Song of Adolescence

Chapter 314 A Banquet with No Guests

Faced with Ye Ruoyi’s hysterical laughter, Dugu Gudu maintained his indifferent expression, the man who looked like a boy toy, Hu Dan, blushed slightly, and Wu Daidai also laughed slightly. They seemed to be accustomed to this, but Jiu Jiudao endured for a moment before he spoke awkwardly, "Is it… that funny?"

Second Master Tu patted Ye Ruoyi on the shoulder, attempting to alleviate her laughter. "Actually, the first time I saw you guys introduce yourselves like this, I also had to keep myself from laughing."

Dugu Gudu suddenly opened his mouth. "How is it funny?"

"It has that feeling of…" Second Master Tu narrowed his eyes slightly and said pointedly, "When grown-ups see their own kids who have listened to too many stories insert themselves into the roles of the characters inside, and after that can’t separate themselves from the role… like that."

Ye Ruoyi forced herself to stop laughing. "I’ve made a fool of myself. So sorry. It’s just that the four of you are… too adorable."

"Adorable?" Hu Dan, who looked like a boy toy, seemed a little sensitive to this word.

Jiu Jiudao coughed lightly. "My brothers and I will also attend the sixth prince’s banquet tomorrow."

Ye Ruoyi was stunned for a moment, and then she realized that these people were the other group of guests that Xiao Se asked Steward Xu and Jiu Jiudao to confirm that day. Suddenly, she felt a little more respect in her heart.

Someone that Xiao Se approved of would naturally have something about them worth admiring.

"These four who call themselves the Four Youths of Heavenly Revelations are not without reason. In Heavenly Revelations City, the places that officials can’t manage, they can. Shady businesses that the large tycoons can’t get a share of, they can. Information that the Court of Judicial Review can’t investigate, they can help you find the clues." Second Master Tu smiled. "Even the strongest dragon in the sky can't crush them."

Jiu Jiudao scolded, "Er-ye, you’re badmouthing us by calling us an underground snake[6]. Don’t think we can’t tell."

Second Master Tu ignored him and turned to Ye Ruoyi instead. "Miss Ye, the banquet preparations are well in hand. As for tomorrow, the rest will be up to you."

Ye Ruoyi nodded. "Thank you very much."

In the afternoon of the next day, Grand Golden Terrace.

The gambling tables that were originally placed in Grand Golden Terrace had all been removed and replaced with exquisite tables made of redwood. Also, a tall frame was constructed above the thousand golden terrace and something seemed to be hanging from it. However, it was covered by a huge red cloth, making it impossible to see what was hidden underneath.

Countless servants walked briskly around the floor, anxiously setting the final arrangements. On both sides stood several guards with frosty expressions as they wore masks of wolf faces made of metal. At their waists, their swords were drawn halfway, gleaming with a light that looked like snow.

This banquet was going to last from evening till midnight. It had been many years since anyone in Heavenly Revelations City had dared to put on such a lavish banquet.

On this day, all eyes of Heavenly Revelations City were cast here, and everything that happened here would be relayed by various parties at the fastest speed.

Xiao Se and Sikong Qianluo sat in the main hall, while Second Master Tu sat next to them for company. However, everyone’s faces did not look good.

According to the rules for an evening banquet among Heavenly Revelations City’s aristocratic families, the guests should start arriving about four hours before the start of the banquet. However, it was now two hours to the start of the banquet, yet the few of them were the only people sitting in this large and open Grand Golden Terrace.

Second Master Tu took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "The guests are really patient, huh."

Xiao Se’s face remained cold as ice and he did not speak.

Sikong Qianluo frowned, and was just about to get up and go check the door, but Xiao Se reached out and pressed her back down. Xiao Se shook his head and said lightly, "Don’t worry."

At the front door of the Grand Golden Terrace, the red-clothed Lei Wujie and green-robed Ye Ruoyi were standing there to welcome the guests. But they had been standing for two hours and not a single guest had arrived. Lei Wujie wiped the sweat on his forehead. "Miss Ye, what do you think… Could it be because the clothes we’re wearing today don't match well, like it’s red and green…"

"Perhaps." Ye Ruoyi laughed.

"Why don't you go in and take a rest," Lei Wujie said. "I can wait here on my own."

"Don’t mind it. You see, the guests are here." Ye Ruoyi raised her head and greeted, "Jiu-ye."

Jiu Jiudao and his three brothers and sister appeared at the door together.

A Grand Golden Terrace attendant took out the guest list and immediately announced in a loud voice, "Chair of the Three Gates and Nineteen Offices Alliance, Mister Dugu Gudu, is here!”

"Vice-Chair, Hu Dan, is here!"

"Canvass Moon Restaurant Owner, Wu Daidai, is here!"

"Mandate of Heaven Shop Owner, Jiu Jiudao, is here!"

Lei Wujie mumbled softly, "Why are the names of these people so strange?"

Ye Ruoyi was already no stranger to it. "The four of you are the first to arrive today."

Jiu Jiudao sighed. "In fact, we didn’t want to arrive so early, but I received news that it’s been a whole two hours and no guests had arrived. We were afraid the news would gradually spread and affect the banquet, so we hurried over first."

Ye Ruoyi felt grateful, and said sincerely, "Allow me to thank you first."

"Xiao-Jiu, put down the gift. Let’s go in first," Dugu Gudu said.

Jiu Jiudao nodded, and after handing over the gift box to the Grand Golden Terrace attendant, he brought the other three to walk inside.

The news quickly spread to the various residences.

Red Prince Residence.

Xiao Yu knocked on the back of the chair, deep in thought. "Three Gates and Nineteen Offices Alliance, Canvass Moon Restaurant, Mandate of Heaven Shop?"

Long Ye bowed his head and said, "They’re sects from the lower five streets of Heavenly Revelations City, but they have many followers and get along well with people. We have tried to rope them in many times, but had always been tactfully rejected. We suspected that they had already been bought over by the White Prince’s people but now, it’s obvious that back then, they were already friends with Xiao Chuhe."

"Xiao Chuhe has always been like this. He loved making friends with the common people. Indeed, these three sects do not seem that important, but they should not be underestimated either." Xiao Yu sneered through a corner of his mouth. "But, they’re here, which is better than not coming."

White Prince Residence.

Ling Shaohan listened to the attendant’s report from Grand Golden Terrace, and smiled. "Not bad."

"I wanted to make sure this banquet would have no guests attending, but now someone has broken the ice. And, we can’t control these people. We didn’t even know that Xiao Chuhe was already friends with them. How is this not bad?" Xiao Chong asked.

"It would be great if no guests attended, but with just these few people, it’s even better. He has the ability to make friends with these people and that’s to his credit, but if these are his only friends, it will prove that this prince as he is today, can only command the commoners. Then, these people will only prove his weakness and will never be able to bring him the slightest prestige!"

Grand Golden Terrace.

The Four Youths of Heavenly Revelations sat down, their expressions also a little awkward.

The show of extravagance was really too grand.

And the number of people was really too few.

Xiao Se gently tapped the cup of tea in front of him. Tap. Tap. Until he suddenly stopped.

A horse neighed at the gate.

"They’re here." Xiao Se raised the tea cup and drank it all in one go.