Chapter 567 - 465: I Really Want to Go Hang Out with Xiao Mo

Morning.

The crackle of firecrackers and the thunderous din of gongs and drums already echoed from the entrance of the Tushan Mansion.

"Oh, my! Lord City Lord, you’re here already! What brings you so early? The firecrackers have only just finished."

Seeing City Lord Ying Dayuan alight from his carriage, Butler Xiong hurried forward with a smile to greet him.

"Hahaha, I did promise Lady Tushan I would be the first to arrive," Ying Dayuan said, laughing. "How about it? Am I the first? No one arrived earlier than I did, I hope?"

"Indeed, indeed, you are the very first one. Please, come in, come in! My lady is already in the courtyard receiving guests."

Butler Xiong promptly instructed a Maid to lead City Lord Ying Dayuan into the mansion.

"Ah, Master Hu, welcome, welcome! Please, step inside. I hope you find the food at today’s banquet to your liking."

"Lady Yue, it’s been too long! You look as young and beautiful as ever. My lady has been wanting to invite you for tea."

"Old Master Long, please watch your step, careful now..."

"Oh! City Lord Huang! Heavens, I didn’t expect you to truly come! Your son has such a magnificent bearing!"

After Ying Dayuan’s arrival at the Tushan Mansion, more and more carriages began to pull up before its gates.

Dignitaries and nobles from Xianhu City, and even some Sect Leaders and City Lords from other demon cities, all began to arrive.

Butler Xiong was constantly bowing, hardly ever straightening his back, and the smile never left his face.

Moreover, many of the City Lords from independent demon cities and the Sect Leaders brought their children and most favored disciples with them.

These youths were as young as five, and none were older than ten.

Having managed the Tushan Mansion for a thousand years, Butler Xiong naturally understood their true intentions. While they were certainly here to celebrate his young miss’s birthday, he suspected they were actually hoping to arrange a childhood betrothal.

In less than an hour, as guest after guest arrived, the Tushan Mansion had become thoroughly bustling with excitement.

Lady Tushan stood in the courtyard with her daughter, welcoming the guests.

Tushan Jing Ci offered one sweet greeting after another. "Hello, Uncle Ying!" "Aunty Hu, you’re so beautiful!" "It’s good to see you, Grandpa Bei. Jing Ci has missed you!" Her little mouth was impossibly sweet.

Even when faced with adults she had never met, Tushan Jing Ci greeted them with enthusiasm.

Tushan Jing Ci was already a budding beauty, and a member of the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox clan besides, making it impossible for anyone who saw her not to feel a genuine fondness for her.

So the more these elders looked at Tushan Jing Ci, the more they doted on her. Every single one of them was charmed by her into beaming with delight.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Just as all the guests were enjoying their conversations, Butler Xiong’s voice echoed into the mansion.

Soon after, Chen Bing, the Sovereign of the Celestial Demon Country, walked into the courtyard, accompanied by his eldest son and two Imperial Palace Honored Guest Elders.

"We, your subjects, respectfully welcome Your Majesty."

In the courtyard, all who were officials and citizens of the Celestial Demon Country rose to their feet to welcome their Sovereign.

"Hahaha, at ease, at ease. Today, I am just like everyone else—a common guest here to celebrate Miss Tushan’s birthday. Please, don’t let my presence make you all uncomfortable."

Chen Bing said with a smile, appearing extremely approachable.

"Tushan Xinhua of the Tushan Clan pays her respects to Your Majesty."

Tushan Xinhua curtsied.

"Jing Ci greets Uncle Emperor," Tushan Jing Ci also said with a sweet curtsy.

"It is a pleasure to see you, Lady Tushan."

Even though he was the Emperor, Chen Bing still politely returned the bow to Tushan Xinhua.

After all, not only was the Lady Tushan before him a Great Demon of the Immortal Realm, but her noble bloodline was on par with that of the True Dragon and Phoenix clans.

Her father-in-law alone was someone to whom Chen Bing himself would have to respectfully serve tea.

"So this is Miss Tushan? She is truly beautiful. As expected of the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox clan; every woman is a peerless beauty."

As he spoke, Chen Bing turned to his eldest son beside him.

"Chen Jue, you and Miss Tushan are of a similar age. You should play together in the future and grow close."

"I understand, Father Emperor." The seven-year-old boy named Chen Jue nodded, his eyes on the little girl before him, who was only two years younger than he was.

Seeing him looking at her, Tushan Jing Ci simply returned a polite smile.

But soon, Tushan Jing Ci’s gaze couldn’t help but drift toward the kitchen courtyard.

’When will this birthday banquet ever end?’

Tushan Jing Ci grumbled inwardly.

’I really want to go play with Xiao Mo.’

’Besides, Xiao Mo said he has a present for me.’

’But I didn’t catch any fish last night. What am I going to do...?’

"Your Majesty and Your Highness the Eldest Prince, please take your seats. We can only offer simple fare, but I hope Your Majesty will not find it lacking."

Tushan Xinhua invited them to be seated.

"You are too kind, Lady Tushan. Please, continue with your duties; there is no need to trouble yourself over me."

Chen Bing nodded and followed a Maid to his seat.

"A gift from the Sovereign of the Wanyao Kingdom!"

"A gift from the Sovereign of the Liuyun Kingdom!"

"A gift from the Sect Leader of the Thunder Beast Sect!"

However, not long after the Sovereign of the Celestial Demon Country had taken his seat,

many more Sovereigns of other Demon Countries and Sect Leaders arrived for the birthday banquet.

Listening to Butler Xiong announce one name after another,

although Chen Bing, the Sovereign of the Celestial Demon Country, had long anticipated this situation, he couldn’t help but frown.

"Jue’er, what do you think? Is that little girl, Tushan Jing Ci, pretty?" Chen Bing asked his son, schooling his expression.

"Mm, yes, she’s pretty, Father Emperor..."

Chen Jue nodded, unable to resist stealing another glance at the little girl who was two years his junior.

A child like Chen Jue didn’t understand the complexities of romance.

But he did think that the little girl was even prettier than a porcelain doll.

"Hehehe... In that case, I, your Father Emperor, will have to try my best... And you as well. You must make a good impression."

Chen Bing chuckled, but sighed inwardly.

’Arranging this childhood betrothal, it seems, won’t be so easy.’

"Father Emperor, I don’t understand. Why are you so polite to Lady Tushan? And why have so many Demon Countries and Sects come to offer gifts?"

Chen Jue was deeply confused.

It was the first time he had ever seen his Father Emperor be so deferential, and the first time he had seen so many Dynasties and Sects offer gifts. Even his own birthday celebration had never been so grand.

"You don’t understand?" Chen Bing shook his head. "You are still young, so it’s normal that you don’t. But you only need to know this: Tushan Jing Ci’s grandfather is someone our Celestial Demon Country must win over."

"Her grandfather?"

And just as Chen Jue’s confusion deepened,

Butler Xiong’s voice carried into the courtyard: "From Guli Mountain, Senior Gui has arrived!"

As the butler’s announcement faded, an old man leaning on a cane walked slowly into the courtyard.

"Grandpa..."

Seeing the old man, Tushan Jing Ci spread her arms and happily ran toward him.

The next moment, Chen Jue was pulled to his feet by his Father Emperor.

By the time Chen Jue processed what was happening, everyone in the Tushan Mansion—from Emperors and Sect Leaders to the young and the old—was bowing to the elderly man and chanting in unison:

"We juniors pay our respects to Senior Gui!"