Ji Hengmin and Ji Fanghua stood frozen, feeling incredibly awkward as Feng Tenghou completely ignored them.
However, upon seeing Feng Tenghou present a gift to Ji Lengyue, the two were deeply shaken.
"Madam Ji?"
"What is going on?"
Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu were also momentarily stunned. Ji Shangxiu quickly smiled, "Lengyue, hurry and accept the gift."
Ji Lengyue took the gift and said, "Thank you, Mr. Feng Tenghou."
The two knew this was arranged by Chen Jiuyang, but they were unsure of his intentions.
"Heh, you're too kind. I wish Madam Ji and Marquis Xuanyang a hundred years of happiness together. I heard today is your engagement, so I came to have a drink." Feng Tenghou, with remarkable厚脸皮, said with a warm smile.
Chen Jiuyang said calmly, "You're thoughtful. Please sit down and join us for a meal."
Feng Tenghou smiled, "Marquis Xuanyang, it's not easy to get an audience with you."
Chen Jiuyang said, "Sit down, finish this bottle of wine, and let's not dwell on past matters."
He gestured to a bottle of high-proof Maotai on the table.
"Alright." Feng Tenghou directly picked up the wine bottle, lightly sliced it with his finger to break it, then lifted the bottle to his mouth and began to drink.
"Gulp, gulp, gulp!" Feng Tenghou downed it in one go.
"Good!" Chen Jiuyang smiled, "That's the spirit."
"..." The people present had varied expressions and gazes.
Who was this young man? He could make Feng Tenghou apologize and drink?
Was what he said true? Was he really the Marquis Xuanyang of Feng Province? Why had their Ji family heard no rumors?
"It really is him..." Chairman Huang exclaimed in shock, blurting it out unintentionally. When he first entered the backyard, he felt a sense of familiarity but hadn't confirmed it.
Seeing Chairman Huang's expression change drastically, and knowing that Feng Tenghou, who brought gifts, was drinking an apology, Ji Fanghua realized the young man sitting next to Feng Tenghou was no ordinary person. However, he was puzzled why a woman from his own Ji family was seated next to him.
Suppressing his many doubts, Ji Fanghua quietly asked Chairman Huang, "Brother Huang, who is that gentleman?"
Chairman Huang's eyes showed a hint of confusion. He thought, *You don't even know the guest your family invited?* But seeing that Marquis Xuanyang seemed to have a connection with the Ji family and it wouldn't be wise to offend him, he patiently explained, "That is Feng Province's newly appointed Grandmaster, Marquis Xuanyang, Chen Jiuyang."
Ji Fanghua's heart trembled. Even Ji Hengmin was shocked. Feng Province had produced a Marquis whose title wasn't tied to the province's name. What great merit must he have achieved to earn such a title?
Why had their Ji family received no news of this?
*This is bad...*
Ji Hengmin's heart sank as he saw the two women sitting beside the young man.
He hadn't met the young man before, but he recognized the two Ji family women. He was the one who had arranged for these people to be seated in a secluded spot near the restroom.
Ji Hengmin maintained a calm demeanor, but inwardly, he was panicking like a cornered dog. How could he salvage this situation?
Chen Jiuyang slowly raised his head and looked at the Old Madam Ji, his voice calm and carrying, "Old Madam, do you see any fluctuation in my emotions?"
Earlier, when the doorman announced Feng Tenghou, Old Madam Ji had sarcastically asked if he could still remain composed. Now, Chen Jiuyang was returning the question to her.
Old Madam Ji and Ji Hengmin's faces changed.
Old Madam Ji's expression shifted several times before she forced a smile, "Shangxiu, I feel a bit dizzy. Help me back to rest."
After all, Old Madam Ji was no simple person. The situation had drastically reversed. Even if Chen Jiuyang made things difficult for her, she had ways to resolve it. By calling Ji Lengyue's mother by name, she was hinting to Chen Jiuyang that she was, after all, Ji Lengyue's grandmother. She wanted to end the matter here and not be further embarrassed.
"Heh." Chen Jiuyang let out a faint laugh.
Immediately, Ji Shangxiu helped Old Madam Ji away.
Ji Fanghua, who had managed to reach the position of district chief at such a young age, understood from the reactions of Chen Jiuyang and Old Madam Ji that Chen Jiuyang had a past grievance with the Ji family. He quickly asked Ji Hengmin in a low voice, "Grandpa, what is Marquis Xuanyang's relationship with our family? Why was such an important figure like him arranged to sit near the restroom? How will this make our Ji family look?"
Ji Hengmin was struck dumb, like eating bitter herbs. He dared not speak and could only say, "The young lady next to Marquis Xuanyang is your second uncle's daughter. We have some misunderstandings with him. You must not spread this around."
"It's Lengyue, that girl. I haven't seen her in over ten years, and she's changed so much," Ji Fanghua said, somewhat surprised. His mind then began to churn with possibilities.
Understanding the implications, since such an important figure as Chen Jiuyang had come to his Ji family, and had even invited another important figure like Feng Tenghou to the banquet, the situation was very delicate.
Would his Ji family be trampled underfoot today, or would they rise to prominence? It all depended on how Chen Jiuyang treated the Ji family. It was clear that his grandfather and grandmother had a conflict with Chen Jiuyang, and in a large family like the Ji family, internal strife was inevitable.
Other Ji family members also exclaimed in low voices, "This Ji Lengyue has actually managed to get close to such an important figure without anyone knowing. Why didn't we get any news about this earlier?"
"Didn't they say Ji Lengyue was to be married to the Tang family for an alliance? How did she get involved with a figure as important as Marquis Xuanyang?"
"Quiet! Silence!" Ji Hengmin reprimanded in a low, stern voice, casting glances at each of them.
Ji Fanghua quickly took off his suit jacket, mussed his hair a bit, and then laughed heartily, walking over to sit at the table with Ji Lengyue and Chen Jiuyang. "Lengyue, do you still recognize me?"
"Little brother!" Ji Lengyue said softly, "I remember. When we were kids, you took me to catch shrimp in the river."
Ji Fanghua chuckled, "Since you still remember me, why didn't you notify me about your engagement?"
Ji Lengyue blushed slightly and said, "Things were a bit rushed..."
"Alright," Ji Fanghua said with a smile, "I'll have to punish myself with a drink later. Is that okay?"
Ji Lengyue, being straightforward, nodded, "Okay."
Ji Fanghua looked at Chen Jiuyang and stared at him, saying, "I hope you treat my sister well."
Seeing that their relationship was quite good, Chen Jiuyang slowly nodded, not wanting to offend him, "Naturally."
Then, Ji Fanghua extended his hand and said, "After I finish hosting the guests, shall we have a drink?"
"Okay." Chen Jiuyang extended his hand and shook his.
"I'm going to host the guests." Ji Fanghua then got up and continued to entertain guests.
He played the tricks of "fishing in troubled waters" and "riding the donkey downhill" with masterful skill. At this point, many of the Ji family's guests were unaware of the relationship between Marquis Xuanyang and the Ji family. With Ji Fanghua's move, he directly made the guests who didn't know the truth believe that the Ji family had intentionally hidden their strength, planning to surprise them later.
"Well done!" Ji Hengmin was very satisfied with Ji Fanghua's handling of the situation.
Ji Fanghua whispered into his ear, "Grandpa, quickly arrange for some good-looking people from our Ji family to block the restroom entrance and separate the crowd. I'll manage the situation."
As the words fell, a distant child announced, "Feng Lianhou of Feng Province has arrived!"
Ji Fanghua and Ji Hengmin's faces changed again.
Immediately, the two began to act. *How many people did this Marquis Xuanyang invite?*