Song of Adolescence

Chapter 320 The Three Princes

A grandiose banquet. The two most powerful people under Heaven, the two regents of state, were attending. The heir to the wealthiest family under Heaven had arrived. Now, even the State Preceptor who was highly respected by His Majesty was here.

Heavenly Revelations City had not seen so much excitement in years.

"Shall we start the banquet?" Second Master Tu asked Xiao Se.

Xiao Se glanced at Lanyue Marquis and said, "I want to wait for one more incense stick."

"Half an incense stick." Lanyue Marquis chuckled. "They’ll be faster than you think. The two Princely Residences are not far from here."

Qi Tianchen brought the little Daoist to sit down beside Grand Preceptor Dong. Grand Preceptor Dong was deeply moved and he said, "I didn't expect to meet the State Preceptor here."

Qi Tianchen patted the little Daoist’s head. "I want to say, it was really because my little disciple wailed that he wanted to come that I came. Would the Grand Preceptor believe me?"

"Nonsense, it’s Director himself who’s gluttonous," the little Daoist boy called Zitong complained unhappily.

Grand Preceptor Dong looked at the little Daoist, and realised that his pupils were really violet in colour. He couldn’t help but be surprised. "You’re born with violet pupils. That’s indeed rather special."

"This isn’t special," Hua Jin interjected suddenly. "This is a disease."

Grand Preceptor Dong was taken aback, but Qi Tianchen nodded. "Indeed, this is a disease."

Zitong glanced at Hua Jin with an annoyed side-eye. "Can you cure it?"

"I can." Hua Jin shook her hand slightly, and three silver needles appeared in her hand.

Zitong hurriedly shrank to Qi Tianchen's side.

When they saw the State Preceptor arriving, the six ministers as well as all the court officials stood up and intended to approach to greet him. However, State Preceptor Qi Tianchen did not even raise his head. He waved a hand and those people who had just stood up, or who had taken a step forward, instantly returned to their places.

"Director, you shouldn’t do that. You’re upstaging the host," Zitong murmured softly.

Qi Tianchen shook his horsetail whisk. "Alright, alright."

When Hua Jin saw how Zitong admonished the State Preceptor, she found it so amusing she couldn’t help but giggle. Qi Tianchen returned a smile at her. "Miss, are you really able to cure my little disciple?"

"Of course there’s a way." Hua Jin nodded. "I've heard about this disease from shifu before. Natural born violet eyes, they can see things that ordinary people cannot. But, eyes are windows to words and thoughts. An evil aura can enter the eyes and enter the heart. People born with violet eyes are often extraordinarily intelligent but don’t have a long life. Shifu can cure this, so naturally, I can cure this as well."

Qi Tianchen smiled and nodded. "Physician Xin can be regarded as an old friend of this old man though we haven’t seen each other in years. Medicine King Valley used to have three masters, Medicine King Xin Baicao, Genius Doctor Bian Suchen and Ghost Doctor Ye Ya. Their combined prestige was second to none. Now, all of that burden has fallen onto a little lady."

"I may have a disciple soon." Hua Jin couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth when she thought of that Autumn House full of medicinal herbs.

Zitong glanced around and asked in a low voice, "Director, why haven't they served the food?"

Qi Tianchen scratched his head. "The host is waiting for someone?"

"Waiting for whom?"

"His brothers."

"Oh, he should wait then. It’s okay. I’m not in a hurry." Zitong lowered his head.

At this time, the high-pitched voice of the Grand Golden Terrace attendant at the door rang out again.

"Guests have arrived! His Highness White Prince is here!"

White Prince Xiao Chong, who wore a blindfold over his eyes, walked in with the support of his page boy, Xuan Tong. The Grand Golden Terrace which had been bustling with noise became silent again.

His Highness White Prince did not speak, and he remained as silent and indifferent as always.

"Guests have arrived! His Highness Red Prince is here!"

Red Prince Xiao Yu was dressed in a suit of robes and he walked in hurriedly. Whoever stood in his way, he kicked aside and whoever his eyes didn’t agree with, he cursed them freely, behaving as he always did, as overbearing as a rich brat.

Finally, the two Princes of Heavenly Revelations City had arrived at the last moment.

"Your Highness White Prince. Your Highness Red Prince." One after another, the officials stepped forward to salute and greet them.

Xiao Chong nodded lightly as acknowledgement, but Xiao Yu straight out scolded, "Are you all a bunch of hungry ghosts? What’s the point of coming so early? Couldn’t you wait for this Prince?"

Xiao Se also stood up and walked slowly before them.

"Er-ge." He cupped his fists to face White Prince and bowed slightly at his waist.

"Lao-Qi!" He straightened himself and shouted at Red Prince with impatience.

Xiao Chong and Xiao Yu both froze for a moment, then smiled slightly.

Even if they hadn't seen each other for several years, they had tried various means to kill one another. But, after all, they also grew up together from young. After all, they were brothers related by blood.

"Liu-di."

"Liu-ge."[9]

One was gentle but indifferent, and the other was impatient and reluctant, but the two of them returned a bow after all.

The three Princes of Heavenly Revelations City had finally gathered here.

The White can settle the country, the Red can open up new territory, but if there was a dragon in the wild, all under Heaven will be precarious. The sixteen-word maxim that the State Preceptor once dictated was now standing on display in front of everyone. The White Prince was calm and gave off a sense of ease. He was capable at both literary and military strategy and would be a wise ruler who could settle the country. The Red Prince had an unruly personality and enormous ambition. He would be a military emperor who could open up new territory. But there was a titanic dragon in the wild, and as long as he existed, the one who could possess all under Heaven would forever be indeterminable. As for that dragon in the wild, after today’s events, everyone could guess it was referring to Xiao Se.

Zitong looked at the people around him curiously and asked, "Shifu, everyone looks so serious. What are they thinking about?"

Qi Tianchen took a sip of tea and whispered. "They’re recalling a line of nonsensical words."

"I was starting to think you weren’t coming," Xiao Se said flippantly.

"An urgent matter came up at the Residence and I was delayed. Liu-di has been away for so many years. Now that you’ve finally returned to the capital, huang-xiong will definitely not want to miss this." White Prince’s manners were as impeccable as always.

"You think I want to come? Didn’t you force me to come? Are you pleased with yourself? Don’t get cocky too soon." Red Prince’s words were as irresponsible as always.

Xiao Se smiled and said, "Whether or not you wanted to come, you’re here after all. As long as you’re here, you’re my guest. Please take a seat."

"Are we at your table?" Red Prince asked.

"No." Xiao Se turned and raised his head. "My seat is there."

A huge platform was slowly being lowered from above.

It wasn’t so much a platform as it was a pavilion on air. Countless thick chains were connected to the pavilion and suddenly, a group of sturdy-looking men walked out from the second floor of Grand Golden Terrace. They exerted all of their strength to pull on those chains and slowly lowered the mid-air pavilion. Hanging on all four sides of the pavilion were blue-green heavy curtains. Four stunning ladies stood at the four corners of the pavilion, one was playing the qin, one playing the xiao, one playing the pipa and one playing a jade flute.

All the guests in the hall were in an uproar. The main stage today turned out to be like this.

This banquet was getting more and more interesting.

Xiao Se took a flying leap and swept onto the high platform. Immediately afterwards, Sikong Qianluo, Lei Wujie, and Ye Ruoyi also leapt up and stood beside Xiao Se. Xiao Se turned around and looked down at the people below. He announced arrogantly, "This is my seat."

Second Master Tu suddenly stood up. He had been holding back all afternoon just to say the next three words.

"Start the banquet!"