So, no one in this world comes for nothing.
From the moment Yin Tianzheng entered the hall, he became the absolute protagonist. He seemed to be surrounded by a dazzling halo, exuding an aura of elegance and nobility. His handsome face wore a perfectly measured smile, neither ostentatious nor overly extravagant, perfectly showcasing the host's hospitality.
Everyone rose to greet him, looking at the approaching Third Prince, Yin Tianzheng.
Yin Tianzheng walked slowly, exchanging pleasantries with each guest, always addressing them by name and title immediately.
Even those not qualified to exchange greetings with him received his smile, so they didn't feel neglected.
Even Chen Ke received the Third Prince's smile, but what was the meaning behind that fleeting resentment in his eyes?
Chen Ke pretended not to see it, sat down again, and quietly waited for the meal to begin.
Reading was quite taxing; he was already starving.
Before long, Yin Tianzheng arrived before the Qin princess, a charming smile playing on his lips: "Qin Kingdom, it's been a while since we parted at Xianxia Pass, and we meet again."
The Qin princess nodded slightly: "Thank you for your assistance, Third Prince. Qin Kingdom is deeply grateful!"
As she spoke, the Qin princess forced herself not to look at someone in the corner, but the urge to do more for him only intensified.
Yin Tianzheng let out a hearty laugh and said humbly: "I merely happened to be there. The complete annihilation of that three thousand orc army was thanks to the princess's strategic planning and ingenious tactics."
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from the banquet: "Third Prince, there's no need for such modesty. Your righteous act of rushing to our aid from afar is already deeply admirable. Moreover, it was your men who killed that orc commander and destroyed their vulture legion."
"Yes, yes, the Third Prince and the Princess are truly exceptional, a perfect match!" another guest exclaimed.
Everyone nodded in agreement, and many young nobles glanced at Chen Ke, their eyes filled with undisguised mockery and ridicule.
*Kid, open your eyes and take a good look! They're the perfect match.*
*He's a prince, and what are you?*
*He traveled a thousand miles to aid the Qin princess, showing loyalty and righteousness, but what about you? You're idle and causing trouble every day.
Don't you know what people in the capital are saying about you?*
*If it were anyone else, they would have slunk away long ago. Who would be like you, stubbornly clinging to the capital?*
*Do you think it's so easy to cling to the Emperor Emeritus? The new emperor has already taken over most of the empire's power. How many more good days do you expect?*
Various malicious thoughts and bitter words surged up, only to be drowned out by the tide of flattery.
The Third Prince and the Princess of Qin took their seats. From the main entrance of the hall and the entrances to the two side halls, three teams of servants filed out, carrying various exquisite dishes covered with silver covers.
The dishes were rather small, Chen Ke thought, his stomach rumbling as he looked at the three small plates placed before him.
The table in front of him was too small; he estimated it could only hold a maximum of eight dishes, not even enough to fill a gap in his teeth.
Sure enough, only eight dishes were served—more for show than for eating.
Finally, there was a soup.
A servant, his steps unsteady, carried the soup forward. Chen Ke squinted, already anticipating what was to come.
Sure enough, unsurprisingly, as the servant reached Chen Ke, he suddenly tripped and lost his balance.
Steaming hot soup spilled from the white porcelain bowl, forming a small fan-shaped spray, heading straight for Chen Ke's head.
Chen Ke grabbed a cushion beside him and casually blocked the spill, averting an unintended disaster.
With a thud, Chen Ke threw the cushion at the servant's feet: "Go, go and add eight more dishes for me."
The servant looked embarrassed, probably feeling guilty, and hurriedly nodded before turning to leave.
The Third Prince, Yin Tianzheng, sitting in the main seat, couldn't help but feel a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
Teasing Chen Ke was a small matter; the real problem was that he had prepared a classic sarcastic remark, but had no chance to say it.
Soon, the fine wine was served, a small bottle on each table, accompanied by an elegant wine glass.
One guest, his craving for wine flaring up, eagerly took a few sniffs and exclaimed dramatically, "Your Highness, the Third Prince, you've put in a lot of effort! It's Xinghua Village!"
Xinghua Village?
The most sought-after Xinghua Village in the capital right now?!
The Third Prince smiled nonchalantly: "Since you all enjoy this kind of wine, it's only right that I put in a little effort."
The guests were amazed and thanked him profusely, their disdainful gazes once again falling on someone in the corner.
Xinghua Village was the first commercially available high-proof liquor launched by the Chen Family Distillery, supplied exclusively to the three largest restaurants in the capital.
At these three restaurants, Xinghua Village would sell out in less than the time it took to eat a meal whenever the sign was put up.
Some Xinghua Village did circulate privately, but it had been driven up to exorbitant prices, making it impossible to buy even with money.
The powerful and wealthy are all the same; the more unattainable something is, the more they crave it.
And something that money can't buy undoubtedly becomes a symbol of status and power.
It was indeed difficult for the Third Prince to obtain this liquor, and at least half of the powerful and wealthy present had never even tasted Xinghua Village.
Now, the young master of the Chen Family Distillery, the originator of high-proof liquor, a nouveau riche, was sitting among them—how could they not feel resentment?
A profiteer, a sycophant, a selfish bastard!
Vicious thoughts flooded back like swill, even more bitter than before.
The powerful and wealthy couldn't help but be envious. The Chen family's distillery, as the sole pilot project, practically monopolized this incredibly profitable business.
The exorbitant profits were only one aspect; another was that, thanks to the distillery, the Chen family unexpectedly and quickly established themselves in the capital.
The veteran generals of the Western and Northern Armies, each with outstanding achievements and astonishing seniority, shamelessly lingered at the distillery just to get a sip of their wine.
Anyone who dared to cause trouble for the Chen family was met with their own intervention, and they'd be happy to use their connections to get more wine in return.
As the situation became clearer, more and more influential figures learned that Hidden Dragon Pavilion held shares in the Chen family's distillery!
Such a large piece of fat, impossible to eat or even share, fueled the deep resentment the powerful and wealthy harbored towards the Chen family.
Sour, truly sour.
Chen Ke took a sip of the wine and frowned. Too much water had been added; the aroma was almost gone. Little did he know that the Xinghua Village wine sold by the three major restaurants in the capital was diluted even more.
Taking a small jar of wine from his ring space, Chen Ke broke the clay seal, poured himself a cup, and drank it down with relish.
"Hmm, this tastes just right."
The rich aroma of the wine quickly spread, and the nobles around Chen Ke swallowed hard, their eyes practically murderous as they glared at him.
Chen Ke didn't care. The Third Prince had already drawn a wave of hatred for him; what did it matter if he drew a little more?
You disagree?
Go ahead and fuck me.