novelraw Chapter 141 Attending the Dinner
Chapter 141 Attending the Dinner
After participating in "Love's Star Journey", Wen Shumu had gradually gotten used to being watched by so many people, but this was the first time she had felt so much malice from the gazes of the people present.
Evil that is not concealed.
This is the arrogance unique to the great nobility.
Wen Shumu looked around. Under the dazzling crystal chandeliers, elegantly dressed people mingled, clinking glasses and exchanging toasts, creating a scene of extravagance.
The imperial legions had just finished fighting, and the main force hadn't even returned to the imperial planet yet, but the nobles had already begun to indulge in revelry in the safety of the rear.
Wen Shumu's eyes darkened slightly as he met their malicious gazes.
A familiar figure emerged from among the elegantly dressed guests.
"Brother, you're here!"
Wen Boshuang smiled innocently and walked to his side, feigning surprise, "Hey? Why are you all alone?"
Qiu Tong, waving an exquisitely carved rose folding fan, followed behind, symbolically stopping Wen Boshuang: "Don't talk nonsense."
"I'm sorry, Shumu, Xiaoshuang has important things to do right now and doesn't have time to read the news online. She doesn't even know that the Marshal has been missing for many days."
She said she was sorry, but there was no apology on her face, and a smug look appeared in her eyes.
Wen Shumu glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw the guests gradually gathering in this direction, looking like they were watching a spectacle. He then looked at Qiu Tong and her son without revealing his expression and did not reply immediately.
Wen Boshuang thought he was scared.
Last time on Planet Furo, Wen Shumu made a veiled insult in front of the camera, and because of that, the lowly people on the StarNet made fun of him for many days. He has been holding a grudge ever since.
Seeing Wen Shumu remain silent, he immediately broke into a hearty laugh: "Missing for many days, doesn't that mean he's very likely dead?"
Wen Shumu's pupils contracted slightly, and his gloomy brown eyes fixed on Wen Boshuang, exuding a chilling aura.
Wen Boshuang met his gaze and felt a tremor in her heart. Her gaze involuntarily darted downwards, but when it caught sight of her mother's magnificent dress, he instantly felt emboldened: "I told you long ago to leave yourself a way out. Now look what's happened, the Marshal is dead, and there's no one to back you up. What are you going to do?"
The flaxen-brown Omega suddenly curled the corners of his lips into a slight smile.
"What are you laughing at?" Wen Boxian frowned, feeling inexplicably like she had just thrown a punch at a cotton ball.
"The Marshal is merely missing; Wen Bin is truly dead. Instead of worrying about me having no one to back me up..." Wen Shumu's gaze shifted between Wen Boshuang and Qiu Tong for a moment, "you should worry about yourselves first."
Wen Boshuang's eyes widened: "You! How could you say that about Father!"
Qiu Tong stopped waving her folding fan and looked at the eyes of the eldest son of the Wen family, who was an eyesore, with a cold gaze: "What do we have to worry about? Xiao Shuang will soon inherit the title. So what if his father is gone? As long as there is a new head of the family, the Wen family can continue to exist. It doesn't need anyone else to support it."
Wen Shumu's smile remained unchanged as he said calmly, "Is that so? I thought you loved Wen Bin so much that you were willing to have his child even before you were married. Now it seems you're nothing special."
Conversations immediately broke out around them, interspersed with ambiguous chuckles.
Qiu Tong's face flushed red with anger, her lips trembled, and her voice rose considerably: "What do you know! My marriage to Wen Bin was only a matter of time back then. Compared to your mother, who came from a poor background, I was far more suited to be the mistress of the Wen family!"
All the whispers stopped abruptly, and the surroundings fell silent. Qiu Tong's last words echoed through the vast banquet hall.
A soft cough came from above, and everyone looked up to see the emperor standing on the second-floor platform, looking down at them.
The nobles were startled, wondering how long His Majesty had been watching them...
Yi Hao slowly walked down the steps, his scrutinizing gaze seemingly casually sweeping across Qiu Tong's face.
Fortunately, Qiu Tong kept her head down and didn't dare to look up, otherwise she probably would have been so frightened that her legs would have gone weak.
After everyone paid their respects, the nobles, led by the Duke of Gallatin, offered their blessings to the emperor.
Yi Hao responded with a smile, his expression kind.
The Duke of Gallatin stroked his goatee and exchanged glances with the others.
One of the earls nodded in understanding, stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, in the battle against the Beast King, the Empire lost Marshal Ling, and Your Majesty also lost a powerful general. I am deeply saddened."
Yi Hao gazed at the count who was speaking, his dark eyes remaining calm and undisturbed.
Duke Gallatin then said, “Your Majesty lacks capable advisors. Now that all the young talents of the nobility are here, Your Majesty might as well take this opportunity to select some suitable young men to enter the cabinet.”
His words opened a door for the nobles, and several of them boldly stepped forward to speak to the emperor. Some even began to volunteer themselves or put forward their own children of the right age.
Yi Hao did not give a clear statement, which also means that he did not show a strong sense of rejection.
In an instant, the nobles who were still hesitating stepped forward one after another.
Qiu Tong was initially too embarrassed to go over because of her disrespect in front of His Majesty, but now she was in a hurry.
She felt she had no ambition to have her child enter the cabinet; she had only mentioned Wen Boxian's succession to the title to His Majesty to make the matter more certain. Compared to the demands of others, her request was insignificant, and His Majesty would certainly not object.
As expected, His Majesty did not say anything after listening to her words.
After Qiu Tong stepped back, she raised her chin with satisfaction and glanced sideways at Wen Shumu, who was standing at the back of the crowd, but received no response.
Wen Shumu's eyes were vacant, as if all the noise in front of him had nothing to do with him.
Yi Hao listened patiently to the needs of each nobleman attending the banquet. When he saw several tall and strong noble heirs, he even praised them a few times, making the scene very harmonious.
Duke Gallatin smiled knowingly to himself.
After all, with Ling Suyu dead, the emperor lost his greatest support, so he had to maintain good relations with the nobles.
Seeing that no one else stepped forward, Yi Hao said loudly, "I understand what you all think. The empire does indeed need fresh blood now."
Duke Gallatin smiled and asked, "Does Your Majesty have a satisfactory candidate?"
Yi Hao raised his hand and pointed to a few people, who were the heirs he had just praised, including Alberta, the grandson of Duke Gallatin.
The heirs immediately straightened their backs even more and unconsciously smiled.
The cabinet is the center of power. If one can enter the cabinet and manage it properly, one can at least ensure the prosperity of the family for decades.
Duke Gallatin nodded approvingly at his grandson and then asked Yi Hao, "After this banquet, when does Your Majesty plan to send them to the Imperial Star again? After all, the children are still inexperienced, and I think it would be better to let them gain experience in the Cabinet sooner."
Yi Hao stroked his chin with one hand, appearing deep in thought: "The empire doesn't support idlers; it's time to give them more opportunities to train."
He paused, then looked at the heirs: "You will set off tomorrow to report to the Fourth and Fifth Legions."
The Duke of Gallatin's expression changed drastically: "What does Your Majesty mean by this?"