20demayo Chapter 422! Isn't this just like the villain getting slapped in the face in a melodramatic soa
Chapter 422! Isn't this just like the villain getting slapped in the face in a melodramatic soa
There were no rules about how expensive the gifts had to be for the small banquet at the Liu residence.
It's just a matter of courtesy; it's good not to arrive empty-handed.
In the early days of the Liu family's small banquets, most people brought their own food, such as snacks and their own specialty dishes.
In the later stages, it was transformed into other souvenirs.
There was no competition or comparison among the participants, since everyone who came was related to someone else.
It was only in the last two years that Prime Minister Liu would occasionally send invitations to a small number of officials outside the Liu family clan.
After Liu Peng entered the Hanlin Academy, Prime Minister Liu also granted his grandson some authority, allowing him to invite colleagues.
That's how Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming got their invitations.
Just as the two were getting up to look for Liu Peng, they heard that man's sarcastic remarks again.
The others didn't react much. Prime Minister Liu never cared about such things. If someone gave him a gift that was too valuable, he would prepare a return gift of roughly the same value.
The guests who attended the small banquet never left empty-handed.
No matter what the gifts are, the Liu family always prepares them with great care.
Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming had already reached the entrance of the flower hall when the man, seeing that the two still didn't respond, added in a cheeky tone, "The people who crashed the banquet are gone, and this flower hall is all bright now!"
Jiang Xiaoqi stopped and turned around, a cold glint in her eyes, but a mocking smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
"Excuse me... sir, do you have an invitation to the banquet at the Liu residence?"
Xiao Ming also stood next to Jiang Xiaoqi, looking at the man with an unfriendly gaze.
"What a joke! Of course we have invitations to enter your residence through proper channels."
The man had an arrogant expression, but paused for a moment when Jiang Xiaoqi uttered her next sentence.
"Oh, may I take it out and have it shown?"
What are you looking at? The invitation? He does have one, but it's not with him; it's with his grandfather. He came in with his grandfather.
My grandfather is currently playing chess with the Prime Minister, and the two want to play a few rounds.
"I! I didn't bring it with me!" The man was furious. He should have asked his grandfather for the invitation earlier and brought it with him!
"Oh~ I didn't bring it with me, so I still don't have it~" Jiang Xiaoqi said cheekily, holding the gift box.
“I have it! It’s with my grandfather!”
When people are anxious, they tend to blurt out anything.
"Oh? There really are some, but they're just family members who came along with their elders to freeload. How can you accuse someone of freeloading?"
Xiao Ming delivered the finishing blow at the opportune moment.
The man was taken aback by Xiao Ming's words, his face flushed red, and he forced himself to say, "What qualifications do you two nobodys have to attend this small banquet at the Liu residence? What are you if not freeloading?"
My grandfather was a high-ranking official of the second rank, the Minister of Revenue!
As soon as these words were spoken, the grandson of the Minister of Revenue immediately became the focus of attention in the flower hall.
The surrounding guests cast scrutinizing glances at him, and the grandson of the Minister felt somewhat guilty under their gazes.
What? Who said officials' wives can't drink tea here?!
"Brother Jiang! Brother Xiao! Why are you standing at the door instead of drinking tea in the flower hall? Is it because the tea and snacks in our residence are not to your liking?"
Liu Peng's question rang out from outside the flower hall, temporarily breaking the awkward atmosphere. The grandson of the Minister secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Hmph, they're just a bunch of pedantic low-ranking officials, utterly ignorant! Everyone outside gives Young Master Wang some face! These people really have no sense of propriety!
"I was just about to go find you, but I was in such a hurry when I came in that I forgot to give the gift for the household to the steward."
"I see. It was my oversight that made you carry these things all the way. Ah Xuan, take these things to the housekeeper."
"Yes, Master!"
Ah Xuan was Liu Peng's personal servant and page. He was a servant born into the Liu family and was not usually asked to do errands unless it was something very important.
Ah Xuan knew the importance of Lord Jiang and Lord Xiao, who were often mentioned by his family, in his young master's heart, so he attached great importance to the two gifts from them.
Liu Peng's arrival at the flower hall signifies that the "welcoming work" has come to an end, and all the guests attending the small banquet have arrived.
Liu Peng came here because he was worried that Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming were not familiar with others, so he wanted to come and keep them company as soon as possible.
It was almost time, and we could take our seats in a little while, so I decided to personally lead the two of them over.
Liu Peng pulled the two into the flower hall, and also sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere, so he turned his questioning gaze to his two friends.
Jiang Xiaoqi shrugged, and Xiao Ming curled his lip.
When the people in the flower hall saw that the head of the Liu family had come in person and only wanted to talk to the two young men, what was there to understand?
They weren't there to freeload at the banquet; they're clearly a close friend of the Prime Minister's grandson.
These two are the ones who could produce the invitation from the Liu family; perhaps the invitation was even personally delivered by this young master Liu.
It has to be said that there are always more smart people than ever; they guessed it on the first try.
However, Liu Peng's enthusiasm and closeness towards Jiang Xiaoqi and Xiao Ming added weight to their speculation.
This young master Liu is not the second son of some high-ranking official; this grandson of the prime minister is the most outstanding young man of the Liu family in this generation.
Many people, including the elders of the Liu family, tacitly agree that Liu Peng will be the next head of the Liu family.
After all, he was someone who almost became the top scholar in the imperial examination. Even if he hadn't become the top scholar, he would still have been the second-best scholar in the imperial examination, and he is currently working in the Hanlin Academy as a compiler of the seventh rank.
What young man in his early twenties could be so outstanding? Most of them would be considered rich and powerful if they weren't spoiled brats.
Isn't that the one right in front of us? Both of them have grandfathers who were important officials in the court. What achievements has Young Master Liu made now? And what kind of person is that second son of the Minister's family?
Judging from his speech and attire, he probably didn't even pass the county-level imperial examination. If he were a scholar, wouldn't he wear the scholar's robe that represents his status?
The reason those two young men weren't wearing scholar's robes couldn't be because they lacked official rank. These two were close to Young Master Liu and might even be junior scholars in the Hanlin Academy.
A Shujishi (庶吉士) is at least a second-class Jinshi (进士) graduate, and is also a talented young man.
Once the three-year observation period is over, the two will be granted official positions. Although they are a step behind, they are not old, so this step behind is nothing.
Everyone admired the young talent and wondered if they had any daughters, granddaughters, or even nieces or grandnephews of marriageable age in their own families.
Sure enough, handsome young men can't escape being coveted and admired wherever they go.
Everyone had their own thoughts, but they all temporarily ignored the second son of the Minister.
Especially after Liu Peng dropped another bombshell~
"Dear esteemed elders, I apologize for my neglect. I have not yet introduced these two gentlemen to you. They are my colleagues."
Everyone: Just as I thought! A junior scholar in the Hanlin Academy!
"This is this year's top scholar, Jiang Mingfei, currently a compiler in the Hanlin Academy; this is this year's third-place scholar, Xiao Ming, also currently a compiler in the Hanlin Academy."
"Clang!" That was the sound of a teacup being knocked down.