Ch 76: A House Full Of Guests

Before nightfall, the Champion Marquis Manor became lively.

Tonight is the Champion Marquis’s grand banquet for his officials and friends, naturally, it’s incredibly lively.

Lin Che’s current status is not the previous Baron Jing’an; he is now the Champion Marquis, and in a short time, he has accomplished one great feat after another.

These civil and military officials are scrambling to obtain an invitation. If they truly fail to obtain an invitation, they will inquire everywhere, finding out who received invitations and simply crashing the party.

The result is that one official, holding an invitation, is followed by seven or eight other officials.

Lin Che, naturally, doesn’t mind; after all, these people definitely won’t come empty-handed; they all have to bring gifts.

“Brother Lin—haha. Little brother is here!”

Appearing early is Sheng Huinan, the young master of the Drunken Moon Tower.

A while ago, he used Lin Che’s poetry to boost the Drunken Moon Tower’s popularity, attracting countless customers.

Following Lin Che’s elevation to Champion Marquis, the tea fees at the Drunken Moon Tower immediately increased tenfold, and reservations are required.

Sheng Huinan, dressed as a refined young master, gestures: “Come, bring the ten! boxes! of gifts I sent Brother Lin! Carry them in—be careful, they’re all expensive. If you break them, you’ll have to work for eighty years to pay for them.”

His voice ensured everyone knew how precious his gifts were.

Lin Che smiles and says, “Brother Sheng, you’ve gone to great expense.”

“Boss, just call me Younger Brother Sheng. Back then…we hit it off immediately, shared joys and sorrows, as if it were just last month.”

“It was just last month. Come, let’s go inside. I’ve arranged a good seat for you.”

Lin Che greets him with a chuckle.

Xiao Qing, smiling sweetly, dressed like a young lady from a prominent family, softly says, “Young Master Sheng, please follow me.”

Sheng Huinan’s eyes light up at the sight of Xiao Qing; he feels relieved.

Sure enough. This little girl still has feelings for me; she deliberately dressed so beautifully today, just to make a good impression in front of me.

Sigh…

It’s really difficult; tonight, the talented woman Gong Huachao will also be coming. If they meet, what if they compete for my favor?

They’re already competing for my favor now; later, if they bear me children, a boy and a girl, wouldn’t they fight even more?

My fatal charm.

In a short while, Xiao Qing leads Sheng Huinan into the manor, then returns to the gate with a strange look on her face.

“Master, what’s wrong with Young Master Sheng? He keeps sighing and shaking his head…”

“Ignore that narcissist.” Lin Che waves his hand, continuing to stand at the gate.

Xiao Qing says again, “Master, at other grand banquets, the hosts greet their guests inside. Why are you standing at the gate?”

“It’s fine; I’m just seeing who dares to come empty-handed.”

That’s Lin Che’s true thought. The purpose of sending out these invitations is to collect a wave of wealth. He can’t let anyone get away with anything.

Moreover, these distinguished guests feel valued seeing Lin Che welcoming them at the gate.

“Marquis Wu’an, Zhang Erhe—here to congratulate!”

Dazhuang loudly announces the visitor’s name.

Lin Che immediately steps forward to greet them, and upon seeing two servants carrying gifts behind Zhang Erhe, his smile widens.

Zhang Erhe did not earn his title of Marquis Wu’an through combat; it’s an inherited title passed down from his great-grandfather.

However, this is still worthy of respect.

After Zhang Erhe has his gifts sent in, he pulls Lin Che aside:

“Champion Marquis, hehe, our two families should interact more in the future. From the first time I saw you, I knew you were a remarkable person; I felt a connection.”

A connection, my foot.

The first time I saw you, you were in the crowd cursing me.

Not only did you curse me, but your son from the Confucian Academy also shouted “My father is Zhang Erhe” and cursed me, taking advantage of his status.

“Marquis Zhang. I also felt a connection with you at first sight.”

“Really? Ahahaha. Maybe Marquis Lin and I will become close friends despite our age difference.”

Zhang Erhe acts as if they are already familiar. He lowers his voice, “By the way, the former Vice Minister of Revenue, Zhou Wei, is a good friend of mine. Earlier, his grandson, Zhou Xianchun, offended Champion Marquis. The Zhou family has been unable to find a suitable opportunity to apologize to you.”

“Today, he specifically asked me to deliver his apology gift. He also plans to personally apologize later. I hope Champion Marquis won’t hold his grandson’s actions against him.”

Zhou Xianchun, oh, that’s the student who cursed him before.

In the Golden Throne Hall, he had filed an imperial complaint, and he also actively sought out Zhou Wei, the former Vice Minister of Revenue, demanding one million taels of silver.

But the latter ignored him.

But now?

Zhou Wei is actively sending gifts and apologizing.

The officialdom is so realistic. Zhou Xianchun is still in prison, and the Zhou family, instead of holding a grudge against Lin Che, is sending gifts to apologize.

Otherwise, the Zhou family worried that Lin Che would hold a grudge and, with a single word, Zhou Xianchun would never leave prison, and the Zhou family would suffer as well.

“Humph—so it’s Zhou Xianchun.”

Lin Che’s face is stern, seeming very angry; he takes two deep breaths before saying:

“If it were someone else, I would have beaten him. But Marquis Zhang, I owe you this favor. I’ll accept the gift. Later, please arrange a gathering so we can chat.”

Zhang Erhe immediately feels honored.

He puffs out his chest and readily agrees: “Very well, very well. It’s settled then. We’ll set a time, and I’ll come to pick up Champion Marquis personally.”

Subsequently, the guests arrive one after another, including Shen Luo, the veteran official of the Six Ministries, and numerous students from the Confucian Academy, led by Grand Scholar Ji Bu, a large group of over a hundred people.

Ying Dehong, the Grand Herald, and Chang Ting also arrive with valuable gifts. Now that Fei Sanzhu has been executed, and Lin Che is busy with his affairs, they have been promoted to key positions.

Naturally, they are very happy.

When Wen Hong and Wen Wu yang arrive, almost everyone is present.

The entire Champion Marquis Manor is lively.

Lin Che is not stingy; he delivers a passionate speech and then toasts everyone three times.

Wen Wu yang is seated at the main table. After drinking three cups, her face is flushed, and she says:

“Lin Che, I brought a good friend today. She hasn’t seen you write poetry before, so please compose a poem for us.”

The other guests look awkward. While they also want Lin Che to write a poem,

Wen Wu yang’s words are too blunt; Lin Che is the Champion Marquis now.

“Alright! It’s a joyous occasion tonight.”

Lin Che doesn’t mind; he knows who is truly important.

Moreover, if it weren’t for Wen Wu yang helping to keep the Hidden Heaven Pouch, it might not be in his hands now.

Grand Scholar Ji Bu chuckles, “If Talented Man Lin is going to write a poem, I’ll also listen attentively. Will it be a battle poem?”

“A battle poem? That’s not so easy. But this one isn’t bad—”

Lin Che raises his wine cup; under the gaze of all the guests, he slowly walks forward, moving between tables.

He suddenly looks up at the moon in the night sky.

“When will the bright moon appear? I raise my wine cup and ask the heavens.”

The opening line immediately silences the entire hall.

“I wonder what the celestial palaces are like, and what year is this tonight. I wish to ride the wind and return, but I fear that the towering palaces and jade structures will be cold and lonely at such a height. Dancing and playing in the clear moonlight, how can it be compared to being among people?”

“Turning around the vermilion towers, peering into the low embroidered windows, illuminating the sleepless. There shouldn’t be any hatred, why does the moon always appear full when people part?”

“People have joys, sorrows, reunions, and partings; the moon waxes and wanes, this is an ancient and enduring reality.”

Lin Che drinks the wine in his cup in one gulp:

“May people live long, and share the beauty of the moon from afar.”

After a few breaths of silence, a burst of applause erupts.

Gong Huachao is a renowned talented woman. Her voice rings out,

“What a wonderful line: May people live long, and share the beauty of the moon from afar.”

“That line alone is beyond my reach.”

Grand Scholar Ji Bu also contemplates, “I believe that: People have joys, sorrows, reunions, and partings; the moon waxes and wanes! This line is even better.”

Amidst the guests’ amazement, someone angrily shouts:

“Humph. If it weren’t for Mo Zhaoxue’s mischief, with Talented Man Lin’s literary talent, he would have definitely written a Crimson Battle Poem.”

“She deserves what she gets!”

Lin Che raises an eyebrow.

What happened to Mo Zhaoxue?

If she’s suffering, then I’ll be relieved…