Li Shiyan’s expression was serious at this moment. He didn’t bother to answer Luo Yang’s question, and with a trace of anger in his cold eyes, rebuked the several servants: “What are you still doing here? Get lost!”

The servants didn’t dare offend him and were about to flee in panic, but Qiu Shu at the side, her face greatly changed, said sternly: “This young lady wants you to seize him. Are you all deaf? Do I need to do it myself?”

“Uh…”

“I am the Empress’s blood sister. Offending me is offending the imperial family. Do you still want your lives or not!”

Her tone was full of naked threats.

The several servants looked at each other.

Now they were truly caught in a dilemma!

Li Shiyan immediately cast a glance at the arrogant and domineering Qiu Shu. His pupils suddenly constricted as he stepped right up to her, bringing with him an imposing aura.

Qiu Shu couldn’t help but take a small step back, her eyes revealing threads of timidity. “What do you want to do?”

“Miss Qiu, you should know that in this Yanjing City, perhaps others fear you, but I, Li Shiyan, do not! I don’t care if you’re the Empress’s blood sister or the Emperor’s blood sister. In my eyes, you are nothing. If you dare to touch even a single hair on my friend’s head today, I guarantee… you will regret walking into Saixian Tower today.”

“You dare threaten me?”

“This isn’t a threat, it’s a warning!”

“…” Qiu Shu’s face turned livid.

She was very clear about the capabilities of this wastrel young master before her.

As a mere woman, she truly couldn’t outplay him.

Seeing her hesitate somewhat, Li Shiyan leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice to remind her: “If you don’t want to lose face, hurry back to your own seat and pretend nothing just happened. Otherwise, I guarantee you’ll become notorious in Yanjing City from now on!”

What Qiu Shu cared about most was her own reputation. She seemed to sober up in an instant and become rational. Her wavering eyes turned around, and only then did she realize that her actions had alarmed everyone on the third floor. Those pairs of spectating eyes fell upon her, as if wanting to poke countless holes through her entire body.

Her face showed unwillingness, but she could only back down. “Li Shiyan, today I’ll let him go, but next time he won’t have such good luck. Also, you’d better put away that domineering act of yours, otherwise sooner or later you’ll suffer the consequences!” After speaking, she added another sentence: “This isn’t a threat, it’s also a reminder.”

Li Shiyan’s eyes shifted slightly, but he didn’t respond to her words.

As she left, she didn’t forget to glare fiercely at Luo Yang before giving up.

The farce ended, and everyone began to discuss it in low voices.

But Li Shiyan paid no attention. What worried him most now was that the Marquis, who was currently sitting in the warm pavilion on the second floor, might find out.

Therefore, his actions today were much calmer!

Luo Yang patted his own sleeves while saying: “Young master, thanks.”

Li Shiyan patted his arm. “I went to where you’re staying early this morning looking for you. I originally planned to bring you along to join in the excitement, but Xiao Ba said you went to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to take up an official position. How is it that you’ve also come here in the blink of an eye? What’s really going on?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Then come, sit with me over there. Let’s have a good talk.”

Luo Yang was of course happy to, since the position where Li Shiyan sat had an open view and could see everything below with one glance.

Much better than the position Zhou Quan had found.

Of course, he wasn’t an “ungrateful wretch” and planned to pull along the stunned Zhou Quan at his side to go together.

But Zhou Quan’s whole body shuddered. He looked at Li Shiyan fearfully and said: “Um, never mind. I suddenly remembered there’s something at home I need to go back and handle immediately.”

“Didn’t you say you had nothing today?”

“I… temporarily forgot.”

“…”

“I won’t keep you company. You go sit with the young master.”

After speaking, Zhou Quan bolted down the stairs.

Like a mouse seeing a cat.

Luo Yang frowned and turned to ask Li Shiyan: “What’s going on?”

Li Shiyan raised his eyebrows in an evil smile. “That kid has taken plenty of beatings from me before. Of course he’s afraid when he sees me. Not to mention sitting at the same table with me—he’d be scared shitless.” After boasting proudly, he asked in puzzlement: “But how did you end up mixed up with him?”

“Anyway, it’s a long story.”

“Come on, come on, let’s go over there and talk.”

Li Shiyan pulled him over to sit at his own table and had the waiter quickly bring two more pots of good wine, saying happily: “We didn’t finish drinking last time, so let’s continue this time.”

“Fine!”

Two kindred spirits together naturally kept wine as their companion.

Little Luzi at the side, hearing they wanted to drink again, wrinkled his entire face together and quickly said: “Young master, you can’t drink anymore. Last time drinking caused trouble. If this time again…”

Before he finished speaking, Li Shiyan glared at him. “You’re really spoiling the mood. Hurry and stand to the side. Keep a good watch on the stairway and don’t let my father come up and discover me.”

“Huh?”

“Huh what? Hurry up and go!”

Being yelled at like this, Little Luzi could only hang his head and go guard the stairway with a pitiful appearance.

Looking quite pathetic.

Without Little Luzi nagging at his side, Li Shiyan felt much more at peace and began to question Luo Yang about his situation.

Luo Yang told Li Shiyan everything about how he went to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

In his view, after drinking together last time, they were already good friends!

There was nothing to hide.

Moreover, Li Shiyan also knew about his relationship with the Wen brothers.

After Li Shiyan heard what he said, his jaw nearly dropped.

Not from surprise!

But rather…

“A great general of Qujiang—this is how he repays his benefactor? So the lives of the Wen family are worth so little!”

“What do you mean?”

“You saved the remains of Prince Jing’an, which is equivalent to saving the lives of dozens of people in the Wen family. When treating your own lifesaver, they should give you the best. A petty Court of Imperial Sacrifices pavilion chief—what kind of official is that? It doesn’t even count as a ranked position, and you still have to do manual labor for others. Even beggars on the street might not want to be one.”

Once again he struck at Luo Yang’s heart.

“If I’d known you wanted to become an official, you should have just come to me directly. I would have had my father arrange an official position for you. At the very least it would be a ranked position, a hundred times better than pavilion chief!” Li Shiyan kept complaining, also with contempt for the Wen brothers.

A great general and a court minister, yet they gave their lifesaver a pavilion chief position?

If word got out, wouldn’t people laugh their teeth off!

Luo Yang was naturally also angry, but the anger had already passed its peak. What remained was a stubborn determination and ambition. He clenched his fist and pounded it on the table with a muffled sound. “The more they look down on me, the more I want to show them. Although I haven’t read many books and don’t recognize many characters, I still have backbone. I’ll definitely become a high official and show them!”

“You’re asking for suffering. Why torment yourself? With your current situation, wanting to rise in rank is simply harder than ascending to heaven.” Li Shiyan showed no mercy, directly pouring a bucket of cold water on him!