At this table, Huangfu Chongzhi sat at the head.
The seat of honor was originally meant for the Crown Prince, but he refused no matter what.
"At this banquet today, there are only brothers, no Crown Prince. Brother, don't be so modest!"
With no other choice, Huangfu Chongzhi could only take the head seat, with the Crown Prince seated to his left.
Next to the Crown Prince was Xu Luo. To Huangfu Chongzhi's right sat Xu Jie, Sui Yan, and Liu Feng. On Xu Luo's side, there were still two empty chairs.
Now, Phoenix had taken the seat beside Xu Luo, yet she pointedly avoided looking at him, instead chatting and laughing softly with the others.
Thanks to the Crown Prince's witty and humorous conversation, the atmosphere at the table wasn't dull, but everyone felt that something was a little strange.
Little Fatty Liu Feng, who had just been fawning over them, was even more direct. He stared suspiciously at Xu Luo and Phoenix, trying to find evidence of an 'illicit affair' in their expressions.
Unfortunately for him, Xu Luo had no favorable impression of Phoenix at all. 'This woman acts strangely, never shows her true face, and is far too cunning.'
As for Phoenix, although she sat next to Xu Luo, she deliberately didn't say a single word to him. It was as if her charming smile while urging him to drink at the Fengyue Building that day had been nothing but a dream!
After watching for a long time, Liu Feng could only shake his head in defeat. He whispered to Sui Yan beside him, "Sui Xiaoshi, don't you think this is weird?"
"Just drink your wine." Sui Yan shot Liu Feng a look and said, "You think you're so clever, don't you?"
"Heh heh." Liu Feng chuckled and took a sip from his cup.
Just then, the gatekeeper's voice called out again from outside, "Announcing the arrival of Young Master Feng—"
"Huh?"
"How could that be?"
"What?"
"Did I hear that right?"
"Young Master Feng?!"
"Heavens, Young… Young Master Feng…"
"It must be someone with the same name, right?"
The situation at the banquet wasn't a moment of stunned silence, but a CLATTER of cups and plates. Countless people shot to their feet in shock, and the banquet instantly descended into a state of mild chaos!
To say nothing of the swooning looks on the faces of the young ladies in the women's seating area, even the Crown Prince was so startled upon hearing the three words "Young Master Feng" that he leaped up from his seat, accidentally knocking over a cup. For the ever-composed and image-conscious Crown Prince, this was something that should have been almost impossible.
A flicker of shock also crossed the elegant and poised eyes of Phoenix, who sat beside Xu Luo.
Yes, it wasn't the infatuation of a love-struck girl, but shock and bewilderment.
However, Phoenix concealed the expression in her eyes well, quickly composing herself before looking toward the entrance with a smile.
Whether it was the gentle and refined Eldest Prince, the outwardly indifferent Xu Jie, the cold-natured Sui Yan, or even Little Fatty Liu Feng—the Flower Fool who could identify women by their scent—they all had expressions of excitement and anticipation!
Xu Luo had naturally heard of the great name of Young Master Feng. He just couldn't for the life of him figure out what connection his family could possibly have with Young Master Feng that would prompt such a person to visit them unannounced…
Young Master Feng's origins were unknown, his identity was unknown; the man himself was a massive enigma!
But in this Imperial Capital, you could be ignorant of who the Royal Family's princesses were, or how many brothers the Crown Prince had, but if you didn't know of Young Master Feng, you would truly be mocked to death.
Even the Crown Prince himself would show great deference and be exceedingly polite upon meeting Young Master Feng.
The Sixth Prince often visited Young Master Feng to drink wine and discuss philosophy.
In short, if there was anyone in the Imperial Capital more mysterious and more popular than Phoenix, the master of the Fengyue Building, it was undoubtedly Young Master Feng!
As everyone watched with bated breath, the steward of the Xu Mansion personally led in a young man dressed in a long white robe.
The young man appeared to be only in his late twenties. He was as handsome as a jade statue, with a gentle gaze and a faint air of melancholy about him. His face was so dashing as to be nearly flawless!
It was hard to imagine that such a nearly perfect person could exist in this world.
And a man, at that!
Such a perfect man, yet without a trace of effeminate temperament. He was ethereal, as if he didn't belong to this mortal world.
He wore a gentle smile, and behind him followed two exceedingly beautiful maids. Flanking him on his left and right, they looked like two fairies accompanying him.
Only such beautiful maids were worthy of a figure like Young Master Feng.
"I was passing by and saw there was a joyous occasion, so I came in to ask for a cup of wine. I hope I haven't disturbed everyone's good spirits…" Young Master Feng's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to the ears of everyone present. Each person felt as if his words were directed at them personally.
"Young Master Feng, your presence honors the Xu Family. Please, come in!" Luo Xinlan said with a light smile.
"It's been many years, Miss Luo. You are as graceful as ever. Oh, but now you are Madam Xu." Young Master Feng smiled and pointed to Xu Luo's table. "Madam Xu, there's no need to entertain me. I truly just came to ask for a cup of wine. I'll just sit at that table."
"Then, Young Master Feng, please make yourself comfortable." Luo Xinlan seemed to let out a sigh of relief. 'Young Master Feng… he was in the Imperial Capital twenty years ago, looking just like this. Twenty years later, he still looks the same!'
Even for someone like Luo Xinlan, who was accustomed to grand occasions, facing this immortal-like figure was still pressuring.
Young Master Feng's gaze was deep and held a faint trace of melancholy. He first gave a slight nod toward the women's seating area, causing many young noble ladies to blush and become terribly excited.
Then, Young Master Feng walked toward their table, greeting the Crown Prince and the others one by one. Finally, his eyes landed on Xu Luo, and he said with a light smile, "Xu Luo, hello!"
If the Crown Prince's intentions earlier were unclear, and Phoenix's attitude in the middle was ambiguous, then this final guest, Young Master Feng… even a blind man could see he was here specifically for Xu Luo!
Passing by? What a joke! Someone might believe that if he were on Cyan Dragon Avenue, but this was Vermilion Bird Avenue, where the court's military elite resided!
Who would just happen to be "passing by" a place like this on a normal day?
But what was so special about this Xu Luo?
Not only was Phoenix's attitude toward him ambiguous, but even Young Master Feng had to give him a second look?
At that moment, many people who had previously paid no mind to the second son of the Xu Family—a young man with many unflattering nicknames—began to re-evaluate Xu Luo.
Xu Luo stood up and nodded to Young Master Feng in acknowledgment. "Young Master Feng, welcome!"
Young Master Feng, gentle as jade, nodded slightly and sat down.
True to his word, after drinking a few cups of wine, Young Master Feng didn't say much more before taking his leave.
Afterward, Phoenix and the Crown Prince also departed one after another.
Phoenix hadn't said a single word to Xu Luo today, yet everyone had the feeling that the attitudes of both Young Master Feng and Phoenix toward Xu Luo were very different from how they treated others!
It was as if the Imperial Capital's low opinion of Xu Luo simply didn't exist in their eyes.
Though the banquet had ended, the shocking scene that had unfolded at the Xu Mansion today remained etched in the minds of many.
Huangfu Chongzhi and the others did not leave right away, but went to Xu Luo's small courtyard instead.
Inside the room, the five sworn brothers sat together drinking tea.
Although Lianyi was now the Princess of Vulture, she acted no different than before, immediately bringing tea for the group.
Little Fatty Liu Feng laughed. "This is the first time in my life I've had a Commandery Princess serve me tea. Life is truly wonderful!"
Lianyi just smiled and left, leaving the space to the brothers. She knew they must have things to discuss.
As the door closed, the atmosphere in the room gradually grew heavy.
Liu Feng's playful expression vanished. He began, "Something was very wrong about today. First, why would His Majesty suddenly ennoble Lianyi, who was a maid, as a Commandery Princess…"
Saying this, Liu Feng looked at Xu Luo. "Third Brother, I mean no disrespect to Lianyi. I'm just sticking to the facts."
Xu Luo nodded and said, "I understand what you mean."
Huangfu Chongzhi raised an eyebrow slightly. Among everyone present, he understood the Emperor best; after all, that man was his biological father. No matter how much he disliked it in his heart, he couldn't change that fact.
"There are two possibilities here," Huangfu Chongzhi said after glancing at the others. "First, although Lianyi is an orphan, she might have an unusual background. Third Brother, you have the most insight on this matter. You should explain."
Xu Jie and the others all turned to look at Xu Luo. They really had no idea there was anything unusual about Lianyi's past.
Xu Luo thought for a moment and said, "Back when my father found Lianyi, it was in a deserted wilderness. It looked as if someone had just abandoned the child there. There was no token or anything on her, only the blanket she was wrapped in, which was of very fine workmanship, not something from an ordinary family. The only suspicious thing was, along the way, my father's soldiers had hunted many wild beasts. But after finding Lianyi, my father sent men to search everywhere, hoping to find the person who had abandoned her. Yet within a radius of dozens of miles, they not only found no trace of people, but also no wild beasts…"
"That's it. I've also heard this story from someone who was with General Xu back then. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now that my father the Emperor has suddenly made Lianyi a Commandery Princess, perhaps he knows more than we do."
Huangfu Chongzhi continued, "As for the second possibility, Third Brother, you're well aware of it."
Xu Luo smiled. "Naturally, it's to appease the anger of our Xu Family. My father has now gone to the Border Region, not just to deter neighboring countries, but more importantly, to stabilize the morale of the border armies! The impact of the failed Star Festival is likely far greater than imagined. In this situation, if my father were to become dissatisfied with the Royal Family, the consequences would be something the Empire cannot afford."
Huangfu Chongzhi nodded seriously and suddenly said, "If you really decided to become a Civil Servant, I'm afraid those officials would have their rice bowls snatched away!"
The others all laughed. Xu Luo could only manage a helpless, wry smile. "Eldest Brother, even you are teasing me."
Xu Jie sighed. "It has been over a thousand years since the founding of the Empire, but this is the first time the Star Festival has failed. No one knows what kind of terrible consequences it will bring."
"I think the second possibility is more likely. After all, if even General Xu's family doesn't know Lianyi's true identity, how could the Emperor? But what I don't get is, why have both attempts to compensate the Xu Family had nothing to do with Third Brother?" Liu Feng said with a look of displeasure. "Is Third Brother really that worthless in the Emperor's eyes?"
"Fourth Brother, don't talk nonsense." Xu Jie glanced worriedly at Xu Luo and frowned at Liu Feng.
Xu Luo smiled, shrugged, and said cheerfully, "It's fine. Why would I care about something like that? Lianyi grew up here without a mother or father, and she has taken care of me like a real older sister. Now that she's become a Commandery Princess, I'm overjoyed for her. I couldn't possibly feel any displeasure."
The others knew Xu Luo was speaking from the heart. Although Lianyi had only been a maid before, she was extremely important to him.
To Xu Luo, Lianyi was no different from his own family.
Xu Jie said, "It's just that His Majesty's intentions are hard to fathom. But that's not a big deal; we'll just say he's appeasing the Xu family. The real question is, Phoenix and Young Master Feng—what was their purpose in coming to offer congratulations today!"