"Li, if you don’t want to go, then don’t. Mom knows you’re a man, but a true man knows when to yield and when to stand firm..."
Qin Hanyue patiently straightened Qin Li’s clothes as she spoke gently, "Now that Shiyu is gone, I’ve heard a bit about the Shangguan Family’s attitude toward you. The prize the Qin Family had already secured was snatched right back by them. Everyone in the Qin Family is seething with resentnt. They don’t dare do anything to , but to you... sigh. It’s all my fault."
A warmth spread through Qin Li’s heart. He chuckled and said, "Mom, you’re overthinking it. I know what I’m doing, so don’t worry. If I can avoid a conflict with them, I absolutely won’t go looking for trouble."
"That’s good!"
After Qin Hanyue finished arranging her son’s new clothes, she couldn’t help but feel that he was the most handso man in the world. A happy smile blossod on her face. "My precious son is all grown up. Mom is so happy!"
Basking in the warmth of his mother’s love, Qin Li left ho. Qin Hanyue had originally wanted Qin Xue to accompany him, but Qin Li had already anticipated the scene he would have to face today. Bringing Qin Xue along would only an one more person suffering humiliation, so he had refused.
The Shangguan Family was quite adept at keeping up appearances. They had dispatched a luxurious carriage specifically to pick up Qin Li. By the ti he arrived at the Shangguan estate, the place was already bustling with activity!
The great figures who were rarely seen on a normal day had almost all appeared. They mingled, exchanging pleasantries with acquaintances, their faces adorned with seemingly sincere smiles. Every single one of them was impeccably dressed.
The carriage, marked with the Shangguan Family’s crest, drew so attention. After all, there weren’t many people in Yellow Sand City whom the Shangguan Family would personally send a carriage for. Besides the patriarchs of the other two great families, there was only the Lord City Lord. However, those important figures always traveled with a large retinue of attendants and guards, so many people eyed the two-horse carriage with curiosity.
As Qin Li stepped down from the carriage, he imdiately felt nurous gazes land on him. A faint smile touched his lips, and he appeared utterly composed, walking inside with the Shangguan Family’s n without a change in his expression.
"Hey, who was that handso young fellow just now? How did he get to co in a Shangguan Family carriage? Seems like he’s from a pretty impressive background!"
"Yeah, judging by his aura, he looks like the young master of so important family!"
"He certainly is handso. Very charming!" a middle-aged woman, heavily made-up and dripping with jewels, said as she stared intently at Qin Li’s back.
"Impressive background? That’s the Qin Family’s illegitimate son. The Shangguan Family’s... son-in-law!" soone who recognized Qin Li imdiately said with a sneer.
"Huh?"
The few people who had just been discussing him were all stunned. The heavily made-up middle-aged woman gave an exaggerated pout. "Oh, so he’s *that* Qin Family scandal!"
A few people looked at the middle-aged noblewoman with a cold smile, thinking to themselves, ’With a face like yours, you wouldn’t be worthy of him even if he is an illegitimate son!’
Facing the strange and curious gazes of others, Qin Li remained perfectly composed. The one guiding him inside was, unexpectedly, Shangguan Tie’s personal guard—the Black Armored Knight!
"Young Master Qin, so of the people in our household may not have the best attitude today. For the Patriarch’s sake, please don’t hold it against them. Regardless, the Patriarch holds you in very high regard, Young Master Qin! This hasn’t changed, even with the young miss gone."
Qin Li glanced at the normally reticent and taciturn Black Armored Knight with so surprise. He realized this man actually possessed an Exquisite Heart. ’Then again,’ he thought, ’how could soone who beca Shangguan Tie’s trusted confidant be a diocre person?’
Nodding, Qin Li smiled and said, "Rest assured, I understand."
The Black Armored Knight glanced left and right before saying in a low voice, "The Qin Family is here, so they won’t dare do anything to you! Young Master Qin, my na is Shangguan Hongfei. I am a Profound Level Seventh-Order Martial Artist. If you run into any trouble, please feel free to find . If I can help, I will not stand idly by!"
Qin Li saw the sincerity on Shangguan Hongfei’s face; it didn’t seem feigned. He smiled and said, "Then I thank you!"
Shangguan Hongfei nodded, led Qin Li into the banquet hall, and then withdrew.
Qin Li had seen this banquet hall once before when he lived with the Shangguan Family, but he had never stepped inside. Coming here again now, he couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. ’This is what a truly great family looks like!’
The banquet hall before him was over fifty ters wide and a full three hundred ters long! The high ceiling was resplendent in gold and green, the epito of luxury. Standing within it felt like being in a dream.
No wonder so of the mid-tier nobles who received an invitation from the Shangguan Family each year would be too excited to sleep for days. That was no exaggeration! Simply being able to co here was, in itself, a symbol of status!
The hall was adorned with all sorts of beautiful potted plants, and the tables and chairs were all handcrafted from precious wood. Qin Li had never seen an imperial palace in this world, but in his previous life, he had been to the Forbidden City. The scene before him was in no way inferior to the Forbidden City he rembered!
In such a massive banquet hall, Qin Li was like a drop in the great sea. Outside, a few people might have paid him so attention, but in here, nobody cared who he was.
Everywhere, young n and won gathered in twos and threes, dressed in magnificent attire. The n were gallant and the won demure as they chatted and laughed. The older mbers of the upper class discussed various business matters in low voices. Countless deals were struck here every year.
Qin Li found a random corner and sat down. He couldn’t say he liked this kind of occasion, but he didn’t particularly dislike it either. ’In any case, these people have nothing to do with ,’ he thought. ’When the banquet is over, I’ll just leave.’
Qin Li picked up a few pastries and placed them in front of him for show. He sat there, slightly closing his eyes to regulate his breathing. The Innate Purple Qi within his body was constantly circulating, though his cultivation was much slower than usual.
Just then, a hearty voice rang out, "You must be Qin Li, right?"
Qin Li opened his eyes and saw a tall, magnificently dressed young man standing before him. He looked familiar, and Qin Li suddenly rembered: this was the young man from that day at the Fangzheng Martial Arts Hall. He later learned that the martial arts hall was run by the Fang Family, which ant this young man must also be from the Fang Family.
"Let’s get acquainted. My na is Fang Haonan. I’m sorry about what happened that day. My grandfather grounded for several months afterward, and I wanted to find you to explain, but I never got the chance. I hope you won’t hold it against , Qin!" Fang Haonan apologized to Qin Li with a sincere expression.
Qin Li was slightly taken aback, but then he extended a hand and said with a smile, "That incident? I’d already forgotten about it. Besides, you did nothing wrong, Fang. In fact, you saved at a critical mont. If anything, I should be the one thanking you. Why would I hold it against you?"
Fang Haonan’s face was full of gentle smiles. "I’ve long known that you are destined for great things, Qin. Seeing you today, I see it’s true. I would like to befriend you. What do you think, Qin?"
Qin Li gave a wry smile and said, "You flatter , Fang. If we were to beco friends, it would be I who is reaching above my station. I can barely protect myself right now. Aren’t you afraid of incurring the wrath of the Qin Family, Fang?"
Fang Haonan just smiled, unconcerned. "The three great families of Yellow Sand City have been vying for power, both openly and in secret, for many years, for many generations. Hasn’t it always been this way? They can have their fights, and we can have our friendships. As for incurring soone’s wrath... heh, I don’t care!"
Qin Li raised an eyebrow. He found this Fang Haonan to be quite an interesting person. Just as he was about to speak, a cold female voice suddenly cut in.
"Qin Li? You actually have the nerve to show your face here? Utterly shaless! Did you think you’d beco a nobleman just by latching onto a powerful family?"
Hearing this voice, Fang Haonan first frowned, then a helpless expression appeared on his face. He shot Qin Li a look, signaling him not to stoop to her level.
Qin Li just smiled faintly, picked up his teacup, and took a gentle sip. The way he held the cup and drank the tea made a peculiar glint flash in Fang Haonan’s eyes. ’One couldn’t manage that posture without specialized training in noble etiquette,’ he thought. ’But didn’t Qin Li grow up without any formal schooling? Interesting, very interesting!’
"Fang, the Shangguan Family truly lives up to its na as the number one family in Yellow Sand City! Look, not only are the tea leaves excellent, but the water is even better!"
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Editor’s Note: The author recomnds a modern-day superpower novel, "Immortals are all in the pocket" [Book ID: 1656433]. Synopsis: Wang Ke’s attempt to watch a ’special’ video fails. Instead, he sees soone in the video appoint him as the traversal administrator for the fourth universal quadrant, a position said to specialize in selling deific thrones...
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