Chapter 841: Great Foolishness Appears as Wisdom

Xianxia Novel Text / Chapter:

The second prince did not find the celestial herb capable of prolonging longevity in the East Sea.

Yet this did not hinder his grand design in the slightest.

Had he secured the celestial herb to extend his royal father’s days, his standing within the sovereign's heart would have soared, perhaps even eclipsing that of his eldest brother to see himself named heir apparent.

Even failing to find it mattered little; his royal father would still bear witness to his filial devotion, a shining merit when contrasted against the stagnant inaction of his eldest brother.

Furthermore, the journey to the East Sea was fraught with genuine peril; a mere ripple from the cataclysmic clash of the two immortals at the Dragon Palace could have cost him his life, and after enduring such treacherous straits, it was impossible for his royal father to remain unmoved.

Thus, whether the celestial herb was found was of secondary importance; what truly mattered was that he had made the journey to the East Sea.

Nevertheless, upon his return, a full year slipped away while his royal father's visage grew increasingly gaunt, yet the decree for the succession remained unissued, inevitably stoking the fires of his anxiety.

It was precisely at this juncture that Lu Yang arrived in the Imperial City, and leveraging their shared history from the East Sea, the prince found it entirely natural to invite Lu Yang to his residence to rekindle their bond, hoping to enlist his aid in ascending the throne.

Few were aware that beneath his noble facade, the second prince possessed a mind of meticulous calculation.

"Oh? The second child of the Jiang family wishes to invite this immortal over?" Upon receiving the invitation, the Immortal Fairy felt that the Imperial City was bustling indeed; invitations arrived daily, and aside from the Jiang family's second son, numerous scholars and poets had sent missives in quick succession, all begging her to compose poetry, though all had been declined in accordance with Lu Yang's wishes.

"Your Highness, you must address him as the Second Prince," Lu Yang reminded her gently, knowing that to call him the second child of the Jiang family to his face would surely invite a display of royal displeasure.

"Oh, very well then," the Immortal Fairy conceded, showing herself to be a reasonable sovereign who followed counsel readily, listening to whatever Lu Yang advised.

"Then let us pay a visit to the residence of the Jiang family's second child." The Immortal Fairy possessed a fondness for lively gatherings, and the invitation noted that the second child of the Jiang family would host a grand banquet in Lu Yang's honor.

"We should invite Old Meng along as well; he is well-versed in the affairs of the Imperial City, so we won't be left entirely in the dark when we arrive at the residence of the Jiang family's second... the Second Prince," Lu Yang remarked, nearly slipping into the Immortal Fairy's manner of speech.

When Meng Jingzhou learned that the second prince intended to feast Lu Yang, a slight frown creased his brow; knowing what he did of the prince, this banquet would likely be far from a simple meal.

However, since the immortal desired to attend, he dared not stand in the way, resolving that should any trouble arise, he would shield the immortal from the brunt of it.

On this occasion, Meng Jingzhou did not bring Meng Jingyu along, deeming such an environment ill-suited for her company.

The second prince’s banquet was set for three days later, and when the time arrived, the Immortal Fairy, flanked by Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou, made her way to the feast.

The second prince held Lu Yang in exceptionally high regard, personally waiting at the gates on the day of the banquet to welcome Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou.

Spying the two from afar, he trotted forward, a warm yet measured smile gracing his features as he clasped his hands in greeting, "My friends, a whole year has passed since our parting at the East Sea; I have missed you dearly."

Meng Jingzhou mirrored his smile perfectly, returning the gesture, "Your Highness is far too kind."

"Please, step inside."

"After you."

The second prince had called this gathering to wash away the dust of Lu Yang's travels, and with the guest of honor present, the banquet commenced seamlessly.

Perhaps fearing the gathering might lack vigor, the second prince had also invited numerous young lords; while Lu Yang recognized a small fraction of them, the vast majority were entirely unfamiliar, indicating that the young lords gathered by the prince were not all of his own generation.

As the trio took their seats, the second prince took the initiative to speak, "I had long heard of Daoist Lu Yang’s arrival in the Imperial City, but alas, I was consumed by official duties and lacked the leisure to host you. Today, I have finally carved out some time to welcome you properly, and I pray you take no offense."

"Daoist Lu Yang has truly stirred the waters of the Imperial City, not only besting every genius of your generation here but also composing a verse at the Lotus Pavilion that drew thunderous applause from the entire hall, earning high praise even from the grand scholars of the Hanlin Academy, who lauded its power to clarify the mind and reveal true nature."

"Come, let me introduce these gentlemen to you."

"This is Hong Guanshan, the grandson of the Minister of the Imperial Treasury."

"This is Kong De, the son of the Chief Secretary of the Grand Commandant's Office."

"And this is..."

The second prince introduced them one by one, while Hong Guanshan and the others wore smiles steeped in self-conceit, their lineages being the very source of their pride.

The Immortal Fairy merely offered polite nods; she harbored no interest in their backgrounds, and as for titles like the Minister of the Imperial Treasury, she had no inkling of what duties they actually performed.

Listening from the side, Meng Jingzhou’s expression shifted subtly; though the Immortal Fairy did not grasp the weight behind these names, he understood it perfectly.

These individuals touched upon every facet of the Great Xia—the military, finance, the security of the Imperial City, and more; if the second prince could command their loyalty, it would constitute an immensely formidable force.

This was the second prince's way of revealing to Lu Yang the depth of the support backing him.

Growing somewhat weary of the listing, the Immortal Fairy finally could not help but ask, "Why must you always mention their fathers and grandfathers when introducing them? Are they not famous in their own right?"

"Look at me; when I introduce myself, I merely say I am Lu Yang, and everyone knows who I am without needing to say anything else."

The moment those words fell, the smiles on the faces of Hong Guanshan and the others stiffened, struck precisely in their sorest spot.

With a single glance, she had spoken words that left them deeply shaken with guilt; such an ability to perceive the absolute truth was truly terrifying, making it no wonder that His Highness the second prince was striving so desperately to win Lu Yang to his side!

"Furthermore, whatever titles they possess has nothing to do with me, does it?" the Immortal Fairy inquired, genuinely perplexed; she cared nothing for their names, let alone the identities of their fathers or grandfathers.

It would be far better to finish the introductions quickly so the feast could truly begin.

The second prince's mind raced; he refused to believe that Lu Yang could fail to grasp the meaning behind his introductions, yet Lu Yang claimed to care nothing for their identities—was this a subtle declaration of his unwillingness to entangle himself in the struggle for the throne?

Seeing this, the second prince wisely ceased parading the factions behind him, steering the banquet forward in accordance with Lu Yang's implicit wish.

The proceedings of the feast flowed conventionally enough, with dancers providing entertainment amidst the clinking of cups and the merriment of wine.

Though the dancers moved with grace, they paled in comparison to the likes of Ye Mengyin, and when measured against the Immortal Fairy, they were unworthy even to hold her shoes; the Immortal Fairy herself held little interest in the dance.

"It would be far better if it were Zhu Tian performing."

The Immortal Fairy was not particularly fond of spirits; she recalled that the Immortal of Time had once used his own body to steep a jar of celestial wine, the aroma so piercing that even a cultivator of the Tribulation Transmutation Stage would grow dizzy upon a single breath, as if entering a celestial realm. Back then, the Qilin Immortal and the Nine-Fold Immortal had drunk straight from the jar and proceeded to act with wild, unseemly drunkenness.

The Immortal Fairy believed that as the foremost of the ten ancient beauties, she had to maintain her dignity and could not engage in such degrading behavior, which left her with a lasting aversion to alcohol.

"By the way, Little Yang, would you like to see the spectacle of the Qilin Immortal and the Nine-Fold Immortal throwing their drunken tantrums? This immortal still possesses a shadow-recording of it."

Hearing this, Lu Yang shook his head vigorously; looking upon such a thing was certain death for anyone, and he still wished to live a few years longer.

The second prince drank until he was thoroughly intoxicated, and using the alcohol as a shield, he drew close to Lu Yang to pour out his grievances.

"Daoist Lu Yang, my heart is heavy with bitterness."

"My royal father's time draws near, yet the succession remains undecided. My eldest brother claims to have no desire for the throne, but there is no familial affection within the royal house, so who can truly say

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"Then there are the fourth and fifth brothers; they claim with their lips to have no interest in the crown, yet in the shadows, every one of them is making preparations."

The second prince shook his head and sighed, his genuine emotions laid bare, "The winds and clouds of the Imperial City shift unpredictably; as an outsider, you see things most clearly, Daoist. Tell me, who in the end will seize the throne?"

The guests who had been drinking and making merry feigned their discussions, but in truth, every ear was strained to catch Lu Yang's reaction.

His Highness was using his drunkenness to lay his cards on the table, demanding to know whether Lu Yang would align himself with their faction.

Meng Jingzhou’s expression shifted slightly as he realized the gravity of the moment; if there was the slightest flaw in the answer, it might drag both the Meng Clan and the Daoist Sect into the succession conflict!

Yet the Meng Clan and the Daoist Sect had always maintained a position of strict neutrality, never meddling in the struggles for the throne!

Such a precedent could not be set!

Lu Yang realized this just as clearly; this was the true purpose behind the second prince’s invitation.

He was being forced to choose a side!

The response had to be crafted with absolute caution, leaving no loophole for the second prince to seize upon.

Just as Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were racking their brains for the proper reply, they saw the Immortal Fairy display a look of profound astonishment as she asked:

"So, whether someone becomes emperor is decided by my word alone?"

(End of Chapter)