Zhao Lingfei thought for a moment, then gently nodded and hooked her husband’s arm, snuggling against him.
Zhao Rong nodded, smiled, and did not ask further.
The trio resumed their journey.
Zhao Lingfei stood erect, lightly holding her husband’s arm, gazing at the Li River flowing transversely in front of her as her autumnal eyes slightly closed.
She remained silent and subdued, suppressing the strange surges of Sword Qi within her body that had been calm for a long, long time but suddenly emerged.
Fenglin, wooden case, fine wine.
Confucian Scholars, scholarly debate, delicious dishes.
A perch fish banquet was being held.
When Zhao Rong, his wife, and Qian’er arrived, everyone else had already gathered.
The number of guests at the banquet was not large, only about a dozen, making it a private gathering of Teacher Yan and his disciples.
The reason for the gathering, according to the eldest disciple, was that Teacher Yan, prompted by the autumn breeze, longed for the hometown delicacy of water-shield soup and sliced raw fish.
The only two outsiders at the banquet were Zhao Lingfei and Zhao Qian’er.
Zhao Rong smiled and introduced Qing Jun and Qian’er to Teacher Yan and several fellow senior and junior disciples.
To the scholars from the Academy at the banquet,
both the wife and her personal maid under eighteen were women Sword Cultivators from the Vast Realm, geniuses among the Residence Students from Taiching’s Tranquility Mansion.
The former was even about to enter the Heavenly Will Realm and was famous throughout Taiching Prefecture as a prodigy.
Such astonishing fortune could make one think this junior brother was a legitimate heir from some wealthy, influential family if they didn’t know otherwise.
At the banquet, everyone surreptitiously took in their bearings.
Their eyes roved around the trio, especially focusing on Zhao Lingfei, who was clutched close to Zhao Rong, long famous, in her intriguing purple attire, quite eye-catching.
Many men raised their glasses, silently taking several extra sips.
Admiring a beautiful woman, tasting fine wine, and sampling good food.
Today, all were present.
Confucian Scholars laughed heartily.
Previously, most of them had only heard about this and now they were seeing it with their own eyes, the actual person in their midst.
Ah, this Zhao Ziyu, Junior Brother Zhao, truly has a profound fortune.
The scholars at the banquet all knew about Junior Brother Zhao Rong’s background.
However, they kept silent about his status as a son-in-law and did not spread it within the Academy.
Because the teacher had sternly warned them.
And none of them were fools enough to commit such an offensive act.
Teacher Yan’s affection for Zhao Rong was apparent to all disciples.
This junior brother might indeed stand shoulder to shoulder with them in the future, maybe even vying for a position as one of the Reading Seeds...
During the banquet, Zhao Rong sat at the closest spot to Teacher Yan’s right hand.
Zhao Lingfei and Zhao Qian’er, at a side, poured fine wine for Zhao Rong and Teacher Yan, displaying manners that were respectful and gracefully dignified.
Yan Jidao was very pleased.
He had been somewhat worried that Zhao Rong’s wife, being the proud heaven’s daughter of Taiching Prefecture and a Sword Cultivator, would be one of those sharp and domineering ’geniuses,’ overshadowing Zhao Rong.
Yan Jidao laughed and shook his head in disbelief, the match of this young couple, in perfect harmony, even made him a bit envious.
Afterward, everyone got along harmoniously.
At the banquet, they passed cups and plates around, discussing and debating joyously.
Throughout the meal, Teacher Yan frequently inquired about Zhao Rong’s recent academic situation at the school, urged him on his academic progress, and his study of the Confucian Thirteen Classics.
This elderly man from a far-away hometown nodded in satisfaction from time to time and raised his glass to invite others to drink.
The banquet dispersed.