The Banquet (II)

"However, Sister Yue is already engaged to my uncle. A man? Keeping one on the side for a bit of fun is fine, but bringing him here is improper. Wouldn't you agree, Sister Yue?" Wang Jingjing changed tack.

Shangguan Mingyue's expression turned completely cold. "It's not your place to point fingers at how I conduct myself, Sister Wang Jing. You'd be better off devoting more of your energy to that lousy company of yours!"

Chen Ze's expression wasn't much better. This woman had actually called him a pretty boy Shangguan Mingyue kept on the side. How could he possibly be pleased?

"Chen Ze, let's go!" With that, Shangguan Mingyue took Chen Ze by the hand and headed upstairs, paying no further attention to Wang Jingjing, whose face had turned livid.

Quite a few people had gathered in the hall on the second floor. The elders of the Wang Family and the members of the Shangguan Family sat on opposite sides, while a white-haired old woman sat upright in the center. She was Shangguan Hong, the current head of the Shangguan Family. Beside her sat a somewhat feminine-looking man in a pale, moon-colored robe, with a golden circlet on his head.

The man wore heavy makeup, and the golden circlet held his flowing long hair tightly back, exposing a forehead so pale it was somewhat unsettling. Whenever he smiled, crow's feet would appear at the corners of his eyes, impossible to hide even beneath his thick foundation.

"Old Madam, this is Pu'er tea I had someone bring back from Yun Province. It's all freshly made. Please have a taste!" The man offered Shangguan Hong a cup of Pu'er tea with both hands, smiling as he spoke.

"How thoughtful of you, Yuyu!" Shangguan Hong accepted the tea and took a small sip. Smiling, she said, "But after tonight, you'll have to start calling me something else!"

The people nearby chimed in one after another, some flattering her, others currying favor, among other things.

"Yes, yes, the Old Madam is right. Young Master Wang should start calling her Grandma!"

"That's right! Young Master Wang has a beauty fit for a nation, and he and Miss Shangguan are a match made in heaven..."

"Yes, this marriage will bring two powerful families together. In the future, they'll reach even greater heights!"

"That's right. Why doesn't Young Master Wang start calling her Grandma now?"

It was hard to imagine how the person just now had gone against their conscience to say the young master of the Wang Family had a beauty fit for a nation. Although Wang Yu was fairly delicate-looking, he had absolutely nothing to do with that description.

Wang Yu blushed at their words, though it didn't show through the thick foundation on his face.

Wang Yu called out shyly, "Grand... Grandma!"

"Yes!" Shangguan Hong answered with a cheerful laugh.

The people nearby immediately burst into applause, and the whole scene looked warm and lovely!

Just then, Shangguan Mingyue and Chen Ze came upstairs, arm in arm.

Everyone stared at their linked arms, and for a moment, no one said a word.

At the sight, Wang Yu's deathly pale face grew even paler! Shangguan Hong, meanwhile, sat there livid and silent.

"Grandma, today is your sixtieth birthday. Your granddaughter wishes you good fortune, a long and healthy life, and everlasting youth!" With that, Shangguan Mingyue presented the gift in her hands.

Shangguan Hong continued sitting upright, her face livid. She neither spoke nor accepted the gift.

The people nearby exchanged glances, unsure for a moment what to say to ease the tension.

Shangguan Mingyue's expression was calm as she remained bent over, holding the gift up with both hands. The scene instantly became unbearably awkward!

Just then, a young woman who bore a considerable resemblance to Shangguan Mingyue took the gift and said with a smile, "Third Sister, you're here! Grandma was just talking about you, asking why you hadn't come to see her for so long!"

Her words immediately eased the awkwardness, and the people nearby nodded and chimed in.

"Oh, Second Sister, haven't I been busy with work? The company's business has been hectic lately, and I really couldn't get away."

"Hmph!" Shangguan Hong snorted coldly. "I think you just didn't want to come see an old woman like me!"

Shangguan Mingyue smiled faintly. "Grandma, how can you say that? How could your granddaughter not want to see you? It's just that the company has been on the rise lately, and I really didn't want to miss the opportunity. That's why I haven't had time to visit."

Shangguan Hong made no comment and instead asked, "Who's the man beside you?"

Shangguan Mingyue looked as though she'd forgotten to introduce him. "Him? His name is Chen Ze. He's my partner!"

Without waiting to see how everyone reacted, she turned to Chen Ze and introduced her. "Little Ze, this is my grandma."

Chen Ze greeted her politely. "Hello, Grandma. I've long heard Sister Mingyue speak of you. She said you were the pillar holding up the Shangguan Family and an evergreen tree in the business world. This is my first time meeting you, and since today is your birthday, I've brought a modest gift. May your blessings be as vast as the East Sea and your life as long as South Mountain stands!" Chen Ze also bent over and presented his gift.

One didn't strike a smiling face, much less when Chen Ze had showered her with compliments. Shangguan Hong could hardly get angry at a young man like him, but she didn't want to let him off just like that, either.

Shangguan Hong reached out and accepted the gift. "How thoughtful of you!" she said indifferently. "But what is this East Sea you just mentioned? And what mountain is South Mountain?"

Chen Ze was embarrassed. The East Sea and South Mountain were place names from his previous life; no such places existed in this world. He hadn't remembered that for a moment.

"The East Sea and South Mountain are both places in my hometown. The East Sea represents breadth and boundlessness, while South Mountain represents majesty and grandeur. I used their names to wish you blessings as deep and boundless as the waters of the East Sea, and a life as enduring and ageless as South Mountain!" Chen Ze's mind raced, and he made the explanation up on the spot.

"What an East Sea, what a South Mountain! Very good, very good!" Shangguan Hong was immediately coaxed into hearty laughter. After all, who didn't like hearing flattering words?

The people nearby also began offering praise, and the scene became as warm as it had been before.

Shangguan Mingyue glanced at Chen Ze in considerable surprise. She hadn't expected this young man to ease the awkwardness with just a few words.

"This is my second sister, Shangguan Wan'er. This is my eldest aunt, and this is my uncle's wife..." Shangguan Mingyue introduced them to Chen Ze.

Chen Ze stepped forward and greeted each of them in turn. No one could find fault with his speech or manners.

Wang Yu, who had been silent off to the side, finally spoke. The moment he opened his mouth, he began questioning her.

"Mingyue, when did you get a partner? How come I didn't know? You're already engaged to me, yet you found another man behind my back. Where does that leave me?" Wang Yu demanded angrily.

"Wang Yu, I've never acknowledged the engagement between us. As for whether I've found a partner, that's my business. There's no need for you to know. And don't address me so intimately. I don't know you that well!" Shangguan Mingyue said with disgust.

With those words, she had ground Wang Yu's face into the dirt, leaving him no face at all!

By the time Shangguan Mingyue was fifteen, she had already blossomed into a graceful young woman. Wang Yu had been struck by her heavenly beauty when he saw her at a banquet and had begun to covet her. But he was a married man, so he could only bury those feelings in his heart. Then, three years ago, his wife died in an accident, and he happened to see Shangguan Mingyue again around that time. She had fully matured by then and grown even more beautiful and captivating! Wang Yu could no longer restrain his restless heart. He resorted to every kind of trick, spending his days crying, throwing tantrums, and threatening to hang himself before the head of the Wang Family, who was also Wang Jingjing's grandmother, until she had no choice but to swallow her pride and go propose the marriage. To everyone's surprise, Shangguan Hong actually agreed! However, she also made the Wang Family offer many concessions in their business dealings.

When Shangguan Mingyue learned of it back then, she had a furious row with Shangguan Hong. Afterward, she moved straight out of the Shangguan Family residence and lived alone. As of today, she hadn't returned to the Shangguan Family for three years.

Wang Fengzhi, the head of the Wang Family, had barely made her presence felt as she sat to the side. Now she couldn't help cursing him as an idiot in her heart! She hadn't expected her youngest son to be so impatient.

At this point, she could only step in to smooth things over. "Grandniece, don't be angry. Yuyu merely lost his composure on impulse. His love runs deep, so his reproaches are all the sharper. As wife and husband, you two should be more understanding of each other."

At those words, Shangguan Mingyue bristled like a cat with its fur standing on end. "Who's wife and husband with her? When you discussed this marriage back then, did you ever ask whether I agreed? A few more years and he'd be old enough to be my dad! Your Wang Family really has no shame!"

Shangguan Mingyue showed the head of the Wang Family no courtesy, tearing away this fig leaf of shame in front of everyone! The Wang Family members all looked displeased, while the Shangguan Family members exchanged glances. The scene once again fell into a strange and awkward silence!

"Enough!" Shangguan Hong shouted. "You unfilial girl, shut your mouth!"

Seeing this, Second Sister Shangguan Wan'er hurried forward to support Shangguan Hong, patting her back to calm her. "Grandma, please calm down. Third Sister was just acting on impulse. Don't take it to heart."

"Was anything I said wrong? You could even sell your own granddaughter for your own benefit. You really are my wonderful grandma!" Shangguan Mingyue said coldly.

"Shut up! If you dare spout any more nonsense, I'll expel you from the Shangguan Family!" Shangguan Hong's face was livid as she spoke in anger.

The scene, so cheerful and harmonious only moments ago, became unusually tense. No one even dared breathe loudly.

Shangguan Mingyue was just about to speak when Chen Ze stopped her, signaling for her not to be impulsive.

"Mingyue, is this man the reason you won't marry me?" Wang Yu suddenly asked.