310 A Luxurious Banquet
Xiao Se and the others followed the attendant up the stairs. The lower floor of Grand Golden Terrace was a gambling house but its upper floor had many elegant and refined-looking private rooms. Except the noises coming out of these private rooms… were not so refined.
Sikong Qianluo’s cheeks blushed and she said softly, "So, this is what you call a place that’s not vulgar."
"Eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling are all human desires." Xiao Se was also a little embarrassed, but he persisted seriously, "What’s vulgar is no different from true elegance, but a place like Diaolou Mansion that pretends to be elegant, that’s properly vulgar."
"We’re here." The attendant stopped, bowed slightly, and moved to one side.
Two words are written on the sign above the private room - Gold Office.
"This way, please." Jiu Jiudao stepped forward and pushed open the door.
Sikong Qianluo recalled the unpleasant sounds coming out of the first few private rooms and couldn’t help but turn her head to one side, afraid of seeing something she shouldn’t.
"Sixth prince, it’s been four years since we last parted and you still look so dignified and impressive."
There weren’t any voices from little birds, only a deep voice belonging to a man. Sikong Qianluo turned her head to look and saw a wealthy-looking man sitting in the middle of the room. He was wearing an expensive set of clothes with a silver belt tied around his waist. Two gorgeous women stood on either side of him, pouring tea and fanning him.
Jiu Jiudao wisely stepped aside as Xiao Se and the others walked into the room. Xiao Se flashed a languid smile and greeted, "Has Er-ye been well? I hope my sudden visit didn’t spoil your fun?"
The wealthy man laughed, raised the cup of hot tea that was on the table, and took a sip. "Fun? The fun of tasting tea?"
Jiu Jiudao whispered, "Er-ye, the bed behind you hasn’t been tidied up yet?"
Although Jiu Jiudao spoke softly, the people in the room were considered martial experts already. Naturally, they heard everything clearly. Sikong Qianluo looked up and saw that the bed behind was indeed quite messy, looking obviously like it had just experienced a storm.
"Ahem." The wealthy man cleared his throat, pretending he heard nothing, and gently pushed the tea cup opposite him. "Sixth prince, some tea… Eh? Or should I say, Your Highness Yong'an Prince, some tea?"
"Call me Xiao Se." Xiao Se sat down in front of him. "That’s my name now."
"Good name, quite poetic." The wealthy man glanced at the people behind Xiao Se. "As for them, one of you should be General Ye's daughter."
Ye Ruoyi returned a smile. "In the past, besides the General’s Residence, I’ve only gone to Fallen Snow Villa. I’ve never been anywhere else outside but it seems like everyone recognises me."
"I’ve seen your father," the wealthy man said with a short laugh. "Of course, that doesn’t mean anything because you look nothing like him. But, it just so happens that I’ve also seen your mother before."
"I’ve also seen your father and mother." The wealthy man turned his head and looked at Lei Wujie. "You must be Lei Wujie. The son of Qinglong Guardian and the Pillar of State General."
After hearing the words, Lei Wujie became more respectful and he bowed his head. "That’s right."
"I’ve also seen your father, and also your mother." The wealthy man looked at Sikong Qianluo next, and the expression in his eyes grew more gentle. "I was in love with your mother."
Everyone was surprised.
Then, they heard the wealthy man sigh heavily. "Unfortunately, the day after I confessed my feelings to her, I was beaten up by your father. Of the spear power in the world, he held eight-tenths of it. Although he wasn’t the Spear Immortal then, I still suffered a terrible beating. Yes, yes, yes, it was exactly that Silver Moon spear in your hand."
Sikong Qianluo looked a little embarrassed and could only say, "I apologise on behalf of my father."
The wealthy man nodded, thinking to himself that the little lady in front of him was indeed much more polite than that Sikong Changfeng.
"But if I were my mother, I would also choose my father," Sikong Qianluo added.
The teacup in front of the wealthy man shattered instantly, and the hot tea splashed all over. The wealthy man sighed, stretched out a finger, and brushed over the spill lightly. The tea froze into ice flakes and fell to the floor.
He had powerful martial arts.
"Tu Er-ye, don't be angry." Xiao Se handed over his teacup and turned his head to tell everyone, "This is the owner of Grand Golden Terrace, Tu Er-ye."
"Tu Er-ye? Then, shouldn’t there also be a Tu Da-ye?" Lei Wujie asked curiously.
Xiao Se's face stiffened.
Jiu Jiudao coughed slightly.
The two gorgeous ladies waiting on the man unwittingly took a step back.
However, Second Master Tu’s smile did not falter one bit. "There used to be a Tu Da-ye. But later, I killed him."
"Alright, that’s enough small talk." Xiao Se interrupted their conversation loudly, and said with a straight face, "Er-ye, I came to visit you because I need your help with something."
"If you’re asking for my help, it must be something troublesome," Second Master Tu said pointedly.
"Nothing troublesome. Just preparing a meal." Xiao Se shook his head.
"What sort of meal?" Second Master Tu blinked in surprise.
"Only one course of embroidered delicacies, one course of blessed dried fruit in pouches, one course of golden-threaded medicinal herbs, one course of carved fried honey, one course of sweet and sour savories, one course of cured meats, together with fifteen bowls of side dishes, two varieties of each, and then six portions of snacks, ten selected dishes from the kitchen, and twenty servings of ten accompanying dishes, that’s all." Xiao Se deliberately emphasized the last two words.
Second Master Tu laughed out loud for a while before he sighed. "What an expression of “only… that’s all.” Do you know what you’re describing? You’re asking for an imperial banquet. What’s more, an imperial banquet that’s served only when entertaining very honorable and noble ambassadors."
"No, it's not the same. The dimwits in the imperial kitchen can't prepare the flavour you make here. The chefs in Grand Golden Terrace, when compared to anyone else in the entire Heavenly Revelations, can only be this." Xiao Se gave a thumbs up to Second Master Tu.
Second Master Tu laughed and reached out to knock away Xiao Se's thumb. "Don't keep singing praises to cajole me. My place is a gambling den, not a restaurant. If you host such a banquet, it’s going to take a whole day at least, from noon till midnight. If I can’t do business for a whole day, do you know how much money I’ll lose?"
"Of course I know." Xiao Se nodded, and then asked, "But are you concerned about this sum of money?"
Second Master Tu was taken aback.
Jiu Jiudao sighed softly.
"Making money, or sending a shockwave through the whole of Heavenly Revelations, which would you choose, Tu Er-ye?" Xiao Se asked.
Second Master Tu waved his hand and said wryly, "But you still have to give me some money, ah. The food ingredients aren’t cheap either."
"Didn’t you say you like my Fallen Snow Villa?" Xiao Se poured a cup of tea for Second Master Tu.
"You… you’re willing to give it to me?" Second Master Tu beamed with a wide smile. "That’s true, you have the Yong'an Prince Residence now. You don’t need to live there anymore. That mansion is not cheap. I’ll even add another ten baskets of luminous pearls on top!"
"I’m still living in this one in Heavenly Revelations. But, about a hundred miles out of Jin Ling City, I have a mansion with its back to the mountains and its front facing water. It’s the epitome of elegance and when the snow falls, the scenery is incomparable. It’s also called Fallen Snow Villa. I will give it to you," Xiao Se said.
Lei Wujie, who was listening from behind, was stupefied.
Second Master Tu slapped the table resoundingly. "Deal."
"Then it's settled. I'll inspect the goods the day before the banquet." Xiao Se stood up and was about to leave.
"Wait." Second Master Tu suddenly called him.
Busted. Xiao Se and Lei Wujie thought of the same word at the same time.
"This banquet of yours, neither Diaolou Mansion nor Tianxia Pavilion have the capacity to prepare it, but my Grand Golden Terrace can. However, this may transgress the rules for an imperial banquet a little," Second Master Tu said evenly.
"Didn't they say my imperial father is seriously ill and he’s not taking care of state affairs for now?" Xiao Se asked.
"Yes." Second Master Tu nodded.
"Then." Xiao Se turned around. "In this Heavenly Revelations City, who else would dare to say the word ‘transgression’ before me."
*
About residences and offices:
The word used is 府 fu, which translates as official residence, but is also a generic term used for the administrative office of a court official or noble. For example, a 王府 wang fu or Princely Establishment, is a whole office with civil and military staff to serve the Prince. It is also where the Prince lives and spends most of his time when not attending court. The estate can be very large, depending on rank, and is usually situated near the imperial palace.
For simplicity’s sake, I will translate them all as Residence.
永安王府 - Yong'an Prince Residence
白王府 - White Prince Residence
赤王府 - Red Prince Residence
兰月侯府 - Lanyue Marquis Residence
大将军府 - General’s Residence (Ye Xiaoying)
Note that the same word is used for a superior prefecture, an administrative region used in the Tang to Qing dynasty. For example, 知府 zhi fu, means Prefectural Administrator, or Prefect of a superior prefecture. (See List of fu prefectures in China.) This word is no longer in use in modern China, but still used for prefectures in Japan.