Banquet

The following evening.

The Baiyang Academy in southern Yehuai City had grown lively. A grand banquet was being held there.

The grounds were divided into two sections. One was the vast jade plaza in front of the academy, where the attendants, servants, coachmen, lackeys, and other people of insufficient status who had accompanied important figures were settled. They enjoyed the delicacies while waiting for the banquet to end and for their masters to return.

Deep within the Baiyang Academy, in front of a building forged entirely from red bricks, another gathering was also underway. It had fewer guests, but was far more refined than the one in the plaza.

Several long tables had been pushed together, covered with all kinds of food and fine wine for the guests to take as they pleased.

Along the edge of the red building, a group of instrument virtuosos with graceful figures and distinctive beauty sat quietly, fiddling with the instruments in their hands.

With the lingering notes curling through the air, the atmosphere was exceptionally tranquil.

In front of the building, the arriving guests gathered in small groups, seeking out familiar friends and chatting with smiles on their faces.

The banquet, specially held under the pretext of Wuyuanjia taking on a disciple, had already become another wild celebration for Yehuai City's elites to seek out opportunities for cooperation.

"Are you not quite used to all this?"

Ouyang Xiuyah appeared beside Jiang Yan. She pursed her lips almost imperceptibly, as though smiling.

"I noticed you don't understand—or know—quite a few rules and formalities."

Sensing her mood, Jiang Yan reluctantly rolled his eyes and replied with a chuckle,

"I've never learned any of this."

He said it with complete frankness.

As a native of another world, where would he have had the time or energy