He did not wish for anyone to feel that someone else was getting treated better or worse than anyone else. The king even had the banquet tables be arranged in a large circle to symbolize every force attending stood as equals.
Hundreds of thousands of people had lost their lives in the mindless slaughter. From all of this Heilong kingdom’s economy took a huge hit, the loss of resources and manpower had nearly drove them bankrupt.
It took them nearly three years to stabilize the kingdom and to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again the Heilong kingdom needed allies. The more they could get the better. Thus the king was extra courteous to his guests that were attending the banquet. King Huang He was a king for the people so for the people he would treat every representative at the banquet with uttermost care.
Everyone used the time before the king arrived to converse and make connections.
However, this all changed when a group of guards walked into the hall and formed two lines starting at the door. From the other side of the door a man dressed in full black armor walked in and beside him were three out of this world beauties. One of the beauties was recognized by some as minister Wu’s daughter Wu Ling. There was no doubt about this because minister Wu himself was walking behind the four young people.
“Ah minister Wu, how are you.” A voice rang out as a chubby looking man in minister clothing walked toward the new arrivals.
“Might I ask who these people are.” Jia Su asked.
“Future son in law? I heard that the young lord of Aurora had just arrived in the city yesterday.” Jia Su said with a hint of confusion on his face.
As the other ministers saw it he had traded his daughter to form a connection with this young man. They thought it was also somewhat dumb of Wu Tong because there were many princes from powerful kingdoms to pick from rather than a future lord of a province. But all they could do was smile and congratulate Wu Tong because of course Ling was Wu Tong’s daughter and he could betroth her to whoever he wants.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you also minister Jia.” Zhang replied as he extended his hand to shake Jia Su’s hand.
“Thank you.” Zhang said as he pulled Yuying, Ai, and Ling toward him by the waist.
“Also don’t forgot about her, I have a beautiful fiancée also.” Zhang said with a grin.
While embracing the three beauties Zhang noticed many envious gazed placed on him. He figured most of the people here represented kingdoms while he represented a province thus they believed that he would be of lower social standing. And since he was of lower social standing he was not fit to have wives as pretty as Yuying and Ai nor a fiancée as pretty as Ling.
That’s when Zhang noticed a small group of young men wearing golden robes walk toward him. These were all most likely princes of various kingdoms.
Ming Jiang had heard about how Zhang had entered the city with twenty thousand soldiers as escorts which made him somewhat envy Zhang. Even as the crown prince of his kingdom he did not have that many soldiers at his command. One could say that the more soldiers and power given to a prince meant the more capable the prince was.
The fact that the lord of Aurora let Zhang command so many soldiers personally meant that he had lots of trust in him and his position as the next lord was secure. Whereas in Ming Jiang's case even if he was the crown prince his father could easily replace him with one of his brothers.
“Peasant?” Zhang murmured while still embracing the three beauties. Then with a kick Zhang smashed Ming Jiang’s knee making him fall to the ground and painfully scream. The majority of people only had the essence of a 5th rank so Zhang was easily able to overpower most since he was at the 6th rank of cultivation with his body being trained to the equivalent of the 4th level.
"If I'm the peasant then why are you the one kneeling." Zhang said with a grin.
He could tell that unlike Huang Zu who was sort of a hard headed simpleton these people here were schemers. They were the sort to give you smiles and gifts but stab you in the back when they had the chance.
Everyone looked toward Zhang's direction with shocked eyes. They did not think that the successor to a mere province had the nerve to attack a prince and a prince of the Ming kingdom at that. Amongst the alliance the Ming kingdom was one of the middle sized kingdoms that was at the borderline of being acknowledged as a large kingdom.
Getting revenge for someone who wasn't dead and involving millions of people seemed somewhat pointless since the person was not dead. Although they would have to call off the plan now Wu Tong was actually happy. Happy that his future son in law was alive.
"Hmph peasant? Perhaps you wish to kneel before me also." Zhang sneered.
Although she did not give airs up being royalty when people acted arrogant in front of her due to their status she looked down on them.
Ai simply snorted and did not pay attention to anyone. The only people she cares for in the world was Zhang and Yuying and by association Ling. Even Ling's did not register as someone important in her eyes.
She was more worried for Zhang ten anything else. She knew that he had power but it was best to have more friends than enemies.
"His royal highness king Huang He has arrived." The voice rang out.
Although Zhang still had his helmet on anyone could see the twinkle in his eyes when the king walked in. Zhang's gaze was fixated on the group walking in. Mostly on the minister of finances, his father. It has been almost three years since they left met and every fiber of his soul screamed for him to run up and hug his father.
Everyone did a courtesy bow with third hands clasped in front of them toward the king.
"Welcome everyone to today's event. I hope that everything is to everyone's liking. If not, then please inform one of the servants and they will do their best to make it to your liking." King Huang He said as he proceeded to site down.
Zhang had a fairly good impression of Huang He for doing this. It showed that he was not a man full of vanity and was not filled with pride. Realistically speaking everyone present was beneath him in status besides Yuying. But no one knew Yuying's status. Hence Huang He was sitting amongst people who were socially beneath him which rarely happened.
This seemed odd to most people because they were expecting him to sit beside Ling and her father.
Music was being played to lighten the mood and create a festive atmosphere.
Most of the other people who saw what had happened did not even dare to look in Zhang's direction.
As he walked from table to table many of the dignitaries presented Huang He with gifts. These things ranged from extravagant swords, armor, jewels and some even offered him women. Huang He accepted all of the gifts besides the women with the excuse of being too old to be with such young women.
Once king Huang He got to Zhang's table he was amazed at the beauty Yuying and Ai possessed. Although Ling is no less beautiful than Yuying and Ai he had seen her many times. Which made him becomes affected by her. But this was the first time he saw Yuying and Ai.
Sitting a bit away from the trio the minister of finances had a strange look on his face. The voice of this young man sounded much like the voice of his descended son.
"I would like to welcome you to my kingdom and might I add you're one lucky young man to have two such beauties by your side." Huang He added.
A hint of surprise could be seen on Huang Zu's eyes who was standing just behind Huang He. He looked toward where Wu Tong was and saw that Wu Tong did not deny this meaning that Zhang was not lying. Which meant that Ling had picked Zhang as the winner. He felt somewhat dejected but as a man of his word he would not go against the promise of the loser giving up of Ling.
"Ah it was discourteous of me not to remove my helmet in the pretense of his majesty." Zhang said as he took of his helmet.
"It can't be! But their voice is so similar and that face is definitely my son's face." He thought but he quickly brushed away because how could his son survive an explosion that made a huge part of Blue Tear city disappear.
"That must be the reason why Ling agreed to marry this young man because they look so much alike."