The atmosphere in the private room was stifling for a mont.
Regarding Shen Qingming’s mother, most people had little impression of her. Even the eldest present, Li Wanqing, only rembered a few accidental etings in childhood with Shen Yue’e, recalling her as a gentle and virtuous lady who always had a smile on her face. It was hard to imagine how she decisively broke off relations with her family, one of the reasons for the estrangent between the Shen and Li families.
Therefore, how Shen Yue’e felt about her family in her later years was unclear to anyone except those involved. Hearing Shen Qingming talk about it now, it was inevitable to feel the regrets of a woman who had risked everything for love before her death.
Love and family are both treasures to be cherished, but Shen Yue’e had to choose between them... Her untily demise at a young age might not have been unrelated to it. Otherwise, no matter how ntally exhausted she was, she wouldn’t have faded away at the peak of her life.
Shen Qingming’s persistence at this ti is thus more understandable. Her growing environnt, known well by everyone in the Li Family Mansion, with such a worldly-wise father and a candid and kind stepmother, made her late mother, Shen Yue’e, her sole solace. So Shen Yue’e’s last wish indeed gave Shen Qingming the drive to do whatever it took to fulfill it.
"Don’t worry, everything will go smoothly... Even if sothing unexpected does happen, we still have the invincible Celestial Divine Sword." Li Wanqing gently reassured.
Shen Qingming couldn’t help but laugh: "It’s precisely because he’s here that I’m worried sothing might go wrong. Who knows if he’ll say or do sothing ridiculous at the ti."
For a human with an Intelligence Index of just 3.3 to question a Celestial Sword Spirit with an index of 9, it seems utterly absurd and laughable. But neither Li Wanqing nor Li Chaolu voiced any objection.
With Wang Jiu’s "worldly wisdom," saying or doing anything in such a situation wouldn’t be surprising...
Thinking of this, even Shen Qingming herself beca inexplicably worried. With Wang Jiu’s usual style, after the birthday banquet started, saying to Shen Ruoshi, "Kid, I rode your ancestor back in the day. Here’s your New Year’s money..." wasn’t entirely impossible!
"Ah Jiu, when the banquet begins, I’ll head to the inner hall on the first floor for the feast. Stay here and don’t move around."
——
After getting Wang Jiu’s promise not to move or speak recklessly, Shen Qingming could finally breathe a sigh of relief and proceed to the banquet with peace of mind.
Though the feeling of unease was still strong, Shen Qingming decided that even if it was the dragon’s den or a tiger’s lair, she had to venture in today. Her mother’s greatest dream before her death was to reconcile with her family. As the biological daughter, Shen Qingming felt compelled to fulfill her mother’s last wish, even if there was only a slim hope, she would go all out to pursue it.
About half an hour later, there was a knock on the door outside the private room. Shen Qingming was startled, her heart racing, and she quickly got up and went to the door, asking as she opened it: "Has the birthday banquet started?"
The attendant looked troubled, shook his head first: "It will start in about half an hour, mainly because... Mr. Xinyu is just holding an incense burner, in the restroom..."
"Oh, that fat guy, just do as you please with him. Call when the banquet begins." Shen Qingming felt as if she’d been emotionally deceived, sighed wearily, waved her hand, and left Li Xinyu to his own devices.
Another half hour passed before an attendant ca to lead three won to the inner hall on the first floor for the banquet. Wang Jiu, as per Shen Qingming’s instructions, stayed put in the private room. After the three ladies left, it wasn’t long before he saw a water curtain projection playing a promotional video on a cabinet not far from the dining table.
"Huh, a War Elephant promotional video?" Wang Jiu glanced at it, finding the content riveting. In just a few minutes, the promotional video was extraordinarily engaging, clearly the work of a professional.
In the Jiuzhou Era, the trendy and avant-garde Qing Province had more sophisticated projection promotional techniques and professional thods, but the passion embodied by the creators of this film was far inferior.
Thus, while Wang Jiu was alone in the private room, earnestly exploring the Shen City people’s obsession with War Elephants, in the inner hall on the first floor, the birthday banquet officially comnced.
——
The City Lord of Shen City’s birthday banquet didn’t have any minute details or lengthy speeches from leaders. Once all the guests, led by attendants, entered the hall, lavish dishes were automatically presented on the ten-or-so round tables.
Then, Shen Ruoshi walked to the center of the inner hall under everyone’s gaze, raised a glass, and said with great emotion: "Thank you all for showing up at my banquet today. I’ll spare you the extra pleasantries, as I’m sure none of you are interested in hearing an old man’s ramblings, so I’ll first toast each of you, and then please enjoy the fine wine and food to your heart’s content!"
As Shen Ruoshi downed an entire glass of strong liquor and set down the empty wineglass, the atmosphere in the inner hall imdiately turned lively. Guests eagerly raised their glasses, heartily drinking the fine wine, followed by cheers and chatter, with the clinking of cups and plates echoing continuously, making the whole hall akin to a huge frying pan, constantly bursting with astonishing heat.
City Lord Shen Ruoshi, during the feast, didn’t display any of his usual mystery, left-hand holding the silver goblet symbolizing the City Lord’s supre status, and the right hand holding a large wine jar. He mingled continually with the guests, drinking and chatting with acquaintances.
In the eyes of outsiders, this high and mighty City Lord, with sky-shattering power, had no airs at all at the wine feast. If the person was familiar, regardless of their status or strength, Shen Ruoshi hosted them equally and kindly.
"Mr. Xiang, it’s really been a long ti. The last ti we t was 20 years ago, right? How’s your son doing?"
"Oh, don’t ntion it. He doesn’t asure up to your sons, at 40-sothing years still idle all day, cultivating sporadically, yet never forgets to reach out for money! Sotis I just want to break his legs!"
"Mr. Xiang, it’s understandable that you pamper your late-born child, but if you spoil him too much, it will be counterproductive."
"Indeed, I ca here in hopes of seeking your advice on how to handle this unworthy son..."
Shen Ruoshi took a sip of wine and said, "Your son is already over 40 years old; both his temperant and cultivation have been shaped, and it’s difficult to change. However, you are only 117 years old this year; there’s still ti to have more children and nurture them anew."
"That makes sense. My first wife is getting on in years and unable to bear children, so it would be good to take a young concubine for this reason."
"Wait a minute..."
"Younger Brother Shen, you are indeed wise. Thanks to your suggestion, otherwise this unworthy child would surely tornt to death. Truly grateful, to you, I toast this cup of wine!"
"...Cheers!"
----
While Shen Ruoshi was busy socializing, Shen Qingming, who was supposed to be one of the focal points of the event, found herself in bewildernt.
She indeed beca the center of attention.
As the attendant led her into the inner hall, she was unexpectedly brought directly to the main table!
What does the main table signify? This table has only 10 seats, while the first-class major sect leaders present exceed 20! Even Shen Ruoshi’s several biological sons, who usually wield considerable influence in Shen City, obediently sat at a neighboring table. Shen Feihong, whom Shen Ruoshi personally appointed as the successor, was seated far away.
Those at the table must be, in the eyes of the Shen Family, the most esteed, worthy of notice among a select few.
Shen Ruoshi’s seat was in the center; to his left was the Holy Sect Envoy, a sign of respect that all sects extend to the Holy Sect—yet the Holy Sect Envoy knew his role well, sitting quietly and not vying for attention—while to his right was Shen Jinghai, the first Deputy City Lord of Shen City.
On the left of the Holy Sect Envoy was the second Deputy City Lord, Shen Yueying, and next to her was Shen Qingming! Her ranking even placed her above several major sect leaders who have had a thousand-year-long relationship with the Shen Family!
The main table in the inner hall naturally draws all eyes, and Shen Qingming’s sensitive status made seating her near Shen Yueying akin to placing soone over a fire pit as opposed to directly over the flas!
Such a grand scene was beyond Shen Qingming’s expectations. Sitting at the main table, her sense of unease was nearly explosive.
There must be sothing major occurring with such an abnormal seating arrangent.
And just as Shen Qingming’s unease grew, suddenly she heard Li Wanqing’s whispered words not far away.
"Qingming, indeed sothing strange is happening; I’ve lost contact with Shen Ying."
"Shen Ying?" Shen Qingming indeed took so ti to recall the incredibly inconspicuous gossip queen from her mories.
"Has sothing happened to her?"
"We initially agreed to et before the birthday banquet to exchange... information, but she hasn’t contacted in days."
"Did sothing happen?"
"She is part of the Shen Family; what could possibly happen to her in Shen City? Her cultivation is no joke, and with the Void Clarity Body, she’s hard to find and should be quite cautious, so why would anything happen?"
Hearing this, Shen Qingming couldn’t help but feel alard, "Do you think..."
However, before she and Li Wanqing could continue their conversation, soone nearby suddenly handed her a cup of wine.
"Qingming, co, a toast to you."
Shen Qingming was astonished and turned her head to see Shen Yueying’s face full of lancholy.
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