Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Whose Young Master Is This?

At the gate, Steward Hu, dressed in a green robe, was checking the identities of the arriving guests one by one and recording their congratulatory gifts.

Efficient servants took the guests’ gifts, box by box, carrying them into the courtyard to be sorted and arranged.

Several lavishly dressed middle-aged men were lining up at the entrance.

"Steward Hu, thank you for your hard work this morning! I am Zhang Wentao of the Jiangnan Cloth Shop. This is some of the finest Profound Cloud Brocade, if you would please inspect it!"

The clean-shaven, middle-aged man said with a fawning expression on his face.

Steward Hu remained expressionless. He glanced at the Profound Cloud Brocade, gave a slight nod, and had a servant take it away.

"Steward Hu, regarding the mansion’s future cloth supply..."

The cloth merchant, Zhang Wentao, produced a heavy pouch from his robes, shielding it with his sleeve as he discreetly tried to hand it over.

Steward Hu frowned. He didn’t take the pouch, saying coolly, "The mansion will handle its own fabric procurement. Please, go on in."

Zhang Wentao awkwardly withdrew his hand and followed a servant into the courtyard.

"Steward Hu, I’m from the Drunken Immortal Tower..."

"Steward Hu, Steward Hu, I’m from the Da Gui Gold Shop..."

Jiang Che, waiting in line behind them, was secretly shocked.

Any single one of their gifts was worth a fortune.

But even so, Steward Hu remained coolly indifferent, seemingly unimpressed by any of them.

Furthermore, these men were all considered wealthy and influential merchants in the city.

Yet in front of Steward Hu, each one was more sycophantic than the last.

It was only then that Jiang Che began to truly appreciate the standing of the Five Great Noble Families.

He glanced down at the small packet of Centennial Snow Ginseng he’d brought and instantly felt his gift was rather shabby.

Jiang Che shook his head with a bitter smile, thinking:

’Whatever. I’m not a rich man. Why should I compare myself to them?’

Soon, it was Jiang Che’s turn.

The moment Steward Hu saw Jiang Che, his face broke into a smile.

"Young Master Jiang, you’re here! Please, come in, come in!"

He was incredibly warm, personally pulling Jiang Che through the gate.

The wealthy merchants waiting behind him saw this, their faces filled with confusion.

"Which family’s Young Master is that? I’ve never seen him before."

"I don’t know. Perhaps he’s from out of town?"

"But his clothes are a bit... plain. He doesn’t look like he’s from one of the Noble Families."

"Maybe he just prefers to be low-key!"

The men whispered among themselves.

Inside the gates, Steward Hu took Jiang Che’s arm, leading him all the way in.

"The Fourth Miss has been asking about you all morning. I’ve been waiting and waiting, and now you’re finally here!" Steward Hu chuckled.

The Fourth Miss was none other than Miss Shao, Shao Shiliu, the girl Jiang Che had rescued the other day.

She was born to the second branch of the Shao Mansion. She and Shao Jianbo shared the same mother.

"I am flattered that the Young Miss remembers me! Oh, right, this is a small gift I brought."

Jiang Che quickly presented the small packet of Centennial Snow Ginseng.

He was surprised. He couldn’t believe this lofty young lady from a Noble Family had actually remembered a mere disciple from a Small Martial Arts Hall like him.

Steward Hu accepted it with a smile. He opened the packet, took a look, and nodded approvingly.

"This Snow Ginseng is of excellent quality. You’re very thoughtful, Young Master Jiang! As it happens, my master is quite fond of Snow Ginseng tea!"

With that, he handed the Snow Ginseng to a servant with instructions to store it carefully.

"Really? What a coincidence."

Jiang Che couldn’t tell if Steward Hu was just being polite, but at least his fears of his humble gift being disdained had not come to pass.

Next, Steward Hu personally led Jiang Che further into the estate.

After passing through a moon gate, a spacious courtyard suddenly opened up before them.

A small path paved with smooth pebbles lay at their feet.

Both sides were lined with lush vegetation, including all sorts of rare and exotic flowers and trees he couldn’t name.

A subtle fragrance wafted into his nose, and Jiang Che immediately felt at ease.

In the distance, rockeries, small bridges, and flowing streams completed a scene as exquisite as a landscape painting.

Before long, they arrived at the estate’s main hall.

It was a magnificent building with soaring eaves and intricate brackets. Two rows of graceful maids stood with their hands respectfully clasped, awaiting the guests.

The gentle sounds of string and bamboo instruments drifted from within the hall.

The two of them ascended the stone steps to the entrance.

A maid immediately knelt and wiped Jiang Che’s shoes clean with a cloth she had ready.

’This...’

Jiang Che was stunned. The luxury of a Noble Family was truly an eye-opener.

"Jiang Che!"

Suddenly, a pleasant, bell-like female voice called out.

He saw a woman with features as fine as a painting, dressed in a lavish white gown, striding toward him.

It was Shao Shiliu.

"Miss Shao."

Jiang Che greeted her with a smile.

Shao Shiliu grabbed Jiang Che’s arm in one smooth motion.

"Come with me!"

Jiang Che was a bit taken aback, but he let her lead him.

Great Chu was a nation founded on martial values, so its customs were relatively open. People didn’t keep too strict a distance between men and women.

This degree of physical contact was considered normal.

Still, it was clear that Shao Shiliu had a bold and straightforward personality, free of affectation.

She led him into the main hall. A stage had been erected in the center where Dancing Girls twirled gracefully, accompanied by several Musicians seated to the side.

The hall was filled with lavishly dressed guests seated on both sides, drinking and chatting merrily. The atmosphere was incredibly lively.

A man with graying temples, yet possessing a refined and handsome face, sat at the seat of honor, smiling as he drank and chatted with the guests at his table.

Shao Shiliu brought Jiang Che before this man and said with a smile:

"Father, this is Jiang Che!"

Jiang Che quickly bowed.

"This junior, Jiang Che, pays his respects to Master Shao! I wish Master Shao fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity to equal the Southern Mountains!"

The refined man looked Jiang Che over and chuckled.

"I know of the Eastern Sea, but where, pray tell, is this Southern Mountain?"

’Crap,’ Jiang Che thought. That was a birthday blessing from his previous life, and he had used it out of habit.

His mind raced, and he replied:

"In response to Master Shao, I have heard that in the south there is a Divine Mountain, said to be as old as heaven and earth itself. Thus, I wished for Master Shao’s life to be as long as that of the Southern Mountain."

"Hahaha! Interesting, very interesting! The auspicious hour has arrived. Fellow Jiang, please, find a seat!"

Master Shao boomed with laughter.

Jiang Che bowed once more and went to find his seat.

Shao Shiliu led him to a table where an old man with short, silver hair was drinking with a handsome Young Master.

The handsome Young Master wasn’t drinking much himself, but he kept finding excuses to urge the old man to drink more.

The old man was downing cup after cup, his face already beet-red from the alcohol.

"Master?!"

Jiang Che blurted out.

The old man was none other than his master, Luo Kun.

The master he remembered was always stern-faced and never touched alcohol. He never expected to see this side of him!

"Jiang Che, you’re here! Come, sit!"

Luo Kun said with a smile, beckoning Jiang Che over.

After Jiang Che was seated, Shao Shiliu smiled at the group.

"Please, enjoy yourselves. If you’ll excuse me, I must attend to the other guests!"

"Go on, go on. Your big brother is here to hold down the fort!" the handsome Young Master said with a laugh.

Shao Shiliu gave a slight curtsy and departed gracefully.

"So, you must be Junior Brother Jiang Che? Truly a man of fine bearing. No wonder Shiliu mentions you so often," the handsome Young Master said with a smile.

He wore a blue silk robe, the hems embroidered with delicate patterns in silver thread.

His hair was tied up in a casual bun, which, rather than looking messy, gave him an air of carefree elegance.

One hand rested casually on the back of his chair, while the other twirled a jade cup as he gazed at Jiang Che with a grin.

Jiang Che quickly cupped his fist.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Shao!"