Chapter 319: A Gift Worth Ten Thousand Gold
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
“Second Brother has been promoted, and Third Brother passed the imperial examination as a Xiucai…”
“With Chao Chao’s birthday approaching, we should celebrate together.”
“And in just two days, Mother is getting married. Our family is truly blessed with joyous events.” Lu Yan Shu’s eyes were filled with laughter.
Personally arranging Chao Chao’s birthday banquet and their mother’s wedding filled his heart with immeasurable happiness. Who would have thought, after being cast out from home, that such joyful days would arrive?
“Chao Chao, I heard you have a friend. Do you want to invite them to the feast?” Lu Yan Shu held onto the little bald-headed child.
Lu Chao Chao scratched her head. “What friend?”
“The one you fought with.” Though she often insulted the other, her tone carried an air of familiarity.
Lu Chao Chao froze, eyes widening in horror.
“No need to invite them! They are not my friend.” She shook her hands vehemently.
“Why invite them? No way! Hmph, I hate them! We’re enemies!”
“Every time I see them, I’ll beat them up!” Lu Chao Chao bared her teeth, growling fiercely.
“Mother has never met your friend. She’s quite curious about them. If there’s a chance, bring them over so the family can host them properly.” Lu Yan Shu pulled out a golden invitation, followed by a red wedding invitation.
“This is Chao Chao’s birthday invitation, and this is for Mother’s wedding.”
Lu Yan Shu suddenly sighed. “I just remembered, last time you two fought in the Desolate City. He’s probably not from the capital, right?”
“He’s… sort of from the capital,” Lu Chao Chao muttered, stuffing the invitation into her robes without saying whether she’d send it or not.
After Lu Yan Shu left, Lu Chao Chao scoffed softly. “Invite them to my birthday banquet? Dream on! Stupid jerk!”
The Heavenly Dao was an elusive force, an omnipresent will, the supreme arbiter of the world.
It governed all things within the Three Realms, including the deities themselves.
Existing beyond the confines of the Three Realms, it imposed its laws upon the divine, reigning above them.
After her sacrificial offering, fragments of memory stirred within Lu Chao Chao. She had once come into contact with the Heavenly Dao.
But the memories remained vague, elusive.
Returning to the academy, she requested a leave of absence from her teacher before setting off to invite her little friends to her birthday banquet.
As for the invitation meant for the Heavenly Dao, she secretly tucked it beneath her pillow.
The next day.
The Emperor and Empress personally attended Lu Chao Chao’s third birthday banquet.
Not a single civil or military official dared to be absent. One by one, they presented their gifts, making Lu Chao Chao beam with delight.
Lu Yuan Ze, however, was stopped outside the gates.
Rong Che, basking in the joy of the occasion, had taken his place beside Chao Chao.
The gathering was filled with laughter and cheer. Guests toasted each other as merriment filled the air…
“Envoys from the Southern Kingdom have arrived!” came the loud proclamation from outside the gates.
The crowd instinctively turned their gaze toward the entrance.
Grand Tutor Xu lowered his eyes, lost in thought.
Nan Mu Bai’s lips held a polite smile, but a flicker of disdain flashed in his gaze. A bunch of country bumpkins. What grand things could they have possibly seen?
From within his robes, he carefully produced an ornate treasure box.
“Today, I, Mu Bai, present a special birthday gift to the princess,” he declared arrogantly, as the Northern Zhao officials watched in anticipation.
The Southern Kingdom was favored by the divine, a nation long revered.
The treasure box was covered in intricate mechanisms. With solemnity, Nan Mu Bai carefully unlocked it.
Inside, a single talisman lay in quiet repose.
“Mortals have fleeting lives, subjected to the inevitability of age, illness, and death. With this talisman, one can extend their lifespan,” Nan Mu Bai said proudly.
A Longevity Talisman—unique to the Southern Kingdom.
Nations venerated the Southern Kingdom for their ability to defy fate.
Even a small Longevity Talisman could grant a mortal an additional year of life!
Countless wealthy and powerful individuals spent fortunes just for a single day’s extension of life.
Even Nan Mu Bai himself had brought only three such talismans on this journey.
Yet, he failed to notice the peculiar expressions on the faces of the crowd. Some even looked at the talisman with outright disdain.
“Ah, so it’s just a Longevity Talisman…” Imperial Uncle Xiao murmured, sipping his wine indifferently.
Nan Mu Bai sensed something was amiss with the crowd’s reaction, but he couldn’t quite place what was wrong.
By now, Lu Yan Shu had stepped forward, accepting the talisman with a polite nod. “Many thanks to the Southern Kingdom’s envoy for this precious gift. Such treasures are unheard of and unseen before. You have broadened our horizons. Truly, the Southern Kingdom is worthy of its divine favor.”
“Would the envoy care for a cup of wine before departing? It possesses quite a unique effect…”
Nan Mu Bai shook his head. “Once we locate the princess’s aunt, we must return to the Southern Kingdom immediately.”
“We are accustomed to spirit wine in the South. Mortal beverages hold little allure for us.” His tone was dismissive, not sparing a second glance at the offer.
Lu Yan Shu blinked. “Each guest has been prepared a parting gift. His Highness may take it with him.”
Nan Mu Bai scoffed.
“A gift?”
“Do you think a prince of the Southern Kingdom would care for such things? Do we lack trinkets?” He turned away without sparing it a glance.
Ming Lang’s expression grew somewhat awkward.
“Apologies, Lord Lu. His Highness has never been skilled with words.” He attempted to smooth things over.
Lu Yan Shu merely waved a hand in indifference.
Gesturing to the attendants, he instructed, “Every guest has received this parting gift. It appears to be of some value. Please, Lord Ming, accept it. Perhaps it may be of some use to you…”
“A token from a fated individual to Chao Chao.”
Ming Lang accepted it absently, offering a sincere word of gratitude.
He was not one to covet luxury, and a banquet gift shared among many could hardly be considered extravagant.
They were divine attendants, accustomed to viewing mortals as different from themselves.
What mortals considered valuable was nothing but mundane trinkets to them.
Once the Southern Kingdom’s envoys departed, the officials of Northern Zhao couldn’t help but roll their eyes.
“The Southern Kingdom has always been so arrogant! Their noses are practically in the sky.”
“What can we do? They possess the ability to communicate with the divine. We still have to rely on them…”
Someone nudged the Sixth Prince. “With our Sixth Prince, what is there to fear?”
“If he summoned the gods once, he can summon them again! And he called forth our very own North Zhao’s Goddess!”
All eyes burned with anticipation as they turned to the Sixth Prince.
The drumstick in his hand suddenly lost all its appeal.
Emperor Xuan Ping shot him a cold glance. Useless thing. Always thinking about food.
“Have you gained any divine insight today?” the emperor asked, forcing a smile through his irritation.
The Sixth Prince hesitated, then pointed to the table. “She wants to try the crab-stuffed golden needle…”
The novel is very interesting. I would like to finish it