Chapter Fifteen: The Lord Arrives
As dusk fell, the carriage arrived at the palace, and the rider alighted from the carriage in front of the palace gate.
Following the palace maids, we entered the venue for today's banquet. It wasn't a grand hall, but an open space within the palace grounds, connected to a garden in front, with a pond, pavilion, and gentle breeze, all accompanied by the fragrance of flowers, making it a truly delightful place.
It was warmer than the usual formal banquet, but without the slightest hint of neglect.
It's clear that a lot of thought went into the setup and location of this banquet.
All those who came this time were prominent figures in the demon realm. Amidst the swaying shadows of the flowers, their luxurious clothes and jewels shone brightly, rivaling the stars in the night sky.
This banquet didn't pay much attention to formalities, since these aristocratic families weren't important figures; they were merely there to add to the atmosphere.
"Your Highness." Liu Xinrong happened to see Yu Jinshuo and greeted him with a smile, "This banquet is truly elegant."
Liu Xinrong knew how to flatter; she mentioned nothing else but the elegance of the banquet. She flattered him without making him seem offensive.
Yu Jinshuo nodded without any further comment, but he didn't seem to dislike Liu Xinrong.
Liu Xinrong knew exactly when to advance and retreat. She exchanged a few innocuous words with Yu Jinshuo and then left without causing any further disturbance.
Back at his seat, he saw Liu Lanyan looking around, seemingly searching for something.
The banquet was indeed elegantly decorated, but don't forget, a palace is a palace after all, and no amount of elegance can hide its extravagance.
Therefore, everyone's attire was extremely solemn.
Compared to those elegantly dressed young ladies, Liu Lanyan's attire was much simpler.
Since she was attending a banquet at the royal palace, the clothes that Liu Xinrong specially sent were made of the finest materials; however, the style was... rather simple.
A simple light blue dress perfectly embodies the word "simple and unpretentious".
Her long, black hair was simply tied up with a pearl hairpin.
Her hair wasn't messy, but compared to the exquisite jewelry worn by other young ladies from noble families, it couldn't be described as simple; "shabby" would probably be a more fitting description.
"Sister Xinrong, where is the Lord?" Liu Lanyan looked around but couldn't find anyone who looked like the Lord.
“The most honored guest is the Lord, how could he possibly come now?” Liu Xinrong glanced at Liu Lanyan with disdain. She was indeed a silly girl who didn’t understand this.
"Oh, so that means we're lowly?" Liu Lanyan nodded in sudden realization, completely ignoring Liu Xinrong's sudden change in expression after hearing her words.
"You're the lowly one. Don't compare me to you!" Liu Xinrong growled angrily. If it weren't for the crowd around them, she would have slapped Liu Lanyan long ago.
"But didn't my sister come with me?" Liu Lanyan looked at Liu Xinrong with a puzzled expression, blinking innocently as if she was eager to find an answer.
This innocent expression made Liu Xinrong so angry that she couldn't speak. She cursed inwardly, "This idiot."
Then she thought, forget it, why should she argue with a fool? It would only lower her own status.
Liu Xinrong turned her face away in anger, ignoring Liu Lanyan. Talking to someone like that would only make her angry.
As she chatted with other scions of prominent families, Liu Xinrong was truly adept at navigating social situations, adapting perfectly to these interactions.
Furthermore, now that she is the daughter of the Grand Elder, she has gained even more support, and even those who do not want to talk to her will not disrespect her.
For a moment, Liu Lanyan and Liu Xinrong formed a stark contrast.
"Sister Lanyan." The familiar voice made Liu Lanyan turn her head to look at the man beside her. After seeing the familiar face, she smiled and said, "Young Master Su."
"Why are you sitting here all by yourself?" Su Hanhao smiled as he looked at the pretty woman in front of him. The simple light blue dress she wore looked more refreshing than shabby.
Unlike other young ladies from noble families who dress up like butterflies, this fresh and natural beauty is like a tender bud on a branch in spring, making her all the more endearing.
"Sister Xinrong is busy." Liu Lanyan smiled nonchalantly, showing no sign of restraint even amidst the bustling crowd. This composure made Su Hanhao laugh. "You can go over and get to know everyone too."
Liu Lanyan simply smiled and remained silent in response to Su Hanhao's suggestion.
Just as Su Hanhao was about to say something, a very respectful voice suddenly rang out: "Welcome, Your Majesty."
The people in the garden were startled and quickly stopped talking, turning around to respectfully bow to the Demon Lord.
The Demon Lord, dressed in a golden brocade robe and wearing a golden crown, walked steadily to the main seat, waved to the people below, and then everyone stood up.
The Demon Lord looked around and sat down in the main seat. However, the main seat had two large chairs, one of which was covered with soft cushions and noble beast fur, making it extremely comfortable.
The Demon Lord sat down, and all the young masters from the noble families returned to their seats, remaining unusually quiet and not daring to be presumptuous.
"My lord, everything is ready." Yu Jinshuo walked over and bowed.
The Demon Lord nodded, glanced around the room, and seeing that everyone who was supposed to be there had arrived, and showed sufficient respect to that person, he finally felt relieved.
With the Demon Lord satisfied, Yu Jinshuo stepped aside and returned to his seat.
For a moment, the garden fell into an eerie silence.
"Lanyan, the person coming soon will be the Venerable One. You must seize the opportunity and not miss this last chance. Whether Qin Xiu is happy or not depends on you," Liu Xinrong whispered in Liu Lanyan's ear.
"Yes." Liu Lanyan nodded obediently, then nervously asked, "When will the Lord arrive?"
"They say the banquet will begin at 7 PM, but..." Liu Xinrong chuckled, "Who is the Lord? How could such worldly rules possibly restrain him?"
How many people of status are punctual?
It was necessary to make others wait for a while in order to demonstrate her status. She had long been prepared for a long wait to attend this banquet.
"If you want to see the Lord, then you'd better wait." After saying that, Liu Xinrong stopped talking to Liu Lanyan.
Liu Lanyan was thus able to have some peace and quiet, and she lowered her head to hide the mocking smile in her eyes while drinking tea.
If you can't even keep your promises, how can you become a superior person?
If this lord relies on the waiting of the crowd to demonstrate her status, then all the things she prepared would be unnecessary.
Such a person is too weak.
As night fell, Liu Lanyan looked up at the sky. It was already 7 PM. It seemed... even the Venerable Lord was nothing special.
Just then, the servant at the door suddenly called out loudly, "Your Majesty has arrived."
Liu Lanyan narrowed her eyes. This Lord... seems... somewhat interesting.
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Chapter Sixteen: Your Inner Core
At that shout, everyone in the garden stood up, and Liu Lanyan turned her head to look over.
What exactly does that man, who is rumored to be a god in the demon realm, look like?
The night was cool and still. The legendary man, carried by the gentle breeze, drifted in from a sea of flowers.
The lonely moon hangs high, casting its unchanging, cold light, and fine silver powder falls like snowflakes.
A sea of flowers sways gently, their subtle fragrance wafting like a tide.
Dressed in pure white, spotless, she stood out vividly in the darkness, like a feather fallen into an inkwell, pure and ethereal.
The contrast is striking yet not jarring; the white figure stands apart from the darkness, yet seems to blend into it, creating an indescribable, ethereal beauty.
His exquisite white robe was embroidered with a dark silver pattern, with only slight embellishments at the collar and cuffs, and no other decorations. The faint dark silver pattern flowed like a clear spring, and with his steps, it seemed to ripple with silver light in the dark night, spreading out in circles, dazzling everyone's eyes.
Her long, jet-black hair, casually draped over her shoulders, was smoother than the most luxurious silk, cascading down her back like a waterfall without a trace of disorder.
A faint smile played on her lips, and warmth lingered in her eyes and brows. Her subtle smile was like a peach blossom in March, budding and ready to bloom, warming the heart.
With each light step, the fallen petals beneath my feet chased each other, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene, like a sea of flowers churning.
Everyone's breath seemed to freeze in that instant. The vast garden was completely silent, save for the sound of the night breeze and the rustling of the flowers.
Looking at the man with his handsome features and gentle demeanor, like a spring breeze in March, Liu Lanyan felt a sudden jolt in her heart for some reason.
Her eyes, seemingly as clear as spring water, revealed a chilling coldness like that of millennia-old ice, causing her heart to clench violently, as if gripped and kneaded by an invisible hand. The pain instantly shot through her entire body.
Liu Lanyan didn't know what was wrong with her; she had never felt this way before.
She was quite certain that this lord was not as gentle as he appeared. That gentleness was like the warmth of a spring breeze, but it contained an icy coldness that kept people at a distance.
Looking at those people in the garden bowing and respectfully bowing, probably no one would bother to examine his true face closely.
Whether it was her gaze that caught his attention or not, his cool gaze seemed to pierce through the crowd, cutting through the thick, inky night and shooting straight into her heart.
Such a cold gaze sent a chill down Liu Lanyan's spine.
What a hypocritical man.
Liu Lanyan sneered inwardly, suppressing the inexplicable pain surging in her heart. She lowered her eyes slightly and ignored the man.
A person of his stature would naturally attract everyone's attention, and it's only natural to look away when he notices you.
Therefore, when Liu Lanyan looked away, she didn't see the slight smile that flashed in the man's eyes. She walked directly to his seat without making a sound and sat down casually.
"Your Excellency." The Demon Lord sat down with a smile.
The man sank softly into the soft chair, sitting lazily; in fact, his current posture was more like half-lying down than sitting.
Such a posture lacked any of the solemnity expected of attending a royal banquet, as if she were at home.
The Demon Lord called out softly, not expecting a response, and said to himself, "Lord, everything is ready. Shall we take a look now?"
As he said these words, the Demon Lord was also uneasy, after all, he didn't know what this person was thinking. He was always unpredictable, and no one could figure out his temper.
The people below finally came to their senses after the Demon Lord spoke.
Especially those young ladies from noble families, after seeing the Lord's face, they were truly out of their wits.
Who would have thought that the demon god, who was rumored to be so divine, would actually be so gentle and handsome? Upon seeing him, one would be amazed.
Upon hearing the Demon Lord's words, the Demon God did not say anything, but casually glanced around and slightly raised the corners of his lips, remaining noncommittal.
As his gaze swept over them, the young ladies from noble families blushed, lowering their heads shyly. No matter how arrogant they were usually, they all transformed into demure young ladies, acting as if they were facing their beloved.
Seeing that the Demon God still did not speak, the Demon Lord pondered for a moment, wondering to himself, could it be that he was not satisfied with the arrangements for this banquet?
The Demon Lord glanced at Yu Jinshuo, who was standing below with his hands at his sides, and exchanged a silent glance with him.