Chapter 7

In the elegant room on the third floor of Guanghe Tower, a group of young gentlemen with outstanding demeanor, who appeared to be either wealthy or noble, gathered together, all toasting and flattering the young man in elegant attire sitting at the head of the table.

"Mr. Yao, please!"

"Mr. Yao, I toast you!"

...

The young gentlemen spoke one after another, their words full of flattery, showing that they all looked up to the latter. Mr. Yao, with his refined speech, was a new noble in the capital, and his family background was profound. Even among the young gentlemen, he stood out.

"Gentlemen, there's no need to be so formal. Today, I am the host, and I hope everyone enjoys themselves!"

The young man in elegant attire, with his sleeves fluttering, held a wine cup and returned the toast to everyone. His expression was calm, and his manners were graceful, displaying a unique demeanor and temperament that made him stand out even among the young gentlemen.

The Yao family in the capital was renowned and was a direct lineage of the Prince of Qi. As the eldest son of the Yao family, Mr. Yao Feng would inherit the status and influence of the Yao clan, which was no small matter.

Therefore, even though this was Mr. Yao Feng's first invitation, everyone was delighted to attend.

As the wine cups clinked, the atmosphere became lively after a few rounds.

Sitting at the head of the table, Yao Feng narrowed his eyes and glanced around, feeling pleased and nodding inwardly.

Today was his "great day." Relying on his father's prestige and the golden reputation of the Yao family, Yao Feng had gathered all the prominent young gentlemen in the capital at Guanghe Tower.

This was their first gathering, and for Yao Feng, it was also an opportunity to win hearts and establish his authority. As long as he could win the hearts of these young nobles, he would surely have a place among the leaders of the young gentlemen in the capital.

More importantly, his father had promised that if he could win over these young nobles, build his own base, and make them serve him, he would gradually grant him more power and let him take over the family business in the future.

This was no different from confirming his position as the family heir!

Therefore, this gathering was crucial for Yao Feng.

The banquet was harmonious, and Yao Feng could see that everyone was flattering him, the young master of the Yao family, showing him great respect. However, this was not enough. Yao Feng decided to further ingratiate himself:

"Gentlemen, those who sit here are all my brothers. If you have any needs in the future, just let me know..."

"Master, Master... Ma Zhou has brought two people!"

The wooden door of the room opened, and a manager of Guanghe Tower rushed in, interrupting Yao Feng's speech.

"What's going on? Why are you so flustered?"

Yao Feng frowned, though he did not show his displeasure.

"Didn't I say not to disturb me at this time? —— Tell Ma Zhou to come back later."

Yao Feng said sternly.

"I said..."

The manager hesitated but finally said, "But... he has already rushed in!"

The room fell silent at his words.

Yao Feng was initially just a bit annoyed, but hearing this, he could not help but feel angry. Ma Zhou was just a minor figure under his name. If such an unimportant person disrupted this important gathering, Yao Feng would not forgive him.

"Mr. Yao, perhaps..."

A young gentleman in elegant attire suggested tentatively.

"No need!"

Yao Feng did not let him finish before firmly refusing:

"Gentlemen, a small incident has occurred, and I apologize. —— Manager Zhang, give this to him and tell him I will see him after the gathering."

Yao Feng flicked his wrist and threw a gold token from his waist to the manager.

Yao Feng rarely used his token, only for significant matters. If Ma Zhou understood, he would realize Yao Feng's intentions.

If he still did not understand and disrupted his plans, Yao Feng would not be responsible for the consequences!

"Mr. Yao, why make it so complicated? We can just come in directly!"

A cold laugh came from outside the door, and with a loud bang, the door was pushed open. Wang Chong, with a determined look, rushed in.

"Wang Chong?!"

Seeing the figure at the door, Yao Feng was shocked, almost disbelieving his eyes. He never expected the person to be someone he had never thought of.

"What, Mr. Yao, not welcome?"

Wang Chong smiled, satisfied with Yao Feng's shocked expression. Without waiting for Yao Feng's instructions, he pulled out a chair and sat down opposite him.

Seeing Wang Chong's actions, Yao Feng's eyes twitched, but he suppressed his displeasure and smiled:

"Mr. Wang, what are you talking about? Guests are always welcome."

As a member of a prominent family, his every move was graceful and elegant, far surpassing those from ordinary families. At this moment, even Wang Chong had to admire him.

In his previous life, Yao Feng's position among the young gentlemen in the capital was not without reason. His depth of character and outward demeanor were unmatched by ordinary people.

However, unfortunately, Wang Chong was here to cause trouble. Moreover, the current Yao Feng was far from achieving the prominence and status he would have in the future.

"Hey, little sister, come on! Someone is hosting a feast, and there's lots of delicious food. Big brother never lies to you!"

Wang Chong called out without turning around.

"Really?"

A young, clear voice responded, and a round, innocent face appeared from behind the wooden door, big eyes blinking curiously at the room, quickly focusing on the table full of delicious dishes.

"Wow, really!"

The little girl exclaimed, stepping over the threshold and sitting next to Wang Chong. She grabbed a fragrant chicken leg and started eating voraciously.

Ignoring the guests, she was completely focused on the food. Since her brother said it was okay, it was okay.

She didn't care about anything else.

"Mm, delicious! So delicious!..."

The little girl, a natural glutton, had a big appetite despite her small size. She finished a large chicken leg in a few bites, making smacking sounds and leaving the bones clean, even chewing the marrow.

The dishes at Guanghe Tower were renowned for their color, aroma, and taste, with exquisite cooking methods. Although they had delicious food at home, it couldn't compare to the meticulous preparation at Guanghe Tower. The little girl was delighted and decided to enjoy herself, eating with gusto, her hands and mouth covered in oil.

In just a short time, she had finished two plates. Her eating style and "capacity" made Yao Feng's eyes twitch.

He wasn't concerned about the food; Guanghe Tower was his family's, and he could eat as much as he wanted. However, these two siblings were clearly here to cause trouble.

If the little girl continued eating at the table, who would still be able to eat? The gathering would be ruined, and Yao Feng could already sense the change in the atmosphere.

This was his first attempt to win over the young gentlemen in the capital, and it was very important to him. He couldn't let these two children ruin it.

"Your sister is truly straightforward and adorable! Mr. Wang, guests are always welcome. How about this: I will arrange another table for you at Guanghe Tower, and all expenses will be on me. What do you think?"

Yao Feng still showed no displeasure, maintaining his calm demeanor and good manners, as if he didn't realize Wang Chong and his sister were here to cause trouble.

The other young gentlemen were secretly impressed by his composure, recognizing the family upbringing of the Yao family, which was far superior to ordinary families.

Wang Chong had been observing Yao Feng's reactions, and he could see the tension in his eyes. He knew his strategy was working.

"Better to share the joy than to enjoy it alone. Drinking alone in a room is far less fun than being here. I've heard Mr. Yao is always generous; you wouldn't mind adding us two to the table, would you?"

Wang Chong was not easily swayed. He had gone to great lengths to get into Guanghe Tower with Ma Zhou's help, and he wouldn't let Yao Feng's words ruin his efforts.

"I want to see how long you can hold out."

Wang Chong thought to himself, determined to provoke Yao Feng. No matter how deep his scheming or how patient he was, Wang Chong would make him lose control.

Hearing Wang Chong's words, Yao Feng's expression finally changed. He had tried to persuade him, but Wang Chong was stubborn and refused to leave.

"Mr. Wang, if I'm not mistaken, I didn't invite you, did I? I'm not a petty person, but I must ask you to leave."

Yao Feng's eyes were filled with anger.

"Of course, I know you didn't invite me, but I can't not come! Otherwise, wouldn't that be disrespectful to Mr. Yao?"

Wang Chong sneered, grabbed a wine bottle from a nearby guest, uncorked it, and took a sip, praising:

"Good wine!"

Despite his composure, Yao Feng's eye twitched uncontrollably.

What did he mean by "I didn't invite you, but you can't not come"?

Does Yao Feng need your respect?

If not for the many powerful young gentlemen present, Yao Feng would have thrown him out without a second thought.

"Ma Zhou, you bastard, bringing people here! I'll skin you alive!"

Yao Feng was also furious.

He knew he had no dealings with the youngest son of the Wang family, and even if he had, he wouldn't know. The only explanation was that Ma Zhou had leaked the information!

But now was not the time to investigate!

"Wang Chong, I'll ask you one last time: are you really going to oppose me?"

Yao Feng said sternly.

Talking about leaving or respecting him was meaningless. It was clear to everyone that Wang Chong was here to cause trouble.

"Hmph, Yao Feng, this is what they call 'an eye for an eye'!"

Wang Chong threw his wine cup to the ground, shattering it.

There was no point in talking anymore; this was the moment of truth!

The atmosphere at the banquet suddenly became tense. Even the most foolish could see that these two siblings were here to make Yao Feng uncomfortable.

The only thing people didn't understand was who these two were and why they dared to oppose Yao Feng. After all, the Yao family in the capital was not an ordinary family.

"Wang Chong? Are you from the Wang family in the capital?"

A young gentleman finally recognized Wang Chong and exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes!"

Wang Chong answered straightforwardly.

Hearing this, everyone in the room changed their expressions. So these two siblings dared to oppose Yao Feng and even the Yao family because they were from the Wang family.

If it was just Wang Yan, it wouldn't be a big deal. The Tang Empire was known for its martial spirit, and there were many generals like him. But in the capital, everyone knew that the Wang family had an elder.

That elder was truly a formidable presence!

"Descendants of the Ninth Duke! My apologies."

"Is the Elder well?"

"I am from the Wei family in the capital. My father, Wei Li, was once cared for by the Elder and has always been grateful. If you return, please tell the Elder that Wei Li hopes he will visit the capital when he has the time."

...

The group's attitude towards Wang Chong and his sister immediately changed, showing great respect. In the capital, the title "Ninth Duke" represented a unique status, and Wang Chong and his sister were now seen differently.

What was initially thought to be a simple farce was now seen as something entirely different if the Ninth Duke from the Si Fang Pavilion was opposing the Yao family.

This was not a conflict that just anyone or any family could get involved in!

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