For the twilight to completely ignite the clouds on the horizon, it would still take a very long time, but the banquets in the restaurants and brothels of the Capital had already begun.
Formal banquets always took a very long time, so they would naturally begin very early. This had nothing to do with saving on oil or candles, xiuxing experts and nobles, scholars and literati, young ladies and maids, paid more attention to the changes in light from dawn to dusk to nightfall, as well as the changes in atmosphere and feelings that followed.
Chen Chang Sheng didn't understand these things, for him, if a meal took more than a quarter of an hour, then it meant it wasn't healthy, just like the delicacies on the table in front of him, they all meant it wasn't healthy.
Today's banquet at the Xu Estate was different from last time's regular family banquet, it was a formal banquet. Although he was the only guest, he was of the younger generation and was still very young. The doors of the Divine General of the East's estate, which only opened twice a year, were opened, and all kinds of dishes cooked with precious ingredients were continuously served. Then, without eating much, they were only glanced at for a few moments before they were taken away and replaced with a new round of dishes.
As far as the eye could see, there were expensive utensils and porcelain dishes everywhere, making him naturally think of what Madam Xu had said on his first day in the Capital. There were maids everywhere, he didn't need to do anything, there would naturally be someone to serve him. Yet, what was interesting was, whether it was Madam Xu, Nanny Hua or that principal maid called Shuang 'er, none of them appeared today.
Perhaps it was because of what had happened between them and Chen Chang Sheng.
Xu Shi Ji was the only one accompanying him.
Chen Chang Sheng didn't drink wine, out of courtesy, he ate some dishes and was quickly full.
Xu Shi Ji put down his wine cup, waved his hand, indicating for everyone to leave and wait for him to speak.
Chen Chang Sheng didn't like to speak in circles, seeing this, he knew that Xu Shi Ji had also mentally prepared himself, so he directly said: "You should already know my master's identity."
"The day I found out that Daoist Ji was Principal Shang, I was just as shocked as everyone else."
Xu Shi Ji didn't mention the long conversation he had with his father's portrait in the ancestral hall that day. He looked at Chen Chang Sheng and said indifferently: "Including Master Zhou Tong, there are many people who want to use this against you. But you don't have to worry, the laws of the Zhou Dynasty have never said anything about punishment. Back then, when the Orthodox Academy's rebellion was exposed, you weren't even born yet."
"But you are still one of the Divine Empress's most trusted Divine Generals." Chen Changsheng asked, "Why do you still insist on this marriage?"
"Everyone thinks that I'm unbearably vulgar. Who knows how many generations of good fortune I've accumulated to be able to give birth to such a daughter … Who knows how many people laugh at me in private."
Xu Shi Ji looked into Chen Chang Sheng's eyes and didn't conceal his cold emotions. He said: "As for this marriage, it brought me endless humiliation … in the eyes of the world, at the beginning, it was our Xu Estate that looked down on a poor youngster like you and wanted to break off the marriage, even suppressing and humiliating you. But afterwards, after knowing of your relationship with His Holiness the Pope, we shamelessly pestered you and insisted on marrying you. As a result, all the humiliation that was once inflicted on you, now all returned to us. It can even be said … that this is very shameless."
The reception hall was very quiet, all of the servant girls had already moved far away.
Xu Shi Ji said: "Fortunately, no one thinks that my Rong 'er isn't worthy of you, or else even she would be laughed at."
Chen Chang Sheng thought to himself: since you know this matter is very ugly, why do you still persist? Last time when I came to break off the marriage, why didn't you just accept the marriage contract?
"But I don't care, or rather, I can endure this humiliation and ridicule." Xu Shi Ji's eyes suddenly became sharp. He stared at Chen Chang Sheng and said: "Because I am a father, I have to think for my daughter. I am loyal to the Queen, but what's wrong with thinking for my own daughter?"
These days, Chen Chang Sheng had thought many times about why the Xu Estate would insist on keeping this marriage contract. He had thought of many reasons, but he never thought it would be this one.
— — Xu Shi Ji just wanted the best for his daughter.
Chen Chang Sheng should feel a little happy, the joy of being acknowledged, but he didn't, because he didn't believe that Xu Shi Ji was this kind of person, this kind of father.
"I know what you are thinking, what the people in the capital are thinking."
Xu Shi Ji said expressionlessly: "Just like before the civil strife in Mount Li, everyone thought the same about the head of the Qiu Shan family, but reality has proven that you are all wrong."
"That's right, if I insist on this marriage, in the future if His Holiness the Pope loses, the Divine Queen obviously won't allow me to continue living, but I am very sure that even if I die, the Queen will still love Rong 'er. And if … His Holiness the Pope wins, because of your relationship, I presume that his venerable self will not have a bad opinion of Rong 'er. "
He looked at the side of Chen Chang Sheng's face and continued: "The confluence of north and south is already complete, the Mount Li Sword Sect might still be able to maintain its edge, and Qiushan Jun can use this opportunity to advance north, but what can South Stream Temple do? If Rong 'er cannot marry you, the best outcome for her is to guard Holy Maiden Peak, but what if this marriage succeeds? "
"The Pope and the Holy Maiden, this is the true confluence of north and south."
"Whether it's north or south, everyone is willing to see this scene."
"What is the general trend? This is the general trend. "
"Regardless of whether I am still alive, my Xu clan will definitely leave its name in the annals of history."
… …
… …
The true confluence of north and south, the general trend, everyone was willing to see this sort of scene, so this marriage had to continue.
Chen Chang Sheng felt that these words were somewhat familiar, and then he remembered that ever since he came to the capital from Xining, he had often heard similar words. That maid called Shuang 'er had once said it, that nanny had once said it, many people at the Ivy Festival had said it, and even Tang Thirty-Six had said it. It was just that at that time, the name associated with Xu You Rong was not himself.
He was not a person willing to hide his true thoughts, so he raised his head to Xu Shi Ji and said, "Back then, all of you also said the same thing about Qiushan Jun."
"In my view, if you want to marry, Qiushan is naturally a better choice than you, even now. The problem is that he is currently inferior to you."
A better choice and inferior, these were two different concepts.
Chen Chang Sheng thought about the news that came from Mount Li. When the sun shone on the main peak, Qiushan Jun calmly and casually stabbed himself with a sword, thus easily resolving a long-planned conspiracy. After a moment of silence, he shook his head and said, "I am inferior to him."
Xu Shi Ji did not understand his meaning and said, "The Pope is your martial uncle. Just based on this point, he will never be as good as you."
Just like what Qiushan Jun said to his father on the main peak of Mount Li, young people and old people, as expected, could not be the same kind of people.
Chen Chang Sheng did not know about those words, but he had the same feeling. He stood up and prepared to leave. At the same time, he took out the marriage contract and put it on the table.
His action was not very solemn, but it was not casual either. There was no arrogance, no inferiority. He just took it out and put it on the table.
He had already come to this Divine General's Estate three times. Each time, it was to cancel the marriage. Perhaps because of this reason, he was no longer as nervous and awkward as before.
There was also no awkwardness on Xu Shi Ji's face. When he received the letter from the Orthodox Academy saying that Chen Chang Sheng was coming to visit, he had already guessed at his intentions.
"Last time, I said that if you really wanted to cancel the marriage, then give the marriage contract to Rong 'er in front of her."
In the Garden of Zhou, Chen Chang Sheng really did have this idea, but he never had the chance to meet Xu You Rong. Then he was somewhat confused as to why both Xu Shi Ji and Tang Thirty-Six had said similar words. It was as if they had determined that as long as he saw Xu You Rong in person, he would never want to cancel the marriage. Even if Xu You Rong was as beautiful as a goddess, so what?
He even felt that other people looking at him like this was a form of contempt.
"I hear that Miss Xu will return to the capital soon, so the marriage contract will be left in your estate. If Miss Xu has any objections, please believe in the Orthodox Academy."
He did not pay attention to Xu Shi Ji's words and continued, "Please do not send the marriage contract back to the Orthodox Academy, or else it really might be lost. If that happens, it really won't look good."
Xu Shi Ji was furious at these words. He thought, you actually dare to threaten me, but his face did not show any emotion.
Chen Chang Sheng was not threatening him, but speaking the truth. This marriage contract really had almost been lost in the Garden of Zhou.
Back when he was fighting against Nanke's wings at the bottom of the lake, in order to break through her wings of light, he had thrown out everything in his sheath, including the marriage contract. However, he no longer had any feelings towards this marriage, so he did not care much about the marriage contract. Only a few days ago, when he was preparing to go to the Xu estate to break off the engagement, did he remember this matter.
He looked at Xu Shi Ji and originally wanted to say something, but after thinking it over, he gave up. Without saying anything more, he bid farewell and left.
Xu Shi Ji expressionlessly watched his back disappear into the night, then withdrew his gaze. He looked at the marriage contract, his expression slightly focused. He did not understand why the edges of the marriage contract were slightly wet.
Walking in the garden of the Divine General of the East's estate, Chen Chang Sheng borrowed the lantern carried by the servant girl in front of him and looked at the straight trees and gray stones that he had a slight impression of. Chen Chang Sheng very naturally thought of his past encounters here.
When he bid farewell just now, he really did want to say something to Xu Shi Ji, but he could not find the right words, nor did he know how to organize it. If it was Tang Thirty-Six, he would probably directly ask Xu Shi Ji, "You are so shameless, does your daughter know?" But he could not say such words, he just suddenly felt some sympathy for Xu You Rong.
Xu Shi Ji said that he insisted on this marriage for the sake of his daughter, but when he spoke, he kept talking about the general trend, the confluence of the north and south, and leaving his name in the annals of history. He did not hide his true thoughts at all. He thought, he is just a person who cares about fame, only thinking about bringing glory to his family and the Xu clan for thousands of generations. In his eyes, what difference is there between his daughter and a memorial arch?
Thinking about it this way, Xu You Rong really was rather pitiful.
While he was thinking like this without a clue, he arrived in front of a stone door.
A girl stood in front of the stone door.
It was very similar to the scene from a year and a half ago.
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