TRWSB – Chapter 103 Marriage Banquet

Zhuang Hao and Qi Shaorong’s engagement created a sensation across the imperial capital.

Zhuang Hao was a long-renowned talent in the capital, while Qi Shaorong, a rising star, had become a prominent figure in his own right. Their engagement drew countless dignitaries and elites to witness the event.

The Zhuang family placed great importance on this engagement, selecting Feiyue Pavilion, the largest banquet hall in the capital, as the venue.

Inside the hall, many guests held wine glasses as they mingled.

“Qi Shaorong still hasn’t arrived? Could he have stood Zhuang Hao up?”

“That’s possible! Back at Luohua Pavilion, when Zhuang Hao announced their engagement, Qi Shaorong didn’t seem very willing.”

“If Qi Shaorong really bails on Zhuang Hao, this will be quite the spectacle.”

“It seems like no one from the Qi family has arrived either.”

“Qi Shaorong doesn’t even consider himself a member of the Qi family. Even if they came, it would just be humiliating for them.”

“Bi Liuyun has arrived! If he’s here, Qi Shaorong should show up as well.”

“Exactly. Bi Liuyun is Qi Shaorong’s right-hand man, after all.”

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“Master Bi, you’re finally here,” Zhuang Qian greeted as he approached.

Bi Liuyun glanced at Zhuang Qian and said, “Yes. Little fatty, what’s with all the sweat on your forehead?”

Zhuang Qian forced an awkward laugh. “I’m hot!”

“It’s so cold today, and you’re sweating like this? Your internal heat must be off the charts. Have you been taking supplements?” Bi Liuyun teased.

Scratching his head, Zhuang Qian replied, “Master Bi, please don’t joke around. Why are you only arriving now?”

“I’m not late, am I? Important people always make their entrance last; it shows their status,” Bi Liuyun said with a chuckle.

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Zhuang Qian muttered, “Is that how Fourth Young Master Qi sees it too?”

Bi Liuyun nodded. “Of course. The young master is even more of a big deal than I am.”

Zhuang Qian sighed. “…No wonder he’s not here yet. He wouldn’t really skip this, would he?”

“Well… it’s possible!”

“What?!” Zhuang Qian exclaimed in shock.

Bi Liuyun laughed. “Just kidding.”

Zhuang Qian: “…” The people around the infamous Evil Doctor seem to have a penchant for jokes, but this kind of humor isn’t funny at all!

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“They’re here! They’re here!” Yi Fan and Qi Shaorong walked into the hall.

According to traditional engagement customs, representatives from both families were required to hold the couple’s hands together, symbolizing eternal unity.

As Qi Shaorong’s escort, Yi Fan took his hand and placed it in Zhuang Hao’s.

Zhuang Renquan, representing the Zhuang family, forced a smile at Yi Fan. Never had he imagined he would one day stand on equal footing with an outcast of the Yi family.

Amid the crowd, Hu Feng sulked while nibbling on snacks. “What was your young master thinking? Choosing Yi Fan to escort him? He could’ve picked me!”

“Ah Fan… he’s handsome! For an occasion like this, naturally, you want someone good-looking. The Zhuang family is full of attractive people; the young master couldn’t let his side fall short,” Qi Heng explained.

Hu Feng: “…” I was handsome when I was younger too! Qi Heng, you jerk, how dare you look down on me.

“There sure are a lot of people from the Yi family here,” Hu Feng remarked.

Qi Heng nodded. “Indeed.”

Ever since Yi Fan’s status had undergone a drastic transformation, Qi Heng noticed that many Yi family members were looking at him with mixed emotions.

“Young Master Fan, a pleasure to meet you!” Tang Tianying approached Yi Fan with a smile.

Yi Fan nodded politely. “Fourth Prince, the pleasure is mine.”

“Young Master Fan, may I propose we find a quiet place to have a private conversation?” Tang Tianying suggested.

“Of course.”

Yi Fan, notorious in the Yi family, drew the attention of several Yi disciples, who seemed eager to approach but ultimately refrained due to his fearsome reputation.

“Why is the Fourth Prince seeking Yi Fan?” one of the Yi family disciples asked.

“No idea.”

“And what’s Qi Shaorong thinking, having Yi Fan escort him?”

“Qi Shaorong always does things his own way. It’s not surprising he’d pick Yi Fan.”

“That Yi Fan, getting involved with the mess that is the Qi family—does he not fear ending up dead with no burial?”

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“Does the Fourth Prince need something from me?” Yi Fan asked.

“Young Master Yi, you’re truly outstanding,” Tang Tianying remarked.

Yi Fan smiled faintly. “I’m just a minor figure, undeserving of such high praise from the Fourth Prince.”

Tang Tianying chuckled. “You’re more than deserving. Recently, I discussed the Allure Cosmetics Shop with Qi Shaorong. The Fourth Young Master expressed interest in collaborating but mentioned that he has entrusted the agency rights to you.”

Yi Fan nodded. “Yes, Shaorong is busy, and I have more free time, so I’m temporarily managing the business on his behalf.”

Tang Tianying studied Yi Fan closely. “Would Young Master Yi be interested in collaborating with me?”

“Certainly,” Yi Fan replied. Cooperation would be mutually beneficial, and with their limited foundation, leveraging royal connections was undoubtedly advantageous.

Tang Tianfeng watched Yi Fan and Tang Tianying from a distance, his fists clenching in frustration. “Yi Fan and my fourth brother seem to be hitting it off quite well.”

His expression darkened as memories surfaced. Years ago, when Mu Xuelan married Yi Fan in a fit of rage, Tang Tianfeng had assumed that the Yi family’s outcast would leave her alone, allowing her temper to cool. He had even gone along with the marriage, but approval didn’t mean he wasn’t uneasy about it.

Tang Tianfeng had never taken Yi Fan seriously, and their relationship had remained strained due to Mu Xuelan.

Never had he imagined that Yi Fan would rise to such power or forge such deep ties with Qi Shaorong.

Shen Manwu sighed. “Your fourth brother seems very interested in the Allure Cosmetics Shop. He’s probably using this opportunity to discuss business with Yi Fan.”

Tang Tianfeng took a deep breath. He had poured considerable effort into investigating the shop’s mysterious owner, only to see all his work serve someone else’s interests.

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Zhuang Hao held Qi Shaorong’s hand tightly. “I’m very happy.”

“Happy about what?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“That you came…”

“Why wouldn’t I? According to our pre-engagement agreement, I got the better end of the deal,” Qi Shaorong replied.

Zhuang Hao chuckled and tightened his grip. “I was just worried you wouldn’t want to take advantage of me.”

“You’re giving me far too much credit,” Qi Shaorong said dryly.

Zhuang Hao pulled Qi Shaorong’s hand closer. “Your mentor is here; let’s go greet him together.”

Qi Shaorong lowered his gaze to their clasped hands before looking up at Zhuang Hao. “Your palms are sweaty. Are you ill?”

“No,” Zhuang Hao replied.

Qi Shaorong grabbed Zhuang Hao’s wrist. “Let me check your pulse.”

Zhuang Hao tried to pull his hand away but couldn’t escape Qi Shaorong’s grip.

Leaning close, Qi Shaorong blew lightly near Zhuang Hao’s ear. “Zhuang Hao, your pulse is racing.”

Zhuang Hao stared at Qi Shaorong for a moment before abruptly pulling him closer and kissing him.

The room erupted into applause.

Qi Shaorong shoved Zhuang Hao away, his face dark. “What are you doing?”

“You started it,” Zhuang Hao said with a grin.

Qi Shaorong: “…”

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Hearing the commotion, Tang Tianying glanced toward Zhuang Hao and Qi Shaorong. “Young Master Zhuang and Young Master Qi seem very close. Don’t you think so, Young Master Yi?”

Yi Fan nodded. “Perhaps.”

Shen Yuan, watching the scene, let out a sigh of relief. “They’re finally engaged. Ah Qian, does this mean the issue with the broken engagement is resolved?”

Zhuang Qian shot him a glare. “Resolved? Resolved my foot! Do you know how many concessions my brother had to make because you interfered?”

Shen Yuan scratched his head and laughed sheepishly. “Good things take time. Anyway, they’re engaged now, aren’t they?”

Zhuang Qian rolled his eyes. “It’s just an engagement.”

Shen Yuan looked at him. “You don’t trust your brother to keep Qi Shaorong? Do you think he’ll lose him even after getting engaged?”

Zhuang Qian shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

As they spoke, a commotion broke out.

“The Qi family is here. They’ve arrived,” Zhuang Qian said.

Shen Yuan and Zhuang Qian turned toward the entrance.

“I didn’t think they’d show up. I thought they’d be too ashamed,” Zhuang Qian commented.

Shen Yuan replied, “With such a big event as Qi Shaorong and Zhuang Hao’s engagement, the Qi family couldn’t possibly stay away…”

Qi Shaokang and several others entered together. “Fourth Brother, congratulations.”

Qi Shaorong nodded. “Thank you.”

He cast an amused glance at Qi Shaoru, standing beside Qi Shaokang.

Noticing Qi Shaorong’s teasing gaze, Qi Shaoru’s face burned with embarrassment and anger.

“Help yourselves to the food. Shaorong and I will go greet other guests,” Zhuang Hao said.

Qi Shaoru glared at Zhuang Hao’s retreating figure, then stomped her foot. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are we not guests?”

Qi Shaokang sighed. “Enough, Shaoru. Let it go.”

Qi Shaoru bit her lip in frustration but said nothing further.

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Li Feng glanced toward Tang Tianying and Yi Fan, his mood sour.

“Brother Feng, Yi Fan has really made it big now,” someone commented.

Li Feng watched Yi Fan conversing animatedly with Tang Tianying and couldn’t help feeling stifled.

Yi Fan had once been dismissed as a disgrace to the Yi family and treated coldly by both the Yi and Li families. Yet now, his status had soared beyond their reach.

“Yi Fan and Qi Shaorong have an extraordinary relationship. Together, their strength is formidable,” Li Yuan remarked.

“I heard Qi Shaorong has already handed over the management of Allure Cosmetics to Yi Fan. That guy is really generous,” Li Ai added.

“Why wouldn’t he be? Qi Shaorong is Zhuang Hao’s fiancée now. With Zhuang Hao’s wealth, Qi Shaorong won’t be lacking for gold,” Li Jing said sourly.

Li Yuan nodded. “Exactly. Zhuang Hao is a beast tamer. While the cosmetics business is lucrative, Zhuang Hao’s earnings as a tamer are no small matter.”

Meanwhile, Qi Shaorong was being pulled around by Zhuang Hao to greet guests.

“What are you trying to do?” Qi Shaorong asked.

“Introducing you to more people—it’ll be beneficial,” Zhuang Hao replied.

Qi Shaorong rolled his eyes. Beneficial? He felt more like a monkey being paraded around by this guy.