The grand banquet hall on the second floor of the Red Rose Hotel is magnificently decorated with lights and colors.
The exquisite birthday cake that is two people tall looks like a snow-white dream tower, decorated with flowers, which is very beautiful.
Today is the 30th birthday of the First Lady of Shengjing, Lady Audrey, wife of Baron Rodson, the chief director of the Municipal Council.
Shengjing was crowded with celebrities, and almost all the top figures were present.
Lady Audrey was born into a prominent family in the imperial capital. Her father had once fallen from power and was briefly exiled here, but now her family has been reused.
However, Baron Rodson has been suffering from bronchitis since he married his second wife, which has nothing to do with the rise in status of his wife's family.
Everyone knew that one didn't have to flatter Baron Rodson, but if one offended Lady Audrey, one would have difficulty taking a single step in Shengjing, especially since Lady Audrey herself was sarcastic, unforgiving, vindictive, and extremely petty.
Inside the MC's office, on the long table, there were a dazzling array of various valuable gifts. Giving a gift to Mrs. Audrey really required a lot of thought. Not only did it have to be valuable, but it also had to be tasteful. Both were indispensable, otherwise it would likely backfire.
The atmosphere became even more lively when Mrs. Audrey appeared in the hall wearing a gorgeous silver puffy skirt.
She was indeed very beautiful, with the unique lazy and extravagant aura of a female aristocrat. Her hair was tall and gorgeously decorated with snow-white feathers, her waist was abnormally thin and must have required the efforts of several maids to tie it tightly, and her gorgeous puffy skirt was like a giant umbrella. It reminded Lu Ming of the extravagant and decadent French female aristocrats in the TV series Marie Antoinette that he had watched before.
There are many rumors about Lady Audrey's family in the Northern Territory, and the current situation in the Imperial Capital is unclear.
Lu Ming knew that Audrey's family was actually Sonya. The Kingdom of Sonya, with the second prince as the king, had indeed re-employed the family. Mrs. Audrey's father was appointed Minister of Works in the Cabinet of the Kingdom of Sonya.
However, if the Kingdom of Sonia really wants to interfere in the affairs of the Northern Territory, it is even more impossible, as there is a vast area in the southwest and central regions centered on the imperial capital which is actually controlled by the eldest prince.
At this time, Lu Ming was sitting in the corner, which was out of tune with the warm and festive atmosphere here.
Hovers squeezed through the crowd for a long time and finally found him. He smiled bitterly and said, "Brother, you..."
Lu Ming was invited by Hovers, the owner of the Red Rose Hotel and the organizer of Mrs. Audrey's birthday party this year.
Originally, I thought that this was the last rare opportunity, and I hoped that Brother Zhang could smooth over the relationship with Mrs. Audrey. Once he could win Mrs. Audrey's favor, things would turn around.
The wife of the fat man, Bidour, who was beaten to death, was born to Baron Rodson's ex-wife. Lady Audrey always disliked this stepdaughter and son-in-law.
Therefore, Mrs. Audrey's birthday is a good opportunity. As long as we can make Mrs. Audrey happy, everything will be fine.
But unexpectedly, this brother Zhang only sent a birthday card.
Hovers looked at Lu Ming with a wry smile, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Lu Ming smiled at him: "Actually, I didn't want to come, but I wanted to take a look at some of the people here and study their current mentality, so I came." Patting Hovers on the shoulder, he said meaningfully: "Old Ho, there may be huge changes here, but don't worry, you won't be in too much trouble with me here."
Hovers was stunned for a moment and asked, "What huge change?" When it comes to the most accurate intelligence for evaluating various parties, the Black Mountain system is already very famous in the Northern Territory.
Lu Ming smiled and was about to speak when a middle-aged man with a beard and a suit slowly walked over.
Hovers knew him. He was the representative of Japan in the Municipal Council, Kawamoto Masayoshi. At the same time, Kawamoto Masayoshi was also the minister of the Kingdom of Japan stationed in Shengjing.
Hovers smiled and raised his glass, "Minister Kawamoto."
Kawamoto Masayoshi raised the tall glass in his hand and gestured to him, then smiled at Lu Ming: "Commissioner Zhang."
Lu Ming nodded slightly.
Kawamoto is a big family name in Japan, but recently most of the upper-class Japanese people with the last name Kawamoto in the Northern Territory are from Okuetsu Province.
In Nanping, the young master Kawamoto who was killed by Qing'e was from the family of Lord Kawamoto of Okugoshimichi.
Okugoshi Michikawamotoie was one of the powerful men in Kansai and a staunch supporter of expansionism within the Kansai Army.
The Japanese troops stationed in Haixi came from the 15th Division of the Japanese Army, which was actually the Okuetsudo Division.
However, there was no hatred towards him in Kawamoto Masayoshi's eyes.
After all, the Japanese were planning something big in Shengjing, and they had secretly informed "General Lu" through Asaba Yoshiko.
In the eyes of the Japanese, the planned matters should not conflict with the ambitions of "General Lu", and they can even become temporary allies.
But "General Lu" did not comment, so Asaba Yoshiko did not say anything further.
But from what Asaba Yoshiko revealed, he had already vaguely guessed what might happen in Shengjing.
However, it is still difficult to judge when and how it will happen.
"General Lu" just promised and would not interfere.
"Commissioner Zhang, I'm sorry for being wronged recently. I hope we can have pleasant cooperation one day!" Kawamoto Masayoshi smiled and clinked glasses with Lu Ming.
Hovers was just listening to the polite words, but Lu Ming knew that there was something else behind the little Rendan's nonsense.
"This is Commissioner Zhang." A sarcastic voice came from the side, and the speaker was the opium king James.
Next to James stood a handsome middle-aged man, who was Paley, one of the three Western directors of the Municipal Council.
Horton, the boss of Guanglifa who was sued in the Montenegro Concession Court, is Pali's brother-in-law.
At this time, Horton also followed Pali.
Hovers looked at these people, his face changed slightly, and he quietly turned and entered the crowd. After all, he still had to stay in this circle.
"Zhang, tell me, what does it have to do with you if I don't hire people from Anshan? What does it have to do with your Concession Court?!" Horton's face was full of anger. After all, he had been turned down several times when he politely asked Commissioner Zhang to meet him. Now that this guy was not willing to die, it was not just his problem. He just wanted to vent his anger.
Pali said coldly, "I suggest that Commissioner Zhang re-evaluate the extraterritoriality of the Montenegro Concession Court. Legal issues also depend on regional customs. They are not universally applicable!"
James nodded and said, "That's right."
Lu Ming shook his wine glass. The difference between Westerners and Orientals is that they are not so reserved. They are more willing to attack with words. When faced with such a good opportunity, they will rush forward and vent their resentment.
After all, congressmen have resolved issues through duels before.
A circle of people soon gathered around.
Lu Ming smiled: "Okay, it's time for me to go too!" Seeing Kawamoto Masayoshi's behavior, and seeing that these Westerners still had the leisure to attack him, he knew that everything was a foregone conclusion, and he could go back and make arrangements to strive for the greatest interests of the Montenegro Special Administrative Region.
"You are Commissioner Zhang!" It was a tender and pleasant Western language, but Lu Ming could understand it now.
It was Mrs. Audrey, a noble and beautiful lady in a gorgeous silver dress, who walked over, surrounded by a group of beautiful ladies, like the moon surrounded by stars.
She stared at Lu Ming with her deep sapphire eyes, her pretty face full of disgust, "Please leave now, you are not welcome here, and you are not my guest!"
There was warm applause all around.
Unknowingly, the Montenegrin people and their leader, Commissioner Zhang, became the most hated people by the Western community.
Perhaps it is because they are not used to the fact that there is a group that has greater privileges than them, and even that group’s court can convict them for no reason, just because you may have offended that group unintentionally.
Lu Ming smiled and said to Mrs. Audrey, "Happy birthday!" He placed the wine glass on the waiter's plate and turned to leave.
Behind him, there were even more enthusiastic cheers and applause. In the eyes of Westerners, there was probably no greater humiliation for an upper-class person than being driven away like this.
Lu Ming shook his head helplessly. If a group of people is accustomed to luxury, then even if danger is approaching, it will be difficult to arouse their vigilance.