Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 312 Temporarily Taking Over the Place of Lord Qingyang to Receive Guests

Because it was Zhang Yuan who hosted the banquet, Zhao Yu and Ying Chong came early.

Qin Yuqing was at the Black Ice Platform and was a member of the Qin family. She had known Princess Zhao Yu for a long time, and she also knew that Princess Yuruo was very close to Zhang Yuan.

"Princess Yuruo, Lord Zhang hasn't arrived yet. Today, the fourth floor of Yunteng Tower has canceled all other banquets and will only accept Lord Zhang's banquet." Qin Yuqing stepped forward, bowed slightly to Ying Chong, and then whispered to Zhao Yu.

"Princess, would you like to take a look at the banquet arrangements and the menu?" Qin Yuqing said with a smile, "Princess, please take a look. Please don't treat the guests poorly."

Generally speaking, things like banquet layout and menu are naturally the responsibility of the host family.

When Qin Yuqing said this to Zhao Yu, it was clear that she was trying to push Zhao Yu's status towards the position of someone close to Zhang Yuan.

If they weren't really close, how could they help Zhang Yuan make this decision?
With Zhao Yu's intelligence, he certainly understood the meaning of Qin Yuqing's words.

But she was generous, nodded, lifted her skirt and walked upstairs.

"Okay, let me take another look."

"Zhang Yuan really doesn't care about these things on a daily basis."

Zhao Yu's words made Qin Yuqing's eyes brighten. With a smile on her face, she accompanied Zhao Yu to the fourth floor.

Ying Chong hesitated for a moment and did not go upstairs. Instead, he stood at the lobby and looked outside.

Today, the fourth floor will only receive guests invited by Zhang Yuan. Anyone who comes to Yunteng Tower for a banquet and is of noble status must have been invited by Zhang Yuan.

Ying Chong was also curious about which guests Zhang Yuan would invite to the banquet this time.

On the fourth floor, Zhao Yu was looking at the table layout in the hall while looking at the menu handed to him by the waiter.

"Auspicious Soup of Hundred Treasures, Jade Palace and Qionglou, Bixia Pearl Stew..." Zhao Yu was born in a royal palace and was not unfamiliar with the dishes listed on the menu.

Many of the dishes listed above are circulated in the imperial city and are said to be only available at palace banquets.

However, Zhao Yu, who had attended the palace night banquet, knew that these dishes were not actually served at the palace night banquet. They were just made up by some restaurants.

"I have taken out all the treasures in the store. The level of this banquet is probably not bad even in the imperial city." Seeing Zhao Yu looking at the menu carefully, Qin Yuqing said with a smile.

Zhao Yu shook his head.

It is a treasure, but it is expensive.

Many ingredients are indeed rare.

Seeing Zhao Yu shaking his head, Qin Yuqing showed some surprise on her face.

Isn’t this arrangement of dishes important enough?
"Sister Qin, Zhang Yuan comes from a military background, so there's no need for all that pomp and ceremony." Zhao Yu handed the menu to Qin Yuqing and spoke.

"Besides, he hasn't been staying in the county town for long, and any guest willing to attend the banquet wouldn't care about whether the food and wine are plentiful or not."

"I remember that your Yunteng Tower has a cattle and mutton banquet specially set up to entertain military officers. This kind of strong liquor and barbecue is more suitable for Zhang Yuan's status."

Zhao Yu nodded, then said, "It's cheap too."

Zhao Yu's last words made Qin Yuqing open her mouth and laugh out loud.

"Okay, okay, I'll go change it right away."

She understood what Zhao Yu meant. No matter the status of the guests at this banquet, they had to feel that Zhang Yuan was a warrior.

Zhang Yuan was born in the Wuwei of Luyang Prefecture, and now he is a member of the Black Ice Palace. The banquet he prepared was simple and rough, but it was more sincere.

It seems that Princess Yuruo is really very close to Zhang Yuan and knows him very well.

"Also, arrange singing and dancing to entertain the guests, and waitresses to accompany the wine. How can a banquet for men be without these?" Zhao Yu's voice came from behind Qin Yuqing, making Qin Yuqing smile even more.

The princess is quite generous.

------------------

Yunteng Tower, in the lobby.

Ying Chong watched the waiter bow and lead two figures in from outside the door, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes.

The head of the Supervisory Office of Zhengyang County, the chief officer of the Black Ice Platform, Yu Zhentang, and the co-governor, Hu Liucheng.

"Chief Yu, this is Hutongzhi." Ying Chong stepped forward and bowed with a smile.

The chief officer of the Black Ice Platform is one of the three giants in Zhengyang County.

Ying Chong knew that Zhang Yuan's other identity was the commander of the Black Ice Platform's armored forces, Black Tiger Zhang Qingyang.

Of course, the two Black Ice Platform officers came to Yunteng Tower to attend Zhang Yuan's banquet.

"Master Ying Chong—"

Yu Zhentang's gaze passed Ying Chong and fell on Zhao Yu who was coming down the stairs.

"Princess Yuruo."

There was not much interaction between the imperial family and the local government.

Especially for a commander like Yu Zhentang, who held the Black Ice Platform in a prefecture, he only needed to maintain superficial respect even when facing a garrison prince like King Zhao and King Gu. The commander of the actual power in the local area had much greater authority than the garrison princes.

"Zhang Yuan was delayed by something and hasn't arrived yet. You two adults can go upstairs for some tea first." Zhao Yu said gracefully.

Zhao Yu’s words made Yu Zhentang raise his eyebrows.

A smile appeared on his face.

"well."

He turned around and looked at Hu Liucheng beside him.

"Sir Hu, you accompany Master Ying Chong and Princess Yuruo to entertain the guests here."

Zhang Yuan is the commander of the three armies of Heibingtai, and today's banquet is to celebrate his promotion to the Earl of Qingyang.

Yu Zhentang and Hu Liucheng, as officials of the Black Ice Taichung, are of course Zhang Yuan's own people.

Moreover, Zhang Yuan is now superior to Zhen Tang and Hu Liucheng in terms of both title and authority, so it is natural for Hu Liucheng to help entertain the guests.

Yu Zhentang went upstairs with a smile, while Hu Liucheng bowed to Ying and Zhao Yu and looked outside the lobby.

At this time, two figures came over.

Young Master Gu Zhuting, wearing a green martial robe, and his father, Gu Zheng, the Gongcao of the Zhengyang County Magistrate's Office, walked over quickly.

Gu Zhuting was not familiar with Ying Chong and only recognized Hu Liucheng, but he was familiar with He Yu. When they were training in martial arts, these students all obeyed Zhao Yu's orders.

Later, during the actual combat assessment at Chilongling, it was Zhao Yu who commanded the battle formation and formed the Eight Formations.

But at that time, Zhao Yu mostly wore men's clothes.

Young Master Gu was a little stunned, while his father, Gu Gongcao, was already showing surprise and cheering with his hands clasped.

"Master Hu!"

Gu Gongcao came to the banquet because Master Gu was able to defend Gubei City and gain military merits with the help of Zhang Yuan.

Gu Gongcao came to support Zhang Yuan in accepting the invitation to a banquet from his son's classmate.

As the Gongcao of the county government, he is also a well-known figure in the county city.

But he didn't expect that before he met Zhang Yuan, he met Hu Liucheng, the co-director of the Supervisory Department, who was one of the top ten officials in Zhengyang County.

"Is Gongcao Gu here for the banquet?" Hu Liucheng looked at Gongcao Gu and spoke lightly.

Hu Liucheng is a fifth-rank official in Heibingtai, second only to Si Shou. He is a powerful official and is not on the same level as Gu Zheng, a sixth-rank official in the county government.

"My son, Zhu Ting, was a classmate of Captain Zhang Yuan of Luyang Prefecture during their martial arts training. This time, he was stationed in Gubei City, and thanks to Captain Zhang's support, my son has achieved great merit. Captain Zhang is hosting a banquet today, so of course, Gu and I must come."

Gu Zheng said with a fist clasped.

When Master Gu came back, he told Gu Gongcao that Zhang Yuan should be the commander of the Black Ice Platform's armored forces, Black Tiger Zhang Qingyang.

However, the identity of Black Ice Taichung cannot be speculated unless it is announced in person.

At this time, Gu Zheng only mentioned Zhang Yuan's identity as a captain.

Hearing what Gu Gongcao said, Hu Liucheng nodded.

"Gu Gongcao is thoughtful."

"Master Hu, what are you doing..." Gu Gongcao looked at Hu Liucheng and spoke with a smile.

He didn't expect that Hu Liucheng, the Tongzhi who was second only to Si Shou in Heibingtai, would entertain guests here. It seemed that Zhang Yuan's status in Heibingtai was higher than he thought.

Originally, he regarded Zhang Yuan as a peer of his own son.

Now it seems that I was thinking wrongly.

Hu Liucheng bowed slightly and spoke in a clear voice, "Please ask Gongcao Gu and Master Gu to go upstairs first. My headmaster is already on the fourth floor."

"Today's banquet is to celebrate the promotion of Lord Zhang Qingyang, Commander of the Armored Forces of the Supervisory Department, to Commander of the Armored Forces of Three Towns, and the title of Earl of Qingyang. As an official of the Supervisory Department, I am here with Princess Yunuo and Master Ying Chong to temporarily entertain the guests on behalf of Earl of Qingyang."

Commander-in-chief of the three towns' military forces!
Lord Qingyang!
Gu Gongcao widened his eyes.

Master Gu shuddered all over and looked up in disbelief.

Ying Chong clenched his fists.

Surprise flashed in Zhao Yu's eyes.

This guy didn't even mention such a thing.

But when I think about it, it seems that when I was with Zhang Yuan, I never thought about talking about official titles.

Just doing other things...

(End of this chapter)