By a twist of fate, the illegitimate son of the Marquis's family marries the county princess.

Chapter 236 Attending the Banquet

Wen Zongji listened to the storyteller in the teahouse for a while, then got up and left, casually strolling around the street.

He didn't return to his office until it was almost time for the banquet.

Dan Zengnian was already waiting for him.

The two went to the banquet together.

The largest restaurant in Guangyang Prefecture has three private rooms on the third floor.

Prefect Huang and a group of government officials were waiting in the private room. Everyone in the room held a higher official rank than Wen Zongji, yet none of them dared to put on airs in front of him.

"My lord, Lord Wen will be arriving soon. How should we respond?"

Prefect Huang said, "I don't know him well either, but young people who are new to officialdom are generally quite straightforward. Besides, the Capital Gazette Office and the Prefectural Government are not subordinate to each other, so we can treat him normally and there is no need to be overly attentive."

"The Marquis of Zhongyong is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Grand Secretary Han is too busy to attend to everything, so the Ministry of Rites has been in charge of the Marquis of Zhongyong. With the Marquis of Zhongyong and Princess Anhe in charge, it's likely that in a few years, we will have to pay our respects to him."

"Last year, the most prominent official in the capital was none other than Lord Wen. He was also favored by the Crown Prince, and everyone could see that Lord Wen had a bright future. Alas, it's good to be an official in the capital; it's easier to be noticed by those above."

Seeing their envious looks, Prefect Huang said, "Don't say anything more. You are all officials of the prefectural government, which is already much better than others."

Just as he finished speaking, a servant came in and said, "My lord, Lord Wen and Lord Shan have arrived."

The private room fell silent instantly.

Some people instinctively wanted to stand up, but then they remembered that their official rank was higher than Wen Zongji's, so they held back. Going out to greet him would be too overly enthusiastic and unnecessary.

Before long, Wen Zongji and his companion arrived at the private room, led by a servant.

Upon entering the private room, I saw the people inside.

Wen Zongji cupped his hands and said, "This humble official greets all the esteemed officials."

Dan Zengnian accompanied him to pay his respects.

Prefect Huang rose and said, "Lord Wen, please don't stand on ceremony. I have long admired Wen Zongji and have wanted to meet him for a long time. I apologize for the abrupt invitation to the banquet."

The others also got up.

Wen Zongji said, "Since I have come to Guangyang Prefecture, I should pay my respects to Prefect Huang. Even without today's events, I would still have paid my respects to Prefect Huang."

Prefect Huang smiled: "That's perfect. Come, Lord Wen, sit down next to me."

Wen Zongji was taken aback: "This... With all of you gentlemen here, how could I dare to overstep my bounds?"

The other officials in the government office pushed Wen Zongji forward, saying, "Guests are guests. Since Lord Wen has come to Guangyang Prefecture, we should naturally give him a warm welcome."

Prefect Huang pressed him down to sit: "Yes, our Guangyang Prefecture is the most hospitable. Lord Wen, you don't need to be so formal."

Wen Zongji could no longer refuse: "Then I will be shameless enough to do it once."

Prefect Huang laughed and said, "That's more like it."

Next, the waiter brought up the food and drinks.

"Lord Wen, these are all signature dishes of Guangyang Prefecture. Please try them. Although they cannot compare with those in the capital, they have their own unique flavor."

Wen Zongji picked up a few pieces and tasted them, praising, "Prefect Huang is too modest. These signature dishes are no less delicious than those in the capital; each has its own merits. Especially this mutton, it's fresh, fragrant, and tender, and cooked exceptionally well."

Prefect Huang: "Lord Wen likes mutton? This chef's specialty is mutton, why don't we have him cook another dish for Lord Wen?"

Wen Zongji quickly declined, saying, "This is enough. It's not that I like mutton, it's just that my wife does, and over time I've learned more about it."

Prefect Huang's eyes flickered slightly: "So it's the county princess who likes it... Come, it's fate that Lord Wen can come to Guangyang Prefecture, let's all drink together."

After saying that, everyone raised their glasses.

Wen Zongji had no choice but to drink a cup with him.

Then, Prefect Huang spoke with Wen Zongji while urging him to drink.

Wen Zongji drank several cups in a row, then shook his head and said, "I can't drink anymore, Prefect Huang."

Prefect Huang, noticing Wen Zongji's somewhat dazed gaze, remarked, "Lord Wen's alcohol tolerance is rather low."

Wen Zongji said helplessly, "I rarely drank before. It was only after I passed the imperial examination and had more social engagements that I started drinking."

He stood up, his body swayed violently and he almost fell, but luckily Changdong and Anfeng behind him caught him.

"I'm truly sorry, sirs, but I'm not a good drinker, so I won't spoil the fun here."

After saying that, he covered his head in discomfort.

Seeing this, Prefect Huang and the others could not force him to stay.

Prefect Huang stood up and said, "I will see Lord Wen off."

"Absolutely not."

Prefect Huang insisted, "Since Lord Wen has come to Guangyang Prefecture, I should do my duty as a host."

After saying that, he raised his hand, signaling Changdong and the other man to help Wen Zongji walk in front.

Wen Zongji had no choice but to agree: "This humble official thanks Prefect Huang for his kindness."

Dan Zengnian also got up and left.

The other officials in the government office just watched them leave the private room.

Once downstairs, Prefect Huang glanced at Shan Zengnian and said, "I have something to say to Lord Wen."

Dan Zengnian, understanding the situation, tactfully walked a few steps away.

Prefect Huang said, "Lord Wen, I am straightforward, so I will ask directly: besides inspecting the branch offices of the Capital Gazette Office, what other secret missions did the Crown Prince send you to Guangyang Prefecture?"

Wen Zongji blinked in confusion: "Why would Prefect Huang have such a question? I am the chief editor of the Capital Gazette Office. Besides inspecting the various branch offices, what else can I do?"

Prefect Huang stared into Wen Zongji's eyes, and seeing the doubt in them, he believed him and said with a smile, "I'm sorry to make you laugh, Lord Wen. That's just how I am. As soon as I heard that an imperial envoy was coming, I worried that Guangyang Prefecture had done something wrong and displeased the Emperor and the Crown Prince."

Wen Zongji suddenly realized: "Prefect Huang is overthinking it. I entered the officialdom not long ago and joined the Capital Reporting Office. I have not been exposed to other court affairs and my understanding of Guangyang Prefecture is only partial. Even if the court were to send an imperial envoy, it would not send someone as half-baked as me."

"Lord Wen is too modest. The Imperial Gazette publishes important political events and secret reports from various prefectures and counties. The Imperial Gazette Office has the right to view them. Guangyang Prefecture has no secrets from the Imperial Gazette Office."

"Prefect Huang overestimates the Beijing Gazette Bureau. We were so busy finalizing the drafts that the Beijing Gazette Bureau only cared whether the memorials were suitable for publication. As for the specific content, they got tired of reading them and usually forgot about them as soon as they were read."

Wen Zongji, his face flushed with drunkenness, looked at Prefect Huang suspiciously: "Prefect Huang, are you saying these things because Guangyang Prefecture is really doing something shady? Are you deliberately testing me like this?"

Prefect Huang chuckled: "If I were truly guilty, why would I ask Lord Wen so bluntly?"

"That's true."

Wen Zongji nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I won't keep Lord Wen any longer. Let's meet again another day."

Then Changdong and the other man helped Wen Zongji into the carriage.

After they finished speaking, Shan Zengnian greeted Prefect Huang and got into the carriage as well.

After the two were seated, the carriage started moving and returned to the inn where Wen Zongji was staying.

Prefect Huang stood there, watching the carriage gradually disappear into the distance.