Chapter 102 (1/2)

“Thank you, Young Master Han, for your kind understanding.”

The guards began to employ their mystic arts to search. After some time, they nodded and smiled. “This way please, Young Master Han.” Xiao Chen nodded and strode into the grand hall.

The Divine Archean Zither was really just a zither string from the Fuxi Zither. Naturally, he could hide it in the Nine-heaven Jade Pendant. When the two guards saw no divine zither in his Divine Vessel, they let him in.

Liu Fenghuang had almost completely recovered from her injury. She sat beside Liu Yunzheng. Xiao Chen did not see Luo Shangyan. He walked over to the Teal Jade Sect disciples and paid his respect to Liu Yunzheng. “Master.” This might be the last time he addressed him thus.

Liu Yunzheng nodded, smiled and made him sit. After some time, the other sects started to enter and take their places. Finally, Yu Wenji and his Empress, together with Princess Xuanyue, strolled in. Only the Third Prince, Yu Wenmu, was missing.

The banquet lasted for nearly two hours. The sovereign enjoyed himself with his subordinates. They toasted one another and mingled merrily. 12 ravishing dancers graced the center of the hall. They were not only gorgeous to behold, their dance postures were entrancing, carrying on their bodies a faint, refreshing scent which invigorated the senses. Many young disciples were bewitched. They wanted to edge forward to take in their scent.

During these two hours, Yu Wenji did not mention Xiao Chen’s request at all. Finally, two persons walked into the hall. It was the Third Prince, Yu Wenmu, accompanied by Luo Shangyan.

The grand hall quietened down at once. The 12 dancers retreated to one side. Liu Yunzheng’s face began to change color slightly. Luo Shangyan cast a glance at Xiao Chen. She did not look for long, but turned her glance elsewhere instead.

Yu Wenmu beamed with happiness. He raised a wine goblet and smiled at the company in the hall. “After tonight’s banquet, I hope that the Sect Leaders can stay to attend my wedding with Miss Luo three days later.” Then, he downed the wine.

The atmosphere in the entire hall froze. Yu Wenji and Princess Xuanyue blanched slightly as well. They knew that he tended to go to the extremes, but did not expect him to do this in Xiao Chen’s face. He had totally embarrassed Xiao Chen and was forcing him to revolt.

When the company finally came to themselves, they all raised their goblets to congratulate him. “Our congratulations to Your Highness, over your marriage with Miss Luo! We wish you two external bliss!”

The Teal Jade Sect members too stood up, all except Xiao Chen. Liu Yunzheng kept motioning him with his eyes. “Han Chen!”

Xiao Chen pretended not to hear. He ignored the company holding up their goblets. All at once, everyone’s eyes were upon him. They heard him say quietly, “I’d rather not take the wine.”

The atmosphere turned even more tense. Yu Wenji looked ghastly and embarassed, while Xuanyue said quietly, “Young Master Han, you have rendered us great service at the Immortals League Competition. I have discussed with His Majesty. We will make you a marquis in three days’ time. You will have a city as a gift.”

Ennobled as a marquis and receiving land as a gift! This was such a lavish honor. In other words, decades and even centuries later, there would be another aristocratic family in the land, the Hans. The others were all green with envy.

Xiao Chen smiled lightly. “I am just a rustic commoner. I do not deserve such great honors. Has Princess Xuanyue forgotten her promise the other day?” As he said this, he cast a nonchalant glance at her.

Xuanyue did say that he could inform her about which noble lady he had fallen for. She did this merely to win him over. Right now, she really wished that he had fallen for some noblemen’s daughter. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so!

“A gentle and graceful maiden will always be courted by gentlemen. Young Master Han is still young. I can understand. But Miss Luo knew my third brother before you. Surely, you can’t be so unreasonable, Young Master Han?”

Xiao Chen gave a loud snicker. Luo Shangyan immediately cast a glance at him and shook her head. She was advising him not to speak. Xiao Chen ignored her. “Unreasonable? He forced her to marry him the moment they met. Was this reasonable? Ho ho! Besides, what made Princess Xuanyue so sure that Miss Luo hadn’t known me first?”

“Enough!” A cold voice rang out. Yu Wenmu could endure no more. He glared madly at him. “You had merely won at the Immortals League Competition. You think you are someone great? Do you think that without you, Han Chen, our state cannot survive?”

Xiao Chen’s mind began to replay the scenes when he sneaked into Luo Shangyan’s room. The helplessness in her eyes, the grievance. And her words, “What can you give me instead… ”