Chapter 275 : Tonight, She Also Came
Chapter 275: Tonight, She Also Came
Within a delicate courtyard of Prince Yan’s Residence.
“Miss, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has sent people to bestow many gifts.”
“Miss, word has come from the palace—the date has been set. On the thirteenth day of the eighth month, you will enter the palace. Once the Ghost Festival passes, the imperial decree will be issued.”
“Miss…”
The maid Zhi Qin looked at her young lady, who remained silent, merely sitting before the window, blankly staring at the white jade hairpin in her hand. Her heart ached as she turned away and quietly wiped her tears.
Ever since Madam had appeared and brought her young lady away from Xiazhou City to the Capital, she had often sat like this, staring dazedly at that hairpin.
Zhi Qin knew what her lady was thinking.
She also understood that what her lady yearned for—she would never be able to attain in this lifetime.
Her young lady was about to enter the palace, to become the consort of the most noble man under heaven!
Young Master Gu, though born as the legitimate son of a Duke’s Residence and possessing unmatched talent, was powerless before the Son of Heaven of Great Jin.
Her lady had worried that Young Master Gu would do something foolish, and had even begged the Lord to speak to him—to make things clear and sever his hopes.
Ah, her poor young lady, how foolish.
By doing so, Young Master Gu would surely believe she was seeking to climb high and attach herself to power, that she had betrayed him. Even if there had been a trace of affection in his heart, now it would likely be gone…
Zhi Qin felt her heart sink as sorrow washed over her.
“Qin’er.”
Suddenly, Xia Mudan called out.
She hastily wiped her tears and asked, “Miss, what are your orders?”
“The day after tomorrow is the Ghost Festival, isn’t it? Go tell Mother that I wish to attend the Night Banquet in the palace.”
“This—”
Zhi Qin hesitated, knowing full well that Madam would never agree.
After all, Young Master Gu would certainly attend that Night Banquet.
“Tell her,” Xia Mudan said softly, “that I only wish to see him one last time. After this, I will never see him again.”
“…Yes.”
——
The fifteenth day of the seventh month, Ghost Festival.
Early in the morning, Chen Ming boarded Gu Haochuan’s carriage to head toward the imperial palace together.
“Still can’t contact them?”
Gu Haochuan’s face darkened. “Are Old Second and Old Third refusing to go, or has something happened to them?”
The messenger knelt on the ground, head lowered. “This subordinate does not know.”
“I’ll give you one day. If you can’t find the two of them, you need not return.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man withdrew from the carriage and hurried away.
Chen Ming sat to the side, eyes lowered, pretending not to have heard a thing.
After all—those two men were already buried by his own hands.
Gu Haochuan turned toward him, his expression softening into a friendly smile. “Today, do your best. As long as you can win a slot for our Gu Family in the Immortal Estate, I will keep every promise I made.”
Chen Ming said, “Uncle Fifth’s words—this nephew naturally trusts.”
“It seems you still harbor doubts,” Gu Haochuan chuckled. “Very well then. I, Gu Haochuan, swear upon the ancestral spirits of the Duke of Jingguo’s Residence—as long as you succeed, from this day forth, you will be the Gu Family’s Seventh Son. Except for the Duke’s title itself, all treatment shall be the same as Zhengshan’s.”
Chen Ming raised his head, half-smiling. “Can Fifth Uncle represent the Duke of Jingguo’s Residence?”
“Of course I can.”
“Then I accept.”
Given the current circumstances, refusal was not an option.
He would just play along for now—plans could be made after the Palace Night Banquet was over.
Chen Ming had many strategies in mind, but as for what kind of event this Night Banquet would truly be, he was still uncertain. He could only adapt as things unfolded.
Before long, they arrived at the imperial city.
——
The Imperial City of Great Jin had stood for over two thousand years, having endured three dynasties. Its grandeur was vast and magnificent.
As soon as Chen Ming entered the capital, he felt a reverence rising instinctively within him.
This was the might of Heaven!
According to the old Daoist, this city condensed the human race’s accumulated fortune and wisdom of ten thousand years.
It was said that beneath this imperial city dwelled a living true dragon over two thousand years old—a divine beast guarding the nation. As long as that dragon existed, the city would never fall.
Thus, what people sensed upon entering the city was none other than the dragon’s majestic aura.
Chen Ming found a loophole in that tale.
If that dragon truly were so powerful, how could dynasties have changed twice already in these two thousand years?
The imperial city was enormous, and the Palace Night Banquet was held in the Qianyuan Hall.
This time, hundreds of noble families attended—several thousand guests in total.
Those qualified to attend were at least of marquis rank or above, or current third-rank officials of the court, or else individuals granted special imperial invitations.
For example—the Yu Family!
The same Yu Family to which Yu Haitang belonged, one of the Five Great Clans.
In this world, the five great surnames—called the Five Great Clans—had reigned supreme for millennia.
The rise and fall of dynasties had never shaken their foundations. Their heritage ran so deep that no other power could rival it.
For that reason, though the Yu Family was not ennobled, it still received an imperial invitation to the banquet.
Because of Yu Haitang, Chen Ming paid special attention to the Yu Family and listened to the surrounding discussions.
He also noted his greatest rivals—the three young masters who had made their names famous throughout the Capital in previous years.
Now, gossipers had grouped him with them, calling the four of them the Four Young Masters of the Capital—a rather tasteless title.
“Her Highness, the Princess Royal!”
“Greetings, Your Highness!”
While Chen Ming and Gu Zhengshan waited in a side hall, waves of greetings rose around them.
Looking up, they saw a woman in a bright yellow palace gown walking straight toward them. She stopped only when she reached Chen Ming.
He bowed. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
The Princess Royal asked, “How have you considered this palace’s proposal?”
Chen Ming gave a wry smile. “With Your Highness phrasing it that way, I truly don’t know how to respond.”
The Princess said softly, “Tonight—she also came.”
With that, she turned and left.
For a while, murmurs filled the side hall, speculating about the relationship between this Seventh Lang of the Gu Family and the Princess Royal.
Gu Zhengshan couldn’t help whispering, “What proposal was Her Highness referring to?”
Chen Ming transmitted his voice quietly, “Her Highness seeks to recruit me to her service.”
Gu Zhengshan nodded slightly, satisfied with his composure.
——
“Which one is Gu Qi?”
A booming voice rang out suddenly.
A burly man in shining silver armor strode in—over two meters tall, radiating overwhelming pressure. A chilling killing intent burned in his eyes.
Trouble.
Gu Zhengshan frowned and whispered, “That’s Wang Jinh虎 of the Wang Family—domineering by nature. Be careful.”
Wang Jinh虎 was among the top three of the Capital’s younger generation.
Not yet thirty, yet already a second-grade expert.
And the Wang Family was no less prestigious than the Gu Family.
As his words fell, all eyes in the hall turned toward Chen Ming.
Chen Ming rose to his feet, meeting that fierce gaze head-on. “That would be me. May I ask what business Brother Wang has with me?”