“Hmph! Minister Li, if you hadn't appeared, I would have thought this was a deliberate ploy by my King, meant to humiliate him.”
Long Yi sneered from the side. Li Xiaotian didn't seem angered, but Long Yi, as his subordinate, was already bursting with impatience. Had Li Xiaotian not held him back, Long Yi would have already been on a rampage.
“Heh, Lord Long Yi, you jest. How could I possibly do such a thing? What benefit would that bring to me or to Great Qin?”
Li Shanhai forced a wry smile, inwardly relieved that Li Xiaotian had only brought Long Yi. If the commanders of the Dragon King Hall had accompanied them, the entire capital might have descended into chaos that night.
“Jest? Hmph! I am not jesting. Minister Li, before you arrived, these people were quite arrogant.”
Long Yi snorted coldly and continued.
“Just a moment ago, when we presented our invitations to enter the banquet, certain trash claimed our invitations were stolen, and that we were not qualified to be here!”
As he spoke, all the Zhao family members present felt a cold sweat break out. Long Yi’s words were clearly directed at their Zhao family.
“The Zhao family admits guilt! We were blind before, and deserve death!” The Zhao family patriarch spoke quickly, his heart filled with anxiety. As for Zhao Lu, who had been so boisterous moments ago, her face was terrifyingly pale, and she dared not utter a word. At this moment, they finally knew true fear.
Li Shanhai cast a cold glance at the Zhao family patriarch, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple.
“Furthermore, a certain woman, relying on her husband being a War God, declared that even if our invitations were genuine, she would still drive us out and punish whoever gave us the invitations!” Long Yi continued.
“Hmm?” Li Shanhai suddenly looked at Long Batian. Seeing this, Long Batian immediately turned and slapped Lin Chu behind him, roaring.
“Wench, why aren't you quickly apologizing to Mr. Li!”
A trace of blood flowed from Lin Chu’s lips. Her face was pale, and she trembled as she spoke.
“Mr. Li, my daughter knows her crime. I beg Mr. Li for forgiveness.”
“Long Yi, enough!” Li Xiaotian said calmly, halting Long Yi, who was about to continue their reckoning. He had to give Li Shanhai some face.
“Yes, my King!” Long Yi responded respectfully.
The entire venue fell silent. Everyone present dared not make a sound. They had thought they had overestimated Li Xiaotian’s standing, but who could have imagined that one of his subordinates would dare to speak to Li Shanhai so casually, and that Li Shanhai would greet him with a smile?
This revealed that Li Xiaotian’s status was far more terrifying than they had imagined, to an unimaginable degree.
Behind Li Xiaotian, Ye Qingmei and Fang Yuan had been frozen in place since Li Shanhai’s appearance. They had never expected that Li Xiaotian’s invitation had indeed come from Li Shanhai, and that Li Xiaotian’s earlier words were not a joke.
Fang Yuan, in particular, felt her heart churn like a stormy sea. She had lived in the capital for many years and was very aware of the city’s rules.
Li Shanhai was like a celestial being to all the aristocratic families, yet who would have thought that such a figure would be so respectful before Li Xiaotian!
Thinking of this, Fang Yuan couldn't help but feel a surge of secret joy and excitement. Li Xiaotian was her daughter's son-in-law!
“Minister Li.” Li Xiaotian looked at Li Shanhai.
“Yes!”
“You hosted this banquet to welcome me, and I accept your kind gesture. However, the festivities have been spoiled by a swarm of flies tonight, and I have no appetite to attend further. We shall take our leave now.” Li Xiaotian said calmly, then, taking Ye Qingmei’s hand, prepared to depart.
“Mr. Li, how should these people be dealt with?” Li Shanhai asked quickly as he saw this.
Li Xiaotian turned back to look at Li Shanhai, smiled slightly, and then said, “Since you have already pleaded for them, let’s forget tonight’s events.”
After speaking, Li Xiaotian turned and left. Everyone in the venue looked at Li Xiaotian’s final words with confusion.
Li Shanhai pleaded for Long Batian and the others? What was going on? They had already made Long Batian and the others kneel and confess; where was the pleading?
Perhaps only Li Shanhai and Jiang Hai understood the reason, because if Li Xiaotian were to deal with Long Batian and the others, he would surely kill them all!
As soon as Li Shanhai arrived at the venue, he had Long Batian and the others kneel and confess. While it appeared to be a punishment, it was in fact protection.
This was why Long Yi was indignant, and why Li Xiaotian chose to leave.
Li Shanhai smiled wryly, unsure if he had done the right thing. But there were too many people present tonight, and Long Batian was his capable subordinate. Moreover, the Li family was one of the three top aristocratic families of the Great Qin Empire. If all these people were killed by Li Xiaotian, it would undoubtedly cause a stir the next day.
This was all he could do. As for the grievances between the Li family and Li Xiaotian, Li Shanhai did not dare to interfere, no matter how bold he was. It depended on whether Li Weihai could react afterwards; if he remained unrepentant, then the Li family’s destruction would be their own doing.
“You may all rise! The War God Banquet will continue!” Li Shanhai said to the kneeling Long Batian and the others, his tone icy.
Long Batian and the others all rose, their expressions complex. They had suffered a great humiliation tonight.
“Minister Li, the Li family bids farewell!” Li Weihai said coldly. Without waiting for Li Shanhai’s response, he turned and left with his family.
The Li family was truly enraged this time, not only hating Li Xiaotian even more but also extending that hatred to Li Shanhai.
Li Shanhai smiled mockingly at this. It seemed the Li family had been in a high position for too long, to the point that Old Master Li Weihai had misunderstood his good intentions tonight.
Fine, if the Li family was gone, then let it be gone. The Great Qin Empire was never short of aristocratic families! Li Shanhai sneered.
The War God Banquet continued afterwards, but everyone present was distracted. After all, the true protagonist had left, and having watched a night of drama, everyone was eager to return and inform their families.
At the same time, a common question lingered in everyone's minds: what was Li Xiaotian’s true identity? What was his background?
The Zhao family also left in disgrace, their faces etched with either regret or despair.
The eyes of the various aristocratic families present turned towards the Zhao family with mockery and scorn. After all, Li Xiaotian was originally considered a son-in-law of the Zhao family, but the Zhao family had been too haughty, thus missing the opportunity to align with Li Xiaotian.
After leaving the hotel, Old Master Zhao walked ahead, his figure dejected and his face despondent. The members of the Zhao family all lowered their heads, without any hatred, only regret in their hearts.
“Our Zhao family could have prospered, but we ourselves ruined this opportunity. Alas!” Old Master Zhao sighed, a bitter smile on his face.
“Should we send someone to contact Aunt Fang tomorrow? If our Zhao family sincerely apologizes, I believe Li Xiaotian will surely give us a chance.” someone suggested in a low voice.