Chapter 78: Pleasant Conversation, Courtesy, and Conflict [Thank you for the readers' support

"Congratulations on your promotion, Brother." Sheng Hong smiled and walked toward Xu Minghua.

"Many thanks, Cousin! How has Aunt been lately?" Xu Minghua asked.

"Mother is in good health, thank you for your concern, Brother."

"Good, good, good. Please, come inside, please come inside."

Sheng Hong nodded to the several nephews of the Xu family and, guided by the servants, arrived at the courtyard for male guests.

Upon entering the courtyard, Sheng Hong looked around and saw mostly military officers.

Everyone was slightly taken aback by Sheng Hong's casual civil official attire, but Sheng Hong did not act superior as a civil official; instead, he cupped his hands in greeting just like his colleagues.

Yuan Bingkai, the Marquis of Zhongqin among the crowd, turned his head and walked over with a smile.

"Official Sheng?"

Sheng Hong's eyes darted as he quickly recalled the information corresponding to this noble: "Marquis Yuan?"

"We met once before. I didn't expect to see you again. Congratulations to Official Sheng for receiving the commendation from the Ministry of Personnel. With this evaluation, your transfer to the capital is just around the corner."

"You flatter me, Marquis, you flatter me."

Other nobles hearing this, knowing that this was a civil official with a flourishing career, naturally cupped their hands and bowed one after another.

While speaking, Yuan Bingkai waved to a spot not far away, and two young men walked over.

"This is my eldest son, Yuan Wenchun."

"Greetings, Official Sheng."

"This is my second son, Yuan Wenshao."

"Greetings, Official Sheng."

"Good. It was the second son who came to the Xu residence with the Marquis that day, right?"

"Official Sheng has a good memory."

A Xu family steward announced that guests could take their seats, and the noble military officers in the courtyard were properly arranged at their respective tables.

Seeing that Sheng Hong and Marquis Yuan were chatting happily, the steward naturally arranged them at the same table.

Having been an official for many years, Sheng Hong was already extremely smooth; he chatted with several military officers at the table, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

This was quite well-received by the military officers who had experienced being looked down upon by civil officials, and the table was harmonious with toasts being exchanged.

As the hosts, Xu Minghua took his son, and Sun Shi took her daughter, to toast and thank the male and female guests.

When toasting,

Xu Zaijing watched as Official Sheng and Marquis Yuan chatted very happily,

listening as if they intended to continue discussing officialdom culture and the hardships of life at the Fan Tower after the banquet ended.

After all, one had been abused by a concubine as a child, and the other had seen his family decline in his youth;

both had suffered.

On the female guests' side, Sun Shi held fruit juice and chatted and laughed with the female guests attending the banquet.

The Da Niangzi of the Viscount Xie family also saw her own daughter again after a long separation.

Seeing that the second daughter of the Xie family still liked to laugh just as she did in her maiden home, and there was no gloomy look in her eyes,

she asked the maid who had accompanied the Xie daughter, and upon hearing that Sun Shi had not stuffed people into Zaiduan's room and that the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship was harmonious, her heart was put at ease.

Later, she even specifically went to the table of Wu Daniang to toast a cup of fruit wine, praising Wu Daniang profusely.

On the other side,

the four wives of the Huyan family and the wife of the Marquis of Ruyang sat at the same table, as they were related by marriage.

Previously, relying on the influence of the old Madam of the Jinghai Marquis, they (the daughters-in-law of the Bao family) were accustomed to making snide remarks about the third, fourth, and fifth branches, but this time they had clearly received instructions.

After all, Xu Minghua was now the maternal nephew of the old Madam Huyan and the direct superior of the head of the Bao family; who knew if they would be given a hard time if they offended Pan Daniang.

These wives thought clearly:

If the Xu family were an upstart family without roots like the Rong family of the Marquis of Hou Fu Chang, it would be one thing; such a household had no descendants to support their wealth.

It was not easy to replace the commander of a division under the Tianwu Army, one of the Upper Four Armies.

But!

The Xu family was not like that!

Whether it was the ancestral home in Daizhou, or the Sun family, Zhu family, and Cao family in Bianjing, the Xie family they were already married into, or even more so the Gu family they were about to marry into, there were plenty of descendants wanting to enter the army.

There were also noble descendants outside wanting to climb and build relationships.

If you couldn't do it, the Xu family had plenty of people.

So, seeing Sun Shi walking over, the wives of the Huyan and Bao families stood up one after another, their faces full of smiles.

Sun Shi naturally would not treat one differently from another or make sarcastic remarks; after all, there was no great hatred, she just smiled at Pan Daniang before leaving.

After circling a few tables, Sun Shi came to the table where her sisters-in-law from her maiden home were sitting.

Her sister-in-law, the Xu lady, who was also Zhu Qinghu's mother, was also at this table, entrusted to the care of her sisters-in-law from her maiden home.

The ladies chatted and laughed, teasing the two girls, Pingmei and Anmei, until their faces turned red with shyness.

After Sun Shi saw that the Xu lady was fine, she walked toward the next table.

In the courtyard, the most important table was the one where Wu Daniang and Bai Daniang were located.

Nowadays, relying on the habit of sending heavy gifts at any banquet, the Bai family had already opened up the situation among the noble families in Bianjing, plus the momentum of Gu Yankai's meritorious service,

and the good reputation of Gu Tingyu and Gu Tingye's filial piety, she was no longer the daughter of the merchant family that had first entered Bianjing.

At the table were also the wife of the eldest son of the Duke of Ying, Zheng Daniang (Zheng Jun's wife), and several others, all from families with noble status and real power.

Previously, Sun Shi was still a peripheral figure at such gatherings, but she couldn't help that her husband had been promoted, the families they were marrying into in the future were also promising, and at the same time, she had a good son, making her a third-rank titled lady.

Everyone chatted and laughed for a few sentences, then went about their business, eating the banquet, tasting tea, listening to music, and most importantly, gossiping.

The male guests' side was still harmonious; several military officers wanted to drink with Sheng Hong, and Sheng Hong did not put on airs, drinking a few cups readily.

When Sheng Hong returned after drinking and changing clothes, he saw Gu Yankai cup his hands toward Xu Minghua and actually leave early.

'Presumably there is some urgent matter,' Sheng Hong thought.

In the courtyard.

The servant Buwei of the Qi Duke's mansion accompanied Qi Heng to this side, and beside them followed two sturdy young men in their twenties.

This was Princess Pingning learning from her mistakes, arranging for people to protect Qi Heng.

Buwei saw Qingyun, and his heart was full of gratitude and closeness; it was Qingyun who had stepped in to protect Qi Heng during the Rong Xian incident, saving Buwei from a beating.

If Qi Heng had been frightened or suffered external injuries, he, as a servant, would not have escaped a beating.

Buwei affectionately called out, "Brother Qingyun."

Qingyun nodded.

Gu Tingyu was currently telling Zheng Xiao why the Bai Gao country could not defeat the Great Zhou, his logic clear.

Qi Heng bowed and greeted them:

"Uncle Yu, Uncle Ye, Brother Xiao, Brother Zhang, Brother Jing..."

Everyone nodded one after another as they looked at this polite little brother.

At this moment,

beside Gu Tingyu, his servant Youqing said a few words in his ear:

"Young Master, the Marquis has left, saying there is an urgent matter."

"Understood, go."

"Yes, Young Master."

While everyone dispersed to their respective seats to eat, Gu Tingye took Qi Heng and the others to continue playing chess and cards.

Xu Zaijing came to Gu Tingyu's side,

"Brother Yu, what's wrong?" Xu Zaijing asked.

Looking at Xu Zaijing's young but somewhat mature eyes, Gu Tingyu shook his head and said:

"Nothing. Father has something to do, so he left early."

"Brother Yu, are you confident about the autumn examination this year?"

"I am confident about passing, but as for the ranking, it depends on the questions at the time."

Gu Tingyu also asked Xu Zaijing about some questions that would be tested in the county examination,

and as the two were talking, Qingcao walked over with a panicked expression; seeing Gu Tingyu on the side, she hesitated to speak.

Xu Zaijing said: "Brother Yu is not an outsider, Qingcao, if you have something to say, just say it."

Qingcao suddenly wanted to kneel on the ground, but was supported by Xu Zaijing with quick eyes and fast hands; he didn't want to attract the attention of the people around.

Qingcao whispered: "Young Master, Sister Qingzhi was stopped by a young master who was getting handsy with her."

After speaking, she glanced at Gu Tingyu, and Gu Tingyu narrowed his eyes and said:

"Does it have anything to do with my family?"

Qingcao said:

"Yes, it is the eldest young master Yang of the Marquis mansion."

"Let's go, I'll go with you."

While speaking, Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingyu, led by Qingcao, arrived at a side courtyard of the Marquis mansion.

A low, oppressive voice came from the house in the side courtyard:

"Kneel down for me!"

"Slap!"

A clear sound of a slap.

"A little maid dares to bristle at me, you little slut!"

Looking at the tray and wine pot scattered on the ground, Xu Zaijing instructed Qingcao:

"Clean these up and wait in the corridor."

After speaking, he entered the courtyard.

Gu Tingyu, who was behind, instructed Qingyun and Youqing to guard the courtyard gate, and also followed in.

Outside the house in the side courtyard,

Gu Tingyang's servant at the door was smiling obsequiously, just about to say something, when he was directly punched in the stomach by Qingyun and collapsed to the ground.

Inside the house in the side courtyard,

Gu Tingyang looked at the maid he had dragged in; she was quite good-looking for her young age, especially her pair of eyes, which were very beautiful.

However, this maid didn't scream like the ones in his own house, which made it a little less fun.

"Your master is going to marry into my Ningyuan Marquis mansion this year, we will have plenty of opportunities to get close, now it's just getting to know each other."

As he spoke, he backhanded another slap.

"I said, kneel down for me."

Gu Tingyang saw a look of surprise appear on the maid's face, and before he could figure out what was going on, he felt himself falling backward.

An arm like a python wrapped around his neck, and then slowly tightened.

He wanted to turn his head, but his head couldn't move at all, only feeling a sharp pain in his hair bun.

He wanted to call his servant, but couldn't make a sound no matter what.

Slowly, he felt the approach of death.

The maid who had been slapped in front of him just now without kneeling, knelt down.

He couldn't see clearly, nor could he hear clearly what she was saying, but no matter what, kneeling down must be to plead for him.

He was a person from the Ningyuan Marquis mansion, who would dare to kill him?

But the arm under his neck was still tightening,

"Gurgle..." Gu Tingyang was weakly patting the arm under his neck.

"Young Master, Young Master, please let go, if the distinguished guest dies, the Marquis mansion will be in big trouble."

Xu Zaijing glanced at Qingzhi without speaking.

Gu Tingyu came to the side,

he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then patted Xu Zaijing on the shoulder.

"Brother Jing, let me handle it, there's no need to carry a murder case."

After waiting for a few breaths, Xu Zaijing said:

"Is he this presumptuous in your Gu family too?"

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing looked at Gu Tingyu.

Gu Tingyu said with a straight face:

"No matter what, he is a direct descendant of the Ningyuan Marquis mansion, and no one can escape the consequences if something happens. With Father protecting him, it's naturally like this in the mansion, but he won't be this presumptuous in the future."

Xu Zaijing loosened his arm and said:

"I believe you, Brother Yu."

Gu Tingyang was already rolling his eyes, his tongue slightly protruding, and he began to lose control of his bowels; he lay limp on the ground like a dead fish, having long since fainted.

"Youqing, come in."

【Discussed with the editor to list on Friday.】

【Will explode with updates after listing.】

【Will update ten thousand words first, and see how much I can write later, will definitely post everything.】

【That is all.】

【Thank you all for your support.】

【Especially the recent big and small tips, which have greatly encouraged the author.】

【Bowing in thanks!】

【Bowing again!】

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(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 79 =====