the golden flowers spread out all over the corridor, with a subtle fragrance wafting in the air.
Even Feng Ziyi, who has always disliked the Wang family, praised it, saying, "It's quite unique."
Shu Yun kept using her chopsticks, picking up all the dishes—whether they looked appealing or not, hot or cold, meat or vegetables—with the serving chopsticks and putting them into her bowl before using her own chopsticks to put them in her mouth.
Hearing Feng Ziyi's words, she didn't care much, "It's just pretentious affectation."
Putting aside the fact that the Wang family imitated the royal family and nobles by setting up a continuous banquet, their chef's culinary skills were quite good.
The two sat at the last seat. Shu Yun was only focused on eating. It turned out that when she was wandering around the mortal world in the past, she was too careless and was overjoyed when she discovered such a wonderful thing as a play script. She did not expect that the mortal world was also very knowledgeable about food.
Feng Ziyi kept Shu Yun's words firmly in mind and observed everyone at the table without making a sound while eating.
The more he observed, the more surprised he became. At the banquet, amidst the clinking of glasses and the exchange of toasts, there were indeed many social interactions that he had not noticed before.
He tilted his head and said in a low voice, "I didn't even know that the Wu family was on good terms with the Wang family."
Shu Yun looked up, but couldn't see clearly through the veil. "Which one is from the Wu family?"
"To the left of Madam Wang is Madam Wu. Although the heads of the Wang and Wu families did not say much, the two ladies seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation."
Now Shu Yun knew who he was talking about.
"It's fake. The Wu family looks down on the Wang family for being bricklayers. The Wu family is just pretending to flatter them."
Feng Ziyi looked at Madam Wu with some surprise as she smiled and chatted with Madam Wang. Where did he see any pretense in their conversation?
He turned to look at Shu Yun, who had lifted a corner of her veil to reveal her delicate chin as she prepared to eat:
How did you know?
Shu Yun countered, "How did Mr. Guan Qin teach you? How did you learn those political tactics?"
Speaking of this, Feng Ziyi felt somewhat ashamed, "Mr. Guan Qin was a great Confucian scholar of our time, and I was too foolish to have learned much from him."
This moment of admitting his mistake and being so easily embarrassed is exactly like Feng Ziyi when he was a child. He used to be so adorable.
"...When I got off the carriage, the Wu family's carriages were lined up in front of us, as Mrs. Wu herself said."
Shu Yun picked up a new dish, and the spiciness hit her throat with one bite, causing her to cough. Feng Ziyi quickly handed her a cup of tea.
But the tea was hot, and drinking it made it feel even more like a burning sensation.
She forced down the tea, her mouth slightly open behind her veil, venting her anger, and subtly cast a small spell on herself with a flick of her fingertips.
Feng Ziyi frowned with worry and got up to get her some herbal tea.
Shu Yun quickly grabbed him, "I'm fine."
It was already late, and everyone was still seated enjoying the meal when Feng Ziyi stood up hastily. A scion of a prominent family who had always disliked Feng Ziyi immediately spoke up sarcastically, "Oh, isn't this our great talent Feng? What's wrong, are you about to storm off again?"
The lively scene suddenly quieted down. Some people were gloating, some were unhappy that their interest had been interrupted, and many more stood aside and watched the farce unfold.
Feng Ziyi shook her head, maintaining impeccable manners, but her tone was stiff. "That's not the case. In the evening... Ziyi just went to get a cup of cold tea."
The young men from prominent families, however, had no intention of letting him off the hook. One of them sat on a prayer mat, hands behind his back, looking at him with a nonchalant air, and said, "Iced tea? The tea cools as soon as the person leaves. Who are you implying?"
Upon hearing this, the Wang family members' faces immediately darkened.
The saying "When people leave, the tea cools" implies that the Wang family will lose popular support.
The head of the Wang family looked at Feng Ziyi, who was standing at the last seat, and said in an unfriendly tone, "Young Master Feng's noble character is beyond the reach of us vulgar people."
Shu Yun, still seated, took in the expressions of everyone present.
With just a word from someone, the head of the Wang family immediately chimed in. It's a wonder he got to his current position; what incredible luck he must have had.
Madam Wang glanced at the last seat and snorted coldly, "In that case, it is inconvenient for the Wang family to entertain Young Master Feng, this distinguished guest."
The word "distinguished guest" was emphasized, mocking Feng Ziyi, a mere ninth-rank official. What good was the emperor's favor if the balance of power was now tilted towards the powerful families? The Wang family had the empress backing them up. Even if they wanted Feng Ziyi to remain a county magistrate forever, what could the emperor do?
If Shu Yun knew what Madam Wang was thinking, she would have to marvel at this person's talent—a gifted but foolish genius.
Shu Yun stood up and stood beside him. Given the current situation, it was impossible to continue attending the Wang family banquet. "Let's go."
Feng Ziyi responded softly, "Mm."
The young master from the aristocratic family who had initially been making things difficult suddenly brightened up after Shu Yun stood up.
The woman was dressed in an indigo dress, which could not hide her slender figure. What was even more wonderful was her aloof and refined temperament. A white veil covered her face, and her face behind the snow veil was indistinct, but his intuition told him that she must be an ice beauty.
"Wait!" he shouted. "Who do you think you are, daring to give us attitude?"
The attendants who had come with him in the courtyard instantly drew their weapons and stood in front of Feng Ziyi and Shu Yun.
The head of the Wang family looked at the young nobleman with displeasure, "What are you doing?"
The young master of the noble family stood up and begged for mercy from the head of the Wang family. He then spoke kindly and soothingly to him. After the head of the Wang family tacitly approved of his actions, he said to Feng Ziyi, "You may leave, but the beauty beside you must stay."
A burst of laughter erupted from the table, and some even whistled restlessly. Nowadays, aristocratic families amass wealth and power, and which of their sons isn't a spoiled brat who frequents taverns and brothels? Just by hearing this, one can tell what the other person is up to.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
