"Report! Old Master Xu, envoys from the palace have arrived!"
The banquet had just begun when a servant of the Xu Family rushed in with urgent news.
Old Master Xu, supporting his elderly wife, stepped forward to greet the guests.
Before them stood several clean-shaven, slender men.
At first sight, Old Master Xu laughed heartily.
"I wondered why the magpies on the trees have been chirping all day—it turns out we have distinguished guests arriving! Hahaha!"
The man at the front gave a slight bow, which Old Master Xu quickly gestured to stop.
"Hahaha! Knowing there’d be fine wine today, I specially requested this honorable task from my master."
Old Madam Xu understood this was her daughter honoring her, and tears welled up at the thought of the long-unseen loved one.
The attending daughters-in-law consoled her, "Mother, the noble lady surely misses you dearly. Please don’t cry."
Dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief, Old Madam Xu asked, "How has the noble lady in the palace been lately?"
Fuquan bowed toward the east with a ceremonial salute.
"Today is Old Madam Xu’s grand birthday, and the noble lady in the palace is deeply concerned. She specially selected gifts and ordered us to deliver her heartfelt wishes. She also said you must take good care of your health, for next year she hopes to bring the young master to visit you."
Fuquan’s words brought both surprise and joy to Old Madam Xu.
Her precious grandchild—could she really see him?
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
Old Master Xu, too, was moved to tears, repeating the word several times, wishing next year would come sooner.
"Announce the gifts!"
At Fuquan’s signal, the eunuchs presented the offerings.
"One millennium-old ginseng."
"A pair of Seven-Treasure Ruyi scepters."
"A golden statue of the Buddha."
...
Amidst the awed murmurs of the crowd, Xu Wei puffed out his chest with pride.
"There is also a painting. Old Madam, please take a look."
The old lady unrolled the scroll with trembling hands, while the younger generation craned their necks eagerly, not wanting to miss a moment they could later boast about.
"This... this is?"
Old Master Xu’s hands shook as he took in the childish brushstrokes and handwriting.
"This is the young master’s gift."
Lu Chao watched Old Master Xu tremble like a Parkinson’s patient and guessed this must be the Eighth Prince’s calligraphy. Given how emotional the old man was, he hoped he’d hold up for the rest of the day.
The palace’s birthday gifts elevated the banquet to its peak. Surrounded by flattering gazes, Xu Wei raised his head triumphantly, downing a cup of wine in one gulp and even licking his lips. Power truly was intoxicating.
After a few more drinks, the high-spirited young men grew even more excited, inviting everyone to the front courtyard to watch a soccer match.
Lu Chao followed the crowd to the field—originally a horse-racing track but now repurposed for soccer. He couldn’t help but admire the Xu Family’s extravagance; having a private racecourse was no small feat.
The match itself, however, was underwhelming. Lu Chao stifled a yawn. It was obvious the others were letting Xu Wei win—with his sluggish speed, if Lu Yuanyi were here, he’d have intercepted the ball long ago.
Old Madam Xu watched with delight, both proud and doting as she saw her grandson running sweat-drenched across the field. The guests played along, lavishing praise on Xu Wei, calling him a prodigy of both literature and martial arts, as if the God of Wisdom himself had descended. Their flattery sent Old Madam Xu into fits of laughter.
"Grandmother! Are you enjoying the match?"
"Very much! But you little monkey, reeking of sweat—go wash up quickly. Don’t go offending our guests tonight."
She poked Xu Wei’s forehead affectionately, her heart swelling with love for her handsome grandson.
Xu Wei was about to have servants escort his friends to the guest quarters when he spotted the demure Leng Yue.
"Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to stay in the courtyard?"
Leng Yue bowed slightly, exposing a slender, pale neck that sent a rush of heat through Xu Wei.
"Huang Li accidentally injured her leg, and the steward was short-handed, so he sent me as a replacement. Don’t worry, Young Master, I won’t go to the front courtyard."
Liu Yan smirked and nudged Xu Wei.
"They know their way around. Dismiss her—we wouldn’t want the guests disturbed."
"Very well."
Leng Yue cast a longing glance at Xu Wei before turning away.
"Brother Xu, go freshen up. We won’t wander off—plenty of time later! Hahaha!"
Xu Wei wasn’t annoyed. The memory of that wild night with Leng Yue still lingered—she might be older, but her trained allure was nothing short of mesmerizing.
"Enough nonsense. I’ll go wash up and join you all later."
