Banquet

Not long after Di Ming left, Meng Yuan, the Earl's Mansion steward, came to find Di Hong. By then, he held an invitation stamped with a gilded swan pattern.

"My lord, this was delivered by someone from the Crown Prince's Mansion."

"His Highness the Crown Prince invites you to attend a banquet tonight."

Di Hong, who had been about to begin cultivating, accepted the invitation from the steward. He waved his hand to dismiss him, and Meng Yuan bowed before leaving. Upon opening it, Di Hong saw that it had indeed been sent by Xue Ye. The invitation had even been written personally by Xue Ye.

"Does he value us that highly?"

As the Crown Prince, Xue Ye showed none of the usual lofty arrogance in the way he treated others. That alone was clear from this invitation—he was a very serious yet easygoing person.

He casually set the invitation aside and began considering the current situation.

Having only just arrived, he did not know much about Heaven Dou City's circumstances. He had been occupied with cultivation before and had not had the time to learn about them. Originally, he had thought that, at only twelve years old, there was no need for him to get involved in the Royal Family's internal struggles.

But now, it seemed that after the Silves Kingdom had chosen to stand on the Crown Prince's side, he had inevitably been dragged into it.

Thinking of the spies his Second Brother had mentioned at the mansion, Second Prince Xue Yu might strike against him at any time. As for whether the Silves Kingdom would rebel—if they truly dared to kill him, then they would naturally be prepared for Di Yuan to rebel as well.

In fact, Xue Yu might even be eager for the vassal kingdoms supporting Xue Ye to rebel.

If that happened, then even if the Old Emperor did not want to depose the Crown Prince, he would have no choice. The crime of colluding with foreign vassals to rebel was enough to leave Xue Ye dead without a burial place.

Di Ming returned that afternoon.

Di Hong told him about the Crown Prince's invitation to the banquet and asked what he thought. Anyone with eyes could see that this banquet was far from simple. Tomorrow was the day they would have an audience with the emperor, yet the Crown Prince was holding a banquet tonight.

It was clear just how anxious he was.

After reading the invitation Di Hong handed him, Di Ming carelessly tossed it aside.

"Since the Crown Prince invited us, then let's go. The food at the Crown Prince's Mansion will definitely be better than anything outside."

Then, he told Di Hong about what he had seen and heard outside.

"Fourth Brother, let Second Brother tell you something."

"This Heaven Dou City really is extraordinary. The beauties here are prettier than those anywhere else, and there are so many Spirit Masters too."

"I took a walk around, and it really opened my eyes. If not for my status, I might have stayed here and never left."

Listening to his Second Brother vividly describe everything he had seen, Di Hong unexpectedly felt much more at ease. Di Ming was the leader of the delegation on this trip to Heaven Dou City, while he was merely accompanying them. After all, Xue Ye had personally written to ask him to come.

As for what might happen next, it seemed best to simply take things as they came. There was no need to worry so much. He refused to believe that anyone would dare assassinate him in Heaven Dou City.

That evening, the two brothers took a carriage to the Crown Prince's Mansion.

The Crown Prince's Mansion stood beside the Imperial City. Though it was called a mansion, it was actually part of the Imperial City, which was why it was also known as the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. The area outside was exceptionally lively. Many invited ministers had arrived, and there were even quite a few Spirit Masters present.

Despite being the Crown Prince, Xue Ye was personally standing at the entrance to welcome the guests.

When the carriage stopped outside the mansion, Di Hong looked at the people entering the Crown Prince's Mansion and could not help feeling puzzled.

"The Crown Prince is making such a grand display. Isn't he afraid the emperor will grow suspicious?"

This banquet was not merely attended by ministers. There were also many generals and Spirit Masters, and not a single one of those Spirit Masters had a Soul Power Level below Spirit King. Xue Ye was holding such a banquet so openly—was he certain the emperor would not mind?

Di Ming glanced over and said, "Why would the emperor be suspicious? It's obvious this banquet was approved by the Old Emperor."

"Look, that man is the Imperial Finance Minister, Xu Han. He's a supporter of Second Prince Xue Yu."

Di Hong froze, his face filled with surprise. A supporter of the Second Prince had actually come to the Crown Prince's Mansion for a banquet. He could not quite make sense of it.

Had he switched sides at the last moment?

But that did not seem likely. Di Hong had deliberately observed him. Xu Han was not particularly warm toward the Crown Prince; he merely gave a simple bow before entering. Xue Ye was warm toward him as well, but it was clear that he treated him differently from certain others.

"Fourth Brother, you don't need to worry so much. Tonight, just eat and drink to your heart's content."

With that, he got out of the carriage.

Watching his Second Brother's retreating figure, Di Hong fell into thought. He had always been focused on cultivation, and his understanding of his biological Second Brother had been limited to the fact that he was a playboy. But now, it seemed that this Second Brother of his was no ordinary man.

Perhaps he was merely playing the fool to catch others off guard.

Of course, his talent in martial souls was definitely quite ordinary. That was something he could not fake.

But lacking cultivation talent did not mean one lacked other abilities. Just like Di Hong himself, aside from his talent for cultivation, he seemed to be good for nothing.

That was apparent from their arrival in Heaven Dou City. If he were asked to fight Spirit Masters, he would certainly have no problem. But if he were asked to deal with those nobles and handle such interpersonal relationships, he was not capable of it.

No wonder Di Ming had been a playboy for so many years without being disliked.

You really needed some ability to pull that off.

Shaking his head, he cleared those complicated thoughts from his mind and followed after him.

When Xue Ye, who was welcoming guests, saw the two of them, a brilliant smile immediately spread across his face.

Di Ming respectfully bowed.

"Di Ming, Second Prince of the Silves Kingdom, greets His Highness the Crown Prince."

"Di Hong, Fourth Prince of the Silves Kingdom, greets His Highness the Crown Prince."

Xue Ye raised both hands in a placating gesture. "No need for such formalities, you two. Tonight's banquet is simply for eating and drinking. Just treat each other like friends."

Then, he looked at Di Hong standing behind Di Ming.

"It's been six years, and Brother Di Hong has grown so tall."

"I remember when I met you six years ago, you were only this tall."

He raised a hand and gestured at his waist, a gentle smile always on his face. The way he looked at Di Hong was as though he were looking at his own younger brother—though his actual younger brother was currently competing with him for the throne.

Di Hong said, "I'm a Spirit Master, so I developed a little faster."

"That's true." Xue Ye nodded with a smile.

"You're quite famous now."

"A twelve-year-old Spirit King—everyone in Heaven Dou City knows about you."

"I really don't know how you cultivate. In just six short years, you've raised your Soul Power by more than forty ranks. I'm truly a little envious and jealous."

Though he claimed to be jealous, there was not the slightest trace of jealousy in his tone. Instead, he sounded deeply satisfied, leaving Di Hong somewhat baffled. Why did he feel as though Xue Ye was treating him like a son?

There really was quite a large age gap between them. Xue Ye looked very young now, but he was actually already middle-aged.

The age difference between him and Xue Ye really was somewhat like that between a father and son.