“A thousand gold for one night.” Yu Sheng chuckled softly. “That really is a bargain.”
A-Mo said with a serious expression, “When I quote prices to others, it’s usually a thousand gold per head. Considering our acquaintance, I’m charging you by the night.”
After all, if things really came to blows, who knew how many would be killed in a single night?
When A-Mo said it was a bargain, she truly meant it.
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiuzhu, Uncle Li, and the others couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spines. This blind girl dressed in black was no ordinary oddity.
At the same time, they were filled with anxiety about Yu Sheng’s visit to Qianzhen Lou that night.
They had just dealt with the covert attack from the black-clad intruder who had sneaked into Yu Yuan to kill the night before, and now an overt move was being made.
“If we’re talking about acquaintance…” Yu Sheng drew out the last syllable slightly. “No kill, no charge?”
Hearing this, A-Mo felt the urge to draw her blade. “How can you do business like this?”
Seeing that A-Mo didn’t refuse, Yu Sheng smiled faintly. “Then it really is a bargain. Deal.”
That day, as night fell.
Yu Sheng brought Yu Xiuzhu and A-Mo with her to Qianzhen Lou for the banquet.
Qianzhen Lou stood five stories tall, its interior and exterior lavishly decorated, making it the favorite spot for the nobility and officials of Lizhou to host banquets and drink.
Tonight, however, it had been reserved exclusively by Liyang Houfu, with the banquet held only on the top floor.
When Yu Sheng’s party entered, the maids and guards were stopped by the Houfu attendants on the first floor. “The banquet is attended by esteemed guests, and specialized attendants are provided. These people may wait downstairs.”
Feihong, Dicui, and Kongqing’s guards looked toward Yu Sheng for guidance.
Yu Sheng nodded, signaling for them to remain on the first floor.
She only brought Yu Xiuzhu and A-Mo upstairs. Seeing that one was a thirteen-year-old boy and the other a blind young girl, the Houfu attendants did not stop them, allowing a servant to lead them upstairs.
Yu Xiuzhu, young and afraid of showing timidity, kept a stern face the entire way, pretending to be mature.
A-Mo walked slowly, feeling the handrails and smelling the aroma of fine wine and delicacies.
Yu Sheng slowed her pace, holding A-Mo’s hand as they ascended, while listening to the surrounding commotion.
They arrived on time for the banquet, but Liyanghou had already arrived early.
It seemed there were quite a few people at the banquet, speaking one after another:
“How could that Yu fellow’s own carelessness in falling from the building be twisted into blaming the Sixth Young Master?”
“The Marquis is truly magnanimous, going so far as to specially host a banquet to discuss matters with the Yu family…”
“That Yu family daughter comes from a merchant background, reeking of money—how lowly can she be? For the Sixth Young Master to take a liking to her and be willing to take her as a concubine was originally her good fortune. Not only is she ungrateful, but she’s also causing such a fuss!”
“Who knows what’s gotten into the Shiziye, helping the Yu family like this?”
“They say the Yu family’s daughters are exceptionally beautiful. Could it be that the Shiziye also has his eye on them?”
As they spoke, the guests exchanged knowing glances and burst into laughter.
They spoke these words to curry favor with Liyanghou, so their voices were loud and clear.
Yu Sheng and her companions heard every word clearly as they climbed the stairs.
Yu Xiuzhu was seething with anger and couldn’t help but rush forward to argue, but Yu Sheng stopped him.
“Losing your composure already?” The corner of her lips curled into a cold arc. “This is only the beginning.”
Hearing this, Yu Xiuzhu could only take a deep breath, suppressing his rage, and repeatedly reminded himself:
Before coming, I promised my elder sister to stay calm in any situation and follow her arrangements in everything.
Don’t get carried away and forget everything.
“Marquis, esteemed officials.” The attendant leading the way stepped forward to announce: “The eldest daughter of the Yujia family and the fifth young master have arrived.”
“Oh.” Only then did Xu Chengkang, the Liyanghou who had remained silent until now, speak up, lifting his gaze to look at the newcomers.
The eyes of the seven or eight local officials at the banquet instantly fell upon Yu Sheng’s face.
After holding their breath for a moment, someone on the right side of the banquet suddenly exclaimed: “This… this is the eldest daughter of the Yujia family?”
Another person nearby remarked: “How can someone be born with such beauty?”
Yu Sheng adjusted the shawl fluttering in the night breeze and replied calmly: “Just ordinary looks, nothing worth mentioning.”
Upon hearing this, everyone at the banquet fell silent: “…”
If Yu Sheng’s appearance was considered ordinary, then what did that make them—ugly monsters and toads?
Xu Chengkang, the Liyanghou, snorted, “Such extraordinary beauty, and with a temper to match. No wonder even the Shiziye of Zhenguogongfu, who is famously known for ‘keeping women at arm’s length,’ has been moved by springtime feelings and personally came to Lizhou for your family!”
Those around him chimed in, saying it was no wonder Sheng Huaijin had come to Lizhou to meddle in this trivial matter.
One after another, they sighed: “So that’s how it is! So that’s how it is!”
“The Shizi came for justice and righteousness, with no connection whatsoever to beauty or springtime feelings,” Yu Sheng replied without any trace of embarrassment. “Esteemed officials, it is wrong to judge others by your own standards.”
“How dare you speak like that?”
The local officials, accustomed to flattery, could no longer sit still.
They took turns rebuking her sharply:
“You, a mere merchant’s daughter, dare to be so insolent in front of the Marquis. What crime do you think you have committed!”
“You were allowed to attend tonight’s banquet only because the Marquis is giving face to the Shizi. This is no place for you to act recklessly!”
“Born into a merchant family, the lowest of the low—you should kneel before officials! Why have you been standing all this time in front of the Marquis? Kneel at once and answer!”
Upon hearing this, A-Mo found the barking of these dogs utterly irritating. She couldn’t help but want to draw her blade, thinking to herself:
This thousand-gold reward for the night—I’ve earned it for sure.
But Yu Sheng didn’t let her act. Instead, she remained composed and said, “According to Daye’s laws, suspects and criminals must kneel in court, and commoners must kneel before officials. First, I am not a criminal, and second, this is a restaurant, not a court.”
She continued, “Since I received an invitation from Liyang Houfu to attend this banquet, I am a guest of honor. Why should I kneel to answer?”
The officials who had just tried to assert their authority over Yu Sheng to curry favor with the Liyanghou were left speechless and embarrassed by her rebuttal.
“This eldest daughter of the Yujia family truly has a sharp tongue!”
“So you refuse to kneel, is that it? Guards!” The officials at the table used their authority to intimidate her. “Teach her some manners and make her kneel properly before the Marquis!”
Four guards standing beside the official immediately stepped forward, rolling up their sleeves as if ready to lay hands on Yu Sheng.
Yu Xiuzhu stood protectively beside his elder sister, glaring angrily at everyone.
A-Mo leaned closer to Yu Sheng and whispered, “Can you still tolerate this? Don’t hold back—I’ll take action now—”
Before she could finish her sentence, footsteps suddenly echoed from the staircase.
Guards flooded into the banquet hall, startling the officials present and even causing the Liyanghou’s expression to change.
Jinfeng led his men to surround Yu Sheng, forcing back the guards who were about to lay hands on her.
In the blink of an eye, it felt as though the host of the banquet had changed.
Seeing this, Yu Sheng couldn’t help but think: There’s a reason the Shiziye is so esteemed—this kind of grandeur is truly extraordinary.
Sheng Huaijin walked step by step against the light into the gathering, stopping beside Yu Sheng. He swept a glance over the crowd and asked, “Who just said they were going to teach her manners?”