The attendant was very annoyed, as he detected a hint of triumph in the seemingly humble voice.
This was someone intending to cause trouble, yet he couldn't refuse.
The newly arrived Young Mistress was unaware of the sordid details.
She turned her head, observing the person before her with interest.
Broad-shouldered and tall, with clear, bright eyes, his faded blue Xiaoqi uniform couldn't hide his youthful vigor.
"You are Ning Yue?!"
Ning Yue's old face flushed. If Zhao Silu, the City Lord's daughter, had heard of him, there could only be one explanation.
"Indeed, it is this humble official. I have long admired your graceful demeanor and exceptional wisdom, and have always yearned to meet you. Today, upon seeing you, I realize that hearing about you is nothing compared to meeting you!"
Zhao Silu grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth and had heard more flattery than could fill several baskets, but praise from a subordinate who had long admired her was naturally different, especially when the subordinate was quite handsome.
Zhao Silu tried hard to suppress her smile, hoping to maintain an air of authority in front of her admiring subordinate, but her slightly upturned lips were easily caught by Ning Yue, who had been keeping his eyes downcast.
So Ning Yue struck while the iron was hot: "Zongqi, you are so busy with official duties, how do you have time to personally come for medicine today?"
Zhao Silu said, "I was just passing by."
Ning Yue then said, "You may not know this, but the Hanbing Grass is sold out today, and the next batch won't be available for five days."
"To prevent you from delaying your cultivation, you can take my share first. My strength is meager, so waiting a few more days is no problem. Your progress is rapid, and it absolutely cannot be delayed."
"Oh? What a coincidence, is that true?" Zhao Silu was simple-minded and, hearing this, didn't doubt him, so she asked.
Attendant: "......"
Ning Yue looked at the attendant's face, red like a pig's liver, and smiled slyly.
Immediately, his expression changed, and he said in a low voice, "Oh dear, it was this humble official who was presumptuous. While others may not have it, your share, Zongqi, can surely be squeezed out. I am short-sighted and speak without thinking, only inviting ridicule. I am truly ashamed and hope you will forgive me."
"It's not your fault, after all, you meant well." Fearing that Ning Yue would be disheartened, Zhao Silu quickly comforted him, then turned to the attendant beside her and said, "Go, find Manager Yu."
The attendant went inside to report, and Ning Yue seized the opportunity to lavish praise. The compliments he learned from frequenting nightclubs in his previous life flowed freely, as if they cost nothing, making Zhao Silu frequently cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.
Things like: The new rouge shop on the South City Tower should close, only the Zongqi's lips are truly red!
Or: The peach and plum blossoms of March are not beautiful, far inferior to the Zongqi's enchanting smile!
......
The many people buying medicine nearby were all stunned, feeling they had gained much. So, there were so many ways to praise someone.
After a while, Manager Yu hurried over, carrying a medicine package in his left hand.
Ning Yue turned his head and saw that the other party's right arm had only an empty sleeve.
Manager Yu had been a City Lord's guard in his early years, following Zhao Nan Ting in campaigns and earning many merits. His future should have been bright, but during a battle against demons attacking the city, his right arm was severed, and he was gravely wounded.
Later, after much effort, his injuries finally healed, but his cultivation greatly diminished. He was then placed in Tongji Pharmacy by Zhao Nan Ting, who had become the City Lord of Gu City.
Once a person loses their drive, they age quickly. Manager Yu, who had no children, was over forty but already had a head full of white hair.
Manager Yu walked up to the two, first greeting the Young Mistress, then respectfully handing the medicine package to Ning Yue, his eyes slightly narrowed as he said, "Xiaoqi, please don't be angry. My attendant made a mistake. There is still Hanbing Grass, and I've already packaged it for you. As an apology, this batch of herbs can be given to you at half price. What do you think?"
Ning Yue casually took the herbs: "This... this isn't appropriate, is it? Zhao Zongqi, although my salary is meager, I can still afford to pay for medicine."
Zhao Silu looked at Ning Yue in surprise. The rumors said Ning Yue was greedy for money and obsessed with it. She had expected him to take advantage and leave, but upon meeting him today, he seemed different from the rumors.
It seems rumors cannot be entirely trusted.
"Just take it if it's given to you. We both serve in the military, so don't be so polite," Zhao Silu advised.
"This... then I shall reluctantly accept."
Ning Yue, having gained an advantage, didn't gloat. After paying the remaining amount and bidding farewell to the two, he turned and quickly walked towards the Yongwang Garrison.
Manager Yu accompanied Zhao Silu, watching Ning Yue walk away, then spoke, "Young Mistress, allow your subordinate to speak freely for a moment. This person is deeply cunning and does not seem like someone easy to get along with."
Manager Yu had watched the Zhao family's daughter grow up. Although his status was special, he had always regarded her as his own junior.
Now, as the manager of Tongji Pharmacy, he was already a retainer of the Zhao family, and naturally couldn't stand by and watch the naive City Lord's daughter be misled by a poor boy.
"I think he's quite nice, and his words are rather interesting. Manager Yu, you shouldn't blindly believe rumors," Zhao Silu clearly had a different opinion on the matter.
Manager Yu was stunned, thinking, "Rumors? What rumors? Is this kid very famous in the army?"
Just as Manager Yu was about to persuade her further, he heard Zhao Silu say with a smile, "Manager Yu, I'm not a child anymore. Now I am a dignified Zongqi of our Great Yuan Dynasty, and a few words from others won't deceive me."
Manager Yu slapped his forehead, thinking, "How did you get that Zongqi position? Don't I know?"
......
That night, dusk settled.
Gu City had a curfew at hai shi (9 PM) every day. It was still early, and the flow of pedestrians was much denser than during the day.
After work, Ning Yue tied up his hair, changed into a blue and white cloud-patterned long gown, and wore black satin boots, giving him a more scholarly air.
Walking behind Xue Ren and Xue Youwei, the two in front chatted and laughed, while Ning Yue occasionally chimed in but didn't say much.
They traveled unhindered to the restaurant, where the entrance was already bustling with carriages and only people of high status.
The position of Baihu was a seventh-rank official, comparable to a county magistrate. There were few people above him in all of Gu City.
Furthermore, Han Yu came from an extraordinary background and had served in the military for a long time. His trusted subordinates, wealthy merchants, even if they couldn't attend in person, would send gifts.
And those who wished to curry favor were as numerous as carp crossing a river, appearing endlessly.
After presenting their gifts and entering the restaurant, Ning Yue discovered that the entire spacious first-floor hall had been booked.
Han Yu sat alone on a high platform, and with a grand wave of his hand, the banquet began.
However, few Baihu from Yongwang Garrison were present. After all, yesterday's colleagues were now their immediate superiors, and no one would feel good about that.
The advantage of having a powerful family as a backer wasn't always obvious in daily life, but at crucial moments, it was decisive.
Duan Baihu, Duan Tao, and Li Baihu, Li Hongxu, who were previously on good terms with Han Yu, were likely sulking at home.
With a Baihu's promotion, a hundred tables were set.
Exquisite dishes, fragrant and steaming, were served continuously. Besides common dishes, Ning Yue also discovered exotic meats, such as stewed Ice-Armored Snake, braised Nine-Yang Chicken, stir-fried Clear Wind Rabbit, and even a lion's head made from a second-tier demonic beast, the Qilin Fire Lion.
A second-tier demonic beast's strength was comparable to a human in the Lianrou (Body Refinement) Realm.
Ning Yue had heard of these exotic beasts. Their meat was delicious and rich in qi and blood, making them excellent tonics for martial arts practitioners. However, he had always been short on money and had never even seen them, let alone eaten them. He found himself salivating.
"This trip was truly worth it!" For this meal, he had only drunk water for lunch.
Any single dish on this table was worth several times his gift.
Ning Yue and Xue Youwei were seated in a corner. A Xiaoqi official barely met the threshold for this banquet. To be honest, without Xue Ren's guidance, they wouldn't have even been able to enter the Lucky Restaurant's doors.
But Ning Yue was happy to be at ease and planned to eat his money's worth first.
"I say, can't you have some ambition? This is a banquet. The people around us are either high-ranking officials or our superiors. Watch your table manners!" Xue Youwei hissed in a low voice.
Seeing that Ning Yue completely ignored him and reached his chopsticks towards the braised Qilin Fire Lion's Head, which he had coveted for a long time and was now scarce, he immediately became furious, "You damn well leave some for me!!"
