I Only Stomp on Weaklings

Prince Mansion, within an exquisite small courtyard.

"Miss, the Empress Dowager has sent many gifts."

"Miss, news has arrived from the palace. The date is set; you will enter the palace on August 13th. Once the Mid-Autumn Festival passes, the imperial decree will be issued."

"Miss..."

Maid Zhiqin looked at Miss, silent, only sitting at the window, staring blankly at the white jade hairpin in her hand, her heart filled with sadness, turning to wipe her tears quietly.

Since Madam appeared and took Miss away from Xiazhou City to the Capital City, Miss often stared at that hairpin in a daze.

She knew what was in Miss’s heart.

She understood even more that what Miss desires in her heart will never be fulfilled in this lifetime.

Miss is about to enter the palace, to become a concubine to the noblest man in the world!

Gu Gongzi, being the legitimate son of Duke Jingguo, with exceptional talents, is powerless before the emperor of Great Jin.

Miss worried that Gu Gongzi might do something foolish and pleaded with the master to speak clearly with him, breaking off his thoughts.

My dear Miss, so naive. In this way, Gu Gongzi might think you are trying to climb up by associating with someone powerful, and feel betrayed, even if there was some affection in his heart, it’s likely...

Zhiqin thought of the sorrow, and couldn’t help feeling heartbroken for Miss.

"Qin’er."

Suddenly, Xia Mudan called her.

She quickly wiped away her tears and asked, "Miss, what would you like me to do?"

"The day after tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, right? Go tell Mother I want to attend the royal banquet in the palace."

"This—"

Zhiqin hesitated a bit, knowing Madam would definitely not agree.

Because Gu Gongzi will certainly attend that Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

"Tell her I want to see him once more. After this, I will never see him again."

"Alright."

...

July 15, Mid-Autumn Festival.

Early in the morning, Chen Ming boarded Gu Haichuan’s carriage heading to the Imperial Palace together.

"Can’t reach them?"

Gu Haichuan’s face was sullen, "Is it that the second and third don’t want to come, or is there trouble?"

The person reporting knelt on the ground, lowered his head, and said, "I do not know, sir."

"I’m giving you one day, if you don’t find them, don’t bother coming back."

"Yes, sir."

That person left the carriage quickly.

Chen Ming sat beside, eyes fixed ahead, ears tuned out as if he hadn’t heard their conversation.

After all, those two were already buried by him.

Gu Haichuan turned to look at him, his demeanor suddenly affable, "Today you must perform well. As long as you secure a spot for our Gu Family in the Immortal Mansion, my earlier promises to you will hold true."

Chen Ming said, "I naturally trust Uncle’s words."

"Seems you still have doubts, oh well. I, Gu Haichuan, swear by the spirits of Duke Jingguo Mansion ancestors, as long as you accomplish this, you will become our family’s Old Qi. Except for not being the Duke Jingguo, all other treatments will be the same as they are for Zhengshan."

Chen Ming raised his head, looking at him with a playful smile, "Can Uncle represent Duke Jingguo Mansion?"

"Naturally I can."

"Then I agree."

The current situation leaves no choice but to agree.

Just get by for now and consider further after the royal banquet.

Chen Ming had devised many plans for himself, but he still wasn’t clear on the exact rules of this royal banquet, and could only adapt as needed.

Before long, they arrived at the Imperial City.

The Imperial City of Great Jin has a history of over two thousand years, spanning three dynasties. It’s magnificent and imposing.

Once Chen Ming entered the Capital City, he felt a deep sense of awe.

This is the majesty of heaven!

According to the old Taoist, this city condenses the fortune and wisdom of humanity over tens of thousands of years.

It’s said that beneath this Imperial City lies a true dragon, living for over two thousand years, serving as the Divine Beast that guards the nation; as long as this true dragon exists, the city will remain unshakable.

Thus, anyone entering the Imperial City feels the dragon’s rein.

Chen Ming found a loophole in these words; if this Divine Beast was really that powerful, how did dynasties change? Additionally, in two thousand years, there have been two changes of dynasty.

The Imperial City’s area is vast, and the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet is held in Qianyuan Hall.

This time, there are hundreds of families attending the banquet, numbering thousands of guests.

To qualify for the banquet, one must at least be a marquis or above, a Third Grade official in the current government, or have received special royal invitation.

Such as the Yu Family!

The Yu Family of Yu Haitang is one of the Five Great Clans.

Currently, the most prominent names are the Five Great Clans.

Throughout thousands of years, these five families have always been the top aristocratic families in the world, unaffected by the rise and fall of dynasties, with deep foundations unmatched by any other force.

Consequently, though the Yu Family is not noble by titles, it received the emperor’s invitation to attend this banquet.

Due to Yu Haitang, Chen Ming took particular interest in the Yu Family, listening in on the conversations around him.

Also present are several of his greatest rivals, the three famous sons who took the Capital City by storm a few years ago.

Recently, someone intent on stirring controversy has grouped him with those three, dubbing them the Four Princes of the Capital, an absurdity.

"Eldest Princess!"

"Greetings, Your Highness!"

As Chen Ming and Gu Zhengshan awaited in the side hall, they heard the salutation.

Looking up, they saw the Eldest Princess, dressed in regal yellow, approach and stop before them.

He followed suit and saluted, "Greetings, Your Highness."

The Eldest Princess asked him, "Have you considered my proposal?"

Chen Ming smiled wryly, "Your Highness’s way of asking makes it hard for me to answer."

The Eldest Princess said, "Tonight, she is here too."

With that, she departed.

For a while, the side hall buzzed with speculation about the connection between Gu Qi and the Eldest Princess.

Gu Zhengshan could not help but whisper, "What proposal did the Eldest Princess mention?"

He transmitted his reply, "Her Highness wishes to recruit me to work for her."

This matched Gu Zhengshan’s guess; he nodded, quite pleased with his discretion.

...

"Which one is Gu Qi?"

Suddenly, a loud voice rang out, and they saw a large man in bright silver armor stride in, towering over two meters, exuding immense pressure and an intimidating presence.

Trouble is here.

Gu Zhengshan frowned, quietly warned, "This is Wang Family’s Wang Jinh Tiger, domineering in nature. Be cautious."

Wang Jinh Tiger is among the strongest young talents in the Capital City.

Not yet thirty, yet Second Grade.

The Wang Family also rivals the Gu Family in nobility.

As Wang Jinh Tiger’s voice echoed, everyone in the side hall turned to look.

Chen Ming stood up readily, meeting Wang Jinh Tiger’s menacing gaze, and said, "I am; may I know why this brother seeks me?"