The next morning, outside the Dai Marquis Residence, the steward Zhao Zhu had just seen off a guest when he spotted an ox cart approaching and stopping before the manor gates.
A man jumped down from the cart. Seeing Zhao Zhu standing at the entrance, he immediately stepped forward and bowed. "Steward Zhao."
"And you are?" Seeing yet another visitor, Zhao Zhu's heart began to pound with an uneasy premonition.
When the man opened his mouth, Zhao Zhu's premonition was indeed confirmed.
"Steward Zhao, I am the Yao Residence's steward. I have come on behalf of my master to offer the Marquis of Dai an apology. My master had family business to attend to and left the Capital City last night. I fear he will not return for ten days or half a month. He truly cannot attend the literary gathering in a few days. Well... what do you think?"
"Your master has business on the day of the literary gathering too?" This was already the third person today to come decline. Zhao Zhu could barely keep his expression in check.
He frowned. "I am only a steward and cannot make the decision on this matter myself. Come with me. Go see Mr. Jian, who is in charge of the literary gathering."
As he spoke, he led the man to see Jian Qu.
The guest Zhao Zhu had just seen off had also declined the literary gathering on behalf of his master. Jian Qu was already feeling stifled when he saw Zhao Zhu bringing another man to find him, and his heart immediately sank.
After the newcomer explained his purpose, Jian Qu's feelings became indescribable. He had to suppress the anger surging up within him and force himself to exchange a few words with the man. When he learned that