Chapter 514: My Rules are the Rules

King Jingan’s Manor was a grand residence, showcasing King Jingan’s noble status and position.

The buildings within the manor were well-arranged, with pavilions, terraces, gardens, and waterside gazebos, exuding luxury and elegance.

The manor also featured banquet halls, meeting halls, studies, and bedrooms, where King Jingan handled government affairs, read, rested, and entertained guests.

After Yu Xian and the others arrived at the manor, Zhao Xun personally invited them into the banquet hall.

A sumptuous feast had already been prepared in the banquet hall, with a dazzling array of delicacies from land and sea, and the air was thick with the aroma of wine and meat.

The hall was brightly lit with exquisite palace lanterns, making the entire space shimmer.

Musicians on both sides were playing melodious music on string and woodwind instruments, the tunes gentle and pleasant, creating a festive yet solemn atmosphere.

Once Yu Xian and the others were seated, Zhao Heng slowly approached, accompanied by a stunningly beautiful woman.

The woman, in her early thirties, still possessed exceptional charm; she must be the Princess Consort, Pei Nanwei. Her figure was graceful, combining the elegance and coldness of a Princess Consort with the allure of a mature woman. Every gesture she made carried a sense of detachment and a story, leaving even Yu Xian, who was used to beautiful women, feeling a sense of wonder.

After taking his seat, Zhao Heng first raised his glass and said to Yu Xian and the others, “Everyone has traveled hard. It is truly my honor to meet Young Master Yu and the Fairies here in Xiangfan City today.”

“Although Xiangfan City is not as prosperous as Taian City, it has its own charms of mountains and rivers. This humble feast in my manor is a small token of my respect; please do not be formal and enjoy yourselves. Come, I shall first toast Young Master Yu, thanking the Young Master for gracing my humble abode with his presence.”

Yu Xian didn’t yet know what Zhao Heng was secretly plotting. But since a feast had been prepared, it saved them the trouble of finding food themselves.

Ever since they had shared a meal with the Emperor at the palace, The Women had been unable to forget the imperial banquet. Now, they wondered how the feast in this manor would compare to the one at the palace.

So Yu Xian also raised his glass, clinked it from a distance with Zhao Heng, took a small sip, and said, “King Jingan is too kind.”

As the wine went down his throat, it carried a thick warmth. He set down his glass, his gaze sweeping over the table full of delicacies, then looking at the gently smiling Zhao Heng in the main seat and the Princess Consort who maintained her dignified poise, a slight curl appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Zhao Heng didn’t seem in a hurry to get to the point, merely continuing to invite everyone to taste the dishes with polite pleasantries, occasionally mentioning the local customs of Xiangfan City, but not saying a word about why he had specifically waited for them and invited them into the manor.

Beside Yu Xian, Ning Zhongze nudged him gently with her elbow, her eyes filled with inquiry, clearly also confused about Zhao Heng’s purpose.

Yu Xian gave Ning Zhongze a look telling her to stay calm, signaling to The Women that they should just eat and drink. There was no need to worry.

The Women were happy to comply; with Yu Xian there, they only needed to peacefully enjoy the food and the momentary tranquility.

Although Ning Zhongze was still somewhat wary, seeing Yu Xian so composed, she gradually relaxed. She took a sip of tea, her gaze slowly sweeping through the hall, observing the manor’s decor and the servants moving about.

Yu Xian had already covered everyone in the hall with his Divine Sense, including the manor servants standing by. They were well-trained and respectful, yet an inadvertent tension leaked out, showing they were clearly strictly selected guards.

Halfway through the banquet, Zhao Heng finally put down his chopsticks, cleared his throat, and slowly fixed his gaze on Yu Xian, his tone more solemn than before: “Young Master Yu, I presume you are curious as to why I waited for you here.”

Yu Xian understood that the main topic was finally arriving. He nodded slightly, signaling Zhao Heng to continue.

Zhao Heng took a deep breath, seemingly weighing his words, before slowly speaking: “To be honest, I invited you today because I wish to have a deeper exchange with the Young Master.”

Yu Xian raised an eyebrow slightly. Zhao Heng’s words reminded him of the incident where King Jingan intercepted and tried to kill Xu Fengnian in the Qingzhou Reed Marsh.

Zhao Heng’s interception of Xu Fengnian was essentially a complex game of political performance, power integration, and situational pressure; it wasn’t truly meant to kill Xu Fengnian, but rather to “show the capital” and seize the opportunity to consolidate his power in Qingzhou.

Yu Xian wondered if he had now taken on Xu Fengnian’s role.

He quietly observed Zhao Heng’s expression. He saw King Jingan put down his Prayer Beads, his fingertips lightly tapping on the table, as if measuring the weight of his words.

“Young Master Yu is now famous throughout the Jianghu, even daring to stir up trouble in Taian City. I deeply admire such courage and strength.” Zhao Heng’s tone shifted, a complex light flashing in his eyes. “However, the path of the Jianghu is dangerous, and the imperial court is even more treacherous. Though the Young Master has high martial skills, it is inevitable that a tall tree attracts the wind, bringing unnecessary trouble.”

Yu Xian picked up his teacup, using the lid to gently brush away the foam, waiting for him to continue.

Seeing this, Zhao Heng continued, “I have operated in Qingzhou for many years. While I wouldn’t say I control everything, I do have some influence. If the Young Master is willing to reach an understanding with me, I can provide some convenience in the Qingzhou region, and even within Liyang, to help the Young Master’s affairs go more smoothly.”

While he spoke of “convenience,” his eyes seemed to hide a hint of some trade-off.

Yu Xian sneered inwardly. King Jingan’s intentions were indeed not just about the wine; he likely wanted to both utilize Yu Xian’s strength and peek at his hidden cards.

He put down his teacup, his voice calm and steady: “King Jingan must be joking. I am just a wanderer of the Jianghu, traveling around with my family for freedom and leisure. I wouldn’t dare trouble the King to worry about me.”

The smile on Zhao Heng’s face stiffened for a moment before returning to normal: “The Young Master is too modest. With your skills, if you were willing to serve someone, you would already be a regional lord. Furthermore, no matter how large the Jianghu is, there are still rules that must be followed.”

The pressure in his tone gradually became apparent, as if hinting that if Yu Xian didn’t cooperate, he would encounter significant resistance in Liyang.

A cold arc curled at the corner of Yu Xian’s mouth: “Rules? Does the King not know that my rules are the rules?”

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Heng’s expression turned extremely ugly. He gripped the Prayer Beads in his hand tightly, causing a faint clinking sound.

Behind him, Zhao Xun’s face flushed even redder. He stood up abruptly and pointed at Yu Xian, shouting angrily, “How audacious! Do you know who is before you? How dare you be so disrespectful to my father!”

The atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point. The musicians tactfully stopped playing, and the standing guards placed their hands on their sword hilts, staring warily at Yu Xian. The air seemed to freeze.

The Princess Consort of Jingan sat to the side, still maintaining her dignified posture, but her fingers gripping the teacup tightened slightly, betraying her inner turmoil.

Yu Xian, however, seemed oblivious. He merely raised his wine glass, slowly swirling the amber liquid inside, looking at Zhao Heng with a half-smile that carried a hint of playfulness and provocation.