Countless people stared at Wei Ziting, their eyes filled with disbelief.
This gift... It was too precious, too unique!
Most importantly, the Seventh Princess had said it herself: "I love it!"
This was extraordinary!
In all these years, who else had managed to make the Seventh Princess say those three words?
But what these people didn't know was that for one person, those three words had beco almost tireso to hear many years ago...
On the second floor, the Empress chuckled. She looked at Wei Feng and said, "Your son really is a chip off the old block. He knows how to play to her interests. Xiaoqi can resist anything else, but when it cos to rare books, her fondness borders on obsession..."
Lord Leng's expression was as cold as his na, as frosty as could be. His gaze toward Wei Feng was filled with undisguised fury.
They were of the sa faction. They shared a common goal: to help the Sixth Prince ascend the throne.
However, even within the sa faction, there was still competition.
This competition could sotis even evolve into a struggle, one no less vicious than their battles with political enemies.
But the Sixth Prince had not yet taken the throne, and the Crown Prince's position was stable. For Wei Feng to pull such a move at a ti like this... it was truly infuriating.
The Leng Family might be more favored by the Sixth Prince for now, but if Wei Ziting were to win the Seventh Princess's heart and marry her, then the Sixth Prince... would undoubtedly shift his focus to the Wei Family in an instant.
More importantly, these old foxes were all masters of putting on a show for the Emperor.
If all the court officials truly were one big happy family, the Emperor would probably be the first one to get restless.
From start to finish, the Emperor sat there, calm and composed, sipping his tea and watching the show. He seed to turn a blind eye to the overt and covert struggles happening in the banquet hall and right beside him.
Wei Ziting had laid low for years, always presenting himself as one of Young Master Leng's followers. Although his status in the Imperial Capital could be considered that of a top-tier young master, in many people's eyes, he, Wei Ziting... was nothing more than Leng Ping's lackey.
Until today!
Wei Ziting had stunned everyone with a single brilliant move.
In an instant, his image in the minds of countless people underwent a seismic shift.
It was only then that many young ladies from noble families noticed him. That tall, proud figure standing there, with his dignified bearing and noble air, was in no way inferior to Leng Ping, the so-called number one young master of the Imperial Capital.
Wei Ziting's heart surged with excitent. Even the palms of his hands, hidden in his sleeves, were slick with sweat.
A reserved yet gentle smile appeared on his face. He looked at the Seventh Princess with clear, ardent eyes and said, "As long as the Princess is pleased, Ziting... is content."
CRACK!
A crisp sound suddenly cut through the noisy banquet hall. In an instant, everything fell silent.
All eyes turned toward the source of the sound.
They saw that Young Master Leng was holding a cup in his hand, and now, that cup had been crushed to pieces.
"Heh, my apologies. Seeing the Seventh Princess so happy, I got a little carried away..." Leng Ping said with a dry laugh, casually placing the cup, which had been all but reduced to dust, onto a tray held by a nearby Palace Maid.
A flicker of faint mockery flashed in the depths of Wei Ziting's eyes. He sneered inwardly, 'Leng Ping... do you really think this is enough to scare ?'
The atmosphere in the banquet hall instantly turned strange.
The other young noblen who had originally planned to present gifts, such as Wang Ziweng, Zhao Mo, and Sun Donghai, all gave up on the idea. They knew their chance was gone, but they weren't disappointed, instead wearing expressions like they were watching a play.
One of Leng Ping's followers, a young master from an Earl Family Clan, saw his master's gaffe and quickly tried to smooth things over. "Heh, all the noble young masters of the Imperial Capital have gathered today, and all the great families are here to celebrate the Seventh Princess's coming-of-age ceremony. And yet... there are still so who don't seem to hold the Seventh Princess in high regard."
"Ha, if you ask , that person is completely arrogant!"
"Could it be he's afraid of embarrassing himself, so he's hiding at ho, too scared to co out?"
"Hahaha!"
The other young noblen in Leng Ping's circle, all of aristocratic status, chid in with their taunts.
By now, many people naturally understood who they were talking about.
Lianyi, who was seated, felt a flash of anger in her eyes. She glared at the n who were speaking, thinking, 'You're trying to change the subject for your master, but what right do you have to drag my young master into this?'
But since they hadn't nad anyone, Lianyi had no grounds to lash out, even if she wanted to.
SLAM!
At a distant table, Xu Jie slamd his palm on the table, sending cups and plates clattering with a loud crash.
His action drew everyone's attention.
Xu Jie stared coldly at the group who had been talking. "You call yourselves nobles, so can you stop being so damn sneaky with your words? If you're talking about soone, say their na! If you can't, then get the hell out of here. Stop your yamring and ruining my mood!"
Liu Feng, holding a cup of wine nearby, said with a faint smile, "Second Brother, why get angry? When have you ever seen a dog speak human?"
Sui Yan added coolly, "They're just a few dogs, Second Brother. Why bother with them?"
"You... Who are you calling a dog?" The group who had just spoken were all furious. In terms of status, they were inferior to Xu Jie, Sui Yan, and the others, but they were still well-known young masters in the Imperial Capital. How could they endure being publicly humiliated at the Seventh Princess's coming-of-age ceremony without lashing out?
Leng Ping gave a light cough, silencing his followers. He looked toward Xu Jie's group and said coolly, "They were talking about Xu Luo. What of it? He is arrogant. He didn't even attend the Seventh Princess's coming-of-age ceremony. He clearly has no regard for the Seventh Princess or the Royal Family. Is it really so out of line to call him insolent and conceited?"
Leng Ping continued, his voice turning icy, "Not to ntion, it seems no one from the entire National Guardian General's Mansion has co to offer their congratulations. Heh, such pride... Grand General Xu has truly worked hard and... achieved great rits, hasn't he!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of many of the court's decorated nobles on the second floor changed abruptly.
It didn't matter how the younger generation fought and squabbled out of jealousy, but to drag the Grand General of National Guardian into it was truly crossing the line.
Leng Ping would never normally say sothing so brainless. He had clearly been pushed too far today, to the point where he'd lost all sense.
"Damn him! How dare he slander the Grand General of National Guardian! He's courting death!" Lord Leng shot to his feet, furious, ready to go down and teach Leng Ping a lesson.
He was truly enraged, and also afraid.
Xu Luo could be insulted; he was a good-for-nothing!
Without strength, even being the son of the Grand General of National Guardian was useless!
But Xu Ji? Who was he?
Earlier, when Wei Ziting had misspoken while accusing Sui Yan, Xu Luo had seized on his slip of the tongue. Afterward, Wei Ziting was nearly scolded to death by Wei Feng.
To say nothing of Leng Ping daring to bring up the Grand General of National Guardian in front of nearly every noble in the Imperial Capital. He was really asking for trouble.
"They're young, hot-blooded, and just acting on impulse. Lord Leng, why take it so seriously?" the Emperor, who had been silent until now, spoke up with a light chuckle. "We were all young once. We trust Xu Ji. You all know Xu Ji as well. Therefore, no one will take the words of a child seriously. Leng Aiqing, sit down."
"Your Majesty, my worthless son deserves to be punished! Your Majesty cannot stop from teaching him a lesson!" Lord Leng was covered in a cold sweat. Who knew if the Emperor's words should be interpreted in the opposite way?
"If you must discipline him, do it at ho. For now, let's just enjoy the show and see what kind of trouble these young people will stir up. Wouldn't that be more interesting?" the Emperor said, his expression turning stern in a mild rebuke.
"This... Yes, this old subject was too impulsive." Lord Leng slowly sat down, but he felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles.
"Who said no one from the National Guardian General's Mansion ca to offer congratulations?"
Just then, a chilly voice rang out in the first-floor banquet hall. Lianyi slowly rose to her feet and walked toward Leng Ping.
It was only then that many people realized that a peerlessly beautiful woman had appeared in the banquet hall at so unknown point. Her bearing was in no way inferior to that of the radiant Seventh Princess on the stage.
"Who is that?"
"Huh? Since when was there such a nation-toppling beauty among the young ladies of the Imperial Capital?"
"Ah, I know! She's the Princess of Vulture!"
"The Princess of Vulture?"
Many were stunned at first, but then they all realized who this Princess of Vulture was.
"She's Lianyi, the adopted daughter of Madam Xu, who was granted the title of Princess of Vulture by His Majesty the Emperor?"
"So it's her! She's so lucky!"
"What is she doing here?"
A crowd began to whisper amongst themselves. The gazes of many young noble ladies toward Lianyi were filled with complicated emotions.
A woman who was originally just a maid had not only been taken in as the adopted daughter of the Lady of the National Guardian General, but had even been granted the title of Commandery Princess by the Emperor!
Moreover, she was an unprecedented Commandery Princess, granted a title despite not sharing the royal surna.
On the stage, the Seventh Princess, who had been on the verge of exploding with rage, finally let out a sigh of relief. However, a sharp glint still flashed in her eyes.
'All who insult and slander Xu Luo are my enemies!'
Leng Ping watched Lianyi walk toward him, montarily stunned. The woman was breathtakingly beautiful, not the least bit inferior to the Seventh Princess on the stage.
Listening to the whispers around him, Leng Ping suddenly had a bad feeling.
He had been impulsive today, even losing his head. But now, it was too late for regrets.
Lianyi walked up to Leng Ping and said coolly, "I am the Princess of Vulture."
Hm?
Many people were taken aback, looking at Lianyi in confusion, wondering what this stunningly beautiful woman was planning to do.
The Seventh Princess on the stage, however, suddenly smiled faintly and praised her inwardly: 'Clever!'
"I... I know," Leng Ping replied subconsciously.
At that mont, from a nearby table, the Eldest Prince, Huangfu Chongzhi, spoke up coolly, "Leng Ping, you see the Princess of Vulture before you, yet you do not greet her? As a nobleman, do you not even understand such basic etiquette?"
The banquet hall erupted in an uproar.
Everyone finally understood the aning behind the six words the forr maid, now the Princess of Vulture, had just spoken.
So clever!
More than clever, her response was more painful than a hard slap to Leng Ping's face.
'You said Xu Luo has no regard for the Seventh Princess?'
'You said the National Guardian General's Mansion is arrogant?'
'Well, I am here!'
'It's that simple!'
Lianyi's simple six words stripped Leng Ping of every last shred of his dignity.
"I..." Leng Ping's mouth hung slightly open, his mind nearly blank. He took a deep breath, bowed slightly to Lianyi, and said, "I am Leng Ping. Greetings, Princess of Vulture."
As he spoke, he began to straighten up.
"Did I give you permission to rise? Are you just going through the motions with a Commandery Princess of the court? Or is it that you... look down on ?"
Lianyi's calm words, devoid of any anger, made Leng Ping freeze in place as he was straightening up.
The banquet hall fell deathly silent.
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