As soon as Pei Yuanzhi’s words were spoken, all the guests present were stunned.
The words of the Xuanjin Speaker were not just for show - once a person has been in a high position for a long time, each sentence, each word, is carefully considered before being spoken. Even a joke carries deep meaning.
It wasn’t that the guests actually believed Pei Yuanzhi would compete with the Gu Family for a granddaughter-in-law, but his statement, which was an unabashed expression of admiration and affection for An Yiqing, to the extent of wanting to take her into his family, revealed just how much he appreciated her!
It appeared that the title of First Miss of Xuandu City was not unwarranted for An Yiqing; she outshone Second Miss Guh, Guh Siqing, by more than just a little. With just a few words, she had made both Hua Zhifeng and Pei Yuanzhi utterly obedient. Who else had such ability?
Feeling the shift in the gaze of those around them, both Elder An and Old Master Gu smiled with deep meaning.
After briefly and warmly exchanging pleasantries with Hua Zhifeng and Pei Yuanzhi, An Yiqing and Gu Yelin left.
The engagement ceremony had to continue. The ritual had been completed, and now it was time for the toasts.
Among the attendees, An Zisheng, as a representative of the bride’s family, and Gu Weijun, on behalf of the groom’s family, began leading Gu Yelin and An Yiqing from table to table, holding their cups high to accept blessings from everyone present.
The atmosphere in the banquet hall gradually began to rise, with glasses clinking and laughter intermingling. Regardless of whether one had been on good terms or not in the past, everyone wore a smiling face today, creating an exceptionally harmonious environment.
While everyone was engaged in lively conversation and hearty laughter, suddenly, a series of deafening gunshots rang out from outside the hall, followed by many screams of panic!
In an instant, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop to freezing, and everyone, including Old Master Gu and Elder An, was stunned!
At the Xuanjin Grand Hotel of all places, someone dared to commit a shooting?!
It was audacious to the extreme!
In just a matter of seconds, the gunshots from outside became more frequent, the commotion louder, and the footsteps closer. The distinguished guests attending the engagement ceremony started to panic, their faces turning pale and their bodies shaking like chaff in the wind.
From the noises outside, it was clear that the gunmen were numerous!
Old Master Gu and Elder An, as the main figures in charge, immediately stood up and exuded an air of authority.
"Don’t panic, everyone, do as I say, and I guarantee your safety!" Old Master Gu walked to the middle of the banquet hall, his gaze stern as he spoke loudly, "Gather together, do not scatter; it will help with defense. Quick, do as I say now!"
The guests nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
As the Family Head of The First Great Family of Xuanjin Ancient Martial Arts, Old Master Gu naturally possessed high authority, and with him and Gu Yelin present, everyone felt a bit more confident.
Quickly, everyone stood up and gathered in a corner of the banquet hall. A few tall and burly men even moved the heavy white jade tables to surround everyone, forming a fairly solid protective base.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Speaker, you two should take cover as well, the gunfire outside is too fierce and could be dangerous," Elder An urged, seeing that both Hua Zhifeng and Pei Yuanzhi remained motionless in their seats.
However, Hua Zhifeng shook his head lightly, his face filled with anger as he said, "No need, I want to see for myself who has the audacity to commit armed violence and kill innocent people in broad daylight! It’s completely lawless!"