Chapter 66: A Chance Encounter

  As I walked into the county magistrate's mansion, what caught my eye was a particularly spacious and elegant garden. The green willows, artificial hills, and scattered rocks were surrounded by clouds. On the clear river, the lotus flowers that had just bloomed were gently swaying, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

  Willows hung with colorful red lanterns everywhere, underfoot a stretch of red carpet extending straight to the main hall of the mansion. Looking into the distance at the main hall, inside was already bustling and lively, more than 20 tables of guests sat in their seats, filling the entire main hall tightly.

  The grand hall has carved railings and jade-inlaid steps, with lanterns shining brightly through the transparent windows. Red silk is draped over everything, creating a joyous atmosphere. It's said that the county magistrate was once a wealthy landowner with a vast fortune, but he had always wanted to be an official, so he bought his way into office.

  With just a little bit of the county magistrate's salary, it would be difficult to put on such a grand show. It is rumored that Magistrate Ma is a nouveau riche, which doesn't seem to be false.

  "Two young masters, please come in..." Two maidservants looked at the two elegant young men walking in and smiled as they bowed.

  There were indeed a lot of people today, Zhu Ziming sighed and was led into the main hall by a little maid.

  At the head of the banquet table, a man with an unimpressive appearance and slightly plump build sat at the very front. He must be County Magistrate Ma. When he saw the two young masters enter, he looked unfamiliar and didn't bother to greet them.

  After all, many people are uninvited guests, and it's possible that these two are from a wealthy family. Magistrate Ma nodded slightly, indicating for the servants to lead them to their seats.

  "Two young masters, this way, please..." A servant came over and waved his sleeve.

  At this moment, however, Zhu Ziming suddenly saw a familiar figure in the distance. A slender and beautiful silhouette appeared before his eyes, with red lips and white teeth, a jade-like face and rosy cheeks, an absolutely stunning outline that made him recognize her at once.

  Zhū Zǐ Míng smiled and said: "Don't bother about it anymore."

  After finishing speaking, Zhu Ziming quickly walked to the empty seat next to the person and sat down, looking at her slender waist like a willow tree, grasped her small hand, and lecherously said: "Where did this little girl come from, so pretty and charming."

  The beautiful young lady had her small hand suddenly grasped, and after being startled, her face turned bright red. She immediately turned her head around, glaring with anger: "Scoundrel..."

  When the young lady saw this dark and handsome face, she was about to scold him, but swallowed her words halfway through and said stupidly: "Zhu Ziming, how did you come?"

  "Miss Shen can come," Zhu Ziming chuckled and said: "Can't I come then?"

  This plump and charming young lady is none other than Miss Shen Biying of the Shen family. Although the Shen estate may not be as prosperous as it once was, it is still a prominent household in Lingyun City. Moreover, Mrs. Shen is the emperor's younger aunt, so how could Magistrate Ma dare not to invite her?

  Just glancing back, in this grand hall, only Shen Biying, a woman, seems to be "one of a kind", it's really pitiful for Miss Shen, the big Shen family has to have one woman come to entertain.

  Shen Bi Xing had wanted to bring Zhu Zi Ming along with her to Japan today, but she couldn't find him anywhere all day and had no choice but to come alone. She thought he must have gone somewhere to slack off, but unexpectedly, he also came to the county government office, what a coincidence.

  "Hmph!" Thinking of his rudeness earlier, Shen Biyun's pretty face turned cold: "Are you usually this bold and presumptuous?"

  Zhu Ziming quickly withdrew his hand, knowing that if he nodded, this future daughter-in-law would definitely slap him on the head with a wooden board. He forced a smile and said: "How could I? I'm an honest man, usually peaceful and obedient, strictly following the husband's way..."

  She had only heard of "women's virtue", but never of "men's virtue". Shen Biyin was both embarrassed and angry: "You're always speaking nonsense, next time you dare to be so rude, I'll make sure you don't have a good outcome."

  Zhu Ziming was sweating profusely, and even touching his own wife's small hand would be against the law?

  Poor Brother Zhu, Yan Yining secretly laughed in her heart, but this Miss Shen was indeed a bit too fierce.

  It turns out that Miss Shen is still the emperor's niece, and he has a bit of a familial relationship with her. After some thought, Yan Yilie realized that due to his identity, it wouldn't be convenient for him to show affection towards her, so he couldn't get close to her.

  "Miss Shen, how did you come here?" Zhu Ziming changed the subject and said.

  Shen Bi Xing said: "It was Master Ma who sent the invitation, so why did you come? Could it be that Master Ma also invited you?"

  Although this young master has some reputation in Lingyun City, he has no power or official position, and Master Ma would not invite him to come.

  "Alas," said Zhu Ziming with a sigh, "I have come on behalf of Mr. Kong."

  Kong Bo Ba? Shen Bi Xing suddenly enlightened, with Kong Li's reputation, whether he comes or not, Ma Zhi County is an unavoidable guest.

  Shen Bixian suddenly said: "Uncle Kong is really something, why did he let you come here."

  As the two of them spoke, Yan Yiming had already found an empty seat at the table and sat down. The steward of the Ma estate saw that both of them had taken their seats and, feeling he was being overly cautious, walked away.

  "Still, it's all because his mischievous granddaughter took the invitation on his behalf and put him in a difficult spot. So he had me, pretending to be his disciple, come here to deliver the gift."

  Shen Bi Xing hummed softly and glanced around the already crowded hall with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

  Zhū Zǐ Míng saw that she looked a bit worried, and then glanced at the relatively rear table, immediately understanding what it was. The official's wedding banquet was divided into upper and lower seats, and the closer to Marshal Ma's table, the higher the status, while the farther away from the table, the less favored by Marshal Ma.

  Looking at the just over fifty-year-old Master Ma, Zhu Ziming couldn't help but feel unhappy in his heart. It's really a case of "a dog looking down on people", although Shen Fu is not as prosperous as it was in the past and doesn't have a single male heir, it is still a royal relative, you treat them like this, completely disregarding the emperor.

  At this time, Yan Yulie and Zhu Ziming suddenly saw two familiar faces beside Magistrate Ma, one was his son Ma Youcai, Marquis Ma, the ugly young master who had been taught by himself before.

  It was just another person, and both of them slightly furrowed their brows.

  Yun Zonghai! The newly established arch-nemesis, didn't expect him to come too. Looking at his rosy complexion, the injury from that day has recovered. But what's unexpected is that City Master Yun Tianchou didn't come, instead he sent his son.

  The people outside the house had already dispersed, and the manager clapped his hands: "Dinner is served!"

  Only saw a few slender maids holding wine and dishes slowly entering the hall, one after another, the girls walked slowly, like an endless long dragon, dazzling people's eyes.

  While everyone was shocked, the maids of this horse house were so many, it was really luxurious, and it was worthy of having a wealthy family background.

  In the hall there were many wealthy merchants, most of whom came uninvited to fawn on the newly appointed Magistrate, but seeing this scene, they all sighed in dismay.