Chapter 142: Making a Stunning Debut (Part 1)

The lively banquet had begun. Qu Buping, noticing that they had been assigned such a poor seat despite having attended the wedding, felt a surge of indignation. He kept grumbling under his breath, but Xiaoyu and Xiaoyuner were unfazed.

The two of them observed that the young masters occupying the prominent positions appeared quite grand and impressive, as only those with significant backing could secure such places. However, there was a drawback—their seats were in the very center of the courtyard, under the watchful eyes of everyone around. Every movement they made was scrutinized, making them somewhat uneasy.

They had to conduct themselves with utmost propriety to earn admiration. Any misstep would become fodder for ridicule, branding a gentleman as frivolous and unworthy of high society, thus bringing shame upon his family. Moreover, one of their main objectives was to marry the daughter of Chief Bodyguard Feng, so they needed to leave a favorable impression.

Consequently, they exerted great effort in refining their demeanor. Rather than simply drinking, they were performing a display of their elegance and temperament, which was rather exhausting. Xiaoyuner and the two others were mere unknowns; their improper conduct would not attract much attention. Besides, their personalities did not fear gossip. For now, their primary goal was to indulge in the fine wine and delicacies on the table. As Qu Buping had said earlier, if they could not marry her, at least they could enjoy the feast.

The young masters, however, did not share this luxury of carefree indulgence. Most had come with the intention of marrying Miss Feng, so even when eating and drinking, they had to maintain a certain grace. Of course, some were unable to resist the allure of the wine or shared Qu Buping’s pragmatic view: better to fill one’s stomach than starve while dreaming of marriage.

Take, for example, the son of Master Shen—an obese fellow. At the table, his hearty eating and drinking drew no surprise; in fact, it would have been unusual if he hadn’t indulged. Given his looks and talents, he was considered a third-rate contender among those vying for Miss Feng’s hand, with little hope of success. His attitude was simple: marrying her would be ideal, but if not, no great loss. After all, his father was wealthy enough to provide him with several beautiful wives, even if none matched Miss Feng’s skill and grace.

Zhao Wuzong, Hua Sanxiao, and Lu Badi each took turns toasting Chief Bodyguard Feng and his wife, as well as the esteemed martial arts elders present, demonstrating their manners and refinement. Naturally, those who toasted the hosts were noteworthy figures.

Gradually, the banquet reached its climax. Two charming maidservants entered the hall and stepped onto an open space at its center.

One of them announced, “Today is my master’s birthday. This humble servant Chunyan and my sister Xiaque will perform a sword dance to entertain all the heroic guests. How does that sound?”

The crowd responded enthusiastically, eager to glean some insight into the lady’s talents through the maidens’ performance.

Chunyan and Xiaque each wielded a long sword and began their dance. Both were delicate and beautiful, but their swordsmanship was exceptional—swift as a shooting star, graceful as a celestial maiden scattering blossoms. The gleam of their blades flickered, their long sleeves fluttered, and the audience applauded continuously, thinking if the maidens were so talented and lovely, the lady herself must be beyond compare.

After their dance, Chunyan and Xiaque bowed and said, “Honored guests, noble heroes, and young masters, this humble offering is but a modest glimpse of what the lady has taught us. Please forgive our clumsiness. Now, we invite the lady to perform a piece for everyone. How does that sound?”

Once again, the crowd cheered, eager to witness the famed beauty of Jiangnan, Feng Qingwu.

Amidst the applause, two more maidservants appeared—one carrying a pipa, the other a bamboo flute. Behind them followed a young woman wearing a veil. Her figure and bearing suggested she was a peerless beauty.

Then Chunyan said, “Next, please enjoy a performance by the lady on the guqin, playing ‘Springtime in Jiangnan.’ Chunyan, Xiaque, Qiuyan, and Dongque will accompany her with dance and instruments.”

Thus, Chunyan and Xiaque resumed their sword dance, Qiuyan played the pipa, Dongque the bamboo flute, while Feng Qingwu performed on the guqin the evocative piece ‘Springtime in Jiangnan.’

The melody conjured misty rains and linked mountains and rivers; after the spring breeze, the hills bloomed in vibrant color. Scarlet flowers glistened, birds sang, their calls summoning the arrival of spring. The radiant scene unfolded before their eyes—the flowers more vivid, the birdsong more melodious.

The audience listened in tranquil admiration as Miss Feng’s fingers danced across the strings. Gradually, some near Qu Buping rose to their feet, hoping to see more clearly.

This obstructed the view for Qu Buping and his companions, frustrating him. Muttering angrily, he said, “Damn it, they gave us such lousy seats. Can’t even get a good look. What a waste of Xiaoyuner’s golden hairpin. I should never have come. Better to have sold the hairpin for silver and gone to the Red Chamber to hire a couple of girls to keep us company.”

Xiaoyuner retorted, “And you have the nerve to say that? I went to great lengths to get this golden hairpin from Xiaohong. It was meant as a gift for a childhood friend. Now I’ve neither pleased my friend nor can I explain this to Xiaohong.”

Qu Buping grumbled, “It’s all that woman Taohua’s rotten idea.”

Xiaoyu couldn’t help but say, “You two agreed to this at the time.”

Qu Buping snapped back, “You’re the lucky one. You don’t have to spend money and can pretend to be a young master. We didn’t even get a proper look.”

Xiaoyuner urged, “Brothers, stop arguing. Look, Miss Feng is about to perform the next piece.”

But those standing in front were too tall, blocking the view. To get a better sight, Qu Buping placed a stool on the table and stood on it, striking a ‘Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg’ pose.

Now he was certainly high enough, but a male servant from the Feng household approached him, saying, “Sir, please do not place stools on the tables. It is quite unbecoming.”

Qu Buping smiled and replied, “No harm done. It’s just that the seat you gave me is so poor. Standing this high is my way of showing support for your lady.”

The servant responded, “Sir, if everyone did as you do, the hall would be in chaos.”

Qu Buping chuckled, “Not at all. Do you realize how exhausting it is to stand out like a crane among chickens? No one else would dare copy me.”

The servant was about to speak further when Qu Buping cut him off with a scowl, “Enough chatter. Maybe if I stand this tall, your lady will notice me at a glance, and I’ll become your new son-in-law!”