The princess regretted it.

Chapter 360: Mr. Zhang's Extravagance

Chapter 360: Master Zhang Wu's Extravagance

When they arrived at the main reception hall, Master Wang, with a smile on his face and a respectful look, carefully invited Zhang Hengrui to the seat of honor and presented Zhang Hengrui's jade button to him with both hands.

Zhang Hengrui looked indifferent. He casually took the jade button with his hand, lifted his robe, and sat down carelessly. His sitting posture revealed an innate arrogance.

After Wang Shiye waited for Zhang Hengrui to sit down, he sat down to his left. The guard played by Zhong Chuzhou naturally stood behind Wang Shiye. Wang Shiye waited for Zhang Hengrui to sit down before he sat down to his left. He was humble and leaned forward slightly, showing his flattery. The guard played by Zhong Chuzhou naturally stood behind Wang Shiye, his posture upright.

As soon as they sat down, a servant swiftly served them hot tea. The steaming aroma of tea instantly filled the entire hall, but the tense atmosphere did not diminish in the slightest.

Zhang Hengrui casually took the hot tea and blew on it gently, his movements elegant yet casual, before taking a sip. "Your Fifth Master? Why isn't he coming out to see me?" Zhang Hengrui asked as he set the teacup down steadily, his tone brimming with arrogance.

"This..." Wang Shiye's voice faltered, as if strangled, and a subtle panic crossed his face. Zhang Hengrui's eyes flashed coldly, like an arrow in the dark night, shooting straight at Wang Shiye with deep suspicion. Although he hadn't mentioned wanting to see Master Zhang Wu at the door, his status was so high that Zhang Wu should have come out to meet him personally.

As for why he'd asked to see Wang Chao at the door, he had his own agenda. First, his father had repeatedly mentioned that Master Wang was Old Five's trusted advisor, renowned within the ranks and a vital figure. Second, during this trip to Beijing, to avoid exposing the Zhang family's connection, his father and Master Wang had already agreed that communications would only be conducted through Master Wang. This was an unspoken understanding between them.

Under Zhang Hengrui's razor-sharp gaze, Master Wang felt a chill run down his spine. He felt a pang of panic, as if a rabbit was hidden in his heart. Zhong Chuzhou's previous arrangements for Mo Qing flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but feel uneasy. But at this point, he could only grit his teeth and deal with it head-on. He stammered, "Big, big uncle, Fifth Master, Fifth Master, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's not feeling well, he's recuperating." His voice was filled with guilt, and even he felt a lack of confidence.

"Really? In that case, lead the way. I'd like to go take a look." Zhang Hengrui's heart immediately went on high alert upon hearing this. He became even more wary of Master Wang and decided not to beat around the bush about the purpose of his visit. He stood up abruptly, his movements decisive and imposing, and addressed Master Wang directly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Huh? Oh!" Master Wang was caught off guard by this sudden request, and froze for a moment. Behind him, Zhong Chuzhou quietly nudged Master Wang with his finger, as if reminding him to calm down. Master Wang, as if waking from a dream, quickly stood up, trying to suppress his inner uneasiness. He forced a respectful smile, bowed, and leaned aside in a gesture of invitation.

Zhang Hengrui's sharp eyes swept over Master Wang once more, scrutinizing him, as if trying to ferret out a lie from his expression. Then, he vigorously swung his sleeves, tucking his hands into them. He gathered his strength in his arms, his muscles tensing slightly from the exertion, ready to respond to any emergency. He held his head high and strode out of the main hall.

Zhong Chuzhou keenly sensed the change in Zhang Hengrui's aura. Looking at his back, he understood that Zhang Hengrui was now on high alert, as if facing a formidable enemy. At this moment, Master Wang also quietly glanced at Zhong Chuzhou, his eyes filled with a plea for help and anxiety. Zhong Chuzhou remained calm and gave him a soothing look, trying to calm him down.

Master Wang was still extremely uneasy, his heart beating like a drum, but he could only feign composure, trying to steady his composure as he quickly followed Zhang Hengrui, leading him towards the courtyard he had previously planned for Zhang Wu.

Along the way, Master Wang racked his brains, trying to find a way to speak to Zhang Hengrui, to ease the stifling tension. He opened his mouth, about to speak, but Zhang Hengrui's expression was stern and cold, and he swallowed the words back. Zhang Hengrui said nothing, hurriedly heading for the backyard, exuding a chilling aura. Master Wang's mouth was bitter.

Before they reached Zhang Wu's courtyard, a burst of cheerful string music and unbridled laughter reached them from afar. Zhang Hengrui paused, his expression darkening. Seeing this, Master Wang also stopped, his heart pounding with panic and uncertainty. He wondered, "What's going on? Didn't Prince Zhong send someone to take care of Zhang Wu's illness? Why is there such a commotion?"

Master Wang was terribly anxious. He quickly glanced at Zhong Chuzhou, his eyes filled with anxiety and confusion. Zhong Chuzhou was also somewhat puzzled, but he had complete faith in Mo Qing's ability to handle matters and believed there must be a reason behind this. So, he could only give Master Wang another reassuring look, signaling him to calm down.

At this moment, Master Wang had no time to think. He felt his scalp tingling, as if a thorn was on his back. He walked forward nervously. He forced a flattering smile on his face, which was uglier than crying, and stammered, "Master? You... what are you doing?"

"Is that really Zhang Wu's yard?" Zhang Hengrui pointed ahead and asked Master Wang coldly. Master Wang's reaction at this point seemed to Zhang Hengrui to be guilty, and he was clearly hiding something.

"Uh... yes... yes." Mr. Wang's throat felt dry, as if rubbed by sandpaper. He stuttered out the words, his tongue almost losing control. Every word he uttered was tinged with endless anxiety and uneasiness.

Just at this moment, a man dressed in waiter's clothes, holding a plate of exquisite food steadily in both hands, hurriedly pushed open the closed door in front.

The moment the door opened, the scene inside came unobstructed. Several graceful women in gauze gowns, as thin as a cicada's wing, swayed freely to the melody of lively string music. Their vaguely visible waists, like willow branches swaying in the wind, captivated the imagination. At the head of the table sat a man, surrounded by several women, also dressed in alluring gauze gowns, like stars surrounding the moon.

Zhang Hengrui and the other two could see the man's face clearly. His face was dotted with bright lipstick marks, a star-like speck that was particularly glaring. His eyes were hazy, as if he was intoxicated by this gentle embrace. At this moment, a woman beside him was smiling and holding a glass of wine to his lips. The whole room was filled with unparalleled luxury.