It really couldn't be blamed on Liang Xiong.
Who would have thought that Xiao Jingnan had been in poor health since childhood and rarely went out?
Later, when Xiao Jingnan grew a bit older and went to the military camp in the Southern Border for experience, Liang Xiong had already been transferred to the Northwest.
Moreover, Xiao Jingnan hadn't stayed in the military for a few years.
On the one hand, the Princess of Ning was worried about her only son and was homesick in the capital city every day, almost in tears. On the other hand, the Prince of Ning had an old injury on his leg flare up and had to leave the front line.
So, even in the military, not many people knew Xiao Jingnan.
Otherwise, after half a day had passed, there wouldn't have been no one to remind Liang Xiong that the person he had been bossing around was actually the Heir of the Prince of Ning...
Liang Xiong opened his mouth in surprise. "You, you are..."
Xiao Jingnan smiled. "I'm Cheng Liqing, a commoner."
Liqing, with the surname Cheng... Wasn't this obvious enough?
He had made it clear during his self - introduction just now!
"O, o..."
Liang Xiong came to his senses, his face flushing red. He immediately invited Xiao Jingnan in. "You... Please take a seat of honor!"
Li Wanming still thought it inappropriate and was about to decline, but was already being ushered in by the crowd.
"Lady Cheng, take a seat!"
"General Feng loves the people like his own children. Under his command, commoners always sit at the main table..."
"That's right! General Li, Lady Cheng, you can just sit here at ease."
Li Rusong watched as his in - law and son - in - law took the seats in the middle of the hall, while high - ranking officials and generals such as the Minister of War, the Cloud Banner General, and the Huaihua General were sitting on both sides, smiling.
Li Rusong thought something was off no matter how he looked at it. He was also pressed into a seat on Li Wanming's right, but he felt extremely uncomfortable.
"Daughter..."
"Father, since we're here, let's make the most of it."
Hearing her calm tone, Li Rusong suddenly felt a bit proud. "My daughter is so calm. She truly has the demeanor of a great general."
Li Wanming thought to herself, Father, you don't understand.
If you had beaten the Drum of Admonition, stripped the clothes of all the young ladies in the city, been invited by the emperor to a banquet in the Jingyi Palace, and sworn brotherhood with the Cloud Banner General... you would be as calm as I am.
However, Li Wanming overestimated herself.
When she saw General Feng Yuanji come in and take the second - seat next to her father - in - law, her eyes almost popped out.
This, this, this... General Feng is here, and they don't even give up their seats?
Is her father - in - law's butt so heavy that he doesn't even move?
Then, she saw General Feng raise his glass and toast her father - in - law...
Her mind went blank.
Thankfully, Xiao Jingnan said in time, "Wow, General Feng is really amiable and approachable!"
His words seemed to flip a switch, and the hall instantly became noisy.
"Yes, yes, yes. The general loves the people like his own children!"
"Exactly! Mr. Cheng is a real farmer. His family was extremely poor."
"I heard that when Mr. Cheng first came to the capital, he took a bull - cart, and his clothes were all patched."
"Of course! Their family really had no money at all. The shabby air on them couldn't be hidden..."
Feng Xiao's face twitched.
These rough guys, what were they talking nonsense about?
He had already told them not to overdo it!
Just make a point and that's it!
Didn't they understand?
They were talking more and more out of line...
The people at the main table all looked a bit embarrassed after hearing this.
Han He wanted to say something, but didn't know what to say.
What could he say?
Say that Mr. Cheng wasn't actually that poor and tell them to shut up?
Wouldn't that make it worse?
Zheng Tingyu, the always - smooth deputy minister of war, lowered his head, looking at his nose and thinking about his heart, silently chanting, "You can't see me, you can't see me. I didn't hear anything, I didn't hear anything..."
Only Liang Xiong stared in surprise. "Ah? Was it that hard..."
Xiao Jingnan smiled faintly. "Those are all things of the past. It's not worth mentioning. Fortunately, my wife is capable. She made the Jin Yutang Wine famous in the capital. Our family has finally turned a corner!"
As he spoke, the food and wine were served.
The aroma of the wine filled the room, whetting everyone's appetites.
"So this is the Jin Yutang Wine..."
"The aroma is so strong. Just by smelling it, you can tell it's good wine!"
"I've been training troops in the camp on the outskirts of the capital. I've only heard of this wine but never tasted it..."
"Haha, I must drink to my heart's content today!"
The golden wine was poured into the bowls, filling the whole room with a intoxicating aroma.
General Feng raised his glass. "Everyone here is my comrade - in - arms. Let's not stand on ceremony. Everyone, enjoy yourselves!"
As soon as he finished speaking, an impatient general emptied a bowl of wine, wiped his mouth, and shouted, "Good wine!"
Feng Yuanji didn't mind. He just smiled faintly, brought the glass to his lips, took a sip, and said, "It's truly good wine."
He wasn't a man greedy for food and drink. When he drank the Jin Yutang Wine in the palace, although he also thought it was sweet and mellow, he didn't pay much attention.
But at this moment, with Xiao Jingnan and Li Wanming present, he had to give them this face.
Hearing General Feng's praise, the atmosphere in the hall completely relaxed.
Everyone started to eat and drink heartily.
Just then, the steward of the general's mansion rushed in. "General, Miss Lü Songyuan, the daughter of Grand Tutor Lü, requests an audience."
"Lü Songyuan? What does she want?"
Before General Feng could speak, Feng Xiao asked.
The steward wiped the sweat from his forehead. "I don't know. She presented a visiting card from Grand Tutor Lü and only said that she had a matter of life - and - death to see the general!"
The steward's voice wasn't very loud, but the words "a matter of life - and - death" still clearly reached everyone's ears.
The hall gradually fell silent.
Feng Yuanji slowly put down his glass and said in a deep voice, "Since Miss Lü said so, please invite her in."
Not long after, Lü Songyuan walked in slowly from the courtyard.
She was wearing a light - yellow palace dress with tinkling jade pendants around her waist, which made her fair skin and beautiful face even more charming.
However, there was another person following behind her.
The person was wearing a light - blue dress, with her head down, silently following behind Lü Songyuan.
It was none other than Guo Xinyue...
Huh?
Li Wanming was stunned.
Guo Xinyue?
What was she doing here?
Lü Songyuan walked in front with a calm smile, but when her eyes drifted towards Li Wanming, there was a bone - chilling coldness in them.
An alarm bell rang in Li Wanming's heart!
She immediately had a bad feeling.
Since the palace banquet hosted by the Princess of Chengping last time, she and Lü Songyuan had completely fallen out.
After that, she had been on high alert for a long time, afraid that Lü Songyuan would cause trouble for her.
However, there had been no movement from Lü Songyuan's side, and even Guo Xinyue had been quiet for a long time.
Li Wanming gradually relaxed, thinking that as the legitimate daughter of the prime minister's mansion and potentially the future queen, Lü Songyuan wouldn't bother with a small fry like her.
But who would have thought that she would meet her in the general's mansion.
Moreover, it was very likely that she was here for her!
...
A matter of life - and - death?
What matter of life - and - death could she have in her hands?