novelden Chapter 202 The Imperial Preceptor's Birthday Banquet
Chapter 202 The Imperial Preceptor's Birthday Banquet
Time flies like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for Zhu Yao's birthday banquet.
The Imperial Preceptor's Residence, Flower Hall.
Zhu Yao sat in the head seat at the very top, listening to the insincere flattery from the people who came to offer their birthday wishes. She pretended to be humble, raising her delicate hand to cover her mouth and chuckled softly, but the smile in her eyes was impossible to hide.
To Zhu Yao's right, an extra seat had been set up, and those who noticed it wondered who this seat was reserved for!
It seems that everyone who is qualified to attend the banquet today has arrived, except for the Regent!
But surely it couldn't be the regent! After all, everyone knows that the Grand Preceptor and the Regent are at odds!
Zhu Yao naturally noticed everyone's expressions, but she didn't care. Instead, she kept glancing at the doorway with her eyes.
This birthday banquet was comparable to a state banquet, with almost all the important figures in attendance.
Even the Grand Tutor Cui, whom they had 'robbed' a few days ago, showed great respect by bringing his eldest daughter Cui Haitang and eldest son Cui Haiming to offer birthday wishes.
The two exchanged pleasantries, and at least on the surface, there was no trace of the unpleasantness that had arisen from the previous confrontation between the two groups.
About half an hour later, the banquet began.
The seat to Zhu Yao's right remained empty, and she felt a little disappointed. It seemed that Wushuang Pavilion wouldn't be coming! She had been thinking that if they had come, she could have discussed cooperation with them!
Even if the cooperation ultimately fails, she will still nominally bring them into her camp, since Zhu Yao is most adept at using public opinion pressure!
"Let's begin the banquet!" Zhu Yao's aged voice rang out, and Zhu Ke behind her quickly signaled the servants to bring out the dishes.
Those present were still a little unaccustomed to hearing Zhu Yao's voice, after all, she looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old in appearance and figure.
The dishes had just been served when Zhu Yao, the birthday celebrant, was about to say a few more words: "Today is my 150th birthday, thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a woman's voice coming from the direction of the door:
"Sorry, we from Wushuang Pavilion are late!"
The words were meant to be an apology, but the tone lacked any genuine remorse.
Then a woman dressed in a blue brocade dress with embroidered green and dark floral patterns strode in, stopped at the entrance of the flower hall, and casually cupped her hands in greeting to Zhu Yao at the head of the table.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Zhu Yao's expression shifted from displeasure to delight, and she instantly felt her hoarse voice clear up considerably.
"So you're a 'friend' from Wushuang Pavilion, haha! Please take a seat!"
She did not stand up while speaking, clearly wanting to place herself in a superior position, and even emphasized the word 'friend'.
Upon hearing that the newcomer was from the Peerless Pavilion, the people below looked at Zhu Yao with shock. If the Peerless Pavilion and the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion joined forces, the Regent would probably be left to fend for himself!
Is the sky over Nanli about to change?
However, Ugly Two, dressed in a blue brocade robe, did not reply or take his seat immediately. Instead, he turned and looked out the door.
Zhu Yao felt a little embarrassed.
After a while, several figures slowly approached from a distance. Everyone present, including Zhu Yao, wondered: Who else is coming?
Only when they got closer could they see clearly—
The group of people were dressed in various styles, and each of them looked like an outstanding individual, but one woman in purple stood out the most:
She was tall and slender with a curvaceous figure, wearing a purple brocade robe with red and gold embroidery. A blue longsword was tucked into her left waist, and she gently tapped it with her left hand on the hilt, her posture relaxed.
She wore a purple mask with gold patterns, which only covered the area around her eyes, revealing half of her delicate face and a pair of cold, captivating eyes beneath the mask; her black hair was loose and unadorned, and she exuded nobility and aloofness!
Everyone's attention was drawn to her. Although they couldn't see her in full, they all agreed that she must be a beauty.
Before anyone could react, they heard Chou Er respectfully bow to her and say, "Sect Master."
In an instant, the entire flower hall fell into a deathly silence.
Zhu Yao was stunned, but it wasn't entirely because of the title "Pavilion Master". It was also because the woman in purple's eyes seemed familiar to her and sent a chill down her spine!
But Zhu Yao was an old hand at this, and she quickly came to her senses. She stood up and said warmly, "So you are the Pavilion Master of Wushuang Pavilion. I am sorry for not greeting you properly!"
The woman in purple—Lin Shu looked in the direction of the unpleasant voice and saw a beautiful woman of about seventeen or eighteen years old, supported by a maid, standing up with a rattan cane, trying to give her a smile.
Is this Zhu Yao, the Grand Preceptor of the Southern Li Kingdom, who can live to be 150 years old? Legend has it that she is a goddess who is ageless and immortal.
But for some reason, Lin Shu felt a sense of disgust from the moment she saw Zhu Yao, without any explanation!
So, Lin Shu carefully looked her up and down, finally fixing her gaze on her stiff face. She raised an eyebrow, but didn't answer, inwardly scoffing:
[Plastic surgery? But living to such an old age is quite an achievement. I wonder what method they used—organ transplant or something like a magical spring that helped them…]
Thinking about it, Lin Shu also shifted her gaze to the rattan cane in Zhu Yao's hand, feeling that this thing was somehow tied to her!
It has to be said, Lin Shu is getting close to the truth!
Zhu Yao noticed that Lin Shu first looked her over and then at the cane in her hand. The knowing look in Lin Shu's eyes made Zhu Yao feel completely exposed in front of her, and she couldn't help but tighten her grip on the cane.
Immediately afterward, Zhu Yao disregarded Lin Shu's disrespectful neglect and forced a smile, saying, "Sect Leader, please take your seat!"
Lin Shu had already withdrawn her gaze. Upon hearing this, she simply raised her chin slightly and nodded at the other person before leading her to her seat. As she walked, the sword tassel swayed, adding an indescribable charm to her appearance!
After taking his seat, he immediately unfastened the long sword from his waist and slammed it onto the table in front of him with a 'smack'. His attitude was quite arrogant and haughty, but no one dared to utter a sound to stop him.
Zhu Yao's eyes darkened, but she quickly concealed it. Turning to Zhu Ke behind her, she said veiledly, "Are you blind? Why isn't the food served yet? Can't you see everyone has taken their seats? You ill-mannered thing!"
Lin Shu acted as if she hadn't heard anything. In reality, she was thinking about who Zhu Yao was. The closer she sat down, the stronger the disgust she felt towards this person became, while at the same time, she also had a sense of familiarity!
Just then, a deep, mocking male voice came from outside the door:
"Oh! It's so lively! Why didn't you invite me to join in the fun?"
Before the people arrive, the sound comes first.
As soon as the words fell, Regent Nangong Jin, wearing a pear blossom iron mask and a crimson brocade robe with his chest exposed, arrived uninvited with several people.
No one expected Nangong Jin to come. By the time they realized what was happening, they were all kneeling on the ground, especially those who were in the same camp as the Regent, who were already sweating profusely.
"Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Regent! Long live the Prince!"
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