Whose Young Master Is This?

At the entrance, Steward Hu, clad in a long blue robe, was checking each guest's identity and recording their congratulatory gifts.

The capable servants took the guests' gifts box by box, carried them into the courtyard, and arranged them by category.

Several richly dressed middle-aged men were queuing at the entrance.

"Steward Hu, thank you for your hard work so early in the morning! I am Zhang Wentao of Jiangnan Cloth Firm. This is premium Mystic Cloud Brocade; please have a look!"

A fair-faced, beardless middle-aged man spoke with a fawning smile.

Steward Hu remained expressionless. He glanced at the Mystic Cloud Brocade offered to him, nodded slightly, and had a servant take it away.

"Steward Hu, regarding the cloth your estate will use in the future..."

The cloth merchant named Zhang Wentao pulled out another heavy pouch from his robes, concealed it with his sleeve, and quietly offered it over.

Steward Hu frowned and did not accept the pouch. He said flatly, "The estate has its own arrangements for cloth. Please proceed inside."

Zhang Wentao awkwardly withdrew his hand, then followed a servant into the courtyard.

"Steward Hu, I'm from Drunken Immortal Pavilion..."

"Steward Hu, Steward Hu, I'm from Dagui Gold Shop..."

Jiang Che stood in line behind them, secretly astonished.

Any one of these people's gifts was worth a fortune.

Yet even so, Steward Hu still wore an indifferent expression, as though none of them had caught his eye.

Moreover, these people were all prominent wealthy merchants in the city.

But before Steward Hu, each was more obsequious than the last.

Only then did Jiang Che finally begin to understand the true weight of the Five Great Families.

He looked at his small packet of Century-Old Snow Ginseng and instantly felt it was rather shabby.

Jiang Che shook his head with a bitter smile and thought:

Forget it. I'm not some wealthy man. Why compare myself to them?

Soon, it was Jiang Che's turn.

The moment Steward Hu saw Jiang Che, a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Young Master Jiang, you've arrived! Please, come in quickly!"

He was exceedingly warm, personally taking Jiang Che by the arm and leading him through the gate.

The wealthy households waiting behind them were immediately filled with confusion at the sight.

"Whose young master is this? Why haven't I seen him before?"

"No idea. Could he have come from somewhere else?"

"But he's dressed rather... simply. He doesn't look like he comes from a great aristocratic family."

"Maybe he just prefers to keep a low profile!"

The crowd whispered among themselves.

Inside the gate, Steward Hu held Jiang Che's arm and led him all the way in.

"Fourth Miss has been asking since early this morning whether you had arrived. I've been waiting all this time, and at last you're here!" Steward Hu said with a smile.

Fourth Miss was Miss Shao, Shao Shiliu, whom Jiang Che had saved that day.

She was born to the second branch of the Shao Estate and was named Shao Shiliu. She and Shao Jianbo shared the same mother.

"I'm deeply honored that Miss Shao has remembered me. By the way, this is a small token of my regard."

Jiang Che hurriedly offered up the small packet of Century-Old Snow Ginseng.

He was somewhat surprised that this lofty young lady of a great family had continued to remember a minor disciple from a Martial Arts Hall like him.

Steward Hu accepted it with a smile. After opening it and taking a look, he nodded with a smile and said:

"This snow ginseng is of fine quality. Young Master Jiang, you are most thoughtful! My master happens to love snow ginseng tea!"

With that, he handed the snow ginseng to a servant and instructed them to store it carefully.

"Really? Then that is quite a coincidence."

Jiang Che did not know whether Steward Hu was merely flattering him, but at least his fear that his humble gift would be looked down upon had not come to pass.

Then Steward Hu personally led Jiang Che further inside.

After passing through a moon gate, an expansive courtyard suddenly opened before them.

A path paved with pebbles lay beneath their feet.

Lush grass and trees grew on both sides, planted with all manner of unfamiliar exotic flowers and strange trees.

Wave after wave of faint fragrance drifted into his nose, and Jiang Che immediately felt incomparably refreshed.

In the distance stood artificial hills, small bridges, and flowing water, every corner as exquisite as a landscape painting.

Before long, they arrived at the main hall of the estate.

It was a grand building with upturned eaves and elaborate bracket sets. Two rows of graceful maids stood with their hands lowered, awaiting the guests.

Melodies of silk and bamboo drifted from within the hall.

The two ascended the stone steps and arrived at the entrance.

A maid immediately crouched down and used a prepared cloth to clean Jiang Che's shoes.

"This..."

Jiang Che was somewhat stunned. The luxury of a great family had truly opened his eyes.

"Jiang Che!"

Suddenly, a pleasant female voice, clear as silver bells, called out.

A woman in a luxurious white gown, with features as picturesque as a painting, strode toward him.

It was Shao Shiliu.

"Miss Shao."

Jiang Che greeted her with a smile.

Shao Shiliu grabbed Jiang Che's arm.

"Come with me!"

Jiang Che was somewhat surprised, but he still allowed her to pull him along.

Great Chu had been founded upon martial strength, and its customs were generally more open. Men and women did not keep excessively strict distance from one another.

This degree of physical contact was considered normal.

Still, it was clear that Shao Shiliu's personality was rather forthright as well, without any coyness or affectation.

When they entered the hall, Jiang Che saw a stage erected in the center. Dancers swayed gracefully upon it, while several musicians seated nearby provided accompaniment.

Numerous richly dressed guests sat on both sides, drinking and chatting merrily amid an atmosphere of utmost revelry.

A man with graying temples but a refined and handsome face sat in the seat of honor, smiling as he drank and conversed with the guests at his table.

Shao Shiliu brought Jiang Che before the man and said with a smile:

"Father, this is Jiang Che!"

Jiang Che hurriedly bowed and said:

"This junior, Jiang Che, greets Master Shao! May Master Shao's blessings be as vast as the Eastern Sea and his longevity rival the Southern Mountain!"

The refined man looked Jiang Che over and said with a smile:

"I know of the Eastern Sea, but where is this Southern Mountain?"

Jiang Che inwardly cried out in alarm. That was a birthday blessing from his previous life, and he had used it out of habit here.

His thoughts raced, and he said:

"In reply to Master Shao, I have heard that there is a sacred mountain in the south, said to be as old as heaven and earth. Thus, I hope that Master Shao's longevity may rival the Southern Mountain."

"Hahaha! Interesting, interesting! The auspicious hour has arrived. Little Friend Jiang, please take your seat!"

Master Shao laughed heartily.

Jiang Che offered another salute before withdrawing.

Shao Shiliu led him to a wine table, where an elderly man with short silver hair was drinking with a handsome young master.

The handsome young master did not drink much himself, yet kept finding excuses to urge the old man to drink.

The old man drank cup after cup, and his face had already turned bright red.

"Master?!"

Jiang Che blurted out.

The old man was none other than his master, Luo Kun.

In Jiang Che's impression, his master had always been stern-faced and had never drunk alcohol. He had never expected to see this side of him!

"Jiang Che, you're here. Come, sit!"

Luo Kun smiled as he beckoned Jiang Che over.

After Jiang Che took his seat, Shao Shiliu smiled and said to them:

"Please enjoy yourselves. I must attend to the other guests first!"

"Go on, go on. You have your elder brother here!" the handsome young master said with a smile.

Shao Shiliu gave a slight curtsy, then departed with unhurried grace.

"You must be Junior Brother Jiang Che. You truly cut a fine figure—no wonder Shiliu mentions you so often," the handsome young master said with a smile.

He wore a blue silk robe, its hems embroidered with delicate patterns in silver thread.

His hair was casually tied into a topknot, yet he did not look disheveled. Instead, he carried an air of carefree elegance.

One hand rested casually on the back of his chair, while the other spun a jade wine cup. He looked at Jiang Che with a smiling gaze.

Jiang Che hurriedly cupped his fists and said:

"Greetings, Senior Brother Shao!"