319 Guests Arriving Late
Grand Golden Terrace.
Within an hour, everyone in the Six Ministries, the four largest tycoons and all the officials of the imperial court, in addition to anyone and everyone that held any kind of power from all the prestigious families of Heavenly Revelations had flocked over. Almost all the invitations that had been sent from Fallen Snow Villa that day had received a reply.
Furthermore, there were also distinguished guests who nonetheless swaggered in without an invitation - Mu Chunfeng made a beeline straight for Xiao Se, and smiled. "Xiao… oh no, sixth prince, we meet again. "
Sikong Qianluo jumped to her feet in surprise. "Young master Mu."
Xiao Se also stood up and smiled. "I sent you a letter when I left the city and estimated that if you were fast enough, you’d arrive today. For this, I thank you very much."
Young Master Mu shook his head and said, "You don't have to thank me. You should know that our Mu family won’t do three kinds of businesses."
"Which three kinds of businesses?" Sikong Qianluo asked.
"We don’t do business that harms others, we don’t do business that can’t make a profit, and we don’t do business that’s too small." Mu Chunfeng walked a few steps and whispered into Xiao Se’s ear, "Your business is big enough, so I’m willing to do it. My old man didn’t say I can’t either."
Xiao Se grinned. "Looks like your eldest brother's illness has not healed yet."
"Nonsense," Mu Chunfeng chided sternly. "Absolute nonsense!"
"Xiao Se!" A clear voice suddenly sounded. Xiao Se looked back and was confused to see that person. "Hua Jin?"
Lanyue Marquis also walked over at this time, and he whispered, "The situation over there…"
Hua Jin nodded. "His health is good. It was just this morning, something was a little odd, and I suspect…"
"We’ll speak about this privately," Lanyue Marquis quickly interrupted Hua Jin's words and smiled again. "Didn’t you say you wanted to see Xiao Se now that he’s all cured?"
"That's right." Hua Jin hurriedly stepped forward and immediately grasped Xiao Se's wrist. She frowned as thoughts went through her head until finally, she murmured, "You’re really cured and in good health. Does that island beyond the sea really have a person so skilled in medical arts?"
"He’s not a person, he’s an immortal." Sikong Qianluo stepped forward and pretended to be nonchalant as she took Xiao Se's hand out of Hua Jin's. "Anyway, it’s difficult to explain."
Mu Chunfeng, who was standing next to them and listening in on their conversation, grew more and more shocked. He quickly realised that the little girl before them, who didn’t even reach his shoulder, was the final disciple of the legendary Medicine King Xin Baicao, the little genius doctor whom Xiao Se and the others frequently mentioned. He exclaimed in surprise, "Are you the genius doctor? Disciple of Medicine King?"
Hua Jin glared at him icily. "You have complaints?"
Lanyue Marquis laughed. "Young Master Mu had best be careful, or you’d be stabbed by her needles."
However, Mu Chunfeng became even more excited. He clasped his fists and said bluntly, "Honourable genius doctor, please accept this lowly one’s veneration. I wonder if this lowly one may have the honour of receiving the genius doctor as my teacher?"
"No." Hua Jin answered just as bluntly.
"I have Thousand Heart Grass. May I gift it to the genius doctor?" Mu Chunfeng bargained patiently.
Hua Jin's expression changed, and she bit her lip without speaking.
"Our Mu family has a mansion in Heavenly Revelations City called Autumn House. We cultivate many precious medicinal herbs inside…" Mu Chunfeng seemed to be well-prepared.
"What sort of medicinal herbs?" Hua Jin asked immediately.
Mu Chunfeng gathered his sleeves and said evenly, "I will give the whole Autumn House to the little genius doctor, then the genius doctor may visit it herself to see?"
The four managers who were standing behind Mu Chunfeng changed their expressions at the same time. The Manager of Arms, Shi Qingshui nudged Tian Mozhi with his elbow. "Old Tian, earlier you were saying that the third young master was not as good at ruining the family business as the first young master and the old master. Is he angry about that? And taking revenge on us now?"
Tian Mozhi sighed. "If only he had that sort of brain."
Lanyue Marquis coughed slightly. "This matter of taking a disciple can be discussed later. After all, the main character of the banquet today is Xiao Se. Hua Jin, go over and sit with the Grand Preceptor. I have a few words to say to Xiao Se."
Hua Jin pouted her lips. "I'm not your daughter." Then she reluctantly walked away. Mu Chunfeng laughed and also led the four managers away.
Lanyue Marquis frowned and asked Xiao Se, "Am I very old? Daughter? Daughter?"
"Huang-shu. Even I have to call you Uncle. What do you expect others to call you?" Xiao Se sighed. "Huang-shu, what do you want to tell me?"
"The Grand Preceptor has been waiting for a long time. Others are also getting a little impatient. No matter how good the tea at Grand Golden Terrace is, you can't drink it all day, ah. If this continues, the Grand Preceptor won’t say anything, but others will take this as disrespect for the Grand Preceptor and use that against you," Lanyue Marquis said worriedly.
Xiao Se nodded. "I know."
"Then when are you starting the banquet?" Lanyue Marquis asked.
"One stick of incense," Xiao Se whispered. "Just give me more time for one stick of incense."
"Are you thinking of waiting for those two?" Lanyue Marquis shook his head. "They won't come."
Red Prince Residence.
Xiao Yu lay lazily on the chair, sprawled on his back and looking up at the sky. "Even the Qingzhou Mu family would come for him. That’s a real miscalculation, ah."
Long Ye sighed and said, "Shall we go?"
"Go?" Xiao Yu closed his eyes. "Go for fuck."
White Prince Residence.
Xiao Chong held up the tea cup and blew on it gently. "How?"
"You shouldn't go." Ling Shaohan shook his head. "If you go, it means you have conceded. If you don't go, it means we’re not bothered."
"Actually, we’ve already lost. We’re just reluctant to admit it." Xiao Chong sighed.
Ling Shaohan shook his head helplessly. "This Yong'an Prince really has too many schemes. Every time we think we have him at his most vulnerable spot, he always finds a way to break the stalemate."
"Forget it." Xiao Chong put down his teacup and didn't drink from it.
Grand Golden Terrace.
The time for one stick of incense passed quickly. Ye Ruoyi and Lei Wujie walked in from the door and shook their heads at Xiao Se. Xiao Se nodded and said, "Understood." He turned around and said to Second Master Tu, "Er-ye, start the banquet." Second Master Tu stood up, cleared his throat, and said loudly, "Start…"
"Please wait." A gentle voice interrupted him.
The voice was very gentle, and it gave off a comforting feeling to everyone who heard it. But, when those two words sounded, they completely cut off what Second Master Tu was about to say. Second Master Tu's mouth was still open, and was obviously moving, but he couldn’t utter a sound.
What the hell. Second Master Tu cursed inwardly.
Everyone looked at the door at the same time, as the voice had definitely come from the door.
An old man holding hands with a child walked in slowly from the door.
The entire floor was completely silent.
Even Grand Preceptor Dong stood up.
"Although I didn't say I would attend, I didn’t say I wouldn’t attend either. Why are you in a hurry to start the banquet? Can’t you wait for me?" The old man reached out and patted the boy’s head. "My little Zitong wanted to eat this very rare imperial banquet, so I’ve brought him along to try it out. I hope nobody has any objections?
"Old people walk very slowly, and have caused a delay for everyone."
All the officials of the imperial court and all the tycoons of Heavenly Revelations, not a single one of them dared to respond.
Only Xiao Se bowed his head and said, "The State Preceptor has graced us with his arrival. Your presence brings light to this humble Grand Golden Terrace!"
State Preceptor Qi Tianchen, and with him the little Daoist, Zitong, had arrived at the banquet!