474: Chapter 474 The Incompetent Husband

Most people had been conquered by Zhao Fusu.

Just like that, the crowd flocked to surround Zhao Fusu.

Tian Feng of the Qi State, Han Zhao of the Han State, and Zhao Xuan of the Zhao State all said, "Young Master Xiong Xin, you should sit here; none of us are worthy of sitting!"

The three men's attitudes were incredibly sincere, so much so that Zhao Fusu could not discern any trickery.

"Indeed, indeed!"

"If Young Master Xiong Xin does not sit at the head table, none of us would dare to take our seats!"

The surging crowd was filled with sounds of flattery.

"Young Master Xiong Xin, this way please!"

"This table belongs to none other than you!"

...

Someone had already eagerly pulled out a sandalwood chair, while another used their sleeve to repeatedly wipe a tabletop that was already spotless.

Their enthusiasm was enough to nearly blow the roof off.

Xiang Liang stood where he was, his teeth clenched so tightly they rattled; the sound was deep and muffled, like a trapped beast growling beneath a boulder.

He had set up this stage specifically to use today's banquet to make himself the center of attention, like stars surrounding the moon, and to push the prestige of the Xiang clan to new heights.

Yet, with just a few words, Zhao Fusu had swept through like a gale, completely overturning the chess game he had so meticulously laid out.

Watching that man sitting calmly at the head of the table, accepting the respect that should have been his, Xiang Liang felt a tightness in his chest.

This feeling was truly like when he had exhausted his family fortune to build a grand house and spent great effort to marry a beautiful bride, only to watch, on that wedding night with swaying red candles, as his bride held another man's hand, and even the residence he had built brick by brick changed its surname.

At this moment, Xiang Liang clenched his fists, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

He was like that incompetent husband who had everything stolen from him, forced to stand in the shadows, listening to the laughter and cheers coming from the main hall, his blood running cold.

"Uncle."

"Uncle!"

Zhao Qian looked at the dazed Xiang Liang, frowned, and called out twice, his voice filled with urgency.

Xiang Liang had been lost in thought; it was only when Zhao Qian's voice became increasingly frantic that he abruptly snapped back to reality, the trace of anger in his eyes quickly fading away, replaced by his usual calm.

"What is the matter?"

Xiang Liang turned around, his tone steady, as if the moment of distraction had never occurred.

Zhao Qian took a step forward, lowered his voice, his face betraying an uncontrollable anxiety.

"We need to transport that batch of bronze swords to the Mauryan Empire, but the quantity is simply too large. Along the way, there are countless checkpoints, and the Qin Army guarding them is inspecting everything extremely strictly."

"If these bronze swords are confiscated at any of the checkpoints, we..."

He paused, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice dropping lower, as if rasped by gravel, "Losing our heads is a small matter, but the hope of restoring the state will be completely extinguished!"

"Indeed, indeed..."

Those at the banquet immediately echoed in low voices.

They had no good solutions themselves, so their gazes all turned simultaneously toward Zhao Fusu.

Zhao Fusu was not the least bit worried about the things that Zhao Qian and the others were so anxious about.

Naturally, everyone noticed Zhao Fusu's reaction, and their moods varied.

They understood in their hearts that Zhao Fusu must have come up with another idea.

"I am Zhao Qian."

Zhao Qian took the initiative to cup his hands in salute toward Zhao Fusu.

"Xiong Xin!"

Zhao Fusu also cupped his hands in return.

Zhao Qian asked straightforwardly, "I wonder if Young Master Xiong Xin has any method to successfully get this batch of my bronze swords through the checkpoints of Great Qin."

The corners of Zhao Fusu's mouth curled up.

He asked, "Do you know that Great Qin is about to launch an economic war against the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions!"

"Economic war? What is that?"

Unsurprisingly, not everyone knew what an economic war was.