Chapter 29: Birthday Banquet

The Luo Family Head was drinking tea in the main hall when she saw Consort Liu walking in, fuming with anger.

She paused her tea-drinking motion. “What’s the matter?”

Consort Liu sat in the second seat, full of resentment, and gritted his teeth. “What do you think? It’s all because of that bastard angering me.”

Hearing him say that, the Luo Family Head frowned, having a general idea. “He didn’t drink it?”

“No.” His eyes carried a venomous hatred. “He even mocked me. That bastard…”

“Did he notice?” The Luo Family Head became nervous. This wasn’t good.

Consort Liu hesitated for a moment and shook his head. “He shouldn’t have noticed… Only you and I know about drugging him, so how could he know?” He felt it made sense. “I think he just wanted to humiliate me.”

That’s right. The Luo Family Head let out a sigh of relief.

They naturally didn’t think that Luo Shaoxuan had a formidable dark horse like Qingpo by his side.

The Luo Family Head thought for a while and still decided to give up. “Forget it. Since it failed, let it be. We’ll strike again when there’s a chance in the future.”

Consort Liu nodded reluctantly. What else could be done? They couldn’t use force against that bastard now, which was truly hateful.

……

Time passed quickly. The entire Luo Family was now preparing for the Luo Family Head’s birthday banquet. The invitations had long been sent out.

After all, the Luo Family was the wealthiest family. Moreover, with the backing of the Commandery Princess, the invited guests were naturally some merchants and officials with status in the capital.

At this time, the guests had not yet arrived. The Luo Family was busy clearing space in the garden for the birthday banquet.

The Luo Family Head and Consort Liu had already adorned themselves in fine attire. Today was an extremely important day for them. After all, they had invited so many distinguished guests, and it was their primary goal to establish good relationships.

The Luo Family Head spread her arms and let the servant boy help her put on and fasten her clothes.

On the side, Consort Liu was also dressing up at the dressing table, meticulously arranging his hair.

The Luo Family Head raised her hand to adjust her collar and asked the servant boy beside her, “Where is the Second Miss?”

“Answering the Family Head, the Second Miss hasn’t returned yet.” The servant boy replied properly with his head lowered.

“What?” The Luo Family Head frowned tightly. Didn’t the letter say she would return before today? Had she gone crazy playing outside?

“Send someone to find her!” Her brows couldn’t help but be tinged with anxiety.

“Yes.” Just as he was about to withdraw, the Luo Family Head called out to him.

“Wait.”

Now was the time when people were needed. “No need to look for her. Tell them to quickly tidy up the place. The distinguished guests will arrive soon.”

“Yes.” After saying that, he withdrew.

Consort Liu turned around from the dressing table, his brows full of worry. “Didn’t Yi’er say she would return before today? Why hasn’t she returned yet?”

The Luo Family Head walked to the table and poured herself a cup of tea. “Hmph! She must be playing outside again, not knowing which year or month it is.” She picked up the tea and took a sip. Today was very important to her, and she didn’t have much time to deal with other matters.

But Consort Liu didn’t think so. He had a vague sense of unease in his heart. “Can’t you just send someone out to look for her again?”

“Look for what? We don’t even know where she’s staying now. Besides, the residence needs manpower right now.”

“Are these things more important or our daughter more important? What if something happens to her? What do you expect me to do?” He started to wipe his tears.

The Luo Family Head didn’t feel any affection for his tears. After being with him for so many years, how could he still be so unaware? She looked at him with annoyance. “Alright, alright, why are you crying? Today is a joyous day. Don’t cry as if someone died. It’s unlucky.”

“If she still hasn’t returned today, I’ll send someone to look for her. What can be done in such a hurry?”

With that, she flicked her sleeve and walked out of the bedroom.

Consort Liu watched her back with a resentful gaze, feeling only sadness. Now, Luo Kangying only had her wealth and power in her heart, and nothing else.

…

The birthday banquet area in the garden had already been set up. Tables and chairs were arranged on both sides, waiting for the distinguished guests to be seated.

Those attending the birthday banquet also arrived one after another. The butler was carefully receiving them on the side, afraid of offending these people.

On the other side, after entering, Mu Yueshi didn’t go to the banquet area but directly went to find Luo Shaoxuan. She stood outside the courtyard of Luo Shaoxuan’s bedroom, waiting for the servant boy to announce her arrival.

The servant boy reached the bedroom door and knocked.

“Who is it?” The voice inside was indifferent.

“Young Master, Commandery Princess Mu has come to invite you to the birthday banquet together.”

“I know. I’ll be there in a moment.”

“Yes.”

With that, he turned around, left the courtyard, and conveyed the message to Mu Yueshi outside. “The Young Master asked the Commandery Princess to wait for a moment.”

Mu Yueshi nodded, looking at him with a faint smile on her lips.

The servant boy’s face immediately flushed red, and he shyly glanced at her before standing to the side.

“Are you Xuan’er’s personal servant boy?” Mu Yueshi looked at him directly. This servant boy had quite a charming appearance.

The servant boy’s cheeks turned even redder. “This servant is only responsible for attending to the Young Master’s daily life. I’m not the Young Master’s personal servant boy. The Young Master is accustomed to being alone and doesn’t like others being close to him.”

Mu Yueshi nodded. It indeed sounded like Xuan’er’s habit. She didn’t find it strange.

A figure appeared at the corner of her eye. Mu Yueshi looked over and was stunned, overcome with amazement.

She saw Luo Shaoxuan wearing white inner clothes today, with a light purple outer robe. His figure was tall and slender. The black hair on both sides of his face was tied back with a light purple hair ribbon. His skin was like ice and jade, his eyes were narrow and long, and his features were like a painting.

Mu Yueshi greedily looked at Luo Shaoxuan in front of her. In not too long, this noble and incomparably beautiful person would be hers. Thinking of this, it made it even more difficult for her to control the fervor in her heart.

Luo Shaoxuan coldly glanced at the person staring at him with burning eyes. He simply wanted to gouge out her eyes.

“Didn’t the Commandery Princess say she wanted to go to the birthday banquet with Shaoxuan?”

“Ah, yes, yes, let’s go quickly then.” She came back to her senses and put away her scorching gaze. She showed him a smile that she thought was suave and charming, and she stepped forward, wanting to touch him.

However, Luo Shaoxuan dodged by walking forward. He said indifferently, “Then let’s go.” With that, he walked ahead, leaving her with his cold back.

Mu Yueshi watched his back, clenching her fists. There was a sense of unwillingness in her eyes. She comforted herself. Even if Luo Shaoxuan was aloof, so what? He would soon be hers. At that time, she would be his heaven and earth. Let’s see how he could still remain aloof then.

After thinking that, she quickly walked up to him and walked side by side with him. She still tried to strike up a conversation with him. “Xuan’er, have you prepared the birthday gift for the Luo Family Head?”

Luo Shaoxuan nodded without saying anything.

Birthday gift?

Luo Shaoxuan curled his lips. Of course, he had thought of a gift that would definitely give her a “pleasant surprise.”

By the time the two of them arrived at the birthday banquet area, everyone had already gathered. Their appearance drew the gazes of everyone present.

Moreover, most people were looking at Luo Shaoxuan with amazement, forgetting to pay respects to the Commandery Princess beside him for a moment.

The Luo Family Head was the first to come over, while Consort Liu followed behind her. He came up to Mu Yueshi and cupped his hands. “It’s the Luo Family’s honor to have the Commandery Princess grace us with her presence at the birthday banquet.”

The people sitting on both sides also stood up and bowed to Mu Yueshi.

Mu Yueshi placed one hand in front of her body and the other behind her back. She slightly raised her head and nodded to them. “Today is the Luo Family Head’s birthday banquet. There’s no need for everyone to be so formal. Please sit.”

Everyone nodded and sat down one after another.

The Luo Family Head gestured for her to sit in the top side seat, while Luo Shaoxuan sat beside Mu Yueshi.

The Luo Family Head and Consort Liu returned to their seats. She picked up her wine cup, her voice loud and her face beaming. “Thank you all for giving face and coming to attend my birthday banquet. I toast everyone here.”

With that, she downed the wine in one gulp.

Everyone raised their own wine cups to the Luo Family Head.

The butler standing at the back gestured towards the courtyard gate. The arranged performers walked to the empty space in the center and started dancing. They were light and graceful, with enchanting and heavy makeup on their faces.

Although the heavy makeup made it difficult to discern their appearances, it didn’t hinder everyone’s enthusiasm. Even Mu Yueshi watched with interest.

It was said that this group of performers was the most prominent one in the capital. The price to invite them must have been a five-figure sum. The Luo Family was indeed willing to spend.

In contrast to the others, Luo Shaoxuan had a lack of interest on his face. He lazily propped his cheek with one hand and picked up a grape, placing it in his mouth. His eyes looked at the group of dancing people with boredom.

After one dance ended, the performers withdrew.

The people on the side still had a look of lingering interest as they watched them leave.

The Luo Family Head raised her wine cup to hide her curled smile and swept her gaze over everyone’s expressions. She downed the wine in one gulp.

Putting down the wine cup, she said to everyone, “Everyone, eat if you want to eat, drink if you want to drink. Don’t be restrained.”

A merchant raised his wine cup, looking towards the Luo Family Head, and declared loudly, “Being able to attend the Luo Family Head’s birthday banquet is also Liu’s honor. Liu hereby wishes the Luo Family Head the brilliance of the sun and moon, and the longevity of the pine and crane.” With that, he downed the wine in his hand.

Another person also raised his wine cup. “I also wish the Luo Family Head success in all endeavors and smooth sailing in all matters.”

They started offering congratulations one by one. Luo Shaoxuan swept a bored glance at them. They were truly dull to the extreme.

On the side, Mu Yueshi gestured to the subordinate behind her to take out a gold and red gift box. When opened, it revealed a lingzhi mushroom inside.

Everyone present instantly gasped.

Lingzhi mushrooms were rare treasures, difficult to obtain even with a thousand gold pieces.

Mu Yueshi curled her lips into a smile. “This is the birthday gift I present to the Luo Family Head. Please accept it with a smile, Luo Family Head.”

The Luo Family Head’s eyes practically glowed as she looked at the lingzhi mushroom in the box, her face flushed with excitement. “Good, good, good. Thank you for the Commandery Princess’s birthday gift. I like it very much.”

With slightly trembling hands from excitement, she took the lingzhi mushroom.

Luo Shaoxuan watched from the side, seeing her red face filled with excitement, and coldly smiled.

The scene was lively, with everyone chatting and flattering each other. Suddenly, someone who had been paying attention to Luo Shaoxuan spoke up. “I have long heard that the Luo Family’s Young Master excels in all arts, especially in zither playing. I wonder if I have the fortune to listen to a piece?”

Saying that, her eyes stared straight at Luo Shaoxuan, directly forgetting about Mu Yueshi beside him.

Not only did Mu Yueshi’s expression turn unpleasant, even the Luo Family Head’s expression wasn’t good. This person was truly a fool. Who didn’t know that Luo Shaoxuan was Mu Yueshi’s husband-to-be? How dare she ask like this?

Although Mu Yueshi’s expression was unpleasant, she didn’t directly reprimand her. Instead, she looked at Luo Shaoxuan on the side to see his reaction.

Facing their gazes, Luo Shaoxuan remained calm and composed as he took a sip of tea. His voice was cold and magnetic. “Today, Shaoxuan’s hands are inconvenienced. I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint.”

Although it wasn’t apparent that his hands were inconvenienced in any way, the person’s friend kept giving her eye signals until she realized the foolish thing she had just done.

She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and smiled apologetically. “Then it’s my misfortune. I was being presumptuous.” With that, she sat down, not daring to look around carelessly again.

Mu Yueshi no longer had the previous anger. She looked at Luo Shaoxuan beside her with a face full of affection, feeling that he had refused for her sake, greatly satisfying her vanity.