Chapter 187

The Hou Jue frowned; prompted by his second son, he finally noticed the problem on the table.

Although the Marquis Marquis Aosiding Hou Jue family had deep roots, and no one would mistake the absence of desserts as stinginess,

a banquet without sweets or pastries, if word got out, would inevitably bring great reputational damage to the family.

He waved his hand, and the steward waiting nearby immediately stepped forward.

"Kael, what's going on?"

Steward Kael looked troubled but whispered, "My lord, Young Master Adams is already preparing in the kitchen. I'll go check on the situation right away!"

"Hurry him up—don't keep the guests waiting! That would be terribly rude!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The steward hurried away.

But Ewen had no intention of letting this opportunity slip.

Earlier, Adams had pretended to have a solution, telling Kael not to worry, which had prompted the steward to rush off to find his mother.

Fortunately, his mother believed Adams was merely bluffing.

And the several spies sent afterward confirmed this.

Although the kitchen had been sealed off by Adams since morning, the spies watching outside could be certain not a single jar of honey had been brought in.

Without honey, there would be no reversal today.

"Father, I've heard a troubling rumor these past two days—I'm not sure if it's true—but people in Odin City say the honey Young Master Adams prepared for your birthday celebration was stolen by pirates!"

"That's why the castle now lacks enough honey to make desserts and pastries for tonight's banquet!"

Whoa!

The nobles at the table immediately began whispering among themselves.

A few vassals were fine—they'd already heard the news.

But the other honored guests, who had traveled from afar, heard this for the first time.

If the honey for the Marquis Marquis Aosiding Hou Jue's birthday banquet had truly been stolen, causing the absence of desserts and pastries, it would be a colossal joke.

The Hou Jue's expression darkened instantly.

Whether it was because of Ewen's meddling or the bad news, he couldn't tell.

The Lady's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement, but she scolded, "Ewen, where did you hear such an unreliable rumor? Didn't Kael just say your brother is already preparing?"

"Mother, I hope this rumor is false too—after all, a banquet without desserts would make the Marquis Marquis Aosiding family a laughingstock!"

"But the city has been buzzing with it these past two days!"

This mother-and-son act left the Hou Jue utterly unable to save face.

The vassals at the table all knew: Young Master Adams was finished.

Nobles prized face above all, especially a great house like the Austens.

If this banquet was ruined and the Marquis Marquis Aosiding Hou Jue became a joke of the Eastern Frontier,

then even the last shred of paternal affection the Hou Jue had for Young Master Adams would vanish.

The vassals' expressions varied—some delighted, others frowning in thought.

Clearly, Young Master Adams, the legitimate eldest son, still had a few supporters among the vassals.

But if he lost this round, he would forever lose any hope of claiming the inheritance.

Worse still, stripped of the Hou Jue's final favor, Young Master Adams might very well be "killed off."

After all, primogeniture could never be violated.

"My lord, Young Master Adams has arrived!"

At that moment, Kael returned.

Following the steward was none other than Young Master Adams himself.

"Father, greetings. I wish you a joyous birthday!"

The Marquis Marquis Aosiding Hou Jue frowned at his eldest son and saw that the young man looked disheveled.

His fine silk ceremonial robes were stained, his face dusted with flour.

"Adams, what happened?" the Hou Jue demanded, forcing down his anger.

Even though he deliberately suppressed it, the tone was unmistakable—any fool could hear it.

This brought smiles to the Lady and Ewen.

The Hou Jue was already furious over the honey—and now Adams had the audacity to show up at the banquet in such disarray, humiliating himself.

"Father, forgive my impropriety—I meant to change into clean robes before coming, but Kael said you wished to see me immediately! In my haste, I dared not delay!" Adams quickly apologized.

The steward added, "My lord, when I went to the kitchen, Young Master Adams was personally overseeing the servants preparing tonight's desserts and pastries for you!"

"He said it was to thank you for your years of nurturing him!"

"You prepared them yourself?" The Hou Jue's anger eased slightly.

The noble guests, upon hearing this, all looked enlightened, then offered praise.

"Yes, Father," Adams replied respectfully.

But Ewen immediately panicked, "Father, you haven't asked Brother about the pastries yet!"

The Marquis Marquis Aosiding Hou Jue shot his second son a furious glare, then turned back to Adams, hoping for an explanation.

Adams spoke calmly: "Father, the rumor is true. Although I prepared honey half a year in advance for this celebration, it was stolen by pirates over ten days ago!"

"I sent the family fleet to pursue them, but we recovered no honey."

"Moreover, even when I offered five times the market price in Odin City, all merchants claimed they had no honey to sell!"

The Hou Jue's expression grew darker by the moment.

Even though Adams admitted it willingly, it changed nothing: the banquet was ruined.

Just as Hou Jue Marquis Marquis Aosiding was about to speak, Adams changed the subject, "However, Father, fortunately the God of Glory favored me, allowing me to find a way to salvage the situation and successfully make sweet pastries, so I did not ruin Father's birthday celebration.

"Otherwise, as your son, I fear I would never be able to forgive myself!"

"Adams, you are lying. There is no honey left; how could you make sweet pastries? I'm afraid even tonight's juice won't be that sweet!" Evan immediately sneered.

At this moment, Adams could not be allowed to slip through.

Adams simply ignored his doubts. "Father, I will now have the servants bring up the sweet pastries!"

"Hmm!" Marquis Marquis Aosiding also could not judge what this eldest son intended to do.

But with matters having reached this point, they could no longer be concealed; they could only see if this eldest son could truly salvage the situation.

Adams then waved his hand toward the doorway.

Shortly after, dozens of servants filed in one after another.

These servants each held up trays.

Upon reaching the great hall, they orderly approached the guests at each table and then placed the exquisite trays in the center of the long table.

Everyone then realized that several deliberate gaps had been left in the center of the long table, perfectly sized to hold the trays.

The trays were opened, revealing pastries of beautiful shapes and vibrant colors before everyone's eyes.

One had to admit, these were indeed the pastries of Hou Jue's castle.

Whether in shape or color, they were so exquisite and beautiful!

However, sharp-eyed people quickly noticed that while the pastries looked good, they lacked any honey glaze.