318 Heavenly Revelations Tycoons
Music House.
Madam Hu slowly turned the wine cup in her hand and asked quietly, "What did that man say?"
The trembling servant boy knelt on the floor and said hesitantly, "He said that the Qingzhou Mu family is here and he’s here to collect rent..."
"Qingzhou Mu family." Madam Hu put down her wine cup. "Did you ask what the man who sent this message looks like?"
Capital Salt Li Residence.
Li Qing frowned, his complexion terrible. "Li Chong, tell me what he looked like, the Mu family young master."
"Elegant white clothes, handsome face, a long sword hanging at his waist. When he drew the long sword, it rolled up a cloud of dust. His martial arts are not ordinary," Li Chong replied.
"That should be…" Li Qing sighed. "The third son."
"The Mu family eldest son has been in poor health for the past few years, and hasn’t travelled for many years. The second son was born with a disability and will practically never leave the Mu Office. Only the third son is about the right age, and the third son has indeed been trained in the sword with a famous master. There should be no mistake," Li Chong said as he nodded his head.
"At present, the most likely heir to the Qingzhou Mu family is the third son." Li Qing sighed again.
Gongsun Residence.
Gongsun was not a big family name, but they held immense influence in Heavenly Revelations. They weren’t involved in the businesses directly, but had contracted over half of the private banks and pawn shops in Heavenly Revelations City. He was a tycoon that nobody would dare to neglect. But the person in charge of this prestigious family now was a mere youth no older than seventeen or eighteen years old.
His father died of a serious illness two years ago, and his mother died shortly thereafter, leaving him as the only son. At that time, many people thought that a child like him would not be able to hold up such a prestigious family, and the long lines of people who came to the private banks to demand money didn’t stop for some time.
However, he miraculously inherited his father’s business, and even expanded it further, finally, becoming “that Gongsun brat” that even a tycoon like Li Qing didn’t dare to underestimate. He could even sit at the same table as a big shop owner like Madam Hu to have a meal and talk business.
This person was Gongsun Xiao, but he didn’t like his name. He preferred people to call him - Young Master Xiao. But now, a person more worthy than him of the title “Young Master” had stepped into Heavenly Revelations.
"Collect rent?" Gongsun Xiao chuckled. "I suppose only the Qingzhou Mu family would dare to speak so boldly."
Caiyi Pavilion.
A small square table.
A small wooden stool.
A pot of rice wine, a pile of peanuts, a plate of braised beef.
A neatly dressed old man ate three peanuts, picked up a piece of beef with his chopsticks, and drank a sip of rice wine. The clothes he was wearing were inlaid with golden threads, and the ring on his finger was set with precious stones that shone with a muted blue light. He was very rich, so rich that he was famous throughout the entire Heavenly Revelations.
He had been a merchant for decades and had countless businesses under his name. Any of the tycoons in Heavenly Revelations, no matter how rich, would still bow when they see him and call him Old Master Chen. Even someone like Li Qing would only dare to scold a few words like "Old Man Chen" behind his back, and squeeze out a polite smile when they met.
But this rich old man loved coming here every evening to drink a pot of wine, eat a plate of peanuts and a plate of braised beef. Then he would sit upstairs to watch the sunset in a state of mild drunkenness.
"An imperial banquet with fifteen bowls of side dishes? Aren’t they afraid of eating themselves to death." Old Man Chen took a sip of the wine and sneered.
Since noon, there had been a steady stream of news. He had heard the news of the Three Gates and Nineteen Offices arriving at the banquet, the arrival of the two regents of state at the same time, as well as the subsequent arrival of the Six Ministries and all the court officials hurrying themselves to attend the banquet, but he had no reaction to any of these news. He continued to drink his wine all by himself.
Until he heard the latest news.
"Qingzhou Mu family." Old Master Chen put down his wine cup and gently put down his chopsticks.
"Go!" Madam Hu stood up, waved her hands, and the red-coloured light robes dropped onto the floor, revealing her ample and beautiful body. She turned one round and a gorgeous red dress was already properly draped onto her body. Even someone like her had made preparations to attend the banquet at any time.
"Go!" Li Qing walked straight to the door.
"Go!" Gongsun Xiao yawned lazily.
"Go." Old Master Chen stood up and walked down the stairs a step at a time, bathed in the light of the setting sun.
The four largest tycoons who controlled the entire economic lifeline of Heavenly Revelations finally made their way to Grand Golden Terrace, all because of the four words "Qingzhou Mu family".
Mu Chunfeng stood at the front door waiting for them. It was less than an hour to the start of the banquet but he didn’t seem to be anxious at all. He simply stood there quietly, a slight smile on his face, calm and composed.
Finally, four sedan chairs arrived at Grand Golden Terrace, coming from four different directions.
Unlike what followed after Grand Preceptor Dong with all the officials flocking to the venue, these four sedan chairs travelled at a speed that was most interesting. They were neither fast, as if they became anxious because of the arrival of the Qingzhou Mu family’s young master, nor were they slow, expressing their due respect for the Qingzhou Mu family.
I’m here because I’m giving the Qingzhou Mu family face, but that doesn’t mean I’m scared of your Mu family. After all, you’re just the third son who has yet to inherit the family. We’ve been calling the shots in Heavenly Revelations City for so many years. Would we need to lower ourselves just because you’re here?
If your surname were not Mu, what would you be worth?
The sedan chairs finally stopped beside the gorgeous carriage pulled by five horses.
Four people walked out of the sedan chairs at the same time.
Li Qing, Madam Hu, Gongsun Xiao, and Old Master Chen.
"It’s been so long since I last saw the young master. When I first saw you, you were still a child." Li Qing took the lead to speak first.
Madam Hu gave a wide smile. "What a handsome young man. How about joining me at the Music House for a drink tonight?"
Gongsun Xiao tilted his head and said, "Third Young Master Mu? Such a fortune to meet you. I wonder what your full name is?"
Old Master Chen spoke up last. He gave a loud cough first, then spit out a thick sputum. "Has your father been well?"
Four people came, but their intentions were unkind. On what basis should a bratty young master that had barely been weaned pressure them?
Mu Chunfeng didn't mind and he continued to smile casually. "I really can't answer so many questions at once. But I brought a few of your old friends with me, so maybe they could keep you company. Manager Tian."
The curtain of the carriage was pulled open, and Tian Mozhi alighted.
"Manager of Words!" Li Qing was stunned.
Immediately after Tian Mozhi, three others alighted.
The four largest tycoons of Heavenly Revelations who had acted all aloof could no longer maintain their composure.
The Manager of Words, Tian Mozhi, the Manager of Arms, Shi Qingshui, the Manager of Jewels, Sang Jicheng, and the Manager of Winds, Feng Buzai. Four of the seven highest ranking managers of the Qingzhou Mu family came on this trip!
Everyone knew that the Qingzhou Mu Office ran many businesses, and they had hundreds of managers under their umbrella. Among them, there were seven top managers, and each one of them held incredible power. Any single one of them was considered an important person who could stir up the entire Beili commercial world. Even when compared to the four largest tycoons of Heavenly Revelations City, they were no less powerful.
"Shall we have a chat?" Mu Chunfeng smiled. "Don't worry, these four managers will have a good chat with all of you over the next few days. If there are no objections, I’m a little hungry. Shall we join this banquet that even the side dishes consist of fifteen bowls? I’m hungry.
"No objections? Let's go in then."
*****
Update: The Live Action drama wrapped up their principal photography today! Don't ask me when the show will actually go on air. (It's supposed to be this year.) Regardless, I promise you that the entire novel will be translated before the first episode airs.
The grand banquet storyline goes on until Chapter 324. As a special bonus today, you can read the entire banquet arc (ch 311 to 324) on Google Docs (link removed). After that, you will have to wait patiently for ch 325 while the individual chapters continue as scheduled. Your choice. :D