Song of Adolescence

Chapter 323 A Bowl of Bean Soup Rice

Great disrespect.

That was the thought that went through the minds of the Six Ministers. Before such distinguished guests as Lanyue Marquis, Grand Preceptor Dong and Qi Tianchen, he dared to display such a large dian word, put on the zhancui mourning clothes, and sing an elegy. All these were extremely disrespectful. However, they did not dare to rebuke him publicly. First, because they had received a tremendous shock that this grand banquet ended in a funeral, and second, because Lanyue Marquis and Grand Preceptor Dong did not seem to show any sign of displeasure. As for Qi Tianchen… The zhancui mourning clothes were under the charge of the Directorate of Astronomy. Without Qi Tianchen's permission, where would Xiao Se and his friends obtain all those zhancui clothes?

Bold and decisive.

That was, in fact, what Lanyue Marquis and Grand Preceptor Dong were thinking. A grand banquet that invited the two regents of state, the son of Qingzhou’s richest Mu family who had the greatest chance of inheriting the family business, and the State Preceptor. Originally, this would have been the best chance to establish his power and control the Six Ministries which controlled the imperial court, as well as the four biggest tycoons which held the economic lifeline of Heavenly Revelations. They were all waiting for the opportunity to negotiate with Xiao Se, and to choose their respective affiliations after these negotiations. But, Xiao Se did not do any of this, nor was he ashamed of doing such a thing. After revealing the aces up his sleeve, in the end, he turned the banquet into a funeral just to pay libation to his martial brother who died to help him return to the capital.

Foolish.

That was the thought in Xiao Yu's mind. To give up the benefits he could have obtained with this banquet all for the sake of sentiment. In Xiao Yu’s view, Xiao Se was too foolish.

Xiao Chong sighed heavily and said, "I can’t compare to him."

Zitong wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes, and blinked as he asked Qi Tianchen, "Director, what are they singing? Why does my heart feel a little sad?"

Qi Tianchen just smiled and asked him, "Have you eaten enough?"

Zitong nodded. "I'm full."

Qi Tianchen knocked on his head, and although he was still talking to Zitong, his eyes were directed at Xiao Se. "Wait a little longer. There’s one last dish."

Xiao Se stood on the terrace. Ye Ruoyi, Lei Wujie, and Sikong Qianluo were also standing on the terrace, and the sixteen Snow Moon City disciples were also standing on the terrace.

All the guests were sitting below the terrace.

The banquet which had been bustling with excitement on the surface had suddenly become extremely quiet. The two groups stood on opposite sides, as if confronting each other.

Second Master Tu suddenly stood up and cleared his throat. He was the owner of Grand Golden Terrace, an important person in Heavenly Revelations City that none would dare to underestimate. But today, his lines were like a waiter’s. But, he did not mind.

Because there were people like the Six Ministers and the Red Prince who felt that Xiao Se was foolish.

But there were also people like him who sincerely admired Xiao Se.

Xiao Se was not stupid. What he wanted was not benefits. What he had always wanted was true sincerity.

"Serve the final dish."

"Final dish?" Li Ruochong looked at the dish of fruits in front of him, confused. The fruit dish was served at the end of the banquet, so it was over. Why would there be an extra dish?

"The final dish, bean soup rice."

Li Ruochong's expression turned sour immediately and he shouted angrily, "Disgraceful!"

"What is bean soup rice?" Zitong asked. "It doesn't sound delicious."

Qi Tianchen touched Zitong's head. "Eating tofu leads to longevity. The dead are gone, but the living are still here. We must all continue to live well."

Qi Tianchen explained it tactfully, but everyone present understood this clearly. Eating bean soup rice at a funeral was a tradition followed by southerners in Beili and the people of Nanjue Kingdom. After the death of a person, the family of the deceased would host a tofu feast and invite the friends of the deceased to the repast. There were no meat dishes in the banquet and all the dishes were made using various forms of tofu. And the final dish that could not be left out was a bowl of bean soup rice.

The servants of Grand Golden Terrace walked out carrying bowls of bean soup rice. These bowls of bean soup rice were completely different from the exquisite dishes served previously. They were served in large, coarse porcelain bowls, and there was nothing refined about the plating. They were just ordinary rice mixed with tofu soup.

Below the terrace, they were still bringing out the bean soup rice while the Snow Moon City disciples on the terrace had already received their share. They ate quickly and solemnly, then put down their bowls and chopsticks. They leaped up and split into two rows, lined up at the door of Grand Golden Terrace.

Sixteen disciples.

Sixteen long swords.

If you didn’t finish that bowl of bean soup rice, would you be able to walk out of Grand Golden Terrace?

Xiao Se didn't spare a glance for his guests and slowly walked out of Grand Golden Terrace. Ye Ruoyi, Lei Wujie and Sikong Qianluo followed behind him. Xiao Se sat down on the steps, looked at the moon in the sky, and sighed. "I remember the day I first met da-shixiong. It was also such a night with a beautiful moon."

The other three did not speak, but sat down next to him and watched the moon silently.

Among the guests in the hall, Dugu Gudu, Jiu Jiudao, Hu Dan and Wu Daidai, as well as Second Master Tu, quickly finished their own bean soup rice. But, they did not seem to be in a hurry to leave. They whispered amongst themselves, discussing something.

Mu Chunfeng sat together with his four managers. He shook his head and said, "In Qingzhou, if the host invites you to a tofu banquet, the guests cannot refuse. The dead hold the greatest importance. What do you say?"

Tian Mozhi nodded. "We must eat this."

Mu Chunfeng turned to look at the four tycoons of Heavenly Revelations City. "What do the rest of you think?"

The four tycoons did not say a word, but finally picked up the bowl of bean soup rice.

Qi Tianchen watched Zitong eating with a spoon, one mouthful after another, and asked, "Is it delicious?"

Zitong nodded. "Delicious, better than all the dishes before."

"Is it so delicious?" Qi Tianchen also took a spoonful and put it into his mouth, chewing carefully. Finally, he exhaled a soft sigh. "Indeed, it’s better than the vulgar course of fifteen bowls of imperial banquet, ah."

All the rest of the people turned their gazes to Grand Preceptor Dong.

Lanyue Marquis picked up the bean soup rice and asked, "If I remember correctly, Grand Preceptor is actually from the south?"

"Indeed. Back in my hometown, if there was a death, everyone would eat a bowl of bean soup rice. Nobody knows the reason anymore. It’s just been passed down through the generations. When I was young, I didn't understand the concept of death. All I knew was everyone coming together heartily and having a bowl of bean soup rice. It was fun too. Until I grew up and I realised, it signified an ordinary but long and happy life. A bowl of tofu soup contained all the nostalgia for old friends. But since coming to Heavenly Revelations, I haven’t had bean soup rice for many years."

"I wouldn’t want to have this kind of rice often," Lanyue Marquis said lightly.

Grand Preceptor Dong picked up the bowl and said slowly, "I only hope that after I die, someone will eat a bowl of bean soup rice for me."

All the court officials finally reached out their own hands.

Xiao Chong also sat down and slowly ate his share together with his page boy, Xuan Tong.

Only Xiao Yu pushed aside the bowl of bean soup rice and snapped, "Not eating." He brought Long Ye with him and walked straight out. The sixteen Snow Moon City disciples did not draw their swords after all.

At the door, the four real hosts of the banquet were sitting there waiting for him.

"Lao-Qi, I knew you wouldn’t eat that bowl of bean soup rice." Xiao Se didn't turn around.

Xiao Yu sneered coldly. "Your da-shixiong’s death has nothing to do with me."

Xiao Se stood up and turned around, his eyes cold and severe. "You will soon understand what it has to do with you."

At this moment, the sound of iron hoofs came from a distance and everyone turned their heads.

It was already so late. Who would be coming to the banquet now?