“It’s actually Elder Zhu himself!”
Ji Hengmin and Ji Fanghua, who were sitting and calmly drinking tea, had their eyes widen as they saw the old man in the Zhongshan suit walk into the backyard. The teacups in their hands slipped to the ground unnoticed.
If Ji Fanghua could still somewhat manage the situation earlier, he was completely stunned into immobility upon seeing Elder Zhu.
Even Ji Hengmin took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. Only then did he realize that he had misjudged. This man of Ji Lengyue was far beyond his imagination.
‘Is this why Ji Shangxiu insisted on not returning to the Ji family?’
Then, Ji Hengmin slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and walked towards Elder Zhu, respectfully cupping his fist: “Greetings, Elder Zhu.”
“Mm, it’s young Hengmin.” Elder Zhu glanced at Ji Hengmin and said with a smile, “You seem to be in good health.”
“Thank you for your concern, Elder Zhu.” Ji Hengmin cupped his fist again.
Who in Feng Province didn’t know Elder Zhu’s name?
The former commander of the Sharp Blade Legion, the stabilizing force of Feng Province.
Chen Jiuyang slowly put down his wine glass. Everyone around him had stood up, including Feng Hanhou and Ji Lengyue, but he alone remained seated, not moving.
The people present had their eyes wide open. What was the background of this Xuan Yang Marquis? Elder Zhu himself had arrived, and he didn’t even stand up to greet him?
Chen Jiuyang glanced at Elder Zhu and Zhu Jianjun. He didn’t even cup his fist, merely saying softly, “Greetings, Elder Zhu and Second Master.”
“I am not worthy of the title ‘Second Master’.” Zhu Jianjun turned his head away, his face towards the ground, and cupped his fist towards Chen Jiuyang, saying, “Xuan Yang Marquis, you are too kind.”
“Hiss!”
The guests of the Ji family and the Ji family members all gasped, their scalps tingling.
“My goodness.”
The son of Elder Zhu was acting this way towards Xuan Yang Marquis. There was something going on between them.
Only Feng Hanhou and others knew that due to the Zhang Jialong incident, Chen Jiuyang and the Zhu family had a conflict, which led to Xi Butui wanting to kill Chen Jiuyang, even bringing out Zhou Fangzun from behind and issuing nine gold牌令, demanding Chen Jiuyang’s death.
If the Zhu family had sacrificed their pride to save Zhang Jialong’s life back then, would there have been any subsequent events?
“Old Second, I can only help you this much.”
Seeing that Chen Jiuyang hadn’t even stood up, Elder Zhu knew that Chen Jiuyang harbored resentment towards their Zhu family. He then cupped his fist towards Chen Jiuyang, holding a small gift box, and said with a smile, “Xuan Yang Marquis, I heard today is your engagement. I’ve come uninvited to ask for a cup of celebratory wine, how about it?”
“Hiss!”
Everyone’s expression changed drastically. Elder Zhu was treating Xuan Yang Marquis Chen Jiuyang with such politeness. It seemed the matter was quite significant, otherwise, why would Elder Zhu act this way towards a junior?
After Elder Zhu’s voice fell, the scene became silent, and it remained quiet for a long time.
Everyone was dumbfounded, their eyes about to pop out. This Xuan Yang Marquis was too formidable, daring to keep Elder Zhu waiting. And Elder Zhu and Second Master didn’t react, appearing as if they were coming to apologize. Elder Zhu’s continuous cupped fist gesture further shocked everyone present.
After a long silence, Chen Jiuyang’s sigh was heard: “Alas…”
“Lengyue, go help Elder Zhu to sit down, and let’s all sit down to eat.”
Elder Zhu sat down, but Second Master Zhu remained standing. Chen Jiuyang hadn’t asked him to sit, so Second Master Zhu could only stand, even with his old ailment.
If someone outside called him Second Master, Second Master Zhu could endure it, but their Zhu family had wronged Chen Jiuyang, and Second Master Zhu had wronged Chen Jiuyang even more.
Second Master Zhu could not accept Chen Jiuyang’s address of “Second Master.”
Ji Hengmin and Ji Fanghua stood behind Elder Zhu, not daring to sit.
Even Elder Zhu was like this towards Chen Jiuyang, so how could the Ji family, having offended Chen Jiuyang, dare to put on airs in front of him?
They still didn’t understand Chen Jiuyang enough. Now, they feared him like a tiger.
Elder Zhu glanced at Ji Hengmin and said, “Your Ji family has produced a good girl, to be able to marry Xuan Yang Marquis.”
Hearing Elder Zhu’s praise, Ji Hengmin and Ji Fanghua instinctively showed a sincere and brilliant smile.
Chen Jiuyang said, “Elder Zhu, I’ll toast you.”
Saying this, Chen Jiuyang poured a cup of wine for himself and drank it down.
“Then, who… the person surnamed Ji, change a table of dishes for us…” Chen Jiuyang said.
If it were anyone else who dared to address them like this in the Ji family’s home, Ji Hengmin would have immediately turned hostile.
But encountering someone of Chen Jiuyang’s stature, he didn’t dare to put on airs and quickly responded, “Alright, we’ll prepare the dishes immediately. Fanghua, you go to the kitchen and watch personally.”
Elder Zhu was the stabilizing force of Feng Province. If he had any health issues from the food at the Ji family, the Ji family would never have a good life again.
“Okay, Grandpa.” Ji Fanghua quickly agreed and hurried towards the kitchen.
Then, Ji Hengmin looked at Chen Jiuyang: “Xuan… Chen… Ji… grandson-in-law, why don’t you change to another table to sit? This table is a bit small.”
There were over fifty important guests who came for Chen Jiuyang, and each of them was someone his Ji family couldn’t afford to offend. He didn’t know how to address Chen Jiuyang, so he finally called him grandson-in-law to get closer, after all, Ji Lengyue was his granddaughter.
Chen Jiuyang glanced at him and said indifferently, “No need, I’ll sit here. Just change the dishes for us.”
Ji Hengmin’s face turned slightly pale, knowing that he had arranged them at this table and that the matter of having Ji Lengyue marry into the Tang family had offended Chen Jiuyang. Chen Jiuyang’s current restraint was giving his Ji family some face.
He was afraid that after the banquet ended today, the matter would not be easily resolved. He regretted it deeply. If he had known this, he should have gone himself to assess Chen Jiuyang when he went to find Ji Lengyue a few days ago, instead of sending his wife. Now it had caused trouble.
Chen Jiuyang remained still, and no one around him dared to make a sound, not even Elder Zhu.
Ji Hengmin took a deep breath, his expression unchanged, and said, “Alright, I’ll personally go to the kitchen to supervise the dishes. Please eat and drink well.”
After Ji Hengmin left, Elder Zhu said, “Xuan Yang Marquis, I will give you a satisfactory explanation for that matter.”
“What do you think?”
Feng Hanhou, Feng Qinghou, Feng Lianhou, and others all lowered their heads in unison, as if they hadn’t heard anything.
This matter was too significant. Despite their status as Grandmasters of the Marquisate, they dared not utter a single word or offer any support.
The scene was silent. Hundreds of people were quiet, and no one dared to breathe loudly.
“A satisfactory explanation?”
“Rumble!”
An earth-shattering and heart-palpitating aura erupted from Chen Jiuyang, and then Chen Jiuyang’s icy voice echoed:
“Fine!”
“I want everyone involved in that matter to die!”
“Elder Zhu, do you understand what I mean?”
“I don’t care if they are Six Doors constables, noble scions of any family, or high-ranking officials!”
“As long as they are related to this matter, and have handled it, they all must die!”
Regarding this matter, Chen Jiuyang had been suppressing his anger and hiding it deep within his heart. But since the Zhu family saw his great momentum and came to apologize and bring it up today.
Zhang Jialong was a retired soldier of the Sharp Blade Legion, and his identity was classified. Xi Butui killed Zhang Jialong not by his own hand, but by his subordinates. If so, there were many people involved at various levels who knew about it or participated in making Zhang Jialong ‘commit suicide’.
“Otherwise, this knot in my heart will not be untied.”
“If you don’t clear it up completely, when I, Chen Jiuyang, deal with this matter in the future, don’t blame me for being disrespectful to your Zhu family!”