20demayo Chapter 423 The Prime Minister Makes an Appearance at the Liu Family Banquet
Chapter 423 The Prime Minister Makes an Appearance at the Liu Family Banquet
Someone's teacup fell to the ground, and the tea soaked their robes.
The Liu family servants were well-trained and quickly cleaned up the broken porcelain shards.
However, we can't help with the clothes; guests will need to change into the robes provided in the carriage themselves.
The person whose robes were wet went out at the opportune moment. Wouldn't it be foolish not to use such a ready-made excuse as changing clothes?
Once you're outside, you won't have to face all sorts of stares, ridicule, sarcasm, or being laughed at.
The grandson of the Minister got into his own carriage and didn't get off again; he probably won't be able to change his clothes anytime soon.
The atmosphere in the flower hall was restored to harmony thanks to Liu Peng's few words, and Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming gained a completely new understanding of Liu Peng for the first time.
This guy has some really impressive social skills.
The awkward period he went through at the Hanlin Academy was probably because young people couldn't get over that mental hurdle.
After getting closer to Jiang and Xiao, I found that they were not just pretty boys with empty looks.
The goodwill between people deepens gradually over time, and all it takes is a suitable opportunity.
It might be a trivial favor, or a harmless misunderstanding.
Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming sat down again with Liu Peng, still in an inconspicuous corner, but this time, no matter how remote their positions were, they wouldn't be overlooked.
"Sit a little longer. We'll go straight to the front hall later. My grandfather is in the study with Minister Wang. Oh, Minister Wang is the grandfather of the boy who just spilled the teacup."
Liu Peng clearly didn't take the Minister's grandson seriously. Minister Wang had more than one grandson, and everyone knew that Minister Wang valued his eldest grandson the most.
However, it's unclear why the second son of the second wife was brought along this time. Perhaps it's because the eldest grandson of the legitimate wife is currently serving as an official elsewhere and cannot return.
"Well, Brother Liu's pastries are really good. I'm thinking of packing some to take home," Xiao Ming joked.
Even if they knew who that strange person was, they weren't afraid. So what if he was the grandson of a high-ranking official?
They are still young talents. You need to be strong yourself to succeed. What kind of ability is it to rely on the name of your elders to boss people around?
They are their own support and their own source of confidence.
Liu Peng is the grandson of the Prime Minister, yet he's not as arrogant and domineering as that "Wang Er" from Minister Wang's family.
He truly earned his place as the second-best student in the top tier through his own hard work, without disgracing his family.
These are the real elites among the second and third generations of officials. Wang Er is at best a spoiled brat, and a spoiled brat who doesn't even understand what a spoiled brat is.
"Hahaha, I'm glad you like it. This is all thanks to my aunt. People in the palace often receive gifts from her."
You really can't buy these outside. Brother Xiao and Brother Jiang, if you like them, take some back with you for your families to try when you leave.
"Oh dear, then we'll gladly accept your offer. We're shamelessly going to freeload and take everything with us."
"What are you saying? Our relationship is nothing more than a meal; there's no need to be so formal!"
The seemingly casual conversation between the young people, when overheard by others, once again changed everyone's perception of the relationship between the three.
Oh dear, it's a good thing that the Minister's second son hasn't come back yet. If he were still here, his face would probably be slapped until it was swollen.
Just then, Wang Er finally returned, having changed his clothes. He was now wearing an even more flamboyant and extravagant outfit, making him look even more like a peacock.
As soon as Wang Er entered, he saw a group of people chatting and laughing in the corner, and his face instantly turned ashen.
He gave a silent snort and found a place to sit down again.
Everyone present was a well-mannered adult, and they stopped their incessant chatter as soon as this person entered.
Before long, four or five servants filed in and led the gentlemen into the front hall in batches.
Liu Peng instructed his servants to lead the others, while he himself pulled Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming to the banquet from either side.
At this time, the huge front hall of the Liu mansion already had more than a dozen tables set up, which could easily accommodate a hundred people.
There were only a few dozen people present, so could there be others?
Liu Peng noticed their confusion and explained, "Do you know why the small banquet at the Liu residence is called a small banquet? It's because only four people sit at one table, which is called 'all four corners are complete'."
"I see, then the numbers match up."
Xiao Ming is a quick-tongued person. He had just been wondering why the table was so big and the chairs weren't even all set up. It turns out this is a feature of the Liu family's small banquet.
The servants had already led everyone into the hall to take their seats, and Liu Peng directly pulled the two of them to a seat that was second only to the head of the table.
"Brother Liu, isn't this a bit too far forward? We can sit in the back."
"It's alright. At my family's banquets, seating isn't based on official rank, but on the closeness of the relationship. What's our relationship with you two? We're good brothers! There's no reason for you to sit in the back."
Jiang Xiaoqi also pulled Xiao Ming to sit down. If they continued to refuse and tug at each other, it would attract more attention, since the scene was very quiet at the moment.
While everyone was chatting and laughing in the flower hall, they all sat up straight in the main hall.
After everyone was seated, Prime Minister Liu arrived with an elderly man with gray hair.
It must be Minister Wang of the Ministry of Revenue. He looks very shrewd and doesn't seem to be related to Wang Er as grandfather and grandson.
Everyone in the banquet hall rose to their feet and bowed, and Prime Minister Liu smiled and gestured for them to take their seats.
Minister Wang's gaze swept around the hall, finally landing on Wang Er, where he frowned slightly.
As the banquet began, novel dishes were served one after another. They were not only exquisite, but many of the ingredients were also rare finds.
Liu Peng warmly greeted Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming, and the three of them raised their glasses in a toast. Wang Er sat not far away, his eyes occasionally glancing in their direction.
That table was originally meant for him; it was supposed to be a table for four, but Liu Peng just wouldn't invite him to sit with him.
When he followed his grandfather into the house, this man surnamed Liu was very polite to him.
It's all those two brats' fault. What insignificant officials they are, yet they dare to act so arrogantly in front of him, the direct grandson of a second-rank minister.
Hmph! What future could a mere bureaucratic institution like the Hanlin Academy possibly have?
Unlike my grandfather's Ministry of Revenue, where millions or tens of millions of dollars passed through every year, these petty officials probably never know how much a hundred taels of silver is in their entire lives!
Wang Er thought to himself with a sense of superiority, not caring at all about sitting at the bottom. Heh, so what if I sit at the bottom?
So what if they sit next to the prime minister? Let alone the prime minister, even His Majesty the Emperor might not be as wealthy as the Wang family!
Besides, the Wang family is different now. Once the new emperor ascends the throne, there will be no more Prime Minister Liu.
Grandfather is indeed currently being overshadowed by the Liu family, but fortunes change, and the Wang family will undoubtedly become the largest and most glorious family in the Great Zhou Dynasty.
After all, they now have a prince they support, who has a very good chance of becoming the crown prince and the future emperor!
At that time, the Wang family will have rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor, and the sisters in the family will be able to enter the palace as concubines, bringing glory to the whole family!
So what if I don't have any official rank? My future brother-in-law, the emperor, can just give me a hereditary title. I don't need to study hard and foolishly.
My future achievements will be no less than those three bookworms! Let them be smug for a few years now; later, they'll have plenty of time to cry.
A sinister smile crept onto Wang Er's lips, but the other three people at the table looked at him as if he were a madman without noticing.
Author's note: This dream is quite beautiful, everyone please don't interrupt the ambitious Wang Er!