On Qining's wedding, there were naturally not a few people who came to congratulate and attend the wedding banquet. Fortunately, the Duke Protector's Mansion was spacious enough, with hundreds of tables in total. These banquets were arranged by the fifth master of the Qi family, and the important officials in the court naturally It is an elegant seat in the inner hall. According to the official position, the position of sitting is naturally very particular.
All the officials were also familiar with this set of rules. By the time the seats were arranged, the sky had already darkened.
The members of the Qi family and the servants in the mansion were naturally busy greeting the guests. Duan Canghai was afraid that some unscrupulous people would come to destroy the house at this time, so he led his people to guard around the Duke's mansion to protect the safety of the guests. Xue Lingfeng from Shenying also came to attend the wedding banquet. To ensure nothing went wrong, he also mobilized troops to patrol around the Duke's Mansion.
During the banquet, everyone was chatting and laughing, and everyone was full of joy.
As the master of the Duke's Mansion and the groom's official, Qi Ning had to toast between tables. In fact, his drinking capacity was not very high. Everyone also knew that the little Duke would not be able to even walk in the bridal chamber tonight, let alone the bridal chamber. It was a problem, so they were considerate and only asked Qining to drink less. But even so, after more than a dozen tables, Qining was already a little drunk.
When we arrived at Xue Lingfeng's table, most of them were military generals. Even Qu Yanzhi from the Black Knife Battalion also came to attend the wedding banquet. The military generals drank very simply. Qi Ning just held the cup, and the general picked up the wine bowl and raised his head to drink. , Qi Ning complained in his heart. He knew that he had to be more polite with those civil servants, but these military men were straight-forward. They would drink a bowl of wine, and if you only took a small sip, you would inevitably be looked down upon.
He suddenly thought that he was full of energy. After drinking three glasses of wine, Xue Lingfeng laughed and asked Qining to take a few bites of food to slow down. After Qining sat down, he put one hand underneath, While he was joking with everyone, he secretly used his strength to force the drink out of his hand. He originally just wanted to see if it could work, but who knew it turned out to be very smooth. The alcohol flowed out along his finger. Everyone here was unaware of it. It only took a moment. Over time, Qining's drunkenness gradually disappeared, but he felt much more awake.
Qi Ning was very happy, secretly thinking that with this method, even if he paid tribute a few times tonight, he would still be safe.
At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a scene not far away. He saw a banquet table near the corner, but it was Chen Mukuan and Zhu Yuchen, a group of wealthy businessmen. He knew that this was Yuan Rong following his instructions. Several people were invited over, but these people were just businessmen with low status. Those present today were all officials from the court. Any one of them could step on those people, so the seats arranged were very remote.
He knew that the seats were arranged according to status. Although he didn't care who was higher or lower, he followed the locals and if he broke the rules, it would inevitably make many people unhappy. Seeing those people sitting there deserted On the other side, the situation was really embarrassing. Just as he was thinking about the past, he saw Chen Mukuan, the eldest son of Weitang Porcelain, suddenly stood up, holding a wine bottle in his hand and a wine glass in the other hand. He walked to the next table and asked The officials at the next table said something with a smile, then put down the wine bottle and held the cup with both hands, as if they were toasting to those officials.
The officials who could sit next to Chen Mukuan were naturally not that high in status, but none of them looked at Chen Mukuan. They were all talking and laughing by themselves, leaving Chen Mukuan aside. Chen Mukuan drank a glass of wine and left. The bottom of the cup was shown to the officials, but no one even glanced at it, which did not give Chen Mukuan any dignity.
Qi Ning frowned slightly. When Chen Mukuan saw that everyone was ignoring them, he was a little embarrassed and looked sad. He picked up the bottle of wine and turned back to his seat. Qi Ning looked over from a distance and saw anger on the faces of Zhu Yuchen and others. Colorful, but more helpless.
Qi Ning knew that Chen Mukuan and others must have discussed it, and the table was too deserted. He wanted to go over to toast people and liven up the atmosphere, but who knew that he would be humiliating himself.
Although Qi Ning did not know much about the nature of Chen Mukuan and others, he had had contact with these people. Although they were all descendants of wealthy businessmen, these people were also very particular about their work and had clear grievances. On the contrary, many people present Officials were always busy and like grass on the wall, which made Qining despise him from the bottom of his heart.
Xue Lingfeng saw what Qi Ning saw and knew it well. Suddenly she saw Qi Ning getting up and walking over there.
Yuan Rong had many friends. Although he had no official status, his grandfather was the Minister of Rites and his father was also a clerk in the Ministry of Rites. He also had a close personal relationship with Qi Ning. Therefore, when arranging the banquet, Yuan Rong's seat was not low, and he was not on Chen Mukuan's side. .
Chen Mukuan and others were feeling sad when they suddenly heard a voice laughing: "You guys, do you think the dishes are to your liking?"
The three of them followed the sound and saw Qining walking over with a wine glass in hand. The three of them were startled and stood up one after another. However, Qining pressed his palms and motioned for the three of them to sit down. The three of them looked at each other, but nothing happened. Dare to sit down.
Qi Ning sat down next to Chen Mukuan, patted Chen Mukuan on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Mr. Chen, we haven't seen each other for a while. I was busy thinking about a few things a few days ago. I don't know if we can make it in time." Came over here, I was very happy to see the three of you here today, come here, come here, fill up the wine."
When Chen Mukuan was toasting just now, the officials at the table next to him ignored him. When they saw Qi Ning going over to toast in person, they were all dumbfounded.
After these officials sat down, they naturally did not know Chen Mukuan and others. However, they were attending a wedding banquet in the Duke's Mansion today. They were either rich or noble. Naturally, they asked about it and learned that Chen Mukuan and others were from merchants. They despised them in their hearts. I don’t think that these merchants have anything to do with the Duke, but I think that there are many people from the Qi clan running shops in the capital. Maybe they are just business partners of the Qi clan, and they came to attend the wedding banquet in order to please the Duke.
Chen Mukuan toasted. These officials knew his identity, so they would not pretend to be polite.
After Chen Mukuan and the others sat down, the surprised expressions on their faces had not dissipated. After all, they knew very well that today Qi Ning was the only Duke of the empire and a favorite of the emperor. It was lucky to be able to attend today's wedding banquet. With my own status, I would never have dreamed that the Duke of the Kingdom could come to toast him in person.
"My lord, we...!" Chen Mukuan didn't know what to say for a moment, with a look of gratitude on his face.
People's hearts are made of flesh. Chen Mukuan and others attended the wedding banquet today and were looked down upon by all the officials. They all knew it well. If it were any other occasion, they would have left long ago, but after all, this must be taken into consideration. For Ning's sake, he forced himself to hold back, but Chen Mukuan was ignored when he toasted. Naturally, several people felt greatly aggrieved, but they were helpless. At this time, Qi Ning came over, and the grievances in their hearts disappeared immediately.
Jiang Cheng from Songjiang Tea House had already picked up the wine pot, and several people poured the wine. They all stood up and said to Qining: "It is the wedding of the Duke, we... We are lucky to be able to participate in the banquet. We are lucky for the rest of our lives. May the Duke be happy with you." Madam, let's grow old together!" The three of them drank the wine in the cup. Qining laughed and drank it all in one gulp. Then he smiled and said: "There are many guests today. If there is a place where the hospitality is not good, please be considerate. I'll have a few drinks with you some other day." He smiled and bowed his hands to the others before leaving.
The officials nearby changed their expressions even more, thinking that it was really extraordinary that the Duke of the State called these merchants brothers. From the names, it can be seen that the relationship between these people and the Duke of the State is very good.
Several officials gathered together and whispered a few words, then they all stood up and came over with cups in hand, all with smiles on their faces. Chen Mukuan and others knew this well, and although they were disgusted in their hearts, they all stood up with smiles on their faces.
"It turns out that these few are friends of the Duke." An official said with a smile: "Why didn't you tell me earlier? Come on, come on, let's all drink from this cup. If any of you are useful in the future, just ask."
"Yes, you are the Duke's friends, then you are our friends." One person said shamelessly: "Today we want to drink a few more drinks and keep us drunk. Come on, I'll do it first as a token of respect."
Another official had already sat down at the empty seat at the table and said with a smile: "What kind of business do these brothers do? I work as an errand in the Ministry of Household Affairs. Maybe there is something I can do to help, so we might as well have a chat."
Chen Mukuan and the other two people just felt relaxed and funny for a moment, but they were all thinking in their hearts. Yuan Rong was entrusted by Xiao Guogong to see Haibosi. If Xiaoguogong was so righteous today, then Haiposi's affairs are his own. In the future, I will definitely support the little government official in handling this matter.
Qi Ning naturally saw the officials approaching him as soon as he left, and sneered in his heart. He knew that as long as he went over to toast a glass of wine, those officials would not dare to look down on Chen Mukuan and others. Chen Mukuan and others were invited by himself, so naturally they could not be allowed to do so. Be wronged.
This night, the Duke Protector's Mansion was naturally the busiest place in the entire capital. Although Qining used his internal strength to force out the wine, there were so many guests that he still felt a little dizzy and uncomfortable. He secretly left the banquet, and the officials Dadu was also a little drunk, so naturally he would not go looking for where the little prince had gone.
Qi Ning, a little drunk, walked towards Dongyuan. As he was walking through a patch of flowers, he suddenly heard a voice coming from the side: "O Chou, be obedient. After eating this cake, go back and have a good sleep. Today is the wedding of the Duke." On a busy day, you can’t run around and scare the guests.”
Qi Ning was a little strange. He walked around and took a look. Under the moonlight, he saw a strange man in a black cloak sitting on the grass, holding a piece of pastry and devouring it. A maidservant squatted beside him, holding a fragrant cheek in one hand. , looking at the strange man in black cloak.
The big man in the black cloak seemed to have heard the noise and raised his head. When he saw Qi Ning under the moonlight, he immediately grinned, got up, and brought half of the pastry to Qi Ning's mouth.
Qi Ning knew that he meant well. Ever since this strange man in black cloak entered the Hou Mansion, his greatest pleasure was eating. Fortunately, the Qi family was very careful about his food, allowing the big man in black cloak to share his food. It can also be seen that this weirdo really takes himself very seriously.
He knew that although the big man in the black cloak was not very smart, he still knew what was good. The strange man in the black cloak remembered that he had saved him in the first place, and that he had brought him back to the Hou Mansion, so that he could live without worries about food and clothing.
The maid also got up, saw Qi Ning, and hurriedly came over to salute. Qi Ning recognized it as Su Lan. In this huge mansion, apart from Qi Ning, the only other strange man would only listen to Su Lan's words.
"I've just eaten, you can eat it yourself." Qining said with a smile: "If you like to eat, ask Miss Sulan for it. I will make sure you eat enough."
The strange man said "Ah", turned around, looked at Su Lan, and said with a smile: "Lan Lan... Lan Lan...!" Although he looked ugly, he looked innocent and innocent.