Song of Adolescence

Chapter 311 Golden Invitations Spread Across Heavenly Revelations

Steward Xu was at the door to meet Xiao Se and the others who had just returned from Grand Golden Terrace, and he asked with a bow, "Young master, the invitations have been prepared according to Miss Ye’s guest list. Shall we proceed to send them to the respective residences and offices?"

Xiao Se nodded. "Send them out."

Steward Xu nodded. "Yes, sir."

Ye Ruoyi added, "It's best to get their reply in writing. If we can meet their master and get a reply personally, that would be best."

Xiao Se glanced at Ye Ruoyi. "Are you afraid that some will not come?"

"I'm not afraid that some will not come. I’m afraid that all of them will not come." Ye Ruoyi said worriedly, "After all, many things in Heavenly Revelations City are no longer the same as before."

"There’s nothing to worry about. Those who should come will come. Those who don’t want to come, will still come in the end." Xiao Se turned his head and called out, "Jiu-ye."

Jiu Jiudao hurriedly stepped forward with a smile, revealing that sparkling golden tooth. "Young master, please do not elevate this lowly one. When you call me ‘ye’, you’re shortening this lowly one’s life by several years." After leaving Grand Golden Terrace, he had intended to part with Xiao Se, but Xiao Se specifically asked him to stay, and invited him to the residence for a chat. It looked like there was really a task for him.

"Steward Xu, get the others to send out the invitations. After that, discuss with Jiu-ye to prepare another set of invitations." Xiao Se said with a smile, "The capital has nine streets. We’ve invited the upper four streets, but we must not forget the lower five streets[1]."

Ye Ruoyi thought about it and nodded. "I was remiss in my considerations."

Lanyue Marquis Residence.

Lanyue Marquis was holding the golden invitation card and he laughed. "Hosting a banquet at Grand Golden Terrace? Only he would think of that. Where else were these invitations sent to?"

The house steward standing next to him replied in a low voice, "All the respectable large families and nobles in Heavenly Revelations City received this invitation. But, after the first batch was sent out, a second batch was sent a few hours later. Those were sent to people who aren’t considered important public figures, but are leaders who have some weight in the lower five streets of Heavenly Revelations City."

"Very well. This really is… Xiao Se’s style." Lanyue Marquis ran his fingers over the inscribed name. "Xiao Se. Looks like he really likes this name."

"He didn’t use his real name nor did he use his title, Yong'an Prince. Is there a deeper meaning to it?" the steward asked.

Lanyue Marquis didn't reply, but he laid down the invitation card and said, "Prepare my horse. I’m going to the palace."

Mingde Emperor’s condition was now the biggest mystery in Heavenly Revelations City. Some people said that he had been unconscious the whole time and that the Imperial Academy of Medicine already claimed they couldn’t treat him, so they were all relying on a genius doctor using some immortal herbs to sustain the Emperor's life. Some people also said that the genius doctor who had been invited had already cured Mingde Emperor, but he deliberately continued pretending to be sick, just to see if anyone dared to usurp his authority during this period.

Perhaps the only ones who knew the truth were the State Preceptor Qi Tianchen, the Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan Gonggong, as well as the captain of the Brave Tiger Guards, Li Changqing, and the regents of state, Grand Preceptor Dong and Lanyue Marquis. But getting any information from these people was extremely difficult.

When Lanyue Marquis arrived before the bedchamber hall, Hua Jin was just coming out with her medicine case on her back. She looked a little haggard, and was no longer as radiant as she was in Sword Heart Tomb.

"Little genius doctor, you’ve worked hard." Lanyue Marquis hurried up to greet her.

Hua Jin yawned and aimed a sideway glance at him. "If you will stop bothering my patient, that would be the greatest help to me."

"I'm afraid this is something I can’t grant the little genius doctor. I came to report something very important today, something His Majesty must know," Lanyue Marquis said with a smile.

Hua Jin waved a hand. "Fine. I know that you’re all busy with important state affairs. I’m just a little doctor, I only care about one person’s illness, one person’s business. Go on in. In a while, His Majesty should sleep and rest."

"Little genius doctor, I think you’ll also be interested in this important event," Lanyue Marquis said.

Hua Jin was startled. "What does it have to do with me?"

"One of your patients has come to Heavenly Revelations. His surname is Xiao, and he’s the most beloved son of the man inside." Lanyue Marquis said slowly, "You don't know his story. If you knew, you’ll also agree that this is an important event."

"Xiao Se?" Hua Jin said in surprise, "He’s come to Heavenly Revelations?"

"Do you want to see him?" Lanyue Marquis asked.

Hua Jin nodded. "Yes. I want to see exactly how he was cured."

"The day after tomorrow, at noon, I will send someone to where you’re staying to pick you up," Lanyue Marquis said. "By the way, how is huang-xiong’s condition…"

"His Majesty has an ailment of the heart. I can cure the ailment, but I can’t cure his heart.[2] Shifu once said, the most difficult thing in the world to cure is the heart. When it comes to that, it’s not something a doctor can solve. But, there’s something I can guarantee. At least his life is not in danger for now," Hua Jin said gravely.

"Very well. No wonder you’re the little genius doctor." Lanyue Marquis reached out and rubbed Hua Jin's head.

Hua Jin complained with irritation. "Stop rubbing or I won’t grow taller."

White Prince Residence.

"Shaohan, what do you think of this banquet? Should we go or not go?" White Prince Xiao Chong asked evenly.

His counselor, Ling Shaohan, stood to one side, holding the invitation card. He mulled over his thoughts then said, "We should not go."

"Why should we not go?" Xiao Chong asked.

Ling Shaohan replied, "Not only do we not go, we must also tell others not to go. He’s invited many people from prestigious families and the nobles, as well as the merchants and tycoons, all of whom have close relations with our White Prince Residence. Our people will inform them that they cannot go. I will let Xiao Chuhe know that the Heavenly Revelations City of today is no longer the same as the Heavenly Revelations City of the past."

Xiao Chong nodded. "Very well. What do you think is going on at the Red Prince’s side?"

"He won't go either," Ling Shaohan said solemnly. "I heard from the spies that he was injured recently."

Red Prince Residence.

Red Prince Xiao Yu's face was a little pale as he stood in the courtyard. He raised his bow and arrow but then lowered it again. "Have the people been sent out?" He turned to ask Long Ye.

Long Ye nodded. "They’ve all been sent out. Very quickly, those residences and offices will receive the news."

"Good. Grand Golden Terrace hosting a banquet for Heavenly Revelations… I will make sure not a single guest turns up! What’s going on at the White Prince Residence?" Xiao Yu asked.

Long Ye bowed his head. "As my Prince expected, after receiving the invitation, they’ve also sent their people to all the large families he has close relations with. They should have had the same thoughts as us."

"Good. When it comes to everything else, I will go against that blind fellow, but for this, I can let it go. I want that fellow who thinks he knows everything to understand that this Heavenly Revelations City is not his Heavenly Revelations City. As for who the true lord and master of this city is, it may not be clear yet but it definitely won’t be him!" Xiao Yu pulled his bow, and his arrow burst through the air, piercing the bullseye.

He put down his bow and arrow and coughed softly.

Fallen Snow Villa.

"Young master, all the invitations have been sent out." Steward Xu pulled out an invitation card from his clothes. "Except this one."

"Oh?" Xiao Se took the invitation and frowned. "Didn't you find him?"

"No. I asked Jiu Jiudao to send people out to ask around, but they all said no." Steward Xu shook his head.

Xiao Se replied softly, "That doesn’t make sense. He should already have arrived, though his whereabouts are indeed difficult to track down.[3] Get Jiu Jiudao to continue investigating."

"Yes, sir." Steward Xu replied.