Cui Shifan's subsequent introductions, though varying in rank, were without exception all direct or collateral relatives by marriage to the Cui clan, and each held a position in the imperial court.
Gu Chengyin knew clearly in his heart that Cui Shifan was flexing his muscles, showing him the Cui clan's flourishing branches and deep roots in the court.
The Qinghe Cui clan was not just Cui Shifan alone, but a massive family network intricately rooted and infiltrating every vital department.
Facing these core members of the Cui clan, the smile on Gu Chengyin's face grew even more sincere, leading to another round of highly professional mutual flattery.
No matter what the other party mentioned, he could chime in with a few seemingly expert yet complimentary remarks, praising them without appearing overly sycophantic.
His soothing words and sincere attitude made these Cui clan officials, who had long navigated officialdom, feel a sense of appreciation for this sensible and polite young Marquis of Bingjian.
After this round of introductions and pleasantries, the evening banquet finally officially began.
On the massive circular red sandalwood table, rare delicacies were served in a continuous flow.
Delicacies from the mountains and seas were laid out in full. The exquisite cooking and beautiful plating all showcased the wealth and taste of the Cui residence.
Maidservants dressed in uniform, elegant attire silently served food and poured wine with skillful and graceful movements.
As the most important guest tonight, Gu Chengyin was personally arranged by Cui Shifan to sit on his left.
The importance attached to him and the gesture of goodwill were self-evident.
Meanwhile, the other younger generation, including Cui Ziting, Cui Zilu, and other noble youths, had to settle for the side hall banquet nearby.
Although the dishes were equally abundant and the atmosphere lively, it was ultimately a level below the main hall where the bigwigs were gathered.
Through the partially open carved lattice doors between the side hall and the main hall, the noble youths in the side hall could clearly see the scene at the main table.
They saw Gu Chengyin sitting calmly beside Cui Shifan, cheerfully talking and drinking with a group of important Cui clan figures who could shake the Divine Capital with a mere stomp of their feet.
There was not the slightest stage fright or awkwardness on his face, as if he was born to sit there.
Envy, jealousy, unwillingness, curiosity, admiration... a variety of complex emotions intertwined in the hearts of the noble youths in the side hall.
But they also knew very well that Gu Chengyin could sit there not because he was the Marquis of Bingjian, but because he represented that Highness.
Otherwise, with just a marquis title, he wouldn't even be able to enter the gates of the Cui residence.
They understood the logic, but emotionally it was completely hard to accept.
They were all of the same age, and everyone present even had a much more illustrious background than Gu Chengyin.
On what grounds could he sit as an equal with their fathers' generation, while they could only chat about trivial matters in the side hall?
"Tsk tsk, look at Lord Gu, that demeanor, that conversation, he doesn't fall behind at all when talking to granduncle and the others," a collateral branch youth sighed in a low voice, his tone sour.
"Hmph, he just knows how to pander. Didn't you see his act just now? It was sickeningly sweet," another person curled his lips, clearly disapproving of Gu Chengyin's exaggerated flattery.
"Pander? Why don't you try to pander to them? Who in the main hall is an easy target? Being able to coax them into happiness is a skill in itself," someone else retorted with a bit of realistic clarity.
"Exactly, besides, he dared to fiercely confront the Chief Commander of the Golden Feather Guards right in front of His Majesty. If it were you, would you dare?" Someone brought up the incident from yesterday's morning court, drawing a wave of silence.
No matter how they viewed Gu Chengyin's social skills, this battle record was solid and unquestionable.
Cui Ziting and Cui Zilu were also sitting in the side hall. Cui Zilu's seat was excellent; she could clearly see Gu Chengyin's every move through the gap in the partition.
She hadn't even touched the exquisite dishes in front of her. Her lively big eyes hardly ever left Gu Chengyin.
Watching Gu Chengyin sometimes listen attentively to Cui Shifan, sometimes smile and answer questions from a Cui official, and sometimes raise his glass for a toast, he looked exceptionally elegant and charming.
Cui Zilu's eyes sparkled with growing interest, even mixed with a trace of adoration.
She tugged at Cui Ziting's sleeve beside her, her voice carrying a coquettish tone: "Second Brother, look how lively the main hall is. I want to sit at the big table too."
Cui Ziting was dealing with a toast from a cousin next to him. Hearing this, he scolded in a low, annoyed voice: "Don't even think about it! Is that a place you can go?"
"Father usually spoils you at home, but on occasions like this, rules are rules."
"If you really dare to go over, believe it or not, Father will throw you out on the spot!"
Cui Zilu shrank her neck and stuck out her tongue: "I know that, which is why I didn't really go..."
She was just talking. If she really had to face that group of powerful elders, she would be terrified inside too.
Suddenly, Cui Zilu's eyes rolled around, as if she remembered something. She leaned closer to Cui Ziting and probed, "Second Brother, after the banquet is over, are you going to talk business with him?"
Cui Ziting's hand holding the wine glass paused. He frowned slightly and looked at Cui Zilu in confusion: "How did you know?"
Cui Zilu giggled proudly and whispered, "When Father was talking to you, I happened to be outside the study... um, and heard a little bit." She didn't dare to say she had deliberately eavesdropped.
Cui Ziting's face hardened. He glared at her and said sternly, "You're really getting bolder! You even dare to eavesdrop. If Father finds out, he'll definitely teach you a good lesson!"
"Oh, I'm not stupid!" Cui Zilu quickly defended herself, shaking Cui Ziting's arm: "I know very well what I should and shouldn't hear!"
"Second Brother, you're the best. You definitely won't tell Father, right?"
Looking at his little sister's pleading look, Cui Ziting's heart softened, but he still snorted, "Just this once!"
Seeing that Cui Ziting wasn't angry, Cui Zilu grew bolder again. She grabbed his arm with both hands, shaking it gently, her voice sweet as honey: "Good Second Brother, the absolute best Second Brother... later when you guys chat, can I... listen in from the side?"
"I promise! I swear! I will stay quietly and absolutely not say a single word! I'll even serve you tea and pour water, guaranteeing you're well taken care of!"
Cui Zilu blinked her eyes, her face full of anticipation.
This request left Cui Ziting momentarily conflicted.
Cui Shifan had indeed instructed that after the banquet, he was to step forward and chat with Gu Chengyin in a more private setting.
There were some things that Cui Shifan found inconvenient to say personally, nor were they suitable to be discussed at a formal banquet.
This required a peer like him to lead the way and even make some preliminary promises and trades.
This was also Cui Shifan's test for him. If he couldn't even handle this small matter well, how could he manage the massive Cui clan in the future?
Bring Cui Zilu along? That was obviously against the rules.
How could an unmarried young lady be allowed to listen in on such a conversation involving family interests, which might even be somewhat secretive?
The conflicted look on Cui Ziting's face was entirely taken in by Cui Zilu.
Cui Zilu's mind raced. She knew that acting spoiled might not be enough to get her way, so she rolled her eyes and let out a deliberate sigh, her voice tinged with a hint of regret: "Forget it, forget it. I originally thought about inviting Sister Yunying over for a meal since His Highness has returned."
"Since someone is unwilling, I might as well save myself the trouble of bothering Sister Yunying."
Before she could even finish her sentence, Cui Ziting's voice came through, crisp and decisive:
"Deal."
A radiant smile instantly bloomed on Cui Zilu's face, making her look like a sly little fox who had just stolen a chicken. She said sweetly, "Thank you, Second Brother! Second Brother is the best!"
e, Immortal Body, Transmigration, System, Progression Fantasy, Academy Setting, Third-Person Perspective. Alternate Title: Transmigrating into a High Martial World and Reading Live Comments. Bad news: I transmigrated. This is a terrifying high-martial world, and my original, pathetically weak body fell into a coma and never woke up. Good news: I got a Popularity Points system upon arrival. I can see live comments and even create an unkillable alternate identity. Starting out, the alternate identity has all stats at 1. The system tells me that to grow stronger, I must participate in the plot, gain popularity points to allocate stats and grow stronger, and ultimately awaken my original body. And so, carrying my original body on my back, I officially entered Huaqing Academy, where the story's protagonist resides. From that moment on, Chen Guan kicked the original plot to pieces. Live Comments: [Doesn't anyone find this mysterious coffin guy creepy? He can summon indescribable grey misty hands.] [Is this guy a hero or a villain? What kind of onion became a spirit?] [By the way, does anyone know who's in the coffin? Shouldn't the debt for saving his life be repaid by now?] [According to unofficial histories, the person in the coffin was Chen Guan's first love. Their love was once passionate and earth-shattering, but they were separated by life and death due to worldly circumstances. What a star-crossed pair.] ... Years later, the world knew of a demon god born from a coffin, shrouded in grey mist, impossible to gaze upon directly. His foremost divine emissary often wielded a scythe, reaping lives like the god of death. As war approached, facing former friends and a boundless sea of enemies, Chen Guan merely raised his scythe. "Would you like to dance as well?"
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
