In the study of the Cold King’s manor, Jun Mohan sat.
"Your Highness, the guests invited to this birthday banquet have, for the most part, arrived."
"The Bei Chen Kingdom's delegation is led by the Third Prince, Mu Rong Li Chen. I have arranged for them to stay at an inn. The Nan Zhao Kingdom's delegation, led by King Ji and his wife, along with Prince Kang, has also been accommodated at an inn. However, I’ve heard that the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet will also be attended by Xie Yi Chuan, the heir of a reclusive family from five hundred years ago, and the Venerable Master of the Crimson Moon Tower. But, I have yet to ascertain their arrival in the capital."
Yin Chen stood before Jun Mohan, reporting respectfully.
"You do not need to concern yourself with these individuals," Jun Mohan replied indifferently.
"Yes, subordinate understands!" Yin Chen responded hastily.
...
At this moment, a discreet carriage entered the capital's city gates. Seated inside was a man dressed in an ice-blue, belted, wide-sleeved brocade robe.
His face was as exquisitely handsome as if carved by a master sculptor. Beneath his chiseled, sharp eyebrows lay a pair of narrow, phoenix-like eyes with pupils as deep as ink. His gaze possessed an invisible allure, capable of drawing one in with a single look.
His three thousand raven-black locks were neatly tied atop his head with a superior quality white jade hairpin. He held a folding fan adorned with a plum blossom pattern, exuding an aura of gentle refinement.
This man in the carriage was Xie Yi Chuan, the heir of the reclusive family from five hundred years ago.
"Young Master, the capital is truly lively!"
His subordinate, driving the carriage, exclaimed loudly.
"Mo Yi, the capital is the most prosperous city among the three kingdoms, so it's naturally bustling," the man replied with a smile at his subordinate's words. He then lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.
"Hehe! Young Master, shall we stop the carriage and stroll through the streets?" Mo Yi asked with a smile.
"No, let's find an inn to settle into first," Xie Yi Chuan gently refused.
"Yes, Young Master!" Mo Yi responded respectfully.
Before long, Mo Yi drove the carriage to a low-key inn in the capital and stopped.
"Young Master, everyone else stays at grand inns. Why did you choose such a small one?" Mo Yi asked, full of confusion.
"Your Young Master prefers quiet. Large inns are too noisy with many people, not suitable for me," Xie Yi Chuan explained simply.
"That's true!" Mo Yi smiled and scratched his head, appearing somewhat simple-minded.
"Let's go, let's get off quickly and go inside. Otherwise, we might not even find a place to stay in this small inn soon."
Xie Yi Chuan quickly closed his folding fan, tapped Mo Yi’s head, and nimbly jumped off the carriage.
After the tap, Mo Yi rubbed his sore head and pouted aggrievedly before replying, "Yes, Young Master. I will go and park the carriage immediately."
With that, Mo Yi immediately drove the carriage into the carriage shed next to the inn.
A moment later, Xie Yi Chuan, with Mo Yi following, entered the small inn.
The innkeeper, who was busy serving guests, saw Xie Yi Chuan and immediately put down his work, walking over with a smile.
"Young Master, you arrived in the capital and didn't inform me in advance, so I could welcome you at the city gates." The innkeeper said to Xie Yi Chuan with a face full of smiles.
"Uncle Feng, there’s no need for such fuss. We are not children; we can find our way here," Xie Yi Chuan said very courteously.
As they were talking, Mo Yi, standing beside them, was scrutinizing Uncle Feng. His Young Master knew this middle-aged man, yet he had no recollection of him.
Uncle Feng, Uncle Feng. Mo Yi searched his memory diligently.
Suddenly, his eyes gleamed.
"Oh, so Shi Qing Feng, who often writes letters to Young Master, is you? You are Uncle Feng!" Mo Yi exclaimed, suddenly enlightened.
"Haha, Mo Yi, you rascal, you’ve grown so big," the innkeeper said, clapping Mo Yi heartily on the shoulder.
"Uncle Feng, you know me?" Mo Yi asked, scratching his head.
"You rascal, I even held you when you were a child. You even peed on me that time," Shi Qing Feng chuckled.
Upon hearing Uncle Feng's words, Mo Yi's face instantly turned red.
"Uncle Feng, why would you bring that up?"
"Hahaha..."
After he spoke, Shi Qing Feng and Xie Yi Chuan burst into laughter.
After their laughter subsided, Shi Qing Feng respectfully said, "Young Master, I have already prepared a superior room for you. Please follow me to the third floor."
"Alright, thank you for your trouble, Uncle Feng," Xie Yi Chuan said with a smile.
Thus, Shi Qing Feng led Xie Yi Chuan and his servant to the superior rooms on the third floor.
"Uncle Feng, have the birthday gifts I prepared for the Empress Dowager been found?" Xie Yi Chuan suddenly asked.
"Young Master, subordinate has made all the arrangements," Shi Qing Feng replied with a smile.
Xie Yi Chuan nodded with satisfaction.
"Shall I bring out the gifts for Young Master to review?" Shi Qing Feng then asked.
"Uncle Feng, no need. I trust your work," Xie Yi Chuan immediately declined Shi Qing Feng's offer.
However, Xie Yi Chuan's words deeply moved Shi Qing Feng, making him even more devoted to serving Xie Yi Chuan.
"Uncle Feng, please tell me about the events that have transpired in the capital over the past few years. I wish to understand," Xie Yi Chuan said, gesturing to a stool opposite him for Shi Qing Feng to sit.
"Very well."
Shi Qing Feng said, his face still adorned with a smile.
Subsequently, Shi Qing Feng recounted all the significant events that had occurred in the capital of Tian Wu over the past few years to Xie Yi Chuan in detail.
"You just mentioned that the foolish and addled eldest daughter of General Leng’s manor disappeared for a few days, and upon returning, she became an intelligent, highly skilled divine healer?" Xie Yi Chuan said, astonished.
He found such a thing truly incredible, unless the eldest daughter of the Leng family had been faking it all these years, or perhaps the current eldest daughter of the Leng family was a substitute.
"Yes. However, the current eldest daughter of the Leng family is now the Cold King's consort," Shi Qing Feng replied earnestly.
"This matter is truly too bizarre," Xie Yi Chuan said sternly.
"Indeed. At the time, subordinate also felt something was amiss. Out of curiosity, I personally investigated the past of this eldest daughter of the Leng family. As it turned out, she is still the same eldest daughter as before, but her personality is the complete opposite of her demeanor before her disappearance."
Shi Qing Feng recounted to Xie Yi Chuan everything he had investigated about the eldest daughter of the Leng family.
"Alright, thank you, Uncle Feng. I am aware of this matter now. You may attend to your duties; I will rest for a while," Xie Yi Chuan said, a pleasant curve forming at the corner of his lips.
"Alright, alright, then subordinate shall not disturb your rest. Young Master, if you need anything, just call me." Shi Qing Feng chuckled, pulling Mo Yi, who was standing by, out of the room.
"Uncle Feng, why did you pull me out?" Mo Yi asked speechlessly.
"Young Master said he wants to rest. Why are you standing inside?" Shi Qing Feng raised his hand and tapped his head.
Mo Yi: "..."
Why did everyone like to tap his head?
Then, Mo Yi muttered softly, "But Young Master didn't ask me to leave either!"