Reborn as Murong Fu: This time I am the protagonist

Chapter 567 Pretense
The wealthy merchants and tycoons, their eyes red with anxiety, watched Master Yue, waiting for him to speak and make a decision.

Master Yue said confidently, "Don't worry, at the latest tonight, Vice Minister Huang's reply from the capital will arrive."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of urgent knocks sounded at the door. Several yamen runners swaggered into the hall, and upon seeing the room full of people, their expressions immediately relaxed: "Gentlemen, you're all here, which saves us from having to make several trips. The Imperial Envoy has issued a decree requesting that you all gather at the City God Temple outside the city at 9:00 AM tomorrow. Please attend the banquet!"

Upon hearing this, everyone wondered what was going on with another banquet just a few days later. What was even stranger was that if they were going to a banquet, why was it being held at the City God Temple? What was their true intention?

Everyone was puzzled and looked at Master Yue, who was leading the group.

Master Yue gritted his teeth and said, "He is, after all, a high-ranking official of the court. Even Vice Minister Huang himself cannot refuse to give him face. How much more so for us commoners, who have no official position or rank? How dare we not attend the Imperial Envoy's banquet? Let's go and see what his plans are!"

Upon hearing what Master Yue said, everyone felt uneasy and anxious.

Tonight, countless people will be unable to sleep.

The next day, in front of the City God Temple outside the city.

Squads of heavily armored Imperial Guards, under the command of their officers, went to their posts, their sharp spear tips reflecting a chilling light in the midday sun.

At the temple gate, twenty tall, heavily armored imperial guards stood in two straight rows, their brows furrowed and eyes blazing, their hands on their sword hilts, seemingly ready to draw their swords and strike at any moment.

The area in front of the gate and under the wall was soon filled with Imperial Guards. This rare sight attracted many disaster victims who watched from afar, holding their bowls.

Amidst the deep sound of gongs, a long sedan chair stretched towards the dark temple gate.

A group of wealthy merchants and tycoons came together, hoping to overwhelm the so-called imperial envoy in terms of prestige. However, as soon as they stepped out of their sedan chairs, they were met with a forest of spears and imperial guards who were a head taller than ordinary people. Their hard-won momentum was immediately crushed like a candle in the wind, and some of the more timid ones were already kicking their legs under their wide robes.

"Is this an invitation to a feast, or an invitation to the execution ground?"

A wealthy businessman spoke hesitantly.

After all, the scene before them was just too much like the storyteller's tale of smashing a cup as a signal, and then all the axemen rushing out to chop a person into minced meat.

"Why don't we go back?" another person suggested tremblingly.

"Go back? A high-ranking official from the imperial court has sent someone to invite you. Do you dare to go back? Don't you value your life?"

Everyone knows that the so-called return is just a cover for their cowardice. If they really dare to go back, they'll probably never have a peaceful day again.

"Let's go! We'll deal with whatever comes our way. What's there to be afraid of? Let's see what he's up to!"

With a wave of his hand, Master Yue, the leader, set the tone for the wealthy families who were having second thoughts.

That being said, the dark temple gate was like a gaping maw, waiting for these bloated, wealthy merchants to be sent inside.

Beside the imposing and stern statue of the City God stood a ghostly messenger with a blue face and fangs. Next to the City God were Zong Ze, dressed in a dark blue official robe, and Murong Fu, in a purple robe. The imposing presence of these two high-ranking officials, combined with the unpredictable power of the ghosts, made the wealthy men, who were already burdened with guilt, even more uneasy.

Murong Fu sat at the head of the table, his left hand resting on a sword, his fingers tapping on the scabbard intentionally or unintentionally.

Master Yue led a group of wealthy families, anxiously making their way in step by step from the temple gate.

Upon entering the temple gate, Master Yue led a group of wealthy families to kneel down.

"This humble citizen, Yue Yuanjing, along with my fellow villagers, pays our respects to Lord Murong and Lord Zong."

Zong Ze remained silent, staring intently at Master Yue, his gaze so intense it was unsettling.

Murong Fu, however, chuckled as he grabbed his sword and stood up: "The God of Wealth has arrived, and the world rejoices. All you Gods of Wealth, rise!"

Master Yue led a group of wealthy households to kowtow and stand up.

Murong Fu smiled and said, "Sit down, please sit down." Master Yue and the other wealthy people looked around for seats, but the huge temple was empty, without a single chair or stool.

Yuanwai looked troubled: "Sir, this..."

Murong Fu's expression turned serious: "What, can't I sit on the ground?"

Murong Fu laughed and said, "Didn't you all see the disaster victims standing outside the temple? They even sleep on the ground. Master Yue took the lead in donating money that day, why don't you set an example and take the lead today?"

Murong Fu, dressed in a purple robe representing high-ranking officials, held a six-foot-long sword in his hand. He intentionally or unintentionally pushed the sword out and back with his thumb, sending a chill down the spines of these wealthy merchants who had no official rank or status.

Left with no other choice, Master Yue had to take the lead and sit on the ground.

The wealthy merchants were filled with bitterness. Now that things had come to this, they had no idea what to do and could only sit down on the ground on either side.

Murong Fu smiled and said, "I invited everyone here today to prepare a small banquet to thank you all and to reward you for your donations!"

With that, he flicked his sleeve, grabbed a donation book from the table, and slammed it to the ground: "Unfortunately, the little money you all donated is only enough for one bowl of thin porridge per person when distributed among the disaster victims. Therefore, today's banquet is meager, and I hope you will all understand!"

The wealthy merchants exchanged glances, unsure of Murong Fu's true intentions. Seeing his unfriendly expression and the casual display of his skills, they realized this seemingly refined and elegant young nobleman was actually a rare martial arts master, making them even more uneasy. In just a short while, they felt as if they had attended seven or eight banquets hosted by Dong Zhuo.

Murong Fu waved his hand and said, "Bring me wine and food!"

Two strong imperial guards responded and came up carrying two stacks of empty bowls, one large and one small.

Two imperial guards placed a large bowl and a small bowl, along with a pair of bamboo chopsticks, in front of Master Yue and the other wealthy men.

Murong Fu picked up a wine pot from the table and began pouring wine, starting with Master Yue.

Master Yue hurriedly picked up the small bowl in front of him: "How could I, a humble subject, trouble you, sir, to pour me wine?"

Murong Fu laughed and said, "Donating money is a meritorious act, it's only right, it's only right!"

However, only the wine pot was overturned, but no wine flowed out. Murong Fu seemed not to notice, and poured wine for each of the wealthy men who were holding bowls in a state of anxiety.

The wealthy family members, holding empty bowls, looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

Murong Fu raised the wine pot and said, "The wine isn't very good, but everyone should at least have a little!"

All the wealthy men turned their attention to Master Yue. Helpless, Master Yue could only bring the empty bowl to his lips and pretend to take a sip.

The wealthy men followed suit, bringing their empty bowls to their lips as if drinking.

Murong Fu laughed and said, "How is it? This wine is alright, isn't it?"

The salt merchants looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Okay, thankfully!"

Scattered cheers and applause broke out.

Murong Fu clapped his hands with a smile and said, "Someone, bring out the dishes!"

Two more burly Imperial Guard soldiers appeared, dragging two trays filled with empty bowls.

Two Imperial Guard soldiers walked up to each person and placed an empty bowl in front of them, then withdrew. The whole process was as quiet as a graveyard.

Murong Fu smiled and said, "It's just a simple meal. Everyone, please pick up your chopsticks and have some dishes!"

Led by Master Yue, the group reluctantly picked up their chopsticks and pretended to pick up food from another empty bowl.