Chapter 21: The Banquet

  As soon as Mu Sheng stepped out of the door, he was preparing to go shopping on the street. After all, the Spring Festival is approaching, and the Lantern Festival will be celebrated soon. The New Year's goods must be purchased. However, Mu Sheng had only taken a few steps when he heard someone calling him. He looked around and saw that it was Sanzi hurrying towards him. Only then did Sanzi panting say: "Mu Gongzi, the eldest miss asked me to inform you to go over there for a while."

  "Then let's go!" said Mu Sheng.

  Arriving at the Zhao residence, he saw that both sisters, Wen Hao and Qin Bo were present, seemingly waiting for him. Mu Sheng walked in and said: "Eldest sister, what do you want me for?" The eldest sister looked at Mu Sheng with an unfamiliar expression, her face puffed up with anger, but she didn't say a word. This left Mu Sheng perplexed, as he couldn't think of anything he had done to offend her.

  Finally, Qin Bo came out to mediate and said: "Musheng! The young master's letter of appointment has arrived. It was delivered this morning. The order is for the young master to take up the post of County Magistrate of Tiantang County."

  Musheng thought for a moment and said: "Tiantang County belongs to Hunyuan Prefecture, and it's not too far from Hunyuan City. I think Wen Hao becoming the county magistrate of Tiantang County is not bad."

  "Will you accompany me, Brother Mo?" Wen Hao asked with a hopeful face.

  "This, I won't be able to stay by your side all the time, but I'll visit you often. After everything is settled at your place, I'll return to Huayuan City to help Eldest Miss. As for official matters, I don't want to get too involved, you know that. However, if something comes up, just send someone to notify me and I'll rush over immediately." Mu Sheng said slowly.

  Wen Hao heard Mu Sheng's words and looked a bit tense. He was afraid that if Mu Sheng wasn't by his side, he wouldn't be able to make decisions on his own, so he said with some entreaty: "Mu Big Brother, just follow me! Without you by my side, I'm afraid I won't do well."

  "Ah, Wen Hao," Mu Sheng sighed and said, "It's not that I don't want to follow you, but after the New Year, the Chamber of Commerce will definitely take action. At that time, the young lady will be in great danger, so I must stay in Hunyuan City. I hope you can understand this."

  After learning the truth, Wen Hao didn't press the issue anymore. After all, his sister's safety was more important. The young lady heard Mu Sheng's words and thought to herself "He still cares about me". A hint of sweetness appeared in her heart, and the initial unhappiness dissipated. Looking at Mu Sheng, the young lady said: "Mu Sheng, what did you go out for today?" Her tone conveyed a hint of concern and subtle gentleness.

  "Oh, I'm going to prepare some New Year's goods, after all, the year-end is approaching." Murong said with a smile.

  "New Year's goods, we also need to prepare. When the time comes, I'll have Xiaosan send someone to deliver them to you, so don't bother." The young lady said with some excitement.

  "Shu Sheng scratched his head and said: 'How can this be good?' "

  "Brother Mo, we're all family, no need to be polite." Wen Hao said without thinking, and the young lady's face turned slightly red when she heard Wen Hao's unguarded words.

  Musheng didn't think of it that way and just said gratefully: "Then thank you."

  Wen Hao said somewhat unhappily: "Brother Mu, aren't you being too polite?"

  Qin Bo said at this time: "Mu Sheng! From now on, don't be so distant with outsiders!"

  "Alright, Qin Bo. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave." Mu Sheng said.

  When Mu Sheng was about to leave, Wen Hao said somewhat anxiously: "Mu brother, that... today the city lord is hosting a banquet for all of you at Bhang Xuezong, will you accompany me?"

  This, Mu Sheng was not very pleased. Others didn't invite him, and besides, the so-called banquet would probably require reciting poetry and writing essays, things he wasn't good at. In high school, memorizing ancient texts was just for passing exams, no one had the leisure to recite poems. So Mu Sheng hastily made an excuse, saying: "That, Wen Hao. I have something at home, so I won't accompany you this time, next time, next time I'll definitely go with you." After finishing speaking, he immediately turned around and left.

  Wen Hao saw Mu Sheng running away in a fluster, and thought to himself "Is this still the usual Mu brother I see every day?" The young lady saw Mu Sheng's fearful appearance, but just covered her mouth and smiled, thinking to herself "This time you won't be able to get out of it, after all Qinger has already sent an invitation to you. Hehe! Let's see what you'll do then? I really want to know what expression you'll have." The young lady felt that her current mood was very good, reaching an unprecedented level of happiness.

  Wen Hao looked at his own older sister, was this really his own older sister? Why was she so happy today, it didn't make sense, but anyway! He himself didn't dare to ask, sigh! Wen Hao let out a light breath, how would he get through tonight's banquet?!

  Looking at her younger brother who was hanging his head in despair, the elder sister said: "Don't sigh anymore, your eldest brother will definitely go, and when that time comes, you can just follow him."

  "Really, sis, you're not kidding me, are you?" Wen Hao asked somewhat uncertainly.

  "Do I look like I'm cheating you?" The young lady said with a smile.

  "You look a bit off today." With that, Wen Hao ran away in a flash.

  "You, you're looking for a fight." Just as Big Sister was about to grab Wen Hao's ear, he had already disappeared. Hiding in the garden, Wen Hao patted his chest and said: "Fortunately, I ran fast, otherwise my ears wouldn't have been spared today." From childhood to adulthood, Wen Hao's ears had been pinched by Big Sister countless times, so Wen Hao was most afraid of having his ears pinched.

  On the other hand, Mù Shēng ran back home, feeling lucky in his heart. Fortunately, he escaped quickly, otherwise, he really didn't know what would have happened to him. It's better to kill himself than to make him recite poetry.

  Sitting in the chair, Mu Sheng drank a few mouthfuls of tea and relaxed his mood. At this time, Xiao Lü came over and said to Mu Sheng who was sitting in the chair: "Young master, someone just sent over an invitation." As he spoke, he handed it to Mu Sheng.

  Musheng thought to himself, who would bother to put up a wanted poster for themselves. He took it over and opened it to take a look, then sat stupidly in his chair, the poster slipping from his hand. Seeing Musheng suddenly like this, Xiaolu quietly asked: "Young master, are you okay?" There was no response, so Xiaolu called out again: "Young master, young master..." Still there was no reaction, and now Xiaolu started to get anxious, hastily calling out to Xiangling: "Miss, miss, the young master has suddenly become stupid."

  Xiang Ling was lying in bed resting when she heard Xiao Lü's shout, and without even putting on her clothes properly, she hastily ran over to ask: "Lü'er, what's wrong with your husband?"

  "Master, master became stunned after reading the notice."

  "Has he become stupid?" Xiangling was somewhat puzzled, what kind of paste could make someone become stupid, this sounded a bit ridiculous. She walked up to Mocheng and softly asked: "Husband, husband, what's wrong with you?!"

  "Ah! Oh! Nothing, huh? Ling'er, what are you doing here?" Mu Sheng asked with some puzzlement.

  "I heard from Lü'er that you were stunned and hurried over," Xiangling said with concern.

  "No way! How could I become stupid? I was just thinking about something earlier." Mu Sheng explained, seeing Xiang Ling only wearing her underclothes, Mu Sheng showed concern: "Ling'er, quickly go back to your room and rest, don't catch a cold."

  Xiang Ling only then realized she was only wearing her undergarments, "Ah!" she exclaimed, and then said to Mu Sheng: "Husband, I'll go back to my room first." After saying that, she ran back to her room in embarrassment. Xiao Lu asked uncertainly at this time: "Young Master, are you really okay?"

  "It's really nothing, Lü'er, you go ahead and take care of your business!"

  "Oh" Little Green muttered and left.

  Musheng picked up the invitation that had fallen to the ground, sighed heavily, and thought to himself: "Man proposes but God disposes. I originally thought I could avoid this calamity, but it seems I still can't escape. I really don't know why Miss Xu gave me an invitation. It seems like I have no choice but to follow fate. In that case, I might as well invite Wen Hao to go together so we'll have some company. Besides, I don't even know where the Honghe Painting Boat is."

  He took the invitation card and headed towards the Zhao residence. After passing the gate of the rear garden, he saw Wen Hao in the rear garden. What a coincidence! Mu Sheng walked up to him and said: "Wen Hao, I went back and thought about it, but decided to accompany you after all. Who made us brothers?"

  Wen Hao saw Mu Sheng coming to invite him, and thought to himself "It seems that older sister didn't deceive me", so he smiled slyly and said: "Mu big brother, did you also receive the invitation?"

  Moyu was still embarrassed and changed the subject, saying: "Wen Hao, let's go! Otherwise, we won't make it on time."

  "Oh! That's also okay, but it's still safer to leave from your own front door." Wen Hao said cautiously.

  "Why?" Mu Sheng asked in puzzlement, "Nothing, nothing, let's hurry and go, Big Brother Mu!" After saying that, Wen Hao pulled Mu Sheng out of the Mu family gate.

  The Honghe Painting Boat is the largest painting boat on Swan Lake, with a total of three floors, and can accommodate hundreds of people. Looking at the scene of red, purple, green and other colors, Musheng couldn't help but say that this Honghe Painting Boat was very luxurious. Su Wen Hao found a seat in a secluded corner, looking around at the young men and women coming and going, Musheng had some doubts, wondering if this banquet was held under the name of the Lord of the Mansion. This looked like a matchmaking scene, with men and women chatting and laughing together, those so-called talented scholars trying to show off in front of the ladies, but the ladies were also happy to watch, occasionally covering their mouths and giggling.

  Wen Hao saw the ladies walking around and felt a little itchy in his heart, this was a great opportunity, he couldn't help but leave a sentence "Mu Big Brother, I'll go take care of something." and quickly slipped away. Looking at Wen Hao's disappearing back, Mu Sheng thought to himself "This kid is quite romantic".

  Unable to bear the atmosphere around him, Mochizuki quietly closed his eyes and thought about treating Ling'er tonight, so he secretly activated the "Mantra of Brahma". This secluded corner was indeed not disturbed by anyone. However, in another secluded corner, a woman wearing a veil and purple clothes whispered: "I didn't expect Mr. En to be here too. Looking at him, it seems that he is not used to this atmosphere." This was somewhat strange, the woman thought. This scene was where young talents yearned to be, so why did Mr. En have an unhappy look on his face? His eyes were tightly closed, as if he was disgusted with his surroundings. He was indeed a weird person. However, the woman suddenly realized that she too disliked such gatherings, and her heart couldn't help but think that he was just like her. For some reason, the woman felt a thrill of excitement in her heart.