Chapter 757: Birthday Banquet 2

"Old Prince Feng." Elder Chen said with a chuckle, clasping his hands in greeting.

"Elder Chen, no need for such pleasantries. It’s quite a coincidence that our birthdays fall on the same day. Why don’t you come over to my celebration for a drink?" The more deserted he saw Elder Chen’s place, the more vindicated Old Prince Feng felt.

"No, thank you. My young disciples will be here soon." Mr. Chen was in no mood for pleasantries. "Your Highness is busy with your birthday celebration, you needn’t worry about me."

"Heh, very well. In that case, we..."

"Your Highness, your well-wishers are crowding the entrance. It won’t do for you not to show your face," his butler came over and said.

"Alright, alright, I’ll go right now." Old Prince Feng turned his head for another glance at the Immortal Sea Building. "Elder Chen, you don’t have many people here. You might as well celebrate with me. It would be livelier."

"Thank you, Your Highness, but there’s no need," said Elder Chen.

"In that case, I’ll be on my way. Elder Chen, we’ll speak again." Old Prince Feng stroked his beard and turned to walk toward the bustling doorway behind him.

"Wishing Prince Feng boundless fortune and a long life!"

A crowd of merchants surrounded him.

Old Prince Feng seemed to be showing off intentionally. The page announcing the gifts also shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice so loud it could be heard down the entire street.

The Shopkeeper of the Immortal Sea Building came out and shot a disgusted glance across the street. "So early in the morning... He’s sick in the head."

’Who comes to celebrate a birthday at the crack of dawn?’

Elder Chen’s gaze once again fell upon the crowd.

"Elder Chen, you should go inside, have some breakfast, and get some rest. Once the guests start arriving, you won’t have a chance to," the Shopkeeper said.

"I’m not hungry."

"You should still eat a little, Elder Chen. You have a long day ahead of you." The Shopkeeper took his arm to help him back into the Immortal Sea Building.

Elder Chen followed the Shopkeeper back into the inn.

Across the street, those who saw Elder Chen’s retreating back couldn’t stop laughing.

"Your Highness, look! There’s no one at the Immortal Sea Building. Elder Chen was so dejected he’s run back inside and doesn’t dare come out," a page pointed and jeered.

The corner of Old Prince Feng’s mouth curled up. He swept his gaze over. It seemed no one would dare go to the Immortal Sea Building to congratulate him today.

「The Hour of the Dragon passed.」

The restaurant where Old Prince Feng was hosting was packed with people. Birthday banquets usually started at noon, so these early arrivals could only sit at their tables and chat amongst themselves.

The conversation revolved around the two competing birthday celebrations.

There were quite a few people in the restaurant to celebrate, but on closer inspection, they all seemed to be owners of various chambers of commerce from around Nanyuan. Not a single one had any truly remarkable status.

Standing at the entrance, Old Prince Feng seemed to notice this as well and frowned slightly.

"Don’t worry, Your Highness. Well-wishers usually start arriving after the Hour of the Dragon." As soon as the butler finished speaking, a commotion was heard, and a group of people on horseback appeared at the end of the street.

Leading the group were three young men on horseback, followed by about fifty people dressed in practical black attire.

When Old Prince Feng saw how they were dressed, he snorted. "The only people Gu Shuo could call upon would be the Xianyue Sect."

Luo Wen, Luo Xuan, and Du Ying quickly rode up to the front of the Immortal Sea Building.

Five or six pages from the Immortal Sea Building immediately came out to stand at the entrance.

"Luo Wen of the Xianyue Sect has come to wish Elder Chen a long life!"

"Luo Xuan of the Xianyue Sect has come to wish Elder Chen a long life!"

"Du Ying of the Xianyue Sect has come to wish Elder Chen a long life!"

The voices of the three were clear and loud.

Hearing their voices, Elder Chen came out from the Immortal Sea Building. "You’ve all arrived."

"Yes."

"Have your men go to the back kitchen to help out. The three of you will stay here with me to greet guests," Elder Chen said.

Luo Xuan and Du Ying stood behind Elder Chen, their expressions stern, but a hint of excitement shone in their eyes.

Luo Wen turned to arrange the men who had come with them. "Go help in the back kitchen and on the various floors. Set up the banquet tables."

"Yes, sir!"

The fifty-odd men responded in unison, their voices thunderous.

Seeing this, Old Prince Feng was filled with scorn. "Such a tiny sect. I’ll crush them sooner or later."

"Congratulations to Prince Feng! Your Highness’s presence is as imposing as ever."

"Haha, not at all, not at all. A man still gets old. Please, come in, come in."

"Your Highness, look! The carriage from the Beili Chamber of Commerce."

Old Prince Feng looked over. Indeed, it was. Finally, someone of consequence had arrived.

Because the street was so crowded, the carriage stopped a good distance away. Li Mu disembarked and walked over with his men.

"Greetings to Old Prince Feng. I wish Your Highness a long and blessed life." Li Mu bowed and presented his gift.

"Excellent, excellent. Lord Li, it’s my birthday today. You must have a few more drinks with me later."

"Of course, of course."

The page who received the gift was so stunned he forgot to announce it. "Your... Your Highness."

Old Prince Feng glanced back and happened to see the gift, his eyes instantly widening. "This... Is this a Seven-color Glaze Stone? Lord Li, where did you acquire such a treasure?"

"As long as Your Highness is pleased." Seeing that the old prince liked it, Li Mu felt his money had not been spent in vain.

’You have to be willing to lose the bait to catch the fish. I’ll earn the money back in Nanyuan sooner or later.’

"Pleased? I love it! This is an unparalleled treasure." Old Prince Feng’s eyes were fixed on the stone. It was as large as a fist, and under the sunlight, seven colors could be seen swirling within it, a sight of indescribable beauty.

"Wow, is that the legendary Seven-color Glaze Stone of the Four Kingdoms?"

"My heavens, it’s gorgeous! This is my first time ever seeing one..."

"Beili is certainly generous."

"Let me see, I’ve never seen it before! Don’t block the view..."

Hearing talk of the Seven-color Glaze Stone, everyone grew curious. They crowded the restaurant’s entrance, craning their necks. Even the guests seated inside flocked to the doorway, hoping to catch a glimpse of the precious stone.

Old Prince Feng was grinning from ear to ear.

"Your Highness, the people from the Xi Yan and East Shu Chambers of Commerce are here."

Old Prince Feng looked over, his smile growing even wider. He personally went to greet them. "Lord Wang, Lord Fang."

"Congratulations to Prince Feng on a long and prosperous life."

"Happy birthday, Prince Feng! We wish Your Highness a life of fortune and longevity."

"Excellent, excellent, please come in."

The representative from the East Shu Chamber of Commerce and Fang Rui from the Xi Yan Chamber of Commerce handed their gifts to the page.

"From the East Shu Chamber of Commerce, a ten-thousand-year-old ginseng! From the Xi Yan Chamber of Commerce, a jadeite Buddha statue!" the page shouted.

Li Mu stood to the side, looking down on the gifts from the other two nations.

"The Jiang family of Qingzhou has come to wish Elder Chen a long life!"

The voice rang out, drawing Old Prince Feng’s attention.

Jiang Chenyi, along with Jiang Yue, bowed to Elder Chen while presenting a gift.

Although Elder Chen didn’t recognize the Jiang family, he knew that Qingzhou was under Nanyuan’s jurisdiction. ’To take such a great risk to congratulate me... this young man is truly brave.’

"Quick, rise. Please, come in, come in." Elder Chen helped him up with both hands.

"Thank you, Elder Chen."

Jiang Chenyi led Jiang Yue into the Immortal Sea Building.

Old Prince Feng frowned and asked in a low voice, "What’s the story with that Jiang family from Qingzhou?"

"In Qingzhou, the Jiang family is as renowned as the Huo family. The Jiangs are not merchants."

"A mere family like the Jiangs dares to congratulate Chen Rentian right in front of me? What audacity."

"Your Highness, it seems we didn’t send invitations to the Jiang or Huo families."

"..."

Old Prince Feng didn’t care about any invitations. He would remember the Jiang family.

The emissaries from the three nations also glanced back at the desolate scene across the street.

"Elder Chen hasn’t celebrated his birthday in years. To do it on the same day as Old Prince Feng... he’s certainly got guts."