Chapter 742

The Wei brothers had their 108th wall‑scratching quarrel, and the gathering the Great King had agreed to arrange could not be cancelled.

Following the principle that since the private rooms were already open, the Great King widely invited the playboys of Secluded Prefecture.

He not only brought Liang Bin, but also his familiar three Lu brothers, Zhou Huang, Yang Fang, and Xie Shu and Xie Tu of the Xie clan, etc.

For this reason, after returning, the Great King specially summoned Liang Er from the government office, instructing him he could bring friends. The playboys who came from Long Peace were mostly those Liang Er knew.

Liang Er, upon hearing the purpose of the summons, opened his mouth wide in bewilderment.

Inviting guests to Spring River Flower Moon Night is certainly nice, but…… is now the time!

He timidly said, 'Your Majesty, the Fang Manor is still under siege; you've just mortally offended the aristocracy—isn't it unwise to go out?' This is practically asking to be killed! None of the great clans of the Great Jin are easy to deal with!

The Great King also wondered, 'When will I not offend them? I haven't even left the palace; today I still made a trip to the Pacify Sea Palace in the wild countryside, and just returned.'

Liang Bin: ……

Skill breeds boldness, right?

Liang Er again advised the Great King to bring more palace guards, receiving only a contemptuous glance from the Great King. The Great King thought, 'We've barely begun!' Tomorrow at court he'll put this year's imperial examination on the agenda; since it's late, he's sure to finalize it, and then even more people will want to strike him down. Although he also took the exam last year, it was small‑scale—not to mention he was then the Northern Border King; this year is different because he has ascended the throne.

The act of widely inviting playboys to gather made outsiders think the Great King was exceptionally hospitable, but Liang Er already knew him somewhat. He invited every potential client he knew from Spring River Flower Moon Night, regardless of familiarity, as long as they had means and he could name them.

Bai Li Mu received Liang Er's invitation; the servant's words were vague, yet he didn't delay and gladly accepted—this fellow couldn't wait and went early to Liang's manor.

'I don't know what happy occasion you have, Brother Liang, to invite guests to Spring River Flower Moon Night? It's hard that you still remember me, but you've got the means—yet you usually whine to me about being poor.' Bai Li Mu, namely the eldest grandson of the Grand Ancestral Administrator, beamed with excitement.

This time only he and one uncle accompanied the trip to Secluded Prefecture; the old man kept strict watch, and his family still resides in the Honglu Guesthouse, let alone being allowed to go to Spring River Flower Moon Night to see things. Usually he only heard others mention it, but today someone is hosting, so he finally can go and see for himself.

Liang Bin had already received instructions and laughed, 'It's not me treating! Since I entered officialdom my father gives me no pocket money; those few salaries vanish after one meal at the Sea Tasting Tower, how could I afford Spring River Flower Moon Night? This time the Young Master of the Grand Commander is treating.' He couldn't outright say the Emperor invited you playboys to indulge in feasting and drinking—he didn't dare.

Bai Li Mu startled, 'Young Master of the Grand Commander?'

The grandson of the Grand Commander Gao of Long Peace he had indeed met once in Secluded Prefecture; the other party kept a low profile, residing in the old city. Liang Er's words surely referred to the son of the incumbent Grand Commander Dong……Isn't that today's top trending name in Secluded Prefecture city!

The Fang Manor is still under siege, yet the Young Master of the Grand Commander is out lounging—who will win this bout remains unclear. Anyway, whichever side wins, it has little to do with their distant branch of the clan.

Bai Li Mu grew more excited, 'New nobles hosting—got it. Thanks, Brother Liang, for thinking of me!'

Liang Bin: ……

Liang Bin and Bai Li Mu arrived early, announced the name of Young Master Dong, and the attendant led them to Room Heavenly One on the third floor; upon entering they discovered they weren't the earliest guests.

Then the crowd grew; the Heavenly‑sized space could hold thirty‑forty people, it got a bit noisy, and Liang Bin felt a little uneasy.

It seemed they had called too many.

When Wei Shen led the way, shaking his folding fan and pushing the door, behold—a huge market. The Great King twitched his mouth, thinking, 'Fortunately this is my own place, so food and drink are free; if it were someone else's shop, pushing open this door to a room like this, I'd think I should turn and dash out without paying.'

At a glance there were about thirty people, not counting Xie Tu and Yang Fang behind him. Liang Bin hurried to greet them, noticing that the Great King behind Wei Shen had changed appearance.

The exposed face had darkened considerably, matching Wei Shen's shade—no need to mention—and the eyes looked strange, even the shape changed; besides, did the Great King ever have such big double eyelids?!

He directly greeted Wei Shen, pretending not to see the Great King, and immediately introduced Wei Shen to the playboys in the room.

'This is the Young Master of the Grand Commander's mansion; today's banquet is also arranged by Young Master Dong.'

Everyone hurriedly cupped their hands and greeted Young Master Dong, thanking Young Master Dong for the hospitality. Wei Shen then took the opportunity to introduce to everyone the Da Wang standing behind him—his maternal cousin. Everyone took a look, and—well, you could say… their skin was the same colour! Well, these two brothers really have nothing in common now.

Please have the Wei brothers take the seats of honor; Liang Er then busily introduced to the Everlasting Peace playboys the newly arrived Xie Tu and Yang Fang—these two also had rather special identities, summed up in one sentence: confidants of the Da Wang.

The Da Wang followed Wei Shen to sit at the far end of the market; as soon as the music outside started, he couldn't hear anything said at the tail of the table.

Wei Shen had no interest, flipping through the menu with a clatter. "What they say doesn't matter; a bunch of playboys' words are meaningless. Anyone with any ambition couldn't hang out with Liang Er."

Da Wang: "That makes sense. But I suspect they're talking bad about us."

Liang Er leaned over to pick up the teapot, just catching that.

He gave Da Wang a resentful glance, and Da Wang also started flipping through the menu with a clatter. "I'm starving, starving—let's have a meal before the show starts!"

Liang Er: ……

Da Wang's feeling was correct; relying on the distance, there indeed was a bunch of people over there whispering about them.

"Young Master Dong is rather generous—does a heavenly-character-sized room cost several thousand taels for one night?"

"I heard the Heavenly One, Two, Three rooms aren't available for outside booking; if he managed to reserve one, that says a lot. Have you heard about the Fang family incident?"

"Heh, even the ants in Youzhou City know about it."

"... Sigh! The times have changed."

"Who says otherwise! I heard the Dongdu Duke went to the southern front, yet Liang Er actually had a hand in taking down those two brothers."

"Never mind Liang Er—isn't that Xie family guy sitting below? The one next to him is the main branch heir of the Hongnong Yang clan."

"Our old man says he's just the Yang clan putting him here to show loyalty……"

"Chickens and dogs ascending to heaven—look at how these two brothers are basking! Who knows where they were farming before! You've heard, right? That adult is someone the emperor brought back from Liangzhou." Oh oh, what notable families does Liangzhou have? Several people exchanged a knowing smile.

The Da Wang up front was like a deaf badger in a melon field, practically wanting to send his ears off on their own.

Just then Zhou Huang, that overtime-working dog, sauntered in late; the Da Wang and Wei Shen exchanged a glance. As Zhou Huang apologized all the way to the head seat, "Young Master Dong" waved his hand arrogantly, "Who are you, coming this late!? Fine, fine, fine—anyway, I don't know you, go sit in the back!"

Zhou Huang was extremely shocked that his in-laws would turn on him and not recognize him, but luckily his mind reacted quickly, and he immediately sat in the corner with a twisted expression.

Something's up here.

Not sure, let's take another look.