Noble Daughter from a Prestigious Family

Gu Chengyin looked at this scene of extreme luxury and painstaking effort.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly that these great noble families truly knew how to conduct themselves in such matters.

During the day, he and Cui Shifan had been at each other's throats, yet by nightfall, they had laid out such a grand display. It was no wonder these families could endure for a thousand years.

Faced with this overwhelming show of respect and sincerity, anyone with a slightly weaker will or a heavier sense of vanity would probably swear their undying loyalty on the spot.

This preemptive strike of awe was played beautifully.

Gu Chengyin waved his hands repeatedly, speaking with great modesty:

"What are you saying, Young Master Cui! Your noble estate's pavilions and terraces are magnificent, and the artistic conception of its landscapes is profound and tranquil. This Marquis has truly had his eyes opened today."

"However, I am but a minor Marquis, granted this title only by the misplaced favor of Her Highness. How could I possibly deserve such grand hospitality from your noble family?"

Hearing this, the smile on Cui Ziting's face grew a bit more intimate. With a swish, he snapped open his folding fan, fanning himself gently as he disagreed, "Marquis Gu, you can't say that. You are no minor Marquis."

"You are the Marquis of Equal Standing, specially titled by Her Highness's own decree! Just how heavy is the weight of the words 'Equal Standing'?"

"Let me ask, in today's Divine Capital, who among the younger generation enjoys such profound favor and has such a boundless future as you?"

Cui Ziting leaned in a bit closer, lowering his voice. "Even that treasured only daughter of the Shangguan family doesn't have the same level of favor and trust before Her Highness as you do."

These words seemed like a compliment, but they hid a sharp edge.

On the surface, he was elevating Gu Chengyin's status, but in reality, he was sowing discord.

Furthermore, when Cui Ziting mentioned Shangguan Yunying, his tone was slightly off, giving the impression that he cared deeply about her.

Gu Chengyin's mind stirred, but on the surface, he acted as if he didn't grasp the hidden meaning. He shook his head and said, "Young Master Cui flatters me too much. Chief Yunying is Her Highness's right-hand woman and has been by her side for years. How could I compare? You absolutely must not say such things again."

As they spoke, a burst of crisp, pleasant laughter suddenly came from the corner of the corridor ahead, sounding like pearls dropping onto a jade plate or the cheerful chirping of spring birds.

A group of young women, dressed in gorgeous, multicolored dresses, were walking toward the main hall, chatting and smiling enchantingly.

Most of them were between the ages of fifteen and twenty, each with a beautiful face and exquisite makeup.

Their hairpins swayed and their skirts fluttered. As they walked, they brought with them bursts of fragrant breezes, like a moving, beautiful landscape.

This group of girls had clearly noticed Gu Chengyin and Cui Ziting approaching. Their laughter and chatter quieted down slightly, and many curious gazes were cast toward Gu Chengyin, an unfamiliar face.

Especially his handsome face and tall, straight posture; against the backdrop of the Cui estate's ornate lanterns and the flock of beautiful girls, he stood out exceptionally.

Seeing this, Cui Ziting vaguely pointed his folding fan at the group of girls and gave Gu Chengyin a knowing smile:

"Look, Marquis Gu. Those are the noble daughters of various families invited to tonight's banquet."

"They are all unmarried descendants of prestigious families. They have studied poetry, literature, and etiquette since childhood, and are proficient in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. You could say they possess perfect virtue, appearance, speech, and needlework—true models of great families."

Cui Ziting paused, leaning in even closer until he was almost whispering. "Marquis Gu is young and promising, right at the age for romance."

"Among these noble ladies, there are quite a few who admire the Marquis's elegance."

"If Marquis Gu takes a fancy to any of them, or finds one pleasing to the eye, just tell me."

He blinked, his tone flirtatious. "Although I am untalented, I can still handle such a trivial matter. I guarantee you will get your wish tonight."

As if feeling his hint wasn't enough, Cui Ziting added, "Of course, with your current status and position..."

"...even if you take a liking to several of them, it would be perfectly natural."

These noble daughters, from Cui Ziting's mouth, were no different from a piece of fine porcelain or a bolt of premium silk.

Beneath the glamorous exterior of the great noble families, this objectification and instrumentalization of individuals was treated as a matter of course.

Gu Chengyin didn't look at the noble ladies again; he merely cast a faint glance at Cui Ziting.

This glance was calm and placid, yet it made Cui Ziting's heart skip a beat right as he was getting excited, leaving him momentarily unable to continue his sentence.

Then, Gu Chengyin broke into a smile, naturally changing the subject: "I appreciate Young Master Cui's kind intentions."

"However, the primary purpose of attending tonight's banquet is to pay my respects to Elder Cui and listen to his teachings in person."

"I wonder where Elder Cui is at this moment? It is only right that I greet him first, otherwise, it would be a breach of etiquette."

"The Marquis is right; it was my negligence."

Cui Ziting quickly smiled, resuming his posture of leading the way. "My father is currently chatting with a few uncles in the flower hall. Marquis Gu, please come this way."

The two continued forward, leaving the cheerful laughter of the noble daughters behind them.

Inside the Cui estate's flower hall, the lights were brilliantly illuminated, as bright as day.

This hall was one of the main reception halls of the Cui family. It was spacious and grand, exuding the profound heritage and taste of a great noble family from every corner.

The floor was covered with a thick velvet carpet that made footsteps silent, and the four walls were hung with masterful calligraphy and paintings of lofty artistic conception.

On the massive curio shelves, elegant antiques such as ancient jades, porcelains, and bronzes were displayed, glowing with a serene luster under the lights.

In the center of the hall, several vermilion pillars, thick enough to require a person's full embrace, supported the high domed ceiling. The beams were painted with elegant orchid patterns.

At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered in the hall.

Right in the middle sat a large, carved red sandalwood round table capable of seating over twenty people. The dishes had not yet been served, but exquisite cups, plates, bowls, and chopsticks were already set out.

Cui Shifan was not sitting in the seat of honor. Instead, he was sitting on a yellow rosewood horseshoe-back armchair near the window with three or four elders of similar age, conversing in low voices.

On the other side, seven or eight young masters dressed in luxurious brocade garments were gathered in front of the curio shelves, admiring the antiques.

When Cui Ziting led Gu Chengyin across the threshold of the flower hall, he deliberately raised his voice, shouting with an almost declarative enthusiasm: "Father! Come look and see which distinguished guest has arrived!"

This call was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly shattering the low murmurs within the flower hall.

All eyes immediately shot over, focusing entirely on Gu Chengyin.

Standing at the center of all these converging gazes, Gu Chengyin looked completely at ease. His steps were steady, and he wore a proper smile on his face, appearing neither awkward nor showing the slightest bit of arrogance.

Cui Shifan's reaction was extremely fast.

Almost the instant Gu Chengyin stepped into the hall, this Grand Secretary of the Cabinet had already stood up from his armchair.

He took the initiative to leave his seat and welcome him. This single step gave Gu Chengyin an immense amount of face and showed a posture of treating worthy men with courtesy.

"Hahaha!"

Cui Shifan let out a hearty laugh, his face beaming with an enthusiastic smile. He walked over in just a few steps, his tone as affectionate as if he were addressing his own nephew. "If it isn't the rising star of our Divine Capital, the Marquis of Equal Standing, personally titled by Her Highness!"

"I was just talking about you with a few old friends, saying that Marquis Gu is young and promising, and certainly a punctual man."

"And sure enough, here you are! Please forgive me for not coming out to welcome you from afar!"

The smile on Gu Chengyin's face also bloomed at this instant, looking incomparably radiant and sincere.