In the main hall of the Ji family villa, as soon as a guest departed, a Ji family descendant would see them off.
Now, there were no guests left in the backyard.
All core descendants of the Ji family were gathered in the main hall. Even Ji Fanghua, the district chief of Fengcheng Bailan who had official duties that afternoon, had taken a temporary sick leave to be here.
Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu were also seated here.
However, their status and treatment had changed drastically. The mother and daughter were seated with Ji Hengmin.
No one in the Ji family looked at the mother and daughter with a peculiar gaze anymore. Instead, they were met with envy, jealousy, and awe.
When one person achieves success, their whole family benefits.
Ever since Ji Lengyue's uncle was demoted from the prefect of Fengcheng and imprisoned, the Ji family's influence had plummeted. They had been biding their time, afraid to make any moves. Fortunately, the Ji family still had Ji Fanghua, an elite, who managed to uphold the family's reputation.
A twenty-five-year-old doctor, he became a district chief at twenty-seven and was soon to be transferred to serve as a secretary to the governor of Feng Province to gain experience and credentials.
For various reasons, Ji Hengmin decided to make this year's annual gathering a grand affair, calling upon all the connections the Ji family could mobilize, presenting a front of making a comeback to pave the way and build credentials for Ji Fanghua in advance.
The success of the guest banquet today exceeded everyone in the Ji family's imagination. They were extremely satisfied, even to the point of being slightly terrified.
The forty-eight marquises of Feng Province gathered at the Ji family for drinks, and Elder Zhu himself attended. In Feng Province, among so many scholarly families, who could achieve such a display?
None! Even the current prefect of Fengcheng, Yun Tiancheng, could not achieve this.
As the guests of the Ji family departed earlier, each with a rosy complexion, they expressed their desire for deeper development with the Ji family, fearing they might miss out on the Ji family's ascent.
This was not merely a comeback for the Ji family; it was a powerful resurgence, a single move that would leave many speechless.
However, within the Ji family, they felt a sense of unease.
Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu had never been treated with such warmth by the Ji family, being doted upon as if they were precious treasures.
When Ji Hengmin said, "Go to the backyard and invite the son-in-law..."
Most of the Ji family members' hearts tightened.
Who would go to invite him? Ji Hengmin and the old madam of the Ji family had offended Chen Jiuyang. The fact that he had not directly exposed the Ji family's disgrace and had merely endured it was already an act of immense kindness, leaving Ji Hengmin and the old madam deeply grateful.
These two old folks dared not go to the backyard to call Chen Jiuyang. Asking Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu to go would also be inappropriate, making the Ji family appear too opportunistic and devoid of the dignity of a century-old scholarly family.
In the hall, the Ji family members looked at each other, none daring to move, their faces a picture of mutual apprehension.
Finally, Ji Fanghua rose from the sofa, "I'll go..."
By status, he was the district chief of Fengcheng Bailan and a core descendant of the Ji family. Furthermore, he had a sibling relationship with Ji Lengyue and a weak emotional connection. Today, Chen Jiuyang had shown him some consideration.
Ji Fanghua's hair was slightly disheveled, and his white shirt bore sweat stains and dirt, a far cry from the appearance of a district chief.
However, he dared not put on airs in front of Chen Jiuyang. He could only call Chen Jiuyang by his status as Ji Lengyue's cousin. Walking into the backyard, Ji Fanghua said gently, "Brother-in-law, what are you drinking alone here?"
Several wine bottles were placed beside Chen Jiuyang, and he reeked of alcohol. He slowly looked up and said, "Thinking about things."
"You haven't had enough to drink, have you? Why don't you stay here tonight? I'm off duty today, so come inside and rest. I'll have a few drinks with you later."
Chen Jiuyang nodded slightly, "Alright."
Among the Ji family, only Ji Fanghua, with his decent interpersonal skills, was somewhat astute, lacking the excessive airs and pretenses.
Ji Fanghua led Chen Jiuyang into the hall, where a dense crowd of Ji family members stood. Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu sat on a sofa by themselves. To the east, there was a single-seater sofa. Chen Jiuyang directly sat on it and crossed his legs.
As soon as Chen Jiuyang sat down, Ji Hengmin immediately stood up, took out a wooden box from his embrace, and placed it on the coffee table. Inside was a pair of dragon and phoenix jade pendants. He said, "Lengyue, Jiuyang, today is your engagement day. These dragon and phoenix jade pendants have been passed down by the Ji family ancestors. Consider them a small token of my appreciation from the Ji family."
The pair of dragon and phoenix jade pendants were exquisitely crafted, clearly the work of ancient masters. If put up for auction, they would fetch hundreds of millions.
It was evident that the Ji family had brought out their old reserves, and it was not the dowry they had initially planned to give to the Tang family.
"The items are not bad, but do you think my reputation, Chen Jiuyang's reputation, can be bought off with money?"
As Chen Jiuyang's icy voice rang out, the temperature in the room dropped by five degrees. The Ji family descendants lowered their heads like quails, not daring to make a sound.
Ji Hengmin and the old madam of the Ji family immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
The outsiders were gone, and Chen Jiuyang was about to deal with them.
However, Chen Jiuyang's words were not as difficult for them to bear as they had imagined.
"My reputation in the martial world, Chen Jiuyang's reputation, was earned with my own two fists."
"Today, I bring Lengyue to the Ji family, hoping that she will not be hindered by your Ji family's dirty dealings in the future."
"Today, I brought people to show off, to let your Ji family's guests know how influential your Ji family is, and to give you ample face."
"If in the future I hear that your Ji family is using my name, Chen Jiuyang, to conduct business, then do not blame me for not showing respect and acting ruthlessly."
"Your Ji family's information is too outdated and isolated. Go out and inquire about my reputation, Chen Jiuyang. Do not say you were not warned."
"Lengyue, accept the gift your grandfather gave you. I'm leaving."
"Fang Bo, take Lengyue and her mother home."
"Yes, Young Master." Fang Bohua walked in from outside.
Immediately, Chen Jiuyang stood up and left. With a slight circulation of his qi and blood, the smell of alcohol on his body evaporated, leaving the Ji family members dumbfounded. Then, he took Ji Lengyue and her mother away.
After Chen Jiuyang left, Ji Hengmin wore a wry smile, "Ultimately, I made a mistake, causing my Ji family, who could have produced a true dragon, to miss the opportunity to leap through the dragon gate."
Who would have thought that Ji Lengyue's man was so formidable?
The old madam of the Ji family said with lingering fear, "I thought he would kill us to vent his anger."
Ji Fanghua frowned. He was already aware of the entire situation between Chen Jiuyang and the Ji family. The family had acted incorrectly. Ji Shangxiu was such an intelligent woman; did the Ji family not investigate the information about Ji Lengyue's man before daring to defy the Ji family's orders?
The Ji family's information was truly outdated and isolated.
Ji Fanghua retorted, "Grandmother, what do you think a person like Chen Jiuyang is?"
"The martial world is not just about fighting; it's also about human relationships and etiquette. He has acted very fairly and justly."
The old madam of the Ji family opened her mouth but did not utter a single word.
Suddenly, Chen Jiuyang's voice drifted from afar, "Almost forgot, Ji Fanghua, I owe you a drink. I'll treat you when I come to Ziyang County next time."
The Ji family members were startled, and then Ji Fanghua's face lit up with joy. He then said to Ji Hengmin,
"Grandfather, I want to be transferred to Ziyang County."