Chapter 109: The Return Banquet

The "Homecoming Banquet" marks the final ceremony of a wedding. The bride’s family hosts a lavish feast for the new son-in-law, though for the groom, it often feels more like a trap. A single misstep in etiquette or a slight error in the choice of gifts can leave a lasting, unfavorable impression on the bride’s kin.

Lu Liaoluo and his new bride, Wang Liuli, walked into the banquet hall with palpable anxiety. They were met by two long rows of low tables, behind which sat pairs of men and women. The men were all imposing and dressed in fine, vibrant robes; the women were elegant, beautiful, and adorned in luxurious silks.

Glancing toward the seat of honor, Lu Liaoluo noticed it was not occupied by his father-in-law, Wang Yuanbao. Instead, a young, slender man sat there, wearing a flat-topped cap and a purple robe with large floral patterns, a jade belt cinched at his waist. Beside him sat a young woman of exquisite beauty and gentle temperament. Wang Yuanbao, the host, sat at a side table along with several wealthy associates, his expression one of profound respect.

Such purple robes were reserved for princes and high-ranking officials of the third grade or above. Lu Liaoluo wondered who this formidable young man might be.

After steeling himself, he and Wang Liuli paid their respects to the couple at the head of the table and the elders seated nearby. Then, it was time to present gifts to the relatives. Hu Laoda and Zhou Liuzi, dressed in new finery, approached the tables one by one to offer their gift boxes. However, Hu Laoda found himself holding an extra one, looking at Lu Liaoluo with a bewildered and panicked expression.

"How is this?" the young man at the center asked with a faint, playful smile, his gaze fixed on Lu Liaoluo. "My other brothers-in-law and sisters have received their gifts. Is there none for your seventh brother-in-law?"

Wang Liuli nudged the dazed Lu Liaoluo and shot a look at Hu Laoda. Trembling with nerves, Hu Laoda carefully placed the gift box on the central table and retreated behind Lu Liaoluo.

The young man opened the box casually. His expression turned peculiar, and with a spark of curiosity, he opened the box meant for the woman beside him as well.

"Hmm! This 'Condensed Fragrance Dew' is quite good. The ladies in the Daming Palace often squabble incessantly over a single bottle. Pearl, your brother-in-law is quite generous—he’s gifted you two bottles at once."

No sooner had he spoken than Wang Liuli’s sisters eagerly opened their own boxes, their faces lighting up with satisfaction at the contents.

While the others were preoccupied with their gifts, Wang Liuli leaned in and whispered the background of this seventh brother-in-law to Lu Liaoluo.

"Back then, my father provided a massive dowry to marry a daughter of the Wuxing Shen clan. After she gave birth to my seventh sister, Pearl, they looked down on our merchant status. When Pearl was seven, she was taken to the Shen household to be raised. At thirteen, she was sent by the Shen family to be a candidate for the imperial harem, and the Crown Prince gifted her to his son, Li. My seventh sister’s identity was then conveniently changed to the daughter of Shen Yizhi, an official in the Court of Judicial Review."

She scoffed. "The Shen family took all the prestige, but it was my Wang family who provided the money to the Crown Prince and this Prince of Guangping. Seventy percent of the profits from the Tianxian Tower have gone straight into my seventh brother-in-law’s pockets."

The Prince of Guangping, now known as Li Yu, closed the gift box and looked at Lu Liaoluo with a wry smile. "To have a disciple of a master inherit the tradition, and then have her marry me... Ha! Haha! Our ninth brother-in-law certainly does things in a way that defies expectation. This homecoming gift is equally unique. I, Li Yu, shall accept it with pleasure."

The tense atmosphere of the banquet softened instantly at Li Yu's laughter. Amidst the muffled chuckles of the guests, a flushed Lu Liaoluo and Wang Liuli took their seats at the lowest table.

"Brother, it has been four months since we last met, and now we are brothers-in-law. This gift you gave the older brothers-in-law is fine, but it seems a bit inappropriate for me, don't you think?"

An Qingxu and his wife, Wang Ruyu, were seated at the same table as Lu Liaoluo and his wife. As soon as Lu Liaoluo sat down, An Qingxu began to chuckle.

"It relaxes the tendons and promotes blood circulation, helping to strengthen the foundation. It is highly beneficial even for a young man, Brother An, so do not worry," Lu Liaoluo whispered, casting a nervous glance at his gloomy wife, Wang Liuli.

An Qingxu waved his hand dismissively. "Do not call me 'An Renzhi' anymore. The Sage has granted me the name 'Qingxu.' You must be careful with how you address me from now on."

***

After Wang Yuanbao rose to offer a toast, the guests drank together. After three rounds, it was time for Lu Liaoluo and his wife to make their rounds.

When they reached the table of Li Yu and Shen Pearl, the usually gentle and polite Prince of Guangping teased Wang Liuli. "Ninth sister, your stubborn and eccentric nature made me worry for a long time that no man in this world would ever win your favor. But it seems this brother-in-law of yours is even more eccentric than you. You two are truly a perfect match."

"I could never compare to Seventh Sister," Wang Liuli countered. "She is gentle and well-read, which is why she was snapped up so early—she even bore you a firstborn son by the age of fourteen. Unlike me; I didn't marry until I was nineteen."

Wang Liuli’s self-deprecating retort drew a hearty, delighted laugh from Li Yu.

Shen Pearl, who was not much older than Wang Liuli, radiated the aura of a mature young woman. She smiled radiantly and raised her glass to toast them both. "I wish you and your husband a lifetime of harmony and the early blessing of children."

Flushed with embarrassment, Wang Liuli and Lu Liaoluo moved on to Wang Yuanbao, who held his head high and glared at Lu Liaoluo with clear dissatisfaction. "I have given you my most precious daughter. If you do not treat her well, I will not let you off lightly."

After the elders, they reached a middle-aged couple.

"This is my eldest brother-in-law, Zhao Ting, currently the Chief Administrator of Zizhou in Jiannan Circuit. And this is my eldest sister, Yueqiu," Wang Liuli explained while pouring wine. "Actually, my eldest brother-in-law is related to you. He and your master, Master Taibin, both hail from the Zhao clan of Yanting. You are practically kin."

The middle-aged man laughed heartily. "Since you are the direct disciple of the Old Ancestor, we are not outsiders. There is no need for such formality."

"And this is my second brother-in-law, Li Guangbi, formerly the Deputy Commander of the Shuofang Army, now stationed in Chang'an. This is my second sister, Ziyan. Despite being a woman, she is obsessed with swords and blades. She and my second brother-in-law actually became enemies after several duels, only to later become a bickering couple," Wang Liuli said with a relaxed, playful tone.

"I hear your swordsmanship is superb, that you even slew the fierce bandit Hua Lin," Wang Ziyan said, her eyes bright with challenge. "When you have time, shall we spar?"

Li Guangbi snorted and pursed his lips. "With that mediocre swordsmanship of yours, you want to spar with our ninth brother-in-law? Don't embarrass yourself."

"What!" The tall and beautiful Wang Ziyan stood up. "Back when you sparred with me, did you ever win a single move? If you aren't convinced, let’s go to the backyard and settle it now."

Lu Liaoluo stared at them, stunned, not daring to utter a word.

"Your horse archery is excellent, and you are well-versed in military strategy. Would you like to join me in the army and make a name for yourself?" Li Guangbi asked, looking at Lu Liaoluo with hope.

"Certainly! If my career in the civil service leads nowhere, I shall come to you, brother-in-law, to enlist," Lu Liaoluo replied perfunctorily, leaving Li Guangbi deeply disappointed.

"Third brother-in-law, Cui Hao, Assistant Magistrate of Yangzhou, and my third sister, Meigui," Wang Liuli introduced the next couple briefly.

Cui Hao held his head high. "I hear you are a provincial graduate from Jinshui County in Yangzhou. You achieved that status at thirteen, and yet, now that you have reached adulthood, you remain a mere graduate. Clever in youth but useless in age—do try not to become such a person." He turned away to chat with Zhang Xun, leaving the young couple in an awkward silence.

The fourth and fifth brothers-in-law, also merchants, were less condescending, but they showed little enthusiasm, merely acknowledging the toast with a sip before moving on.

When they reached Zhang Xun, he simply snorted and looked away, refusing to even drink. Wang Shanshan offered an apologetic smile, looking completely helpless.

"Heh," An Qingxu chuckled softly. "These scholars are so arrogant. They won't even look an honest warrior like me in the eye. Don't take it to heart, brother."

Lu Liaoluo shook his head, appearing unbothered, though he was secretly shocked. Wang Yuanbao, that cunning old man, had not only cultivated countless connections among the powerful and wealthy but had married his daughters off—mostly as concubines—to men ranging from imperial grandsons to the sons of tycoons. The hidden influence he wielded was likely enough to make even the greatest aristocrats feel inadequate.

"Today is the homecoming feast, and the major shareholders of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce are all here. I, Guo Wanjin, have a question I hope no one will find offensive. Now that niece Liuli is married, I am wondering: who will take over as the head manager of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce?"

Before Lu Liaoluo and Wang Liuli had even finished their meal, the outspoken Guo Wanjin had laid the question bare.

"Hmph!" Wang Yuanbao grunted. "Old Guo, it is my daughter's homecoming banquet. Why bring this up now?"

"There are no outsiders here, so I just thought I'd ask. You know I'm a blunt man," Guo Wanjin said, casting a glance at the expressionless Li Yu before laughing it off.

"So, the shareholders behind the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce are these brothers-in-law of yours?" Lu Liaoluo whispered to Wang Liuli when he thought no one was watching.

"Yes. My father used a vast fortune to start it. As the business grew, it was divided into ten shares. My seventh sister holds two, and the other sisters hold one each. Later, Uncle Yang and Uncle Guo invested heavily, using the chamber to secretly offer tribute to the Crown Prince. Slowly, it became the Crown Prince's private treasury." Wang Liuli frowned, clearly displeased.

"In a business this large, do you think it could have run smoothly without powerful backing? Power and money are just another form of trade," Lu Liaoluo said, picking up a piece of meat and eating it with satisfaction.

"I’ve been in business long enough to know that," she muttered, looking like a frustrated young bride, completely unlike her usual cold and serious self. "It’s just that the appetites of those in the imperial family are staggering. They take nearly half the profits, and they still aren't satisfied."

"Heh, it’s useless to be angry," Lu Liaoluo said, amused by her pout. "The entire Tang Empire belongs to their family. Is it not only natural that they would spend the money from your chamber of commerce as they please?"