Chapter 71

Chapter 71: Not Even a Passing Dog Was Spared

In Wen Xi Courtyard, Madam Cui was so furious that Madam Cui swept a medicine bowl to the ground.

Madam Cui screamed, “Outrageous! This is outrageous! That little slut, who knows if she took the chance to fool around with some filthy man. Shameless!”

Qi Shu Xian happened to walk in.

Hearing that, Qi Shu Xian felt deeply uncomfortable. Qi Shu Xian said, “Mother, watch your words!”

Madam Cui snapped, “You’re still defending her even now? I also thought she was good, but look at what she’s been doing lately. Now she, a woman, is going to some banquet in the middle of the night! What kind of behavior is that? What kind of behavior!”

Madam Cui continued, “And besides, if not for her, Sheng Zhi Wan, how would His Majesty’s reward have fallen onto those wastrels? You were about to go suppress bandits, but at the last moment, a few wastrels beat you to it and took the credit!”

The more Madam Cui thought about it, the more Madam Cui felt Sheng Zhi Wan had come to ruin her.

Qi Shu Xian did not speak again.

In truth, His Majesty praising Shang Xing Yu and the other five today was also a hint that Qi Shu Xian handled matters poorly.

The banquet jointly hosted by the Four Houses was truly lively.

When Sheng Zhi Wan arrived, Sheng Zhi Wan almost thought some young master was getting married. Outside, the flowing feast kept coming in waves. Even beggars passing by could collect a meat pastry from a special window.

A long line had already formed outside that window.

Normally steady Minister Ye had drunk until his face was red. Ye Zhuo Yun opened his mouth wide and dragged Ye Rong to the entrance to introduce Ye Rong to everyone.

Even with Ye Rong’s thick skin, Ye Rong’s smile still stiffened.

The others were no better. Their fathers dragged them from table to table, forcing them to toast.

Because of that, Sheng Zhi Wan immediately spotted one lone figure in the middle of the sprawling noise, drinking and eating by himself.

He wore dark brocade patterned with cloud motifs. His long hair, black as ink, was tied behind him. His eyes looked calm, his features cold and striking, yet there was a sharp, wicked edge that could not be ignored.

As if he sensed someone watching, his indifferent eyes flicked over the next moment.

It felt as if bright stars had fallen into them.

Sheng Zhi Wan took her seat.

Madam Han also came. Madam Han was not like the other madams who attended as family members, but sitting together with Sheng Zhi Wan did not look out of place.

When the drinking grew lively, Ye Zhuo Yun and Pei Ling Yuan came over in person to pour wine.

After draining a full cup, Ye Zhuo Yun burped and said, “Princess Qing Ning, everyone used to say my son Ye Rong was a useless wastrel. Even I thought this son was finished. I never expected it, truly never expected it. My Ye Family has had three generations of civil officials, and yet with me, a military talent came out!”

Ye Zhuo Yun laughed loudly and added, “More than ten men against two hundred Mountain Bandit, and they still won! They even rescued Princess. Princess, tell me – wasn’t my Ye Rong a military talent?”

Ye Rong groaned, “Dad-”

Ye Rong covered his face.

Showing off in front of others was one thing, but Ye Zhuo Yun was showing off in front of Princess Qing Ning and Madam Han. Those people did not know what really happened that night, but those two knew perfectly well.

Rescued Princess?

The Princess had clearly escaped on her own.

Now Ye Zhuo Yun was asking the person involved.

Ye Rong felt awkward, but Ye Rong was even more afraid Princess Qing Ning would expose the truth in public.

Still, in Ye Rong’s entire life, Ye Rong had never seen Ye Zhuo Yun this happy and proud of him.

Sheng Zhi Wan raised her cup and said with a smile, “Minister Ye is right. Young Master Ye, along with the other young masters, were loyal and righteous, brave and resourceful. They will all be the pillars of Sheng Kingdom in the future.”

Ye Rong fell silent.

Ye Rong looked back with grateful eyes, only to see no trace of mockery in Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze. Sheng Zhi Wan spoke with solemn sincerity, as if every word came from her heart.

Ye Rong blinked without meaning to. For a moment, Ye Rong almost suspected his own memory had gone wrong.

Had they truly rescued Princess Qing Ning?

Was Ye Rong really some ‘pillar of the kingdom’?

Maybe those labels of wastrel were only because Ye Rong had never found the right direction or the right chance to show what he could do.

It was not only Ye Rong.

Pei Yu An, Chen Bao Jing, and Zhou Yu Zheng also experienced, for the first time at this banquet, what it meant to feel confident, proud, and surrounded by admiration.

Seeing the pride in their elders’ eyes, other people no longer looked at them with contempt. Some smooth-tongued officials even said they wanted their sons to learn from them.

This feeling was nothing like the old scorn, avoidance, disgust, and fear.

This feeling was… how to put it?

It was damn satisfying.

The banquet ended with everyone delighted. In the end, General Pei even dragged in a stray dog passing by the door and forced a piece of meat into its mouth before letting it go.

Sheng Zhi Wan could not avoid drinking a few cups as well, and her porcelain skin flushed pink.

At some point, a dark figure came to her. “Princess, it’s getting late. Princess should return to the residence.”

The lively mood had carried Sheng Zhi Wan away. Sheng Zhi Wan drank a little too much and forgot the time. Only after his reminder did Sheng Zhi Wan remember.

Sheng Zhi Wan stood up in a hurry, but her body wobbled slightly.

Madam Han looked worried. “Princess seems drunk. When Princess came, Princess didn’t bring any guards. Why don’t I lend the Han Residence guards to escort Princess back?”

Sheng Zhi Wan was about to accept and thank Madam Han.

Shang Xing Yu said, “No need. I am returning to my residence as well, and it’s on the same road as Princess.”

Madam Han’s gaze paused on Shang Xing Yu’s face for a moment before Madam Han said, “Then I’ll trouble Young Master Shang Er to take good care of Princess. You must wait until Princess enters the residence before you leave.”

Shang Xing Yu replied, “I will remember.”