Time flies, and soon it was the end of June. The weather became increasingly hot, yet Xiangyang City remained crowded and bustling.

The palace examination was held in Xiangyang on July 5th. Besides the scholars who made the list, many examinees from various states who didn’t make it also came to Xiangyang, hoping to absorb some talent and succeed next year.

In addition to the failed examinees, there were also merchants from Jiangnan, Jiangdong, Yan State, and other places.

The Fu Ze Restaurant in the city was usually full. Since its opening, it had never closed for a single day, but today it was closed to the public.

Because today, the Fu Ze Restaurant in Xiangyang welcomed a group of special guests, all merchants from various regions who had received Chen Mo’s invitation.

Nowadays, Chen Mo could be considered akin to the Regent King of Great Song, surpassing former powerful ministers like Xu Guozhong and Lu Sheng. Therefore, when Chen Mo invited, they dared not refuse.

On the first floor of Fu Ze Restaurant, these merchants sat solemnly. They looked at their fellow peers around them, feeling somewhat uneasy, since they all were in business and had interacted to some extent. Seeing such a gathering inevitably made them speculate, secretly wondering if King Wei planned to treat them as fat lambs to be slaughtered.

After all, everyone present was wealthy, especially since it was rumored the court was short on money recently, making them anxious.

Because of this, when the servants brought tea, they were polite and spoke with respect.

Before long, footsteps sounded outside the restaurant, and the shopkeeper greeting guests shouted, "Jiangnan Xiao Family, Qin Family... Liu Family has arrived."

Upon hearing this, all the merchants on the first floor stood up, looked towards the entrance, and watched the arriving guests with surprise.

"Patriarch Xiao, Patriarch Qin, Patriarch Liu?"

The first floor erupted in an uproar; they never expected that not only had several major noble families from Jiangnan arrived, but their patriarchs had come personally.

Xiao Quan, who had become the successor of the Xiao Family Patriarch, smiled and nodded at the merchants in the hall, then sat down with a few others.

Xiao Quan and a few others had a lofty demeanor, not engaging in conversations with the crowd, while the other merchants dared not, they were not the least bit angry and proactively approached, hoping to get close to Xiao Quan and his companions.

After all, these major families from Jiangnan not only ran businesses; they controlled Jiangnan’s canal transport, they were bound to interact.

Their flattering words seemed endless.

Someone said to Qin Family Patriarch Qin Hao, "Congratulations on your son’s success in the provincial examination. This palace examination is sure to be a breeze; in advance, congratulations to Patriarch Qin."

The name Qin Shi, ranked thirty-seventh in the provincial examination, was Qin Hao’s youngest son. Anyone who paid attention to the provincial examination list would know clearly.

Moreover, last time, the Qin Family celebrated Qin Shi’s success by inviting nearly the entire city of Xiangyang, showing their wealth.

These days, Qin Hao’s happiest moment was undoubtedly his youngest son’s success, which he boasted about frequently. Even the Xiao Family, with disciples ranked lower, greatly boosted his pride.

It’s known that last time when Chen Mo went to Jiangnan, he proposed marriage to the Xiao Family on behalf of Qin Hao but was refused by the Xiao Family.

This time, after Qin Hao’s success, he proposed again to the Xiao Family, and surprisingly, they agreed, as long as Qin Hao succeeded in the palace examination this time.

Although Qin Hao privately wished to maintain dignity by claiming indifference, he couldn’t help it. The Xiao Family had leaned on King Wei, and though the Qin Family wasn’t comparable to the Xiao Family, even after previous disdain, they still had to swallow their pride and approach.

Therefore, the flattering words greatly pleased Qin Hao, yet he responded modestly, "It’s still uncertain."

Just as the person was about to continue with complimentary words, the shopkeeper greeting guests outside shouted again, "Pingting County Yi Family, Wang Family has arrived."

As the words fell, the merchants who had sat down all stood up again, including Xiao Quan and Qin Hao.

Pingting County Yi Family, it’s easy to know who they represent.

That’s the maternal family’s first consort of King Wei.

Even though the Yi Family had moved to Xiangyang, they still referred to themselves externally as the Yi Family of Pingting County.

The patriarch of the Yi Family, Yi Qianchi, was merely a humble Seventh-Grade Martial Artist, but no one dared to underestimate him because he was King Wei’s father-in-law.

The Wang Family of Pingting County had no matrimonial relation with Chen Mo, yet they couldn’t be overlooked; they were the first to support King Wei and had significant contributions.

It’s said that King Wei’s exceptional archery skills originated from the Wang Family.

As the Yi Family Patron Yi Qianchi and Wang Family Patron Wang Cultivator entered the restaurant, seeing the respect on everyone’s faces, their smiles grew more pronounced, especially since some of these individuals were patriarchs of noble families they could hardly reach even with great effort, fulfilling their sense of vanity.

As if all their previous efforts were solely for this moment.

After identifying the Xiao Family Patriarch through the servants, both Yi Qianchi and Wang Cultivator bowed to Xiao Quan.

The opposite party had shown them respect, and naturally, they returned it with courtesy.

"King Wei, Jiangdong Wu Family has arrived." At this moment, a voice broke the silence, everyone raised their brows, displaying expressions of respect.

King Wei, a name recognized by all, and the Jiangdong Wu Family, the maternal family of Princess Consort Wei, now slightly ranked at the top of the Seven Great Noble Families, had long surpassed the Xiao Family.

Everyone looked towards the entrance.