Childhood Betrothal

Chu, the capital.

Due to the state banquet, the capital city was already at full capacity. The wide streets that could accommodate sixteen carriages side by side were now packed with pedestrians. It was difficult to walk, let alone carriages. People bumped into each other and occasionally Growl.

The shops on both sides were also packed with customers, who grabbed whatever they could find, regardless of whether they needed it or not. The shopkeepers didn't seem to mind, just quietly watching the customers take everything away, since King Chu Heng would pay for it all anyway.

The capital city is divided into inner and outer cities. The outer city is mostly inhabited by ordinary people, while the inner city is inhabited by cultivators or high-ranking officials.

Starting from the inner city gate, a wide street was lined with banquets in three rows, each laden with exquisite dishes, stretching all the way to the Chu Kingdom palace.

This is called the Splendor Banquet, which symbolizes that under the leadership of King Chu Heng, the Great Chu is as vibrant and beautiful as a lovely woman.

The Splendor Banquet consisted of 9,999 tables, symbolizing the supreme status of King Chu Heng.

These Splendor Banquet were prepared for high-ranking officials and famous figures from various countries; further into the inner city, one would reach the royal palace of the Chu Kingdom, where tables of banquets were also set up.

Further inside, you'll reach the Sovereign's Platform, the final venue for state banquets, where King Chu Heng entertained dignitaries from various countries.

On the Sovereign's Platform, a table carved with a five-clawed golden dragon is placed on it. To the right of the back table, there is another table, but the pattern carved on it is not a five-clawed golden dragon, but a Fenghuang.

From an aesthetic point of view, displaying just one of them would look somewhat out of place.

Below the Sovereign's Platform, on both sides, are tables arranged symmetrically, extending all the way to the end.

Apart from the few tables at the very front, the rest of the seats were already full.

Among these people were the Fourth Prince Chu Liuxiang and the Thirteenth Prince Chu Huaixiang.

The Fourth Prince, Chu Liuxiang, glanced around and said meaningfully, "It seems there are far fewer people at this year's state banquet!"

Chu Huaixiang glanced at them and said, "It's alright. Those who wanted to come have come, and there's no point in forcing those who didn't want to come."

Chu Liuxiang smiled, but before he could speak, a richly dressed man on the other side interjected, "Fourth Brother, I heard that the reason why there are fewer important figures at this year's state banquet is because of some kind of competition being held by a Mysterious Bookstore' in Dubian Town?"

"Nine Emperors, it's the Pokémon Championship," Chu Liuxiang corrected.

Upon hearing this, the Ninth Prince suddenly realized and said, "Yes, it's that Pokémon Championship. I heard someone mention it before, and it's said that Limitless Spirit Emperor missed this year's state banquet because of it."

"How can you speak such nonsense, Nine Emperors Limitless Spirit Emperor? As the mayor of Dubian Town and a high-ranking official in charge of the border region, it would be extremely inappropriate to have Limitless Spirit Emperor attend a state banquet at a time when Qin State is making trouble and Yan State is in turmoil," Chu Huaixiang said.

He wasn't showing favoritism towards Zhou Wuji speaking well of him; the main fact was that someone like Zhou Wuji, who was guarding a crucial border post, certainly couldn't afford to abandon his post under such circumstances.

The Nine Emperors curled his lip, looked at Chu Huaixiang, and teased, "Why is Thirteenth Brother still so hung up on Miss Zhou Clan?"

Chu Huaixiang frowned, looking at the Ninth Prince with displeasure.

Ten years ago, in order to win over Zhou Wuji, King Chu Heng wanted to arrange a marriage between Zhou Wuji. As the youngest of the princes Chu Huaixiang naturally became the best choice. At that time, Zhou Wuji neither objected nor agreed. This attitude naturally made King Chu Heng think that Zhou Wuji had agreed to the marriage. So he made an agreement with Zhou Wuji that when the Zhou Clan girl came of age, the Thirteenth Prince would marry her.

Later, Zhou Zhuling fell ill unexpectedly and was on the verge of death. Even the Medicine Saint Shaoyao was helpless. Under these circumstances, until Zhou Zhuling was nearly twenty years old, King Chu Heng did not mention the marriage, leading everyone to believe that King Chu Heng knew that Zhou Zhuling would not live long and therefore wanted to abandon the marriage.

Unexpectedly, things took a turn for the better, and Zhou Zhuling recovered from her illness. As a result, the marriage that happened ten years ago suddenly resurfaced during this period. Some people even believed that at this state banquet, King Chu Heng would definitely bring up the old matter again and arrange a marriage between him and Zhou Wuji.

Because Zhou Wuji's potential is too great, he has already reached the Spirit Emperor realm at a young age, and his future achievements will be no less than those of Saint Chu; if we can marry Zhou Wuji, then the national fortune of the Chu Kingdom can be preserved for at least another three thousand years.

However, at this crucial moment, Zhou Wuji's absence from the state banquet was quite significant, and many believed that Zhou Wuji intended to use this method to refuse King Chu Heng.

Although everything is currently just speculation, among these high-ranking figures, sometimes a single gesture or glance is enough for them to conjure up countless possibilities.

So Chu Huaixiang was in an awkward position, basically being seen as the one who had been abandoned, and this matter was occasionally brought up to disgust Chu Huaixiang.

Take now, for example.

"You don't need to worry about my affairs, Nine Emperors. You should be more concerned about yourself. I heard you failed the freshman selection at Nine Emperors Vast Academy. What a pity," Chu Huaixiang couldn't help but mock.

"You!" The Ninth Prince's face was flushed with anger as he was about to reprimand Chu Huaixiang.

The Fourth Prince, Chu Liuxiang, waved his hand and said, "Alright, what are you two arguing about? Today is a state banquet with many foreign guests. We represent the image of the entire Chu Kingdom, so watch your words and actions."

"Hmph!" The Ninth Prince and Chu Huaixiang both snorted coldly, turning their heads to the side and ignoring each other.

"By the way, Fourth Brother, is Father aware that the Mysterious Bookstore blatantly held an event during the state banquet?" The Ninth Prince suddenly remembered this and turned to ask.

Chu Liuxiang smiled slightly and said, "Of course I know."

"Then what does Father Emperor plan to do?" the Ninth Prince asked curiously.

Chu Huaixiang, who was standing nearby, also pricked up her ears to listen carefully.

Although they were all princes, only the First Prince and the Fourth Prince, Chu Liuxiang, were able to see King Chu Heng regularly.

In the hearts of the people of the Chu Kingdom today, the future ruler will basically be chosen from these two.

Chu Liuxiang glanced at the Sovereign's Platform, which remained empty, and said with a meaningful tone, "Haven't you noticed that this year there's only a small table on either side of the throne?"

Upon hearing this, the two looked up at the Sovereign's Platform and found that there was indeed only a Fenghuang- shaped table behind the throne.

In previous years, there should have been another one on the other side.

"Saint Chu has gone to Dubian Town!"