The paper dolls servants held the gift boxes the wealthy merchants had brought to curry favor. As the gifts were announced, they opened them one by one for everyone to see.
Zhao Yijiu sat among a group of unscrupulous wealthy merchants, listening to their backhanded compliments to one another. Without changing expression, he looked toward another table.
Although he and Zhao Mou were playing a married couple, in this setting, even married couples couldn't sit together at a formal banquet. Zhao Mou was currently seated with the wives of other wealthy merchants, quietly discussing whose gift was the most valuable and whose carried the most auspicious meaning.
"..." Zhao Yijiu irritably pinched the bridge of his nose. The wealthy merchant beside him, dressed in a crimson robe with wide sleeves, suddenly asked with concern, "Are you all right?"
Everyone knew Madam Xue's husband was only there to save face. There were even rumors that Madam Xue and her husband were deeply in love. Curry favor with her husband, and you were as good as currying favor with Madam Xue.
Zhao Yijiu lowered his hand and said blandly, "I'm fine. Thank you for your concern."
The youngest person at the table besides him was the eldest young master of the Li family, who was also its current head. He glanced over, his expression unreadable, and reminded Zhao Yijiu, "I've noticed you've hardly said a word today. If you really are feeling unwell, perhaps your wife could get you some medicine. She has influence in Feng Manor."
Zhao Yijiu looked at him but didn't reply.
If he still had to spend more time with these people, he wouldn't have been so dismissive of the Li family's eldest young master, the person Master of Ten Thousand favored most apart from the Zhao family.