When my vicious stepmother mistakenly married me to the Immortal Lord

After each Imperial Merchant Selection Conference, silk merchants and weaving craftsmen would spontaneously organize an industry exchange banquet called the "Weaving Cloud Banquet" to share skills and discuss industry trends.

This year is no exception. The Zhiyun Banquet was held at the most famous restaurant "Yuehua Tower" on Jinxiu Street.

Yuehua Tower is richly decorated with carved windows and painted walls, and is a dazzling place, making it an ideal place to hold banquets in the city.

Tonight, Yuehua Tower is even more brilliantly lit and bustling with people. Silk merchants and weaving craftsmen from all over the world have gathered here to participate in the grand event.

"The servants and attendants are waiting outside. Please come in, gentlemen!" The shopkeeper of Yuehua Tower bowed and led the way with a respectful attitude.

Everyone filed in, passed through the carved wooden door, and stepped into the banquet hall.

Inside the hall, round tables were arranged in an orderly manner, filled with all kinds of delicacies and fine wines, the aroma filling the air.

In the central dance floor, several graceful dancers in red were dancing to the cheerful music, their sleeves fluttering.

The guests were standing or sitting, chatting in twos and threes, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious.

Xie Changyu was surrounded by a group of people, chatting and laughing.

He had elegant manners and tactful words, displaying the style of Mr. Xie to the fullest.

People around him congratulated him and praised the exquisiteness and creativity of Xie Jia Yunjin, and many people expressed their willingness to cooperate.

Jiang Song had no intention of getting involved in the Xie family's business affairs.

She sat quietly aside, occasionally exchanging a few words with merchants who came to toast her.

As soon as the banquet was over, she could be considered to have retired with her mission accomplished, having thwarted Du Shulan's conspiracy.

Just as Xie Changyu was immersed in the joy of victory and the compliments of the guests, an uninvited guest approached quietly.

Shen Xubai held the wine glass and slowly walked to Xie Changyu's side. "Brother Xie, congratulations on winning the championship again. I admire you."

Xie Changyu turned around, smiled back politely, raised the wine glass in his hand and lightly touched Shen Xubai's glass.

"Brother Shen, you are too polite. The Shen family's snow satin is also a fine product. Today's competition is just to show our strengths and make progress together."

Shen Xubai smiled bitterly and shook his head. "Brother Xie, you are wrong. The winner has already been decided. How dare I continue to talk about competing for the first place? However, the business world is like a battlefield. We will fight it out next time."

"That's exactly what I want." Xie Changyu laughed.

The two drank it all in one gulp.

Shen Xubai put down his wine glass and looked at Jiang Song beside him. "Thank you, my good wife, for your great victory this time."

"Mr. Shen heard that the reason why the Xie family's new Yunjin product is so stunning is all due to Miss Jiang's ingenious ideas and careful planning. It is truly admirable."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Xie Changyu's face instantly disappeared, and his aura turned cold. "This is my sister-in-law, don't talk nonsense!"

"It will happen sooner or later, won't it?" Shen Xubai glanced at Xie Changyu with a smile, his eyes filled with a hint of provocation and amusement.

Xie Changyu's face became even gloomier. He gripped the wine glass tightly, as if trying to suppress the anger that was about to burst out.

"Shen Xubai, don't go too far!" He lowered his voice with a warning in his tone.

Shen Xubai smiled nonchalantly and whispered in his ear, "Brother Xie, why are you so angry? I am only speaking the truth. When your brother passes away, this widowed sister-in-law will not..."

"Snapped!"

A loud slap suddenly sounded, interrupting Shen Xubai's words.

Xie Changyu's face turned pale. He suddenly withdrew his hand and shot a knife-like gaze at Shen Xubai, his eyes full of anger.

Shen Xubai staggered a few steps after being hit by the slap, and the wine glass in his hand fell to the ground, splashing wine all over the place.

His cheeks quickly became red and swollen, but he forced himself not to make any sound.

There was a sudden silence all around, everyone's eyes were focused on these two people, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

"Shen Xubai, keep your mouth shut!" Xie Changyu's voice was low and dangerous, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth. "How can you sully the name of my sister-in-law?"

"Tsk!" Shen Xubai licked the corner of his mouth and sneered, "Xie Changyu, why are you so excited? I was just joking. Did I hit the nail on the head?"

When Xie Changyu raised his hand again, Shen Xubai gave him an intriguing look, then turned and left, leaving a string of contemptuous laughter echoing in the air.

The people around him just thought it was a disturbance caused by drunken behavior, and they all watched the incident silently, and no one escalated or deepened the situation.

Xie Changyu looked at Shen Xubai's departing back, his fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white, and he couldn't calm down the anger in his heart for a long time.

"Sister-in-law, I..."

"Changyu, don't be impulsive. That guy is deliberately trying to provoke you. Don't fall into his trap."

After hearing Jiang Song's words, Xie Changyu gradually calmed down. He took a deep breath and his eyes gradually became clear again.

Soon, several more silk merchants wanted to find Changyu to discuss cooperation, and the atmosphere that was interrupted by this episode became lively again.

Xie Changyu also quickly adjusted his mood, put on his gentle smile again, and continued to socialize and chat with the guests.

The banquet was only halfway through, but Xie Changyu had already drunk quite a bit of alcohol, and was feeling tipsy, staggering even when standing.

At this time, two maids from Yuehua Tower hurried over, one on each side supporting Xie Changyu. "Master Xie, you are drunk. My shopkeeper has specially prepared a hangover soup. We will help you to the back hall to rest for a while, okay?"

Xie Changyu waved his hand gently, trying to dispel the blurriness in his vision, but he was already drunk, so he could only force a smile and say, "No problem, I'll have a few more drinks with you all."

"Master, please go and rest. The young lady and the old servant will take care of you here."

Uncle Fu, the shopkeeper of the Xie family who was accompanying them, also noticed that Xie Changyu was drunk, and hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully advised him.

He knew very well that although his young master could drink a fair amount, he could not withstand so many people toasting him one after another. In addition, his mood was fluctuating greatly today, making him more likely to get drunk.

Xie Changyu hesitated for a moment, looked at the guests around him who were still enthusiastic, and then looked at Jiang Song's worried eyes, and finally nodded, "Okay, then I'll go take a rest, everyone enjoy it."

After saying that, Xie Changyu, supported by two maids, slowly left the banquet hall and went to the back hall of Yuehua Tower.

After Xie Changyu left, even if Jiang Song wanted to be a background board, he could no longer continue to do so.

Because she had to help Uncle Fu take care of the affairs at the banquet and ensure that everything went smoothly.

In order to get the Xie family's brocade, those silk merchants gathered around and vied with each other to express their willingness to cooperate with Jiang Song, or to ask about the characteristics and output of the brocade.

With Uncle Fu's help, Jiang Song managed to handle the situation well, but unsurprisingly, he still drank a lot of social wine, and his face gradually turned red.

Jiang Song's body gradually became hot, and the alcohol became stronger. The figure in front of him became blurred and overlapping, and his steps were a little staggering.

Then, two more maids from Yuehua Tower came over, ready to help Jiang Song go to the back hall to rest.

Jiang Song did not refuse their kindness and said to Uncle Fu, "Uncle Fu, please take care of the rest. I'll go sober up."

Uncle Fu nodded in agreement, "Don't worry, Madam. I have an old servant here. You can go and rest."

*

At the same time, in a room in the back hall, Xie Changyu was tied to the bed by an old woman and two maids.

His outer shirt was stripped off and he struggled hard, but under the combined effects of alcohol and drugs, his strength seemed so weak.

The old woman had a strange smile on her face, and her eyes were flashing with greed and calculation.

"Who are you? What do you want to do?!" Xie Changyu forced himself to remain calm and tried to intimidate them with words.

"Haha, what are you doing?" The old woman sneered and narrowed her eyes. "Of course, it's to help you and Miss Jiang get together."

Upon hearing this, Xie Changyu's face changed drastically, and he angrily shouted, "How dare you! Do you know who I am? How dare you be so presumptuous!"

The old woman remained unmoved, and instead smiled even more ferociously.

"Of course I know who you are, the young master of the Xie family, of noble status. But in the back hall of Yuehua Tower, you are like fish on my chopping board, at my mercy."

"By the way, didn't you ask who we are? We are Bodhisattvas, the 'matchmaker Bodhisattvas' who are here to help you fulfill your wish."

"I heard that you and Miss Jiang are in love, but due to the constraints of etiquette, it is difficult for you to fulfill your wish."

"Today, we, the 'matchmaker Bodhisattva', will step in to help you and Miss Jiang have sex together, creating a beautiful story."

"How much did the person behind the scenes give you? I'll pay three times! No, five times!"

"As long as you let me go now, I, Xie Changyu, promise not only will I not pursue this matter, but I will also reward you handsomely!"

When the old woman heard what Xie Changyu said, a hint of greed flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by viciousness.

"Master Xie, do you think we're stupid? If we take your money and you turn around and report us to the authorities, wouldn't that just be a trap for us?"

"Besides, the price he offered was more than just gold and silver. He promised that after the matter was completed, he would give us a brand new identity, let us go far away, and live a life of ease and comfort."

"So, don't waste your breath. Tonight, your good thing with Miss Jiang must be successful, whether it succeeds or not!"

After saying this, the old woman ignored Xie Changyu's struggle and roar, turned around and winked at the two maids.

The two maids understood. One of them held up a bowl of medicinal soup, while the other held Xie Changyu's chin and forced him to open his mouth.

"Drink it!" the old woman ordered coldly.

The medicinal soup flowed down his throat into his stomach. Xie Changyu only felt a wave of bitterness and heat, and his consciousness gradually became blurred.

"What... did you give me to drink?!" he asked in horror, his eyes wide open.

"Of course, I'll give you some goodies to liven up your mood. I guarantee you'll be in ecstasy tonight."