"Carl, you should go see your father; we'll meet again in the evening. I need to visit the queen, as well as my brothers and sisters," Qin Tian said with a smile.
Before the banquet begins, the royal family gathers first, usually presided over by the queen. However, Qin Tian's relationship with the queen and his brothers is rather strained. More often than not, his reclusive nature makes him a target of ridicule and oppression from others.
"Very well, Your Highness. However, I have heard from my father that the Crown Prince is quite displeased with you, especially since our company has started generating substantial profits. He has repeatedly urged His Majesty to reclaim our company for the royal family," Carl whispered.
Qin Tian's expression changed instantly. He had long known that Crown Prince Wilhelm was a jealous and narrow-minded individual, but he never expected to be targeted so soon after emerging.
"Rest assured, His Majesty has not heeded the Crown Prince's slander. Nonetheless, you must remain vigilant. During tonight's banquet, the Crown Prince is sure to make his move," Carl said, a note of concern in his voice.
"Fear not; though he is the Crown Prince, as long as he is not the Emperor of the German Empire, we have no reason to fear him," Qin Tian replied sternly.
Although Crown Prince Wilhelm held a noble status above many princes, his actual power was limited. At every court meeting, he merely had the right to attend, and even his suggestions were not guaranteed to be accepted. Furthermore, while the Emperor of Germany wielded considerable power, it paled in comparison to that of Eastern monarchs. As long as Qin Tian did not provide him with any leverage, even if he were to become Emperor, Wilhelm would have no means to harm him. If necessary, he could simply leave Germany; with wealth, he could thrive anywhere.
Carl nodded and then departed.
Carrying his suitcase, Qin Tian made his way directly to the palace garden, where royal gatherings had traditionally been held. Upon his arrival, he discovered that the queen, Crown Prince Wilhelm, Prince Eitel Friedrich, Prince Albert, Prince August Wilhelm, Prince Joachim, and Princess Victoria Louise were already present.
"I apologize, Mother, and to all my brothers and sisters, for my tardiness," Qin Tian immediately said.
"Who does not know that Oscar has become a well-known magnate throughout the German Empire? Arriving a bit late is quite understandable," a sarcastic voice interjected.
Without needing to think, Qin Tian recognized it as Crown Prince Wilhelm's voice. The other princes looked on with amusement, while Prince Joachim and Princess Louise, being younger, wore confused expressions.
"The Crown Prince jests; I do not inherit the entire empire as he will, so I must carve out my own path. Otherwise, should the Crown Prince ascend to the throne and take a disliking to me, I would find myself cast out of the palace without a plan," Qin Tian replied coldly.
As the saying goes, money is a man's confidence and security. With his immense wealth as his support, Qin Tian had no reason to fear Crown Prince Wilhelm. Compared to him, Wilhelm merely had the fortune of being born earlier than others. Otherwise, he had no grounds for arrogance.
Crown Prince Wilhelm, embarrassed and enraged, could very well resort to the actions Qin Tian described. The expressions of the other princes also became uneasy. While they harbored jealousy toward Qin Tian, they were acutely aware that life would be exceedingly difficult should Wilhelm inherit the throne.
"Nonsense! How could I ever commit such acts? You are clearly slandering me!" Crown Prince Wilhelm fumed.
"Enough! You are all brothers; what sort of squabbling is this?" the queen admonished, her tone disapproving.
At once, Crown Prince Wilhelm and Qin Tian ceased their quarrel.
"Oscar, please take a seat. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and His Majesty is hosting a banquet at the palace. We should gather as a family first," the queen said. Though she favored Crown Prince Wilhelm slightly more, as their mother, she endeavored to be fair to all her children.
Qin Tian nodded and returned to his seat. However, the look Crown Prince Wilhelm cast upon him was unmistakably filled with malice.
Qin Tian paid little mind to it.
Servants continually presented exquisite pastries and fine wines as the family began to converse. Under everyone's deliberate effort, the atmosphere remained relatively harmonious.
Yet, Qin Tian felt like an outsider, somewhat out of place. He sat alone, indulging in food and drink. The evening's banquet was primarily a social affair; filling one's stomach was hardly the goal.
While Qin Tian wished to avoid trouble, it seemed that trouble sought him out instead. Crown Prince Wilhelm had once again fixated on him.
"Oscar, the annual Christmas celebration is upon us. What gift have you prepared for Mother? We have already presented our gifts," Crown Prince Wilhelm proclaimed, raising his glass.
Immediately, all eyes turned to Qin Tian.
After casting a glance at Crown Prince Wilhelm, Qin Tian stood up and addressed the queen, "Mother, how could I forget to prepare a gift for you? Here is a necklace I carefully selected for you; I hope you will like it."
From his suitcase, Qin Tian produced a stunning necklace comprised of 108 diamonds, a considerable treasure that cost him five hundred thousand marks.
Indeed, women have an affinity for such items. Upon seeing the diamond necklace, the queen and Princess Louise immediately fixated their gazes upon it, unable to look away.
"Oscar, you are truly a wonderful child," the queen said, her face alight with joy. Although she had once held a slight disdain for Qin Tian, her expression now reflected a newfound warmth and affection, all due to the exquisite diamond necklace that fundamentally altered her perception of him.
"Mother, it is merely my duty."
"Oscar, why is there only a gift for Mother and not for me?" Princess Louise pouted.
"Ah, how could I forget our lovely little Princess Louise? I specifically selected a necklace for you as well," Qin Tian laughed heartily, retrieving another necklace from his suitcase, albeit a smaller one. While it may not be as valuable as the one given to the queen, it was still of considerable worth.
"Thank you, Oscar Brother!" Princess Louise exclaimed with a beaming smile.