The moment Ye Chu spoke, the expressions of those present shifted in subtle dissonance.
Jiang Haiyun's disgust deepened, his face dark with shame.
Jiang Junyao's delicate brows furrowed ever so slightly.
Even Han Mengjuan, who had always stood firmly by Ye Chu's side, could not hide her disappointment.
Lack of ability was forgivable—with the Jiang family's resources, raising an idle man posed no difficulty.
But boastfulness—ah, that was intolerable.
Qian Xin's lips curved with mockery. "Oh? So, brother, you've actually been inside the Imperial Chamber?"
Ye Chu inclined his head. "I visited just a few days ago. It was nothing remarkable."
Feigning curiosity, Qian Xin pressed on. "Oh? Then perhaps you might describe what the legendary Imperial Chamber is like? Allow me the privilege of broadening my horizons."
"It's merely a room. What's there to say?" Ye Chu dismissed flatly.
Qian Xin struggled to restrain his laughter, nodding with feigned agreement. "Indeed, indeed—my brother's gaze soars above the heavens themselves. Even the Imperial Chamber fails to impress you. Truly worthy of your renown as Jiangdu's illustrious son-in-law. I can hardly compare."
Ye Chu's brows arched—again with the sly insinuations.
He was about to respond when a thunderous voice cracked through the air.
"Enough! Do you have no sense of who you are? And you dare spout such arrogance before Young Master Qian?"
Jiang Haiyun's eyes blazed with fury, as though he would cast Ye Chu from the Jiang household that very instant.
Never had the family's dignity been so utterly disgraced.
Ye Chu was speechless. Why was it that whenever he told the truth, not a soul believed him?
"Father, I'm telling the truth," he said solemnly, just as he was about to explain further.
Jiang Junyao's voice cut in, calm yet merciless.
"If you have not been there, then admit as much. There is no shame in that. But to compete with empty words only erodes your reason and makes you a laughingstock."
Her tone was serene, yet every word struck like a blade.
Meeting her cold gaze, Ye Chu felt a flicker of disappointment.
So she would not believe him either?
Too weary to justify himself further, he fell silent.
Sensing the growing tension, Qian Xin quickly sought to ease it. "Come now, Junyao, this brother of ours must be unaccustomed to such places. A little imbalance in his heart, and he let slip some foolish words. No harm done."
His voice carried subtle barbs, barely short of declaring Ye Chu an insecure, cowardly son-in-law.
Han Mengjuan's heart bristled with discontent, yet she could not find the words to defend him.
Indeed, Ye Chu's conduct today had been sorely disappointing.
"Uncle, Auntie, shall we order?" Qian Xin said smoothly, passing the menu tablet to Jiang Haiyun. He turned to Jiang Junyao. "Junyao, will you have red or white wine?"
"Red," she replied simply.
Qian Xin gestured grandly to the waiter. "Bring two bottles of Romanée-Conti."
"Yes, sir," the waiter answered with a smile.
Qian Xin then looked toward Jiang Haiyun with an air of concern. "Uncle, I wonder if you're accustomed to red wine. If not, perhaps we might bring something else?"
Jiang Haiyun chuckled warmly. "Ah, red wine doesn't quite suit my palate. Bring me a bottle of Moutai instead."
The genial smile upon his face made it seem as though Qian Xin were already his son-in-law.
"Yes, Uncle. Waiter, one bottle of Flying Fairy Moutai as well."
"Auntie, what about you?"
"Anything will do."
Finally, Qian Xin's gaze fell on Ye Chu, his tone laced with condescension. "And you? Order whatever you like. Such an opportunity is rare—do not stand on ceremony."
Ye Chu's eyes lit up. "Truly?"
"Of course."
Qian Xin nodded, his gaze filled with ridicule. He relished watching Ye Chu's rustic delight.
Jiang Junyao and her parents frowned in silence, but said nothing.
Han Mengjuan shot Ye Chu a warning glance, urging him not to make a fool of himself.
He feigned ignorance, turning instead to the waiter. "What fine wines do you offer here?"
With a courteous smile, the waiter replied, "Sir, we have Romanée-Conti, Château Lafite '82, fifty-year Wuliangye, thirty-year Flying Fairy Moutai, Gujing Tribute, and others."
"Wine can be kept so long? Does it not expire?" Ye Chu asked with feigned naiveté.
The waiter chuckled. "On the contrary, sir. The longer fine wines and spirits are aged, the richer their flavor becomes. There is no such thing as an expiration date."
Beside them, Qian Xin was nearly bursting with laughter, the ridicule in his eyes overflowing.
Jiang Haiyun and his wife wore stormy expressions.
"I see," Ye Chu said with sudden understanding. Then he asked, "Do you have Moutai aged eighty years?"
The waiter hesitated, then nodded. "Yes, though the price is rather…"
Ye Chu waved a hand. "Worry not. Brother Qian here is a true heir of wealth. A mere bottle of liquor is nothing to him."
Qian Xin's face stiffened, realizing what was coming. He opened his mouth to stop it, but Ye Chu spoke first.
"I've never tasted an eighty-year-old Moutai. Bring two bottles."
The waiter nodded and left the room.
The sound of gritted teeth drew Ye Chu's gaze upward. Qian Xin was staring at him with murderous eyes.
"Brother Qian, are you unwell?" Ye Chu asked innocently. "Strange, you seemed fine just now."
Qian Xin's eyes reddened, his heart bleeding.
Eighty-year-old Moutai—dear heavens.
He had once heard that a patron of the Imperial Chamber opened a bottle of it. The price: ten million.
At the time, even hearing the figure had startled him.
A single bottle—ten million. Outrageous.
And now this wretch had ordered two.
That was twenty million.
Yes, his family was wealthy, but not so indulgent as to squander twenty million on a single meal.
Even two million would be painful.
Were it not for the desire to win Jiang Junyao's favor, he would never have agreed to dine here at all.
The Jiang family sat in astonishment. None had expected Ye Chu to pull such a stunt.
Sensing the storm ahead, Jiang Haiyun hastily intervened. "Insolent fool! Eighty-year-old Moutai—how dare you order such a thing? Do you think it is yours to drink?" He glared daggers at Ye Chu.
"I never intended it for myself," Ye Chu said with filial solemnity. "I merely wished Father to have a taste. Besides, was it not Brother Qian who urged us to order freely? I knew it might be a bit costly, so I only ordered two bottles."
Jiang Haiyun opened his mouth but could not form a retort.
What could he say—that he himself was unworthy to drink it?
Han Mengjuan and Jiang Junyao were equally at a loss.
The wine had been ordered already, and it was indeed Qian Xin who had spoken first. What more could be said?
Qian Xin's mouth twitched violently. Only two bottles?
Was this man implying he might have ordered more—one per person, perhaps?
At that moment, he bitterly regretted his earlier bravado.
If he could, he would slap himself.
Ye Chu turned to him with a genial smile. "Brother Qian, surely it isn't that you cannot afford it? No matter—if you truly can't, just say the word. I'll ask the waiter to take them back."
His eyes glimmered with open mockery.
Qian Xin's face contorted as though he had swallowed filth, his teeth grinding with hatred.
Ye Chu's words had trapped him upon the pyre.
To admit he could not pay would ruin his dignity;
to insist he could would cost him twenty million.
Either choice was torment.
But then, a thought flickered across his mind, and he sneered inwardly. You little wretch, daring to play me? Very well—let us see who laughs last.
Outwardly, he forced a smile. "Brother jests. Two bottles of wine? Of course I can afford them."
…