The next day, after the invitations were sent out, the entire Inner City's official residences were abuzz. It was the King's birthday, a grand occasion. Everyone of note in the Inner City had received a royal invitation!
Those who were close to the King and Queen had also received personal invitations. The entire King's manor was bustling with orderly activity, each department performing its duties without haste. Instead, the servants' faces were radiant with joy!
Murong Mansion!
This was Zhao Jiaqi's first time visiting Murong Sheng's estate. Sheng Ge had earned a considerable amount of wealth over the years. While he might not be the richest in the Inner City, he was certainly well-off!
However, the mansion was remarkably understated. In other words, compared to Xie Kun's residence, Sheng Ge's home seemed rather modest!
Upon hearing from the steward that the Queen had arrived, Murong Sheng and Li Meilan were startled and rushed to the front hall without a moment's delay.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. This humble subject was unaware of Your Majesty's arrival, and I beg for your pardon..."
As Murong Sheng began to kneel, Zhao Jiaqi quickly supported him. "Sheng Ge, ever since Shuya married into the Free and Unfettered King's manor, you've become distant from me and my husband. Are you angry with me?"
This made Murong Sheng feel even more ashamed. He said with deep regret, "My dear sister-in-law, what are you saying? I only blame myself for failing in my upbringing, which led to such a disgraceful event. This has nothing to do with Your Majesty; I am simply too ashamed to face anyone!"
"Sheng Ge, my husband has gone to the military camp and cannot come. Before he left, he repeatedly entrusted me with delivering this invitation to you personally. He said that it's been a long time since we brothers have seen each other and he wants to use this opportunity to gather. He was afraid you wouldn't come, so he asked me to invite you. I wonder if my presence carries any weight."
Murong Sheng accepted the invitation with both hands and replied solemnly, "Forget this invitation; even if a servant were to deliver a message, I would certainly attend. The bond of brotherhood will never change in this lifetime!"
"This is the Sheng Ge I knew!" Zhao Jiaqi smiled happily and then looked at Li Meilan beside him, speaking kindly. "Sister-in-law, if you are free that day, please come to the manor as well. The King specifically instructed the Free and Unfettered King to bring his Queen to attend the birthday celebration!"
Li Meilan was so moved that her lips trembled. She immediately bowed gratefully, "For this humble subject to have the honor of attending the King's birthday is truly a blessing for three lifetimes. Thank you, Your Majesty and Your Majesty, for your grace!"
Ever since their daughter married the Free and Unfettered King and left for her fiefdom, she had not returned, nor had she sent any letters. Now that their daughter was returning, her long-cherished wish was finally coming true!
If she hadn't offered that terrible suggestion back then, their daughter wouldn't have had to marry into a fiefdom. She regretted it terribly now!
Having delivered her message, Zhao Jiaqi did not linger.
As time passed, the day of the eagerly awaited birthday celebration soon arrived. Although it was a fabricated event, the King's manor was more lively than if it were a real birthday!
The banquet was scheduled for the evening. The brothers who had come to the Inner City with Fan Zehao to open restaurants missed each other dearly. They had been so busy they were practically working their fingers to the bone. Seizing this excellent opportunity, they naturally wouldn't wait until evening. They arrived at the manor shortly after breakfast!
The owners of the four major restaurants in the Inner City gathered, laughing and chatting as if they were inseparable. To outsiders, this was utterly unbelievable!
After all, restaurant owners were fierce rivals. Who would have thought they would become such good friends!
This situation even surprised the emperors of several foreign countries.
They wondered what kind of charm the King's manor possessed that made these individuals so willing to follow him.
As time ticked by, night fell!
Carriages flowed incessantly towards the manor's entrance. Outside, Fan Xudong greeted the arriving guests. Inside, the steward busied himself entertaining guests while also keeping an eye on the servants, working so hard he looked like he was trying to scoop out his own brain!
And the most leisurely person of all was today's birthday boy, Fan Zehao!
At this moment, he was kneeling before Zhang Cuihua, offering her tea. For years, he had been busy with state affairs and had not shown filial piety to his mother, for which he felt deeply indebted.
"Mother, they say a child's birthday is a mother's day of hardship. You've worked hard!"
This was the first time in over thirty years she had heard such sentimental words from her son. Tears welled up in her eyes at that moment!
She helped her son up from the ground and looked at him, her affection growing with every glance. "What are you saying, son? Giving birth to you and raising you is what a mother should do. Fortunately, the hardships we endured those years are over. Now we have no worries about food or clothing, and I am very content. We owe a lot to your wife. You must never mistreat Qi Qi in the future, or I'll have no mercy on you!"
Fan Zehao recalled his childhood, how his mother would go hungry herself to give him the food she saved, and chew on bark. Tears almost fell, but he then heard his mother's admonition, and the tears vanished.
He complained, "Mother, I am your son. Why are you so good to Qi Qi? You don't even look at me. I don't dare to bully her; I don't even dare to speak loudly to her!"
Seeing his feigned grievance, Zhang Cuihua couldn't help but laugh and poke his head. "Why don't you say this to your wife instead of me? What are you complaining about? Without Qi Qi, our family wouldn't have prospered. Moreover, she has given you three children. You must not do anything that disrespects her, or I will not be polite to you!"
Fan Zehao looked at his mother's half-joking, half-serious expression, his eyebrows subtly rising!
He had spoken to her twice today, and both times the underlying meaning was the same, which left him a bit confused. However, he didn't press the issue. Instead, as he was leaving, he discreetly called aside the maid who served his mother.
In the inner garden, Fan Zehao sat in a pavilion, gazing at the blooming chrysanthemums, and questioned the person kneeling on the ground.
"You have served the old madam for several years, haven't you? Has the old madam met anyone recently? Or heard anything? Tell me truthfully!"
Bing Xin knelt on the ground, trembling. Hearing the King's question, she recounted everything in detail.
"Your Majesty, a few days ago, the old madam went to offer incense and met Madam Dong from the Inner City at the foot of the mountain. This servant overheard a few words. They said that the Dong family has a daughter who is both talented and beautiful, and she is quite famous among the young ladies of noble families in the Inner City. Suitors have trampled the threshold of her home. Madam Dong wanted to send her daughter to serve Your Majesty, but the old madam refused."
The Dong family?
Fan Zehao searched his mind but couldn't recall who the Dong family was.
Bing Xin saw her master's brow furrowed into eight folds and reminded him, "I heard the Dong family is in the cloth business and is related to the Li Yi family!"
Reminded by the maid, he still couldn't remember who it was, but that didn't matter. Anyone who dared to bully his wife must be eliminated!
Since this young lady was so eager to serve, he would find someone for her.
"You may go. Do not utter a single word of today's conversation to anyone, or you will die!"
Bing Xin's heart, liver, lungs, and spleen all quivered. Her body shook like a sieve. "This servant will not speak a word to anyone. I will surely keep silent. Your Majesty can rest assured!"
Fan Zehao glanced at her, then turned and walked out of the garden, heading towards the front hall.