After leaving the teahouse in Yanshi, Xiao Che remained silent and taciturn all day, radiating a low-pressure aura that kept strangers at bay.
Lin Wanwan knew that he was truly angry.
Right under the emperor's nose, in the heart of the capital, such a lawless group of "salt thieves" were hiding, disregarding the laws of the court and manipulating the people's livelihood at will. This was undoubtedly a slap in the face to the emperor!
As evening approached, the sun began to set.
Lin Wanwan looked at the gold-embossed invitation card on the table, still faintly smelling of ink, and asked softly, "Your Majesty, the Gao family's birthday banquet... are we still going?"
Xiao Che slowly raised his head. The leisure and curiosity of yesterday were gone from his deep eyes, leaving only a cold chill.
"Go!" he spat out through gritted teeth. "I want to see for myself just how magnificent this mansion, built on the blood and sweat of the people, truly is! I also want to see just how grand this Gao family's 'Feast at Hongmen' really is!"
He not only wanted to go, but he wanted to go "honorably and uprightly"!
The two changed into the most magnificent Confucian robes they had worn at the poetry gathering the day before.
Xiao Che was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist. Although he had disguised himself, his innate nobility still made him someone not to be underestimated.
Lin Wanwan wore a light purple dress, her hair was styled in a high bun, and she wore a fine white jade hairpin, showing the elegant demeanor of a wealthy merchant's wife.
As for the congratulatory gift, Lin Wanwan only took out a few banknotes from the thick stack of silver notes, wrapped them in an ordinary red envelope, and put them in her sleeve.
It will neither appear shabby nor be overly ostentatious.
With everything prepared, the two hired a carriage and headed straight for the residence of the Salt Commissioner, Gao.
The Gao Mansion is located in the most prosperous area of Suzhou City, covering a vast area. Two huge stone lions stand in front of the gate, majestic and imposing, showing the grandeur of an official's family.
At this time, the area in front of the Gao residence was already bustling with carriages and guests.
Those who came to offer birthday greetings were all prominent officials, wealthy merchants, and renowned figures from the Jiangnan region. The procession of gift-bearers stretched from one end of the street to the other, with boxes of gifts covered in red silk being carried into the mansion in a continuous stream, leaving onlookers speechless.
The steward of the Gao family was standing at the door with a radiant face, directing the servants to collect gifts while exchanging pleasantries with the guests who had come to offer their birthday congratulations. His pride and arrogance seemed to emanate from his very bones.
Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan's carriage, sandwiched among a group of ornate carriages, looked rather inconspicuous.
After the two got out of the car, Xiao Che handed over the "small gift" containing several silver notes.
The butler had been wearing a professional smile, but when he took the light red envelope, pinched it with his fingers, and realized that it contained only a few pieces of paper, his smile vanished instantly.
His gaze instantly shifted from "enthusiasm" to undisguised "contempt" and "scorn".
He looked Xiao Che and Lin Wanwan up and down, his gaze as if he were looking at two poor relatives who were trying to freeload.
"Gentlemen, here are your invitations." He held out his hand, too lazy to even say "guests," his tone stiff and full of impatience.
Without changing his expression, Xiao Che handed over the invitation personally written by Young Master Gao.
When the steward saw the words "To Gao Changgong" on the invitation, the disdain on his face lessened slightly, but his attitude remained arrogant. He casually tossed the invitation to a servant beside him, then pointed to the lowest-ranking guest passage next to him and said perfunctorily, "Go in that way. The servants inside will arrange seats for you."
After saying that, he ignored the two of them and turned to greet the next distinguished guest who drove a luxury car and carried a lot of gifts.
This blatant "baptism of fire" caused Lin Wanwan to furrow her brows slightly.
Xiao Che, however, remained calm and composed, as if he hadn't noticed the other party's rudeness at all.
However, just as the two were about to enter through that secluded passage, a voice filled with surprise came from inside the mansion gate.
"Oh my! Master Xiao! Madam! You've finally arrived! Chang Gong has been waiting here for a long time!"
Then, the "Jade-Faced Gentleman" Gao Changgong, dressed in fine clothes and with a beaming smile, strode out of the mansion to greet them.
The snobbish steward's expression changed instantly when he saw his young master come out to greet him personally, and he quickly put on a fawning smile.
Young Master Gao walked up to Xiao Che, cupped his hands in a warm greeting, but his eyes glanced at Xiao Che's empty hands, seemingly unintentionally, before he smiled and said, "Master Xiao, it's been a while since we parted at the poetry gathering yesterday, and you're still as charming as ever! My father heard about your masterpiece and praised it highly, and has been saying he wants to meet you, this great talent from the capital!"
His words, though seemingly enthusiastic, were actually full of boasting.
He not only pointed out his identity as a "talented scholar" but also mentioned his father, the "Salt Commissioner," revealing a strong sense of superiority in his words.
Xiao Che smiled faintly and replied smoothly, "Young Master Gao, you are too kind. It is my honor to be appreciated by the Old Madam."
"Haha! Master Xiao is too modest!" Young Master Gao laughed loudly. He affectionately put his arm around Xiao Che's shoulder and was about to lead him to the most prestigious main hall in the mansion.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he said to Xiao Che in a somewhat exaggerated, seemingly unintentional but actually deliberate tone:
"However... those who have come to celebrate my father's birthday today are all prominent figures in the Jiangnan region. Look, that one is Prefect Li of Suzhou; that one is Minister Sun of Jiangnan Textile Bureau; and that one is Shen Wansan, the richest man in Jiangnan... Sigh, there are too many people to introduce them all at once. You... are new here, so you might find it a bit difficult to get used to it."
The subtext of his words couldn't be clearer—
Do you see clearly? This is my family's birthday banquet, and all the guests are important people! You're just a businessman from out of town. Although you have some talent, you're still no match for these powerful and influential people!
The meager gift you gave was nothing compared to what they gave you!
This isn't just a hint, it's an explicit statement!
He wanted to use this method to teach Xiao Che a lesson and make him understand who really calls the shots in Jiangnan!
Seeing the identical arrogance and contempt on the faces of Young Master Gao and the steward, Xiao Che felt a chill in his heart.
He knew that this "feast at Hongmen" was only just beginning.
He was about to speak, to give a few indifferent replies.
However, at this moment—
A piercing, desperate, and sorrowful cry suddenly came from the street corner not far away!
"Master Gao! Master Gao! Please, have mercy on me!"
That sound, like an awl, instantly pierced the lively atmosphere in front of the Gao mansion, which was filled with hypocrisy and ostentation!
"Please... spare my daughter!"
Everyone was startled by the sudden cry and turned to look in the direction from which the sound came.
Xiao Che and Lin Wan-wan were no exception.
They turned to look—
There was an old woman, dressed in rags and with gray hair, being held down on the ground, yet she still desperately stretched out her hand towards the Gao residence, letting out a mournful wail as loud as a cuckoo's cry!
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