Chapter 292 - Chapter 292: Chapter 261 Banquet_1

Chapter 292: Chapter 261 Banquet_1

“Oh!”

Facing Lu Kui’s alarmist talk, Xu Mu only responded lightly, his expression barely changing.

“Sigh! I’m just trying to look out for you, Friend Xu. But if you won’t believe me, then forget it!”

Seeing that Xu Mu didn’t seem to believe him at all, Lu Kui shook his head and sighed.

“I only believe in making my own destiny!” Xu Mu smiled and said.

Just as Lu Kui was about to say something, Qiao Qianqian’s voice came from nearby.

“What are you two talking about? Can I also listen in?” Qiao Qianqian asked with a playful laugh.

“Oh, it’s nothing, it’s nothing!” Lu Kui laughed, “The banquet is about to start, let’s go up. It wouldn’t be good to keep her highness waiting!”

Lu Kui strode towards the small hill where the Inviting Moon Platform was located.

“Friend Xu, what were you talking about?” Qiao Qianqian pressed.

“Nothing!”

“Really, nothing?”

Qiao Qianqian seemed somewhat disbelieving.

“Really nothing!”

“Alright then!”

Qiao Qianqian didn’t press any further and walked alongside Xu Mu toward the small hill.

The Inviting Moon Platform was on top of the hill, with stairs on both sides. They chose to climb from the left. On reaching the top, apart from Lu Kui, Jia Zhiyi and Hong Xi had also arrived.

Now, including them, only Xu Lingyu was missing from the hangers-on of the aristocrats.

As for Li Youlan, they might have to wait a little longer.

“This way, please, honorable guests!”

A maid on the Inviting Moon Platform guided them to their seats.

The banquet seats were arranged in two columns centered on the Inviting Moon Platform. Four seats on one side, three on the other, and one seat at the head in the middle.

The head seat was reserved for the host, surely it was for Li Youlan.

Xu Mu was seated in the first position to the left of the head seat, with two maids standing dutifully behind him. Qiao Qianqian was seated to his left. The seat to be assigned for Qiao Qianqian was still vacant, presumably reserved for Xu Lingyu.

Apart from Xu Lingyu, there was only Wang Yongan, whom they had not yet met.

Across from them was also an empty table, presumably for Wang Yongan. Next to it was Lu Kui, followed by Jia Zhiyi, and at the end, Hong Xi.

“Her highness really favors you!”

Qiao Qianqian lightly laughed.

“How so, Friend Qiao?” Xu Mu asked with confusion.

“Are you really naive, or are you feigning ignorance?” Qiao Qianqian expressed surprise.

“I am genuinely confused!”

Seeing that Xu Mu didn’t seem to be pretending, Qiao Qianqian explained: “In the Da Yuan Dynasty, the left side is considered the more respected side. In the past, her Highness would always leave the seat to her left vacant. Letting you sit here now just goes to show just how much regard she has for you!”

“I see!”

Is this being favored? Isn’t it just setting me up to be roasted on the fire!

I may not be a fool, but I understand Li Youlan’s intentions. Whether it’s arranging accommodations or seating, she deliberately incites conflict.

It’s only a matter of who will be the scapegoat.

Xu Mu glanced at the empty seat opposite him, then looked at Lu Kui, who was holding a wine cup and cheerfully offering a toast.

As for Hong Xi and Jia Zhiyi, one was engrossed in eating, and the other seemed to be constantly teasing a small black bird on their shoulder.

Next to him, Qiao Qianqian was inspecting the Spirit Fruit on the table.

“This fruit was picked a bit early, I bet it would be hard for its seed to grow!”

Qiao Qianqian held a bright red Spirit Date in her hand and murmured to herself.

She turned her head to look at Xu Mu’s table and noticed a green fruit with white tendrils that her table lacked.

“A Dragon Whisker Fruit! How partial of her highness!” Qiao Qianqian commented a bit sourly.

“I didn’t play favorites!”

Three beams of Escape Light flew over from the distance, landing in the center of the Inviting Moon Platform. A voice emanated from inside.

The Escape Light dissipated, revealing Li Youlan, Elder Jin, and Xu Lingyu.

“I just went out for an urgent matter. I hope all of you haven’t been waiting too long!” Li Youlan greeted the crowd with a clasp of her hands.

“Your Highness is too courteous!”

Everyone stood up to return the salute.

Li Youlan didn’t take her seat right away, she looked at Qiao Qianqian and said, “The Dragon Whisker Fruit is only effective the first time you consume it. Since you have all tried it, that’s why we only prepared one for Xu Mu!”

“Hehe! Don’t worry, your highness! I was just joking!” Qiao Qianqian stammered.

Li Youlan didn’t mind her casual comment, she walked to the top seat and sat down. Elder Jin stood silently behind her, like a wooden figure.

Xu Lingyu sat down next to Qiao Qianqian. His eyes were still covered with a cloth bandage, hinting that there was indeed something wrong with his eyes.

After everyone took their seats, Li Youlan glanced at the empty seat on her right hand side and frowned slightly with a touch of displeasure, “Didn’t anyone inform him? Why is he not here yet?”

“Your highness, Friend Wang said he was busy with something crucial and might be a little late!” Lu Kui stood and responded.

“If that’s the case, let’s not wait for him!” Li Youlan signaled to the serving maid, “Serve the food and wine!”

Dish after dish of exquisite meals made from exotic beasts were served, including Spiritual Wine worth several high-grade Spirit Stones. They were placed on everyone’s table for them to enjoy.

“First, I will toast to Friend Xu. I’m very grateful you would come to the imperial capital to assist me!”

Li Youlan raised her glass towards Xu Mu.

“Your Highness, you are being too kind! It is my honor to be able to help!”

Xu Mu stood up and drank all the wine in his cup.

“I’ll also propose a toast to you, Friend Xu. We will all be serving under her Highness together in the future, we will need your guidance!” Lu Kui got up and said.

“You’re too polite. If you need anything, feel free to tell me!”

Then Qiao Qianqian and others each toasted Xu Mu in turn. Only Xu Lingyu kept silent, and from afar, he just saluted Xu Mu.

“Friend Lu, during my absence, has anything significant happened in the imperial capital?” After drinking, Li Youlan asked Lu Kui.

“Your Highness, I was just about to report. During your absence…”

Lu Kui mentioned several incidents that occurred in the imperial capital, none too serious but neither were they trivial. Most of them had to do with other princes and princesses.

In this manner, Li Youlan continued to eat and drink, during which she inquired about their situations one person at a time. Lu Kui, Jia Zhiyi, and Qiao Qianqian were the ones with the most updates, whereas Hong Xi only got asked a few simple questions and Xu Lingyu wasn’t asked anything at all.

After the inquiries, Li Youlan called for a dancer, who began dancing in the center of the moon platform.

The bright moon was hanging high, and the cold moonlight was shining down, making the entire Inviting Moon Platform spotless and pure. The dancer, dancing under the moonlight, looked as beautiful as a celestial maiden, extremely enchanting.

Everyone felt as if they were in the Wide Cold Fairy Palace for a moment.

Just then, a trail of blue Escape Light flew over from afar and landed on the platform.

Once the light disappeared, a disheveled young man was revealed.

The young man had a pear-shaped head, with puffy eyes and a clean-shaven face. He was dressed in a white robe embroidered with various blue flower patterns.

“I am sorry for being late due to an urgent matter! I hope Your Highness will forgive me!”

The young man showed a hint of nonchalance as he apologized to Li Youlan.

“If it’s because of work, then it’s fine! Please take a seat!” Li Youlan said indifferently.

“Thank you, Your Highness! I happened to come across an Ice Jade Begonia flower. I hope Your Highness would regard it favorably!”

Having said that, the young man took out a jade box made of white jade from his storage bag and walked over to Li Youlan while holding it with both hands.

The dancer on the platform automatically cleared a path, allowing the young man to walk in front of Li Youlan and present the jade box.

As the young man approached, Xu Mu caught a whiff of a strong exotic fragrance coming from him. Xu Mu could only guess what it was.

“You’re thoughtful!”

Li Youlan didn’t extend her hand to accept the gift. Instead, she instructed a maid nearby to receive it.

“As long as Your Highness is happy, I am willing to pay any price!”

Having said that, the young man turned to look at Xu Mu, a trace of disdain in his eyes. Only then did he sit down by Li Youlan’s right side. The banquet continued without interruption, and Li Youlan did not stop the dancers nor introduced the young man to Xu Mu.

Even without an introduction, Xu Mu could guess who the young man was. Apart from Wang Yongan, there was no one else it could be.

But Xu Mu was somewhat surprised by the extent of the young man’s arrogance.

“This guy doesn’t do any meaningful work and is always messing around with these flashy trivialities!”

Qiao Qianqian muttered in disbelief near Xu Mu’s ear. Xu Mu chose not to respond.