Chapter 428: Respecting the wise and humble...Bullshit!
Qin Jingheng is not unimportant to enjoy life, but at such a sensitive moment, being so ostentatious may cause criticism.
Xu Shenzhi quickly bowed and said, "Your Highness, please calm down. These ingredients were delivered to our residence by four guests, who stated that they were specially prepared for Your Highness to try."
The elegant middle-aged man sitting in the first seat on the left heard this and bowed with a smile.
"Your Highness, please do not blame Mr. Xu. It was us who were rude.
We have nothing better to do than to satisfy our appetite, and we happen to have a chef from Fengjing at home.
I thought I'd take this opportunity to ask Your Highness to taste it and see if this Kyoto-style food made in the south is authentic."
Qin Jingheng took a few bites as instructed and nodded:
"It is indeed extremely authentic and rare."
He was already in awe. It seemed that these four people were quite capable. At least they controlled an extremely efficient and secret transportation channel.
When the banquet started, there was no music, singing and dancing that was common at banquets in Beijing. The atmosphere was not very warm, with people just chatting and evaluating the dishes in a lukewarm manner.
Qin Jingheng originally had some intention of dealing with it, but soon, his impression of these four people changed drastically.
Because no matter whether he turned the topic to local customs and practices, poetry and songs, or even occasionally tentatively mentioned a sentence or two about the political affairs of southern Xinjiang or border military affairs, these four people could all respond calmly.
He has unique insights and incisive words, but without any boasting or pretense. He always stops at the point, revealing his profound knowledge and broad vision.
This is definitely not an ordinary businessman. He is clearly a well-educated man with a refined demeanor and even has the bearing of a man of great talent in governing the world.
Qin Jingheng has always prided himself on being courteous to the wise and humble, but upon seeing this scene, the slight contempt in his heart had long since vanished, and he couldn't help but feel the desire to truly make friends with him.
He took the initiative to raise his glass and his tone was much more sincere:
"I have benefited greatly from talking with you four gentlemen. I would like to ask your names."
The four of them raised their glasses at the same time and drank the wine in their glasses elegantly.
After putting down the wine glass, the elegant man on the left was the first to speak:
"My name is Wang Yun."
"Cui Shang."
"Feng Zhi."
"Li Ke."
Wang, Cui, Feng, Li?
Qin Jingheng's hand holding the cup suddenly stiffened, and the wine in the cup swayed slightly.
These four surnames exploded in his mind like thunder!
An extremely dangerous light flashed across his eyes, and the gentleness that had just appeared on his face disappeared in an instant, replaced by cold scrutiny and vigilance.
He slowly put down his wine glass, his eyes piercing at Xu Shenzhi beside him like a knife, his voice lowered to a very low level, already carrying a chill:
"They...are from the four great families?"
Facing His Highness's sharp gaze, Xu Shenzhi still bowed, his tone unchanged:
"Your Highness, please be advised that these four gentlemen are indeed from four great families.
They have come here on behalf of their respective families, wishing to discuss a major deal with His Highness that will affect their future."
“Nonsense!”
Qin Jingheng's face immediately changed color. He stood up suddenly, overturned the wine glass on the table with his sleeve, and the fine wine poured out.
A surge of offended anger rushed to his head, his face was so gloomy that water seemed to drip out, and his chest heaved slightly with anger.
He already knew the Queen Mother's attitude towards the aristocratic families, and she was determined to get rid of them as soon as possible.
Seeing that the battle for the throne is about to come to the fore, at this critical juncture he is privately contacting people from these aristocratic families. Isn't that actively handing the handle to his opponent?
"Xu Shenzhi," each word seemed to be squeezed out from between teeth, "you have crossed the line."
However, Xu Shenzhi, who had always been humble and obedient in front of him, did not show any panic at this moment.
He even calmly refilled his glass of wine and drank it all in one gulp.
"Your Highness, why are you so anxious and angry?" Xu Shenzhi put down his wine glass, his tone so calm that it chilled people's hearts.
“It would be better to patiently listen to what kind of business the four gentlemen want to do with Your Highness, and then make a decision.
Perhaps it's a big deal that Your Highness can't refuse?"
Qin Jingheng stared at him intently, and the strong sense of uneasiness in his heart spread like poisonous ivy, almost grabbing his heart.
Is this still the cautious aide he knows?
At this moment, Xu Shenzhi slowly stood up and took out a roll of bright yellow cloth from his arms without any hurry.
That glaring color could only be used in imperial edicts or extremely important royal documents. He indifferently handed the cloth to Qin Jingheng.
"Your Highness, it will only take a moment. Would you like to see it for yourself first?"
Qin Jingheng suppressed his surging anger and suspicion, snatched the bright yellow cloth and unfolded it violently.
His eyes quickly scanned the words on it, and his pupils suddenly contracted!
That was not an imperial edict, but a manifesto with sharp words and heart-piercing veil!
The content is written from the perspective of a prince who is "concerned about the country and the people", and does his best to refute the various "crimes" committed by the empress since she came to power.
Rebuke her for being a hen crowing at dawn, turning the world upside down, and causing chaos in the government...
At the end of the article, he openly incited people to support him to become king in Suzaku South Road, claiming that he wanted to revive the orthodoxy of the Great Gan Dynasty, purge the court of corrupt officials, and quell the national crisis.
"Bastard!" Qin Jingheng's hands began to tremble violently.
As if the cloth was hot, he threw it to the ground violently.
Still not satisfied, he kicked over the rosewood table in front of him.
In an instant, the cups and plates were in a mess.
The exquisite porcelain plates shattered into pieces, delicious food and wine spilled all over the floor, juice flowed everywhere, and the scene was in chaos.
"How dare you! Xu Shenzhi, and you too!"
Qin Jingheng's eyes were about to burst, and he pointed at the four people sitting peacefully.
"How dare you plot treason?!"
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