“A sandalwood coffin?”
“Isn’t this just looking for trouble?”
“On such a joyous day, how could this be?”
Everyone looked at each other.
Some were shocked.
Some were confused.
More were just enjoying the spectacle.
Lin Xianhong was also quite startled.
She hadn’t expected Ning Que to come as well.
The noblewomen at the same table exchanged glances.
Then they successively began to criticize her.
“Oh, Prince Ning’s son is here too?”
“Tsk tsk tsk, sending a coffin to a banquet, how scandalous.”
“Who do you think this is for?”
“A fit of rage for a beauty, of course.”
“A shameless harlot, does she even qualify as a beauty?” The noblewoman wearing a golden hairpin and a step-shake ornament scoffed disdainfully, saying mercilessly, “She’s already married, yet she’s out and about, flirting. For an outside man, she heartlessly aborted the child in her womb. Such a harlot should be drowned in a pig cage.”
“What did you say?”
“What, was I talking about you?”
Lin Xianhong’s face turned red.
But she couldn’t retort…
Gu Yuan’s expression was also very unpleasant at this moment.
He had indeed deliberately invited Ning Que.
He knew today was Old Prince Ning’s death anniversary.
So he specifically chose today to host the banquet.
But he hadn’t expected Ning Que’s retaliation to be so strong!
Directly tearing off the facade and publicly shaming the Gu Family!
They were all nobles, constantly seeing each other.
Even if they hated each other, they had to maintain appearances.
They always had to uphold the dignity of nobles.
They wouldn’t go too far.
Who knows, they might need help in the future.
The imperial court wasn’t about fighting and killing, but about human relations.
Unless the power and status of the two parties were vastly different.
Under the gaze of the guests.
Ning Que wore a jade crown and only white clothes.
He walked with a steady gait, his aura imposing.
He quickly walked to the main seat.
He glanced at Lin Xianhong, who was dressed in crimson.
Regardless, he had not yet officially divorced her, so Lin Xianhong was still the Prince Ning’s son’s wife. Yet, on the death anniversary of Old Prince Ning, she was dressed in finery, attending the Gu Family banquet.
How pathetic, how ridiculous.
Never mind, after tonight, there would be no more ties.
Ning Que looked at Gu Yuan coldly.
He had not originally intended to attend the Gu Family banquet.
Sending someone to deliver a congratulatory gift would have been enough.
Influenced by Old Prince Ning, he greatly admired military generals.
He had once thought of becoming a military general himself.
Galloping across the grasslands, watering his horses in the vast sea.
However, Gu Yuan dared to provoke him!
And he should not have hosted a banquet today!
The best way to retaliate against a provocation was to be even more ruthless!
To establish oneself in the cruel officialdom, one had to be ruthless.
If you are not the butcher, you are the fish.
In power struggles, there is no word for compromise.
From today onwards, he would restore the prestige of the Prince Ning’s Manor!
“We greet Your Highness.”
“Dispensed!”
Ning Que clapped his hands.
Tie Niu stepped forward.
The bronze bell he was holding crashed to the ground.
“The Gu Family is hosting a banquet today, and our Prince Ning’s Manor cannot be impolite. However, as today is the death anniversary of my father and brother, I hastily prepared some congratulatory gifts. Sending only a sandalwood coffin is not enough, so this bronze bell is for your Gu Family!”
Gu Yuan’s eyes were cold.
Was this to send off the Gu Family to their end?!
The guests were all enjoying the drama.
The Gu Family was a rising star in Great Feng.
The Prince Ning’s Manor, on the other hand, was an old military noble family with hundreds of years of heritage.
The clash between the new and old was full of gunpowder!
Gu Yuan glanced at Lin Xianhong beside him.
Then he deliberately clutched his chest and coughed violently.
Lin Xianhong, seeing this, quickly stepped forward.
“General Gu, are you alright?”
“Ning Que, don’t cause trouble at the Gu Family!”
“I know you hate me, but I also did it for Great Feng.”
Lin Xianhong, like a hen, firmly shielded Gu Yuan behind her, angrily saying, “General Gu has rendered great military service and was poisoned by the Western Liang dog-thieves. Out of necessity, I could only save him with my blood and bone. Your father and brother both died at the hands of the Western Liang dog-thieves, can’t you consider the bigger picture and be understanding of him?”
“He hasn’t recovered yet, and you’re already causing trouble.”
“This is between you and me, don’t involve innocent people!”
Gu Yuan stood behind her.
He raised a meaningful smile.
Even with a hint of provocation.
So what if you are the Prince Ning’s son?
The woman you love most is now on my side.
“Xianhong, it’s alright.” Gu Yuan, however, looked righteous and raised his hand, saying, “It’s understandable that His Highness is angry with me and deliberately causing trouble. As long as His Highness can vent his anger, I am willing to do anything.”
“Then kneel.”
Ning Que didn’t even bother to acknowledge Lin Xianhong.
This woman was truly confident…
His return to the Gu Family this time was purely to respond to the provocation.
At the same time, it was also to completely sever ties.
“Are you crazy?!”
Gu Yuan hadn’t even reacted, but Lin Xianhong couldn’t stand it.
She looked at Ning Que with immense disdain.
“General Gu is a First Rank General in the court!”
“He’s being polite to you, and you’re being so aggressive?”
“Ning Que, when will you mature?”
“Do you think if you do these things, I will pay attention to you?”
“No, it will only make me despise you more!”
“Are you sick?”
“…”
Ning Que frowned.
Why was she like a sticky plaster?
He didn’t even want to bother with Lin Xianhong.
But this foolish woman was getting more agitated?!
“Didn’t General Gu himself say it?”
“Said he was willing to do anything.”
“I won’t make it difficult for him, just kneel.”
“What, was General Gu just saying that?”
“I… I…”
Gu Yuan’s face turned red, his fists clenched.
He was now in a dilemma.
Neither kneeling nor not kneeling was an option.
Meanwhile, Lin Xianhong felt good about herself.
She still believed that Ning Que was doing all this for her.
“Ning Que, can’t you be more magnanimous?”
“Advising others to be magnanimous will bring divine retribution.”
“I don’t want to argue with you.” Lin Xianhong continued to protect Gu Yuan, as if making a firm decision, “Just consider that I’m sorry for you. Whatever you have, take it out on me. General Gu is innocent.”
“Heh heh, this is truly interesting.”
“A dignified Prince Ning’s son’s wife, publicly protecting another man.”
“She usually acts so aloof, it seems it was all an act.”
“I told you, she’s just a harlot.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, what a good show.”
Listening to their sarcasm.
Lin Xianhong’s face was very unpleasant.
But she turned around and looked at Gu Yuan.
And so she solidified her resolve!
She had done nothing wrong!
Since marrying Ning Que, she had never overstepped.
She and Gu Yuan were now innocent.
She just wanted a divorce.
It was Ning Que who had been stopping her all along!
It was all Ning Que’s fault!
Lin Xianhong exhaled deeply, “Ning Que, you should know that General Gu has been quite good to you. When you were providing disaster relief in Jingyang, he had the Gu Family voluntarily lower grain prices, just to help the disaster victims. You were able to provide disaster relief so smoothly, it can be said that it was all thanks to General Gu’s help.”
“I relied on his help?”
Ning Que only found it laughable.
“Then I’d like to ask you.”
“Who drove up the grain prices in Jingyang in the first place?”
“Speaking of which, your Lin Family’s bankruptcy might have been thanks to you.”
“You guys hoarded grain at the time, waiting for the price to rise. The only reason you lowered the price was because His Majesty opened the granaries. You were worried about the grain being stuck in your hands, so you chose to sell it at a low price.”
Ning Que turned his head to look at Lin Xianhong again.
“Oh, I almost forgot about you.”
“Didn’t you used to detest commercial affairs the most?”
“Didn’t you say something about benefiting the people?”
“Lin Xianhong, you are truly hypocritical!”
“I… I…”
Lin Xianhong was hit where it hurt, and her face immediately turned red.
“Hahaha, what great prestige for the Prince Ning’s son!”
