Chapter 67 The Imperial Dinner

Everyone in Can City heard the news that Huo Liuyun, the Crown Prince of Can Kingdom, was going to host a dinner in the honor of the owner of Fengyun Firm. Till now, it was widely believed that Mister Zi Zhu was the owner of the influential firm. But it turned out that Mister Zi Zhu actually just worked for the actual boss.

Just like the common people, the officials also wanted to find out who the real owner of Fengyun Firm was. So, all of them made a point to attend the imperial dinner with their families. The princes of the other kingdoms who were in Can City also attended the dinner as they too wanted to be introduced to the real boss of the powerful firm.

It was not yet late in the evening, but many people had already arrived at the imperial palace.

The imperial dinner started on time, just as the sun set over the horizon.

"Dingguo Duke and Her Ladyship!" The sharp voice of the eunuch echoed within the Juxian Palace. Yun Yajun entered the main hall with his beloved wife. The officials immediately rose to greet the old couple.

Yun Yajun had retired years ago. He seldom attended any imperial dinners, let alone bring his wife, who was in poor health. As he entered the main hall, many officials surrounded him to chat with him.

As was the usual practice, people who had a stronger background arrived later than the officials at such imperial dinners.

At the Siyuan Palace...

Yun Canglan was drinking tea and teasing the two beautiful "servant girls".

"Mistress, the dinner has started, " Yun Qin urged Yun Canglan. He was surprised that a dinner of such grand scale was being organised for his Mistress. Reminding her of the status of the invited guests, he beseeched her not to be late.

Yun Canglan rolled her eyes at her subordinates and said in a voice dripping with contempt, "Do you know what a leading player is?"

Yun Qin and Yun Qi shook their heads and answered, "No, Mistress."

Yun Canglan smiled, shrugged her shoulders and said, "I'm the leading player of the imperial dinner tonight. Nobody can dare blame me for being late."

Yun Qin and Yun Qi were dumbstruck. They wondered why their Mistress was so shameless and kept everybody waiting.

At the Juxian Palace...

Many officials stood around Yun Yajun and Lin Wan'er and flattered them. Yun Yajun held his beloved wife in his arms and chatted with the guests.

"General Yun, how are you?" inquired one of the officials.

"Your Ladyship, you look exactly the same as you were years ago!" exclaimed one of the wives of the officials.

"My relative has sent me ginseng as a gift. Would you like to have it?" said another official eager to please the Huguo General.

"I have heard that the old General loves drinking Pu'er Tea. I have several boxes. May I please get some for you, " said another to ensure that he was not upped by his colleague.

...

Then there were other officials who were at odds with Yun Yajun. Wu Ci, Grand Preceptor of Can Kingdom was the unofficial leader of such officials.

Wu Ci joined the officials talking to the Huguo General. He first addressed Yun Yajun and said in disdain, "General Yun, you are as strong as you were years ago." He then turned to the officials and rumbled, "Fellows, why didn't you treat Shenyong General as politely as you did General Yun."

Hearing his words, the officials became quiet. Their wives became scared and hid behind their husbands. Yun Yajun took this opportunity to leave the crowd with his wife in tow. He seated his wife and then sat himself on his assigned chair.

Xue Ying, Shenyong General, sat beside him. Xue Ying had won several battles in recent years, which helped build a high reputation for him.

Yun Yajun now owned only a small part of the military in the Can Kingdom. Another small portion was owned by the Crown Prince. The remaining army was controlled by Xue Ying. He had been appointed by the Crown Prince.

have finally arrived!"

They rejoiced, stood up, knelt down and shouted, "Long Live Your Majesty! Long Live My Crown Prince!"

Huo Yang accepted their greeting and shook his hand. "Stand up, please, " he warmly said. Then looking around the assembled guests, he asked, "Who is Feng Yun'er?"

Huo Yang was still searching for the owner of Fengyun Firm, when Huo Liuyun, after quickly checking the hall, whispered in his ear, "Father, Feng Yun'er has not arrived yet."

Huo Yang was upset by Feng Yun'er's manners.

Outside the Juxian Palace, the eunuch stared at Yun Canglan, without uttering a single world. After a long time, he finally recovered his sanity and yelled, "Feng Yun'er is here!"

Yun Canglan glided into the palace. She was as graceful as a swimming dragon. She was so beautiful that the moon hid her face and the flowers blushed in shame at the sight of her. Her dazzling beauty made the fish sink and wild geese fall from the sky.

She was like a bright pearl that lit up the dark night; like the flowers that bloomed in the summer, attracting everyone's attention. When she walked, lotuses blossomed one by one under her foot.

She wore a white dress and looked as tempting as a white cloud in the cerulean sky. She was like a fairy, in whose presence nobody dared to breathe, lest it offended her. She didn't wear any makeup at all. Yet she had beautifully-shaped eyebrows, bright eyes and red lips. She was exceedingly fascinating and charming, just like a femme fatale.

But the pride in her bright eyes made her look like a fairy who had fallen from heaven. Everyone felt ashamed at his or her ungainly appearance.

She had a slender waist and a smooth neck. She attracted every man without doing anything, and made every lady jealous.

Even the princes could not remain unaffected by her charm. Yan Cangyue went blank. With eyes full of admiration and affection, he felt that he had fallen in love with Feng Yun'er at first sight.

Huo Liuyun was stunned by the white figure. When she cast a smiling glance at him, he was reminded of Yun Canglan.

Xi Zhiyao was drinking. Though there was no expression on his face, he fixed his eyes on her. He knew he was attracted to this lady.

Yang Gezhi narrowed his eyes. The tender smile on his face was frozen in place. He felt the lady was a thief and had stolen his heart.

Shui Minghan clenched his fists tightly. The protruding blue veins revealed the anger he felt. He wanted to kill everyone who looked at her with greed in their eyes. But when he looked at the white figure, his eyes filled with a sadness he could not describe.