Chapter 2762 A Soft Approach
Chapter 2762 A Soft Approach
The twelve beauties all turned their full attention to Lady Yeon, their curiosity piqued by the sharp look she gave them.
"And don't even think of doing something to offend him," she warned, her voice carrying a weight that sent chills down their spines. "Or you'll have to deal with me."
A dangerous glint flickered in her eyes, one that carried an unspoken promise of consequences. For a moment, the twelve beauties felt as if they were caught in the middle of a raging storm, their bodies sinking into a turbulent sea with no way to escape. The illusion was so vivid that their breath hitched, their limbs freezing as if weighed down by invisible chains.
GASP
A collective gasp rippled through the room as they snapped out of the illusion, their faces pale and their breathing shallow. They knew better than to test Lady Yeon's patience. Without hesitation, they gathered their attendants and made a swift exit, leaving only Lady Yeon and a handful of her personal maids behind.
As the room settled into silence, Lady Yeon returned her gaze to the documents before her, absorbing the details with careful consideration.
"So, he likes to eat, huh…" she murmured, her fingers tapping lightly against the parchment. A slow smile crept onto her lips. "Looks like that's how I have to do it then."
She reached for a brush, her strokes deliberate as she wrote down her next orders on a scroll. Once she was done, she handed it to one of her maids.
"Deliver this to the Imperial Court. Inform them that I'm borrowing the Western Shore Palace for a day."
"Yes, mistress." The maid bowed before swiftly exiting the room.
"Prepare a large banquet," Lady Yeon commanded.
"What specifics would you like, mistress?" another maid inquired, ready to take notes.
"Food. As much as they can prepare in two days. All kinds—I want thousands of dishes," Lady Yeon stated, her tone leaving no room for debate.
"It shall be done," the maid replied, bowing deeply.
"Also, send invitations to key individuals from the noble clans and the city's VIPs. Extend the invitations to those staying at the Imperial Ocean Quay, particularly those in high-ranked accommodations. And make sure the Water Dragon Villa receives one." Her voice carried a hint of amusement as she spoke the last part.
"As you command, mistress." The maids nodded and departed quickly, their minds already racing with the magnitude of the task ahead.
A sly smile remained on Lady Yeon's face as she leaned back. Let's see if you take the bait, Lin Mu.
Meanwhile, Lin Mu remained blissfully unaware of the absurd amount of resources being poured into orchestrating a banquet just to lure him in. His day passed peacefully, right up until the next morning when a knock echoed through the villa's doors.
Knock knock.
"Yes?" Lin Mu asked as he opened the door.
A servant from the Imperial Ocean Quay greeted him with a polite bow. "Honored sir, I bring you an invitation."
"An invitation? For what?" Lin Mu frowned slightly, confused.
"All esteemed guests of the Imperial Ocean Quay have been invited to a grand banquet at the Western Shore Palace," the servant explained.
Lin Mu raised an eyebrow. "I see… And what is this banquet for?"
"It is a customary event, sir. The Imperial Family and various noble houses organize them periodically. It serves as a wonderful opportunity for networking while indulging in the finest delicacies the empire has to offer," the servant added smoothly, as if he had rehearsed this line countless times.
"Delicacies?" Meng Bai suddenly peeked out from behind Lin Mu, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. Alongside him, three eager little beasts were already brimming with excitement.
"Food!?" The twin snakes nearly shouted in unison.
"Will there be bugs?" Ashy asked, her feathers ruffling slightly with anticipation.
The servant blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sudden enthusiasm. But he quickly recovered his professional demeanor. "All sorts of delicacies from across the empire shall be served. In fact, I have heard that special chefs have been brought in from various regions just for this occasion. It is expected to be the grandest banquet of the year," he said in a slightly conspiratorial tone, as if revealing a great secret.
"Oh?" Lin Mu's interest was piqued now.
"Can we go?" Meng Bai asked, his excitement barely contained.
While he had certainly enjoyed exquisite meals prepared by Little Shrubby, the allure of an official banquet was something else entirely. He had missed his chance to attend one back in Ram Orchard City when Lin Mu had insisted on leaving early. This time, he was determined.
"What's this about a banquet?" Daoist Chu suddenly joined in, his ears perking up as he approached.
He plucked the invitation from the servant's hands, quickly scanning the contents before his eyes lit up with delight.
"Oh damn! It's one of these?!" Daoist Chu nearly cackled with glee.
"You know about it?" Lin Mu asked, slightly amused by the man's reaction.
"Anyone who's been to the capital city would know! These banquets are legendary! I've attended a few before, but nothing of this scale. We HAVE to go," Daoist Chu declared, practically vibrating with excitement as he imagined the endless flow of wine and the company of beautiful women.
"Fine then," Lin Mu relented. He saw no harm in attending, especially since so many others were invited as well. He had no idea that he was the primary target of the invitation.
More importantly, his mind drifted to the prospect of food.
'If the rumors are true, then there might be even more dishes than we've eaten at the villa so far,' Lin Mu mused. Little Shrubby could learn some new recipes as well.
"We'll attend," he confirmed to the servant.
"Excellent! The banquet will be held tomorrow evening," the servant replied before bowing and making his exit.
As soon as the door closed, Daoist Chu let out an excited laugh.
"HAHA! A proper Shanxi Banquet! Just imagine all the beautiful ladies who will be there!" he practically sang in joy.