Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

Despite the eunuchs' shrill voices coming from the courtyard, Zhou Feng remained calm, leaning back in his chair and playing on his phone.

The imperial edict was long-winded, nothing more than praising Xiao Qinyan a few times and rewarding him with some things. He had no interest in the classical Chinese parallelism.

Instead, Chen Xiao crouched down and peered out through the gap in the window paper at the front hall.

After the imperial edict was read aloud outside, he slipped back in, squatted down next to Zhou Feng, and lowered his voice: "Sir, the scene outside was pretty much as described in the original novel. The son of the Xiao family received the imperial edict with both hands and handed it to the steward with one hand. Everyone present looked displeased. Xiao Qinyan didn't seem to react in any particular way."

"That's right, he's already decided to side with us. We're at the Xiao residence now, and the fact that he went out to kneel and receive the imperial edict is already quite respectable. It's just his son... tsk tsk tsk..."

Zhou Feng, who was playing on his phone, revealed a sneer.

As expected, a good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing.

Even though Gu Qianfan in this world has been controlled by them, and there haven't been many conflicts with him, and no one has messed with his mentality, he is still a good-for-nothing.

After reporting, Chen Xiao saw Zhou Feng wave his hand but didn't say anything. Instead, he stepped back and stood next to Tie Jianguo, with the two of them standing on either side of Zhou Feng behind him.

After the eunuch in the courtyard finished reading the imperial edict, he was supposed to go into the hall to drink and receive rewards, but he had already noticed Zhou Feng going in, so he directly declined Xiao Qinyan's invitation, left the Xiao residence, got into a carriage, and headed straight for the palace.

On the way back, the eunuch's face was extremely grim.

As a close advisor to the emperor, he often represented the emperor outside the palace to deliver imperial edicts, and was treated as an honored guest wherever he went.

Now look what's happened! He's run into Zhou Feng, the Heavenly Master who protects the nation. Not only does he not show his face when receiving the imperial decree, but he also has to avoid him. It's utterly rude!

After receiving the imperial decree, Xiao Qinyan went back to his residence to change his clothes, and the steward led the ministers to their seats.

The ministers split into two groups and walked toward the hall, while the Qingliu faction, led by Ke Zheng, sneered.

"The Xiao family is indeed of humble origins, with no background whatsoever. We are guests, yet they assigned a steward to receive us; this speaks volumes about their family values."

"What Minister Qi says is absolutely right. Our family has a long tradition of scholarship and learning; how could Xiao Qinyan possibly compare to us in terms of cultural depth?"

"That's right, that's right."

...

The group denounced Xiao Qinyan, making no attempt to hide it from his steward, treating him as if he were nothing.

The steward hesitated for a moment, but did not speak. He simply apologized and went to the back of the house.

The young master can disregard etiquette and act recklessly.

But he still had to report what happened in the hall to the master.

Once these people were seated, things got interesting.

Ke Zheng, Qi Mu, and others gathered together, loudly discussing poetry and prose, occasionally mentioning terms like "fortune-seeking" and "heretical practices."

Although he seemed to be speaking in a very low voice, it was clearly intentional for the people here to hear.

Even the few elegantly dressed old ministers next to him echoed this sentiment, glancing at Zhou Feng's group from time to time.

"Some people have no real skills, but they are first-rate at using flattery and eloquence."

"Having entered the path of immortality, why are you still meddling in court affairs? I wonder what you're after."

"I never expected that Lord Xiao, a high-ranking official, would associate so closely with such people. It's truly...sigh—"

Hearing the group's sarcastic remarks, Tie Jianguo's face showed a hint of anger. He was about to speak when he felt Chen Xiao tug at his sleeve, so he stopped.

"This Celestial Master recalls... in the Imperial Garden, when I used the Emperor's name to summon lightning to expel evil spirits, Minister Ke and this Lord Qi were also present. And that gentleman who said this Celestial Master has no skill, only flattery and cunning—may I ask what his official position is?"

Zhou Feng put his phone aside, tilted his head and looked at the indignant civil official, his disdain undisguised.

The other person, however, seemed to have been strangled, and his sarcastic remarks abruptly stopped.

Even if these supposedly upright individuals consider themselves superior, they would never dare to mock Zhou Feng like this in front of him.

The reason they dare to be so high-profile today is simply because Ke Zheng and Qi Mu, as leaders of the Qingliu faction, are both here, giving them enough confidence.

These people hadn't expected that Ke Zheng and Qi Mu had only been quietly chirping crickets together, unlike them who were so unrestrained.

The man looked to Ke Zheng and Qi Mu for help, but both remained silent, showing no intention of speaking, which made him feel disheartened.

Seeing that Zhou Feng had already gotten up and was walking towards them, the man could only cup his hands in a bitter gesture: "This... Master Celestial, I misspoke after drinking, it's really..."

"It's nothing, it's nothing."

Zhou Feng looked at him with a smile and walked straight up to him.

The official looked at Zhou Feng's Taoist robe and gold belt, swallowed hard, and wanted to explain, but he could only open his mouth, not knowing what reason to give.

"Since this gentleman is somewhat drunk, then this Celestial Master will help you sober up!"

As he spoke, Zhou Feng lifted the teapot in his hand and poured it over the guy's head.

"Ah! You..."

Although the tea had cooled down, Zhou Feng's actions in public were nothing short of humiliating!

Startled, he reached out and pushed Zhou Feng!

Before Chen Xiao and Tie Jianguo could make a move, someone from the other side had already grabbed the guy's wrist.

Gao Hu was wearing a maroon robe with floral patterns. He was holding the man with one hand and had a warm smile on his face as he looked at Zhou Feng.

The next second, he grabbed the man and walked out of the hall.

"This lord actually came to wish Prime Minister Xiao a happy birthday after he was drunk; it's utterly disrespectful! He should get home now!"

They simply threw it into the courtyard, and naturally, servants from the Xiao family took it away.

If it were high-ranking officials like Ke Zheng causing trouble at Xiao Qinyan's birthday banquet, it would be manageable. But for a pawn like him, Xiao Qinyan's butler alone would be enough to handle him.

Seeing that the man was taken away, Gao Hu strode back into the hall and approached Zhou Feng.

"My lord, my trusted aide reports that you possess a divine artifact brought from Penglai. With a single attack, it could blast half of that mountain into the ground. Is that possible...?"

He chuckled, his eyes gleaming.

As a military general, he had been itching to possess such a powerful artifact ever since he read the report sent back by Chen Xiao from his subordinates.

Just from the description, you can tell that the power of that artifact is even stronger than the lightning that Zhou Feng brought down with the Emperor in the Imperial Garden!

The techniques of flying and escaping, and the weapons that could kill like weeds, were described in such a fantastical way that even Gao Hu, a military general, began to doubt his own existence.

It would be such a shame if we couldn't see it with our own eyes!

Although the Japanese pirates were from a small island, they had caused considerable damage to the Central Plains. However, they never expected that their warriors would be as fragile as children in front of Zhou Feng's men, with no ability to resist whatsoever.

Given this demonstration of military power, although Gao Hu did not have a deep conversation with Zhou Feng like Xiao Qinyan did, and did not know that the other party intended to change the dynasty, he would certainly not be lacking in his ingratiating attitude.

In fact, if she hadn't known that Zhou Feng already had Zhao Pan'er as his fiancée, Gao Hui could have stood by Zhou Feng's side!