Chapter 45

First Volume, Chapter 45: The Art of Gift-Giving

Even the Ji Wang, no matter how magnanimous, could not help but frown at this scene.

Wu Yong caught every reaction of the Ji Wang and secretly rejoiced—he could not let this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slip away. He immediately bowed deeply and spoke with firm clarity: "Your Highness, Qin Feng first used a filthy sack to wrap his gift, deliberately mocking you, and now he has disrupted the banquet to humiliate you. Please, Your Highness, punish Qin Feng on the spot as an example to others!"

Unbeknownst to them, Qin Feng had been waiting for these very words. He immediately knelt atop the table and shouted: "Your Highness, hear my plea! To prepare this gift for you, I neglected sleep and meals for days on end—I only wished to please you. Yet Li Rui and others have slandered me without cause. I beg Your Highness to vindicate me!"

Li Rui cursed inwardly: Why are you dragging me into this? You're the one asking the Wang to punish him!

Wu Yong had still underestimated Qin Feng's shamelessness. Facing such a scene, Qin Feng still spoke without a blush, even playing the victim.

The Ji Wang was deeply displeased, but if he publicly punished Qin Feng, the situation would spiral beyond control. Besides, Qin Feng had previously fallen into the water and was said to have lost his wits—he couldn't reasonably hold a grudge against him.

The Ji Wang waved his hand: "Enough, enough. Let this end here."

He then turned to Qin Tianhu, whose face was ashen: "Qin Official, your son Feng is seriously ill. Take him home and treat him properly—don't delay any longer. Such a fine boy, reduced to this state… truly pitiful."

Qin Tianhu's face burned with humiliation. He could only suppress his rage and force a smile: "Your Highness is right."

He then turned and glared at Qin Feng: "The Wang is too gracious to hold a grudge against you—don't you dare fail to thank him!"

Qin Feng didn't accept the grace. Instead, he muttered inwardly: Is that it? After all my effort to stir up the crowd, raise the tension high—only to let it drop gently? No way.

Kneeling atop the table, Qin Feng bowed repeatedly while shouting loudly: "Your Highness's magnanimity! If you saw the gift I prepared, you'd be even happier!"

At these words, Qin Tianhu could no longer contain himself. He snatched up a stool and hurled it at Qin Feng—his decades of battlefield fury erupted instantly: "You bastard! You dare mention that piece of shit gift again? You've shamed me beyond repair! Just wait—when we get home, I'll break your legs, or I'm not Qin Tianhu!"

The stool whistled past Qin Feng's forehead—if he'd reacted a moment slower, he'd be dead.

Qin Feng nearly pissed himself, thinking: My old man really goes for the kill!

Li Rui frowned inwardly: Is Qin Feng truly mad? Otherwise, how could he act so insane?

Whatever. Why care? What happened today would reach the Emperor's ears soon enough. To disrupt the old Wang's birthday banquet? The Qin Family deserves punishment. Thinking this, Li Rui felt a surge of excitement and swiftly pulled out his pre-prepared gift.

"Your Highness deigns not to quarrel with that madman—your noble tolerance fills me with awe. This night pearl, freshly unearthed from Annan, I humbly offer to Your Highness."

Li Rui bowed deeply; his servant promptly presented a night pearl the size of a duck's egg. The hall erupted in gasps.

The Ji Wang's eyes lit up. Night pearls weren't rare—but one this large? He'd never seen one. His gloom vanished instantly. He smiled warmly: "Rui, you've thought deeply. You understand propriety and decorum—your future is boundless."

Flattered beyond measure, Li Rui's head nearly floated to the ceiling. His sidelong glance fell on Qin Tianhu, and he sneered.

Earlier, when Qin Tianhu had reached into his robe, Li Rui had already seen it—he must have prepared two gifts, specifically to clean up Qin Feng's mess.

How could Li Rui let that happen?

As the Ji Wang beamed, the atmosphere eased slightly. Cheng Fa and others, unwilling to be outdone, rushed to present their gifts.

Cheng Fa, of lower rank, dropped to one knee and performed a full bow: "Qin Feng is always deranged—he's long been infamous in Jingdu. Now he's disrupted this banquet, and I'm heartbroken yet powerless. This piece of ice-type jasper, freshly found and uncarved, I humbly offer to Your Highness."

Wu Yong and An Shiyun also hurried to present their gifts.

An Shiyun offered a top-tier sandalwood block.

Wu Yong withdrew a qilin wine cup from his robe, deliberately fixing Qin Feng with a long, meaningful stare: "This qilin wine cup is a treasure I've cherished for years—no outsider has ever been allowed to see it. I offer it to Your Highness today."

This was clearly aimed at Qin Tianhu and his son. Everyone else had presented their most treasured possessions. As Minister of War, if Qin Tianhu couldn't produce a worthy gift, it would suggest he didn't truly respect the Ji Wang. Even if the Ji Wang didn't voice it, his inner regard would subtly shift toward Li Rui and the others.

Qin Tianhu's expression flickered between rage and despair. Even the hundred-year ginseng in his robe—even if he combined every gift he'd brought—could not match the value of Li Rui's offerings.

And with Qin Feng causing such a scene, he should have offered an even grander gift to apologize. This was the first time Qin Tianhu had ever felt so humiliated. And worse—just at this deadline—Qin Feng's shrill yelling erupted again, making Qin Tianhu's teeth grind.

Qin Feng seemed utterly ignorant of the words "shame" and "modesty." He sat grinning atop the table, occupying the most prominent spot in the courtyard—everyone loathed him, yet could not ignore him.

"Crass! Utterly vulgar! The old Wang has lived a glorious life—what treasures hasn't he seen? Anything that can be measured in silver is unworthy of Your Highness's station."

At these words, the hall erupted in hisses.

Li Rui laughed bitterly: "If our gifts are so vulgar, then tell us, Qin Young Master—what exquisite, refined gift did you prepare?"

Qin Feng didn't rush to answer. He turned and smiled broadly, scanning Li Rui and the others: "Night pearl, sandalwood, ice-type jade, that qilin wine cup—surely worth a fortune?"

"Obviously!" Wu Yong sneered. "My qilin wine cup alone is worth over a hundred thousand taels of silver!"

At this, Qin Feng feigned sudden realization: "The National Treasury is empty. State revenues can't even fund a single military campaign. The Di constantly ambush the Bianchui frontier. The Emperor is exhausted, agonizing over the word 'money.' Yet you all—casually, without blinking—gift over a hundred thousand taels of silver. The Emperor seems less free than you."

The hall, moments ago roaring with noise, fell utterly silent.