"I suddenly don't have much appetite!"
"??"
What was going on? What had just happened? This Minister of War had obviously encountered something to behave like this - having no appetite was just an excuse.
Soon, everyone seemed to discover the problem, because at several tables where Xiaoyao had served dishes, some people seemed to behave strangely like the Minister of War, not daring to continue eating.
These people were all high-ranking court officials. When they saw Xiaoyao, they all showed surprised expressions. But these people were all shrewd and didn't show anything obvious, making it impossible to understand what was happening!
Now they somewhat hated this Shi family young lady - they felt they shouldn't have come tonight.
When this situation appeared repeatedly, even if people at the scene didn't understand what was happening, they more or less suspected Xiaoyao, but they couldn't understand why.
When they asked those court officials, they also refused to say anything!
...
...
After Xiaoyao finished serving this round of dishes and went back, all those who noticed Xiaoyao immediately stood up and gathered together to discuss.
What they discussed, no one knew. They just knew these people didn't leave but stayed to continue, yet they stopped using their chopsticks.
They stayed because we don't want others to think we're special. We also don't know what the other party thinks - what if they think our behavior is inappropriate?
Fortunately, he didn't say anything just now and it still seems fine.
This behavior from the group of officials made the entire banquet turn strange. Everyone felt there must be something going on, but no one knew what it was.
They only knew one thing - this banquet had become very awkward and might end unpleasantly.
Great Tang Imperial Capital, Shi Family Courtyard - a night banquet was in progress. However, the atmosphere was somewhat eerie, leaving some people puzzled.
At this time, as masters of Shi Family Courtyard and hosts of this banquet, several core members of the Shi family were asking people they were familiar with.
"Minister Zheng, what's wrong with all of you? Is the food not to your taste?"
"No, the food is very good!"
"Then why aren't you eating?"
"I ate too much today!"
Similar conversations were happening at various tables, just with different excuses, such as:
"I'm on a diet!" This came from a thin court official.
"I'm eating vegetarian today!" This came from someone who never went to temples and loved meat.
"My mother told me not to eat duck today!" This came from someone whose parents had long passed away. "Oh, my mother told me this in a dream..."
"..."
These excuses sounded like excuses, and very obvious ones at that. This clearly indicated there was a problem.
These were people reminding the Shi family. Some who weren't too friendly with the Shi family weren't so obvious. Those who came here would give some face even if they weren't close, but they didn't speak directly, indicating this matter was quite serious. They wouldn't let themselves get involved for such a small relationship.
Actually, even without understanding this point, the Shi family realized this matter was somewhat serious. Otherwise, how could so many court officials and some royal relatives all show such strange behavior?
"You know, some things can't be said directly. I can only say that today's banquet might bring you trouble and also makes us very embarrassed! If possible, I'd like to leave right now!"
The Shi family received many similar statements, understanding they seemed to have done something wrong, but not knowing where the mistake was. These dignitaries all wanted to leave quickly. If they still couldn't find the problem, this banquet would definitely end unpleasantly.
Although the Shi family could continue holding such banquets, today's problems would definitely bring some negative impact, which the Shi family didn't want to see.
From some information at the scene, the Shi family also had a target - that servant who came to serve dishes. But they found they seemed to have never seen this servant before. After asking and investigating, they still didn't know who this servant was.
Xiaoyao was Shi Zhenxiang's spur-of-the-moment decision. When Xiaoyao went to help, no one paid attention either - just someone coming to help. At this time, they naturally hoped for as many hands as possible.
The servants inside wouldn't suspect if this was someone with ill intentions - that was the guards' job outside, which wasn't their concern. Besides, although they didn't pay much attention, some people had seen that Shi Zhenxiang brought this person.
It was just that for a moment no one asked someone who knew the situation. When they did ask, everything seemed a bit too late...
This was also fate. Sometimes, some things were really self-inflicted!
Originally, Xiaoyao wouldn't serve dishes anymore, just doing small tasks in the back. Although he wasn't quite clear why the atmosphere in front was strange, he felt it might be related to him. His presence seemed to make those people very uncomfortable.
So he went to do logistics work. Since he took the money, he would work responsibly. If serving dishes wasn't convenient, then logistics it was - cutting vegetables, tending fires, washing dishes. Xiaoyao could do all these.
Actually, someone had come to investigate Xiaoyao earlier, but because he was doing logistics work at the time, no one suspected him. This matter was indeed very difficult to investigate quickly on site. If investigated later, it would probably be very simple.
If Xiaoyao continued staying here, although the banquet atmosphere would be strange, it could at least proceed normally. Perhaps after removing the dishes Xiaoyao had served, it would return to normal.
But at this time, someone just wouldn't let it be and wanted to make things difficult for Xiaoyao. She didn't know that this behavior was making things difficult for herself and the Shi family, and for those court officials.
"What are you still doing here? Hurry up and work. Don't try to slack off - you took my silver." Shi Zhenxiang shouted at Xiaoyao. After discovering Xiaoyao wasn't serving dishes, she immediately came to find him.
"Are you sure you want me to go again? I feel the situation out there is a bit off." Xiaoyao didn't want to cause trouble either. He wasn't that kind of bored person, and the Shi family hadn't offended him.
"Even if the situation outside is a bit off, it has nothing to do with a little servant like you. You think too highly of yourself!" Shi Zhenxiang said very disdainfully. She had noticed the strangeness outside, but Xiaoyao's meaning seemed to suggest it was related to him, which made her feel ridiculous and impossible.
"You're right. I do think too highly of myself. I'm just a little servant - how could I have such great influence!" Xiaoyao also nodded in agreement.
"Exactly! Now hurry up and serve dishes!" Shi Zhenxiang was very satisfied with Xiaoyao's self-awareness, nodding with a proud attitude while speaking to Xiaoyao.
"We just served dishes - we need to wait a bit before serving again!" Xiaoyao answered.
"Then go pour wine!" Shi Zhenxiang immediately said. She just wanted Xiaoyao in front, regardless of what work it was. She planned to use Xiaoyao to strike at Le Youran later.
At this time, she was already fantasizing about Le Youran's deflated expression in her mind, feeling somewhat excited!
"Alright, I'll go pour wine!"
So Xiaoyao took a wine pot to pour wine for people. To make Xiaoyao, or rather Le Youran, more embarrassed, she directed Xiaoyao to the most obvious places - at least what she could manage. She couldn't interfere too much with the tables above.
"..."
"Minister, what's wrong?"
The Minister now really wanted to kill someone. Just now he was saying maybe there was nothing wrong and this banquet could continue, but unexpectedly, Xiaoyao appeared again and was even pouring wine for people.
Now the Minister only prayed for one thing - that Xiaoyao wouldn't come over, absolutely absolutely not come to his table, absolutely not pour wine for him...
But sometimes what you fear most is what happens. The Minister watched Xiaoyao step by step walking toward his side, then standing nearby, preparing to pour wine!
Whoosh!
The Minister immediately stood up, then very respectfully held his wine cup with both hands, accepting Xiaoyao's wine pouring. This at least showed that he was respectfully accepting, not treating Xiaoyao as a servant, but as someone coming to toast him.
The Minister's action left everyone stunned again. Most people completely didn't understand why he did this. Such wine banquets were very common, and servants like Xiaoyao pouring wine were also very common. They had never seen guests accept wine pouring like this.
Combined with the previous strange situation, even if some people didn't understand what was happening, they could tell this little servant seemed to have unusual influence, able to make the Minister behave like this.
"Minister, you don't need to stand up. Just let this boy serve you wine!" At this time, Shi Zhenxiang said from the side. This statement made the Minister want to directly give her two slaps.
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Having Little Brother Xiao... pour wine for me is truly my honor. I'll drink first as a toast!" The Minister said while drinking the wine. His words made people feel that Xiaoyao was toasting him, not just pouring wine.
His display of being flattered also made people feel that he was very honored by this, not casually enjoying it!
The people here were all important figures who could see the Minister's meaning. Those who didn't understand were very puzzled - who exactly was this little servant Xiaoyao to make the Minister act like this?
"Minister, you don't need to be polite. He's just Le Youran's little servant. You don't need to pay too much attention. As long as I'm willing, I can make him do things too." Shi Zhenxiang said very arrogantly at this time. She noticed the Minister's attitude, but she still only thought the Minister was giving face to the Le family.
(End of Chapter)