58: Chapter 58 The Banquet

The next morning, as the first light of dawn broke and the thin mist over the Imperial City had yet to disperse, Lin Qing walked alone toward the city's most prestigious establishment, Yanyu Tower.

He was still dressed in a simple set of azure robes, his sleeves untainted by a speck of dust, walking with a composed pace along the bluestone streets of the Imperial City.

Many recognized him as the young Prodigy who had reached the top of the hidden dragon list, their eyes filled with curiosity. Among them were the Crown Prince's spies watching from the shadows, who had already quietly turned away to report his movements to the East Palace immediately.

However, Lin Qing was completely indifferent to this. He had entered the Imperial City this time and hadn't moved against the Crown Prince immediately, not because he feared the Imperial Family, but because he didn't want his private grudge with the Crown Prince to trigger internal strife within the city and plunge the entire Great Xia into turmoil.

Yanyu Tower was located in a prosperous part of the Imperial City, built by the lake. Its upturned eaves were hidden in the mist, and the entire pavilion featured carved beams and painted rafters, exuding extreme elegance. It was the preferred gathering place for the city's nobility and top figures of the Jianghu.

Attendants inside the tower were already waiting. Seeing Lin Qing arrive, they immediately bowed and led the way, climbing the stairs to the highest point of Yanyu Tower—the Lingyun Pavilion.

The Lingyun Pavilion was the most premium private room in Yanyu Tower, a place difficult for ordinary people to enter even if they spent a fortune. Verdant green plants were placed in the corners, and a faint scent of sandalwood filled the air, intertwining with the rich, lingering aroma of tea, creating a refreshing and pleasant atmosphere.

A square pearwood table stood by the window, with celadon teacups arranged neatly upon it. The scalding tea sent up wisps of white steam, and the curling fragrance was heart-refreshing.

Lin Qing raised his hand and gently pushed open the wooden door of the Lingyun Pavilion. The Seventh Prince, who was sitting at the table, immediately stood up and walked quickly toward Lin Qing with a perfectly measured, gentle smile on his face:

“I have long heard of Young Hero Lin's great name. Seeing you today, you truly possess an extraordinary bearing and unparalleled grace.”

Lin Qing cupped his hands slightly toward the Seventh Prince, his tone flat yet not lacking in courtesy:

“Your Highness is too kind.”

“Young Hero Lin, please, take a seat. No need for formalities.”

The Seventh Prince quickly gestured and personally led Lin Qing to a seat.

As soon as Lin Qing sat down, a maid dressed in exquisite clothing brought over fine tea cakes and began brewing tea fresh in front of them. As boiling water was poured into the teacups, the fragrance of the tea grew even more intense.

After the maid withdrew, only the two of them remained in the Lingyun Pavilion. The Seventh Prince picked up his teacup, took a light sip, and then spoke slowly with a tone of deliberate closeness:

“Young Hero Lin, I heard recently that the Crown Prince sent people to invite you, yet they were arrogant and rude. I imagine you must feel extremely uncomfortable about it, right?”

Hearing this, Lin Qing did not respond. He merely picked up the celadon teacup before him with a calm expression and slowly drank the warm tea. His movements were composed and noncommittal.

Seeing this, the Seventh Prince instantly understood that Lin Qing had a direct personality and disliked beating around the bush. He immediately reined in the unnecessary pleasantries and probing, his tone becoming solemn and respectful:

“Young Hero Lin, I am different from the Crown Prince. He is narrow-minded and jealous of talent. Just because of your extraordinary talent, he wants to suppress you, even using your acquaintances as leverage.”

The Seventh Prince leaned forward slightly, his eyes sincere:

“If Young Hero Lin is willing to stand on my side and lend me a hand, I will naturally hold up a piece of the sky for you in this Imperial City in the future. I will intercept any forces under the Crown Prince's command that try to cause trouble for your friends.”

“I do not ask for much. I only hope that when the winds of change stir in Great Xia in the future, Young Hero Lin can lend me a bit of help at the critical moment.”

“When I enter the East Palace and ascend the throne as Emperor in the future, whether you wish to enter the imperial court and hold power, or hide away in the countryside to live a carefree life in the Jianghu, I will fulfill all your wishes. I will never break my word.”

Lin Qing, who had been silent and indifferent until now, finally set down his teacup and looked up at the Seventh Prince. His eyes were as calm as still water, but the first sentence he spoke caused the Seventh Prince's face to change instantly and his heart to tremble violently.

“I kill the Crown Prince, you handle the aftermath. Can you do it?”

A simple sentence without any preamble, yet it exploded like a thunderclap in the Lingyun Pavilion. Even the tea fragrance in the air seemed to freeze.

The Seventh Prince looked into Lin Qing's unquestionable eyes. Sitting in his chair, his fingertips tightened slightly as he remained silent for a long time. After a long while, he finally made up his mind, looked at Lin Qing, and nodded heavily.

“I can!”

Having received the Seventh Prince's promise, Lin Qing's expression remained unchanged. The two of them then began to discuss many subsequent details in low voices within the Lingyun Pavilion.

The most important point was the safety of those Lin Qing knew. He required the Seventh Prince to use his own forces to protect these people with all his might, ensuring they would not be implicated due to his conflict with the Crown Prince and the imperial court.

The Seventh Prince agreed to everything. The two hit it off immediately, and a conspiracy concerning the shift of power in the Imperial City and the life of the Crown Prince was quietly finalized within the tea-scented Lingyun Pavilion.

Two days later, it was still Yanyu Tower.

Yanyu Tower on this day was completely different from usual. The building was bustling with people, but the usual Jianghu martial artists were nowhere to be seen. Those entering and exiting were all descendants of the Imperial City's noble families dressed in brocade and fine silks. Each was brightly dressed, accompanied by servants, and their conversations were filled with the pleasantries and small talk of the elite.

Inside the pavilion, the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments were melodious and lingering. Dozens of graceful dancers in light dance attire performed in the center of the hall, their flowing sleeves fluttering. The surroundings were filled with delicacies, fine wine, and rare fruits, exuding an air of luxury and extravagance everywhere.

This banquet was the Crown Prince's invitation to Lin Qing, but the Crown Prince had invited more than just him. In addition to the descendants of the major families, several princes and princesses of Great Xia were also present.

The Seventh Prince, who had already received the news, also sat at the banquet, looking at everything with a calm expression, his gaze occasionally sweeping discreetly toward the entrance of Yanyu Tower.

Not long after, Lin Qing arrived alone and was led into the banquet hall by a servant at the door.

The servant led him straight to a seat at the very corner of the hall, a remote and simple spot that was completely out of place with the seats of the surrounding nobility.

Lin Qing walked to the seat as directed. His gaze shifted slightly, meeting the Seventh Prince's eyes not far away. Their eyes met for a moment before they both looked away.

Being led to the lowest seat did not anger Lin Qing. He sat down composedly and picked up his chopsticks, beginning to eat and drink slowly. During this time, he even asked the attendant for a serving of Mapo Tofu.

Many of the noble descendants around him showed surprise and looked over. They hadn't expected that this hidden dragon list Prodigy, who was famous throughout Great Xia, would actually have the heart to order food in such a neglected and humiliating setting—and that he would order such a common street dish. For a moment, whispers began to rise among the guests.

Not long after the banquet began, the hall suddenly went silent. Everyone stood up and looked toward the entrance—the Crown Prince had finally arrived.

The Crown Prince was dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe, his posture tall and straight, his face carrying a hint of arrogance. He exuded a high-and-mighty noble Aura. Following beside him, in addition to several eunuchs and palace maids, was a white-haired old man.

Although the old man was of advanced age, he was burly and stood tall. His breath was restrained, seemingly no different from an ordinary old man. However, when his cloudy eyes occasionally opened, a flash of sharp light would flicker through them, marking him as a hidden top-tier expert.

The Crown Prince stepped into the hall, his gaze sweeping over the people present, but he did not look at Lin Qing in the corner immediately. Instead, he composedly greeted the descendants of the major families, the princes, and the princesses, telling everyone to continue eating and drinking.

The banquet continued, the music and dancing did not stop, and cups were exchanged as the atmosphere of extravagance grew thicker. Everyone was tacitly waiting for the Crown Prince to speak. The atmosphere seemed lively, but in reality, undercurrents were surging.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food, the Crown Prince finally set down his wine cup and slowly raised his hand, gesturing for the music and dance to stop.

For a moment, the entire Yanyu Tower was silent. Everyone's gaze was focused on the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince's gaze slowly scanned the room, finally landing on Lin Qing in the corner. He spoke in a flat tone, his voice not loud but clearly reaching every corner of the hall:

“Recently, a young talent has emerged in our Great Xia, named Lin Qing. At such a young age, he reached the top of the hidden dragon list with peerless grace, suppressing countless veteran geniuses.”

As soon as these words were spoken, some who couldn't see the situation clearly looked over, their eyes filled with envy. They all thought the Crown Prince had hosted this banquet to publicly grant Lin Qing an exceptional reward and win over this young Prodigy with infinite potential. Some even began to secretly calculate how they should befriend Lin Qing in the future.

Seeing the crowd's reaction, a trace of imperceptible mockery curled at the corner of the Crown Prince's mouth. Then, his tone shifted, becoming arrogant and contemptuous as he said slowly:

“This Prince has heard of Young Hero Lin's deeds and cherishes his talent, unwilling to see such a talent buried in the Jianghu.”

“Today, this Prince shall bestow a heaven-sent Opportunity upon you here. I grant you an exceptional allowance to enter the East Palace and serve as my personal attendant. From now on, when I am at leisure, you shall stand by my side to prepare ink; when I feast, you shall pour my wine and hold my cup.”