After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

Following Chen Futu's instructions, Yu Qian arranged for the delegation to stay near the garden in Pingkangfang, to keep the scholars and literati company. Of course, the Imperial Guards had already infiltrated the area, and no movement could escape Chen Futu's notice.

Upon returning to the royal court, Zhuge Liang presented a visiting card, saying, "This was sent by Zhou Qingzhi, a great Confucian scholar from Zhongshan, who wishes to meet with the Crown Prince."

"Is this old guy finally getting impatient?"

"Your Highness, why don't we hold the banquet tomorrow night?"

Zhuge Liang didn't want to delay any longer. The performers and the audience had all arrived; it was time to meet these Confucian scholars.

"Okay, you make the arrangements, and bring the delegation along as well."

Chen Futu knew that the delegation would definitely collude with those Confucian scholars, so he figured he might as well let them all go together.

As soon as Zhuge Liang sent someone to deliver the message, the once quiet garden suddenly erupted in chaos.

"The Crown Prince is finally going to see us."

“I’ve been holding back for a long time. He’s full of martial spirit in the Northern Frontier, and we’re no match for him, but when it comes to literary and artistic knowledge, how can he compare to us?”

"Yes, this time we must teach him a lesson and let him know that we scholars are not to be trifled with."

The same news spread throughout Dragon City.

The people were surprisingly unanimous in their opinion that the Crown Prince was too kind. These pedantic scholars, instead of staying home to study, had come to Longcheng to cause trouble for the Crown Prince. Fortunately, the Crown Prince was magnanimous and did not hold it against them. If it were a tyrant, he would have dragged them all out and slaughtered them long ago.

"I don't know what the outcome will be. I'm really worried that they're too good at talking and the young master will suffer."

“Who says otherwise? If they dare to insult the Crown Prince, we cannot stand idly by. We must give the Crown Prince an explanation.”

This is public opinion.

No matter how cruel Chen Futu may appear to outsiders, in the eyes of the people of Longcheng, he was always the prince who guarded the territory and cherished the people's livelihood.

On the other hand, after learning about this, Yama sent someone to contact Sonoko.

Mao Xiang returned to the royal court and reported the inside story to Chen Futu: "According to the investigation, the delegation colluded with those Confucian scholars, saying that they would unite at the banquet to embarrass you."

"A mob, not worth mentioning."

"They also seem to be targeting the princess."

"Tell me more about it."

Chen Futu himself was fine, but Liu Longyue was now the nominal heir apparent of Beiwu. To humiliate her was no different from humiliating the Northern Frontier.

Mao Xiang said solemnly, "It seems that the plan is to have the Confucian scholars collectively challenge her and ask her some tricky questions, but I don't know exactly what they will ask."

"Where is Liu Longyue? Call her over."

Chen Futu waved his hand, and a moment later Liu Longyue arrived gracefully, her brows furrowed with a deep weariness.

Chen Futu asked suspiciously, "Where have you been? Are you in a bad mood?"

Liu Longyue forced a smile but did not answer.

Then Mao Xiang recounted what he had discovered, and Liu Longyue frowned and said, "What is there to target me for, a weak woman? Could it be that Empress Dugu has placed people in the delegation to target me?"

"Your intelligence isn't good either. If your people were truly loyal, they would have already found out the inside information for you," Chen Futu said with a hint of disdain.

Liu Longyue said self-deprecatingly, "I am tainted with a bad reputation, I am not afraid of those hidden arrows, but I am afraid of implicating the young master."

"Is that so?" Chen Futu looked at Liu Longyue's expression more and more strangely, and felt that she was hiding something.

However, in the face of absolute power, everything is in vain.

Chen Futu immediately ordered Consort Ge to prepare a banquet, determined to settle their differences that night.

Night fell in the blink of an eye. Chen Futu changed into a gorgeous dress, and Liu Longyue also dressed up, wearing a veil. She looked elegant and otherworldly, like a fairy who did not eat the food of mortals, accompanying him.

Zhuge Liang, Liu Bowen, and Yu Qian went ahead, accompanied by a group of fierce generals under Chen Futu.

Chen Futu and Liu Longyue boarded a carriage and headed to the garden in Pingkangfang, accompanied by Consort Ge, An Jingsi, and a hundred Polu guards.

The procession of carriages and horses was grand and attracted many onlookers.

"It's the Crown Prince's carriage; he's going to a banquet."

"That's right, the young master will probably be debating with the scholars tonight, but unfortunately we are not qualified to go in and watch."

The garden in Pingkangfang was brightly lit, and many people peeked out from the outside. Then, one by one, distinguished guests entered the garden, including Yan Qing, who was specially authorized by Chen Futu, and of course, the sister group from Longcheng brought by Chen Yuling.

She and her entourage were there to observe the performance; they wouldn't be seated in the main audience, but would simply sit behind a curtain and listen to the play.

Inside the luxurious hall, the scholar sat on the right, along with the delegation, including Yemo, Fan Quan, and Xue Yunzi, as well as the younger generation who had accompanied the delegation to the ceremony. However, the Grand Wizard was nowhere to be seen.

The seats on the left were all Chen Futu's men. At the head of the table were Zhuge Liang, Zhang Liang, Liu Bowen, Yu Qian and other civil officials. Behind them were Guan Yu, Ma Chao and others, all of whom had changed into casual clothes. However, Ma Chao, Gan Ning and the others looked very unwell.

They only learned about Yemogan's boasting to the prince after the delegation arrived, and they were somewhat resentful that Guan Yu hadn't chopped that brat down with one blow.

As they were talking, an old man came leisurely. He was over sixty years old and looked very old, but he had the air of a great Confucian scholar who was detached from worldly affairs. He was Zhou Qingzhi, a great Confucian scholar from Zhongshan. Behind him were Ji Wendao from Jiangzhou and Cui Shanwu from Guangyuan, among others.

Yemo and the others all stood up, and whether they meant it sincerely or not, they all clasped their hands and greeted the old gentleman.

Zhuge Liang and Zhang Liang exchanged glances, then he picked up his folding fan and said with a smile, "You must be Mr. Zhou. I've heard so much about you."

Zhou Qingzhi glanced at Zhuge Liang and the other three civil officials, nodded without saying a word, and then took his seat.

Ma Chao was furious: "That old bastard is really arrogant. He dares not answer the Prime Minister's words."

Cao Zhen wholeheartedly agreed, "If it weren't for the Crown Prince's order not to lay a hand on them, I would have killed him with a single spear thrust."

"Brothers, calm down. These Confucian scholars are arrogant and haughty. Today, we'll see how powerful the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister are."

Huo Qubing was right. Today is the day for scholars. No matter how powerful a military general is, he has no place to use his talents. Trying to stand out will only give others something to talk about.

Looking at Zhuge Liang, he didn't seem to have any objection to Zhou Qingzhi's attitude, and continued to wave his feather fan while smiling without saying a word.

Instead, Liu Bowen looked strange and whispered to Zhang Liang, "Master Zifang, what do you think the outcome will be tonight?"

"The outcome was already predetermined. I'm just curious what role Bei Wu will play in tonight's banquet."

Zhang Liang didn't take these scholars seriously at all; his target was Bei Wu.

Judging from the attitude of the Northern Wu Emperor upon entering the city, the Northern Wu Emperor harbored great prejudice against the Crown Prince, and even disregarded the humiliation of Liu Longyue in order to show off his power in the Northern Frontier.

As the group whispered among themselves, a voice called out from outside: "The young master has arrived—"

As soon as the words were spoken, the entire audience stood up.