What? He Actually Agreed?

Xiao Xuan sat in a chair, holding the cup of tea that had already gone cold.

Yao Ye sat across from him, her gaze fixed on his face as she waited for his answer.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Xiao Xuan set down his teacup.

"Fine."

Yao Ye froze for a moment.

"Young Master Xiao, what did you say?"

"I said fine," Xiao Xuan said. "I'll go."

A flash of delight crossed Yao Ye's eyes. She had not expected Xiao Xuan to agree.

Her grandfather had sent Yao Yue to invite him and been refused. When she came herself, she had not held much hope either.

But Xiao Xuan had agreed.

Yao Ye hurriedly rose and bowed to Xiao Xuan.

"Thank you for honoring us with your presence, Young Master Xiao."

"I'll return at once and tell Grandfather this good news."

Xiao Xuan nodded without speaking.

Yao Ye turned and left the room, her steps light. A maid saw her out through the main gate, and Yao Ye walked down the street with a smile on her face.

She quickened her pace toward the Imperial Palace.

Imperial Palace main hall.

Yao Yue sat on the steps, resting her chin in her hand as she watched the doorway. She had been waiting there for quite a while.

Her sister had gone to invite Xiao Xuan and still had not returned after so long.

Xiao Xuan definitely would not agree, Yao Yue thought to herself.

He was so arrogant that he did not even take her, a princess, seriously.

Her sister's trip would be for nothing too.

Yao Yue pursed her lips and was just about to stand up and stretch when—

Footsteps sounded outside the doors. Yao Ye walked in, and Yao Yue immediately went up to her.

"Big Sister, how did it go?"

Yao Ye looked at her without saying anything.

Seeing her expression, Yao Yue assumed Xiao Xuan had refused.

"I knew it."

"That Xiao Xuan is so full of himself. How could he possibly agree to Big Sister's invitation?"

"He doesn't even take me seriously, much less—"

"He agreed," Yao Ye interrupted.

Yao Yue's voice stopped abruptly.

She stared at her sister with wide eyes.

"What did you say?"

"He agreed," Yao Ye repeated.

Yao Yue was completely stunned, her mind going blank.

He agreed?

That Xiao Xuan, who had barely acknowledged her, had agreed to her sister's invitation?

An indescribable feeling surged in Yao Yue's heart, part grievance and part jealousy.

Why had he refused when she went, yet agreed when her sister went?

Yao Yue bit her lip, secretly feeling jealous.

"Big Sister, are you sure you didn't hear wrong?"

"He said it himself," Yao Ye said. "I heard him perfectly clearly."

Yao Yue had nothing to say.

Her lips were pushed out in a deep pout, and her eyes had even turned a little red.

Yao Ye looked at her.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Yao Yue turned away, unwilling to let her sister see her expression.

Yao Ye did not ask again and turned toward the depths of the main hall.

Jia Xingtian was seated in the place of honor, holding a book in his hands.

When he saw Yao Ye enter, he put the book down.

"How did it go?"

"Young Master Xiao agreed," Yao Ye said.

Jia Xingtian shot to his feet.

"Really?"

"Really," Yao Ye said. "He said it himself."

A smile appeared on Jia Xingtian's face.

He rose and paced back and forth through the hall several times.

"Good, good, good."

He said "good" three times in a row, unable to hide the excitement in his eyes.

Looking at him, Yao Ye could not help feeling emotional.

Her grandfather was a Dou Emperor, the ancestor of the Jia Ma Imperial Family. He was usually as steady as a mountain and rarely lost his composure like this.

It was clear just how much weight Xiao Xuan carried in her grandfather's heart.

Jia Xingtian stopped and turned to look at Yao Ye.

"When will he come?"

"No exact time was set," Yao Ye said. "But since he agreed, it should not be too long."

Jia Xingtian nodded.

"Guards!"

A guard entered from outside the hall.

"What are your orders, my lord?"

"Make preparations immediately," Jia Xingtian said. "Lay out a grand banquet and bring out the finest things in the palace."

The guard froze for a moment.

"Is there some happy occasion?"

"A distinguished guest is coming," Jia Xingtian said. "A guest of the highest importance."

The guard did not dare ask more. He acknowledged the order and withdrew.

Jia Xingtian summoned another guard.

"Send invitations to Master Gu He."

"And to the Misty Cloud Sect, President Fa Ma, and Teng Shan of the Mittel Family."

"Send invitations to all of them. Tell them the Imperial Family is holding a banquet and invites them to attend as companions."

The guard nodded and turned to leave.

Jia Xingtian stood in the center of the hall, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

Watching him, Yao Ye could not help speaking up.

"Grandfather, you invited so many people. Will Young Master Xiao be unhappy?"

Jia Xingtian waved his hand.

"He won't."

"Everyone I invited is a prominent figure in the Jia Ma Empire. This only shows how highly we value him."

Yao Ye thought it over and felt that her grandfather had a point, so she said nothing further.

Jia Xingtian turned to look at her.

"Ye'er."

"Yes."

"You deserve much credit for bringing Xiao Xuan here this time."

Yao Ye shook her head.

"It is because Grandfather carries such weight that Young Master Xiao was willing to come."

Jia Xingtian smiled and said nothing more.