The banquet in the main hall began with the performance of the classical play "Ding Jun Mountain" by the Pear Blossom Troupe.

Wang Ronghuo was dressed in festive attire today, sitting on a magnificent carved dragon and phoenix chair in the center. A row of armed soldiers stood behind him, playing with walnuts in their hands. They also hummed a few verses: "This timely letter brings good fortune, Heaven assists Huang Zhong's successful efforts ~ Standing at the camp gate, loudly calling out, children and grandchildren listen attentively ~"

When Duan Yelin entered through the front gate, his slightly plump body swayed for a moment before stabilizing as he approached. He had a casual manner of speaking, saying, "Hey, Commander Duan, sorry for the inadequate reception. Please have a seat!"

Then someone took him to a nearby table. Duan Yelin glanced at it and walked over to Wang Ronghuo's side. The row of soldiers standing there straightened up, their hands holding the guns tightly for a moment.

Instead, Wang Rong waved his hand slightly, asking them to calm down a little.

Sitting next to Wang Ronghuo, Duan Yelin smiled ambiguously and placed the brocade box directly in front of him. "Governor, on the occasion of your birthday, I have brought a good gift. It's nothing fancy, just some fruits picked fresh today."

Hot fruit?

Wang Ronghuo put down the antique walnut in his hand and used a finger to open the brocade box. Inside, he saw a mess of flesh and blood, causing his pupils to constrict for a moment. He then calmly closed the box and shifted his gaze back to the stage, saying, "Commander Duan went through the trouble of personally delivering this."

The paragraph translates to: "The invitation from the Governor has all been sent to me at my little Tongguan. If I don't reciprocate, wouldn't that be neglectful?"

"We are both people who manage the city of Hezhou, there's no need to be so polite."

"It's because we are all here for the sake of Hezhou City that we have come to see the Commander. Duan Yelin rested his hand on the table, leaning slightly forward, his eyes fierce like a wolf. He patted the brocade box, saying, 'If anyone poses a threat to Hezhou City, they will meet this fate in front of me. Therefore, whether Hezhou City can remain peaceful depends on whether the Commander understands my intentions.'"

Wang Ronghuo was holding onto a grudge deep inside, but he still had a smiling face like Maitreya Buddha: "Haha, Commander Duan, you're worrying too much. Let's have a drink, shall we?"

Just as he was about to pour the wine, he heard a pleasant female voice say, "It's still chilly on this fickle day. The governor and commander should have some warm wine instead."

Gu Fangfei approached gracefully with a smile from afar.

As soon as Gu Fangfei appeared, Wang Ronghuo greeted her with a smile. In the early years, Gu Yueshan and Wang Ronghuo had colluded in business and made a lot of money, so the relationship between the Pengu Commercial Association and the Governor had always been good.

"Miss Gu is becoming more elegant. Please have a seat!" Wang Ronghuo showed some courtesy and instructed his subordinates to bring the wine jug with the unicorn pattern on it. He opened the lid and placed the wine bottle inside, slowly warming it. He then asked Duan Yelin, "Commander, would you also like to warm your wine?"

"No, I'm used to drinking cold alcohol."

Wang Ronghuo rubbed his hands against the warmth of the teapot, squinting his eyes and saying, "When I was young, I could handle cold drinks without any concern. But now that I'm older, I have to take precious care of my organs. They can't withstand any stimulation. So, you and I probably can't share a pot of wine anymore."

Duan Yelin picked up a glass of wine and brought it to his lips, but he didn't drink. Upon hearing Wang Ronghuo's words, he poured the drink onto the ground, placing the upside-down glass on the table, saying, "Whether we share a drink or not doesn't matter, but I never drink someone else's cold wine, nor do I allow others to steal my drink."

The two individuals locked gazes for a while, sparks of anger visible in their eyes.

After a long while, when the wine had reached a warm and nearly perfect temperature, a young servant stepped forward and opened the lid of the cup. He took out a bottle of wine from inside and was about to pour it when he caught a strong, pungent smell, which was both choking and overpowering.

The scent spread quickly and strongly. As soon as the lid was opened, Wang Ronghuo and Duan Yelin furrowed their brows. A gust of wind blew through the hall, filling the entire room with the odor. Everyone couldn't help but cover their noses with their sleeves and turn their heads to look.

"What taste is this..."

"Such a stench..."

"What the hell went bad?"

Wang Ronghuo snatched the liquor bottle and fiercely threw it to the ground, muttering, "What the hell is this? Who's in charge of the liquor? It's all gone bad, and they still dare to serve it to me!"

As soon as he unleashed his power, the row of soldiers behind him swiftly picked up their rifles. The group of servants and maids in the kitchen immediately knelt down, begging for mercy, bowing their heads and crying, claiming ignorance.

At this moment, a young man in a long robe walked out from the guest seat. He crouched down, touched the spilled wine on the ground, raised it to his nose for a sniff, and then stood up amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd. He respectfully made a bow to Wang Ronghuo and said, "Commander, this wine isn't spoiled, but rather poisoned."