Chapter 776 : Banquet (3)
The person who spoke was not just anybody, but the current Second Prince Lei Yuan. The reigning monarch of the Yan Country had a total of four sons, with the Crown Prince among them the son of the reigning Empress. As the Second Prince and the Third Prince were born from Imperial Concubines, their stations and statuses were naturally not comparable to that of the Crown Prince Lei Chen. Moreover, Lei Chen was the eldest son and he was the most talented one among the princes, so his position was highly rock solid. Although the Yan Country's youngest Prince was not born from the Empress, but as his biological mother had met with an early demise, he was brought up by the Empress from young.
The banquet this year was hosted by the Crown Prince Lei Chen and the other princes had been invited to join in. The banquet had yet to begin and only Lei Yuan was present at that time. Lei Yuan's rotund body looked rather massive and the chubby flesh on his face had squeezed his actually considerably attractive features together and distorted them. Even when dressed in a beautiful brocade robe, not an ounce of nobility or grandeur could be seen on him, but a sense of vulgarity or wretchedness was instead obvious.
Lei Yuan's voice had not been soft when he said it and the seated youths surrounding them could hear him clearly. When they heard those words, they laughed among themselves. They did not think that the current Zephyr Academy still deserved such favoured treatment and Lei Chen's actions greatly confused them, while being were in complete agreement with Lei Yuan instead.
"Do not utter such nonsense my Second Royal Brother." Lei Chen said, staring at Lei Yuan and shaking his head, looking displeased with Lei Yuan's discourteous outburst.
But Lei Yuan seemed to be not in agreement with his brother as his gaze swept over Jun Wu Xie and the others, his eyes filled with utter contempt.
"My Royal Elder Brother is being too kind, be careful that your easygoing personality might be taken advantage of by others seeking to get close to you to gain from it"
Lei Chen gave Lei Yuan an admonishing glare before turning to look apologetically at Jun Xie, as if he was apologising on Lei Yuan's discourtesy.
Jun Wu Xie swept her eyes over the two brothers of the Lei Family, her gaze exceptionally calm. She showed not the slightest sign of joy at Lei Chen's favoured treatment, nor did she look like she was needled by Lei Yuan's sarcastic anger, remaining calm as a placid lake.
Jun Wu Xie did not think that Lei Chen was being genuinely kind to the Zephyr Academy. As the Crown Prince, it was impossible that he wasn't aware of the dire straits the Zephyr Academy was currently in. The Zephyr Academy's recent tumultuous affairs had already put them in the centre of attention and the Crown Prince was still intentionally showering them with special treatment before all these people from the other academies. This was obviously not a just a simple show of polite courtesy, but an act designed to push the Zephyr Academy into the eye of another storm! If Lei Chen had not done it this way, it would not have brought about Lei Yuan's subsequent sarcasm.
It seemed that this Crown Prince, wasn't much of a saint as well.
Jun Wu Xie was still a sea of calm and she could faintly feel several pairs of burning eyes fixed upon her. She turned her head to look into that direction and saw several youths dressed in the uniform of the Dragon Slayers Academy seated not far away, staring at her with great resentment and discontent. Jun Wu Xie merely swept her calm gaze over them very briefly and turned away.
When Lei Chen had gone to the Immortals' Loft previously, that had greatly riled up people from the Dragon Slayers Academy. So, when the disciples from the Dragon Slayers Academy saw Jun Wu Xie and her companions now, their eyes were so filled with burning rage and hatred like they had just seen their worst enemies.
......
If the Zephyr Academy was still in its previous glory, they might have been more forgiving towards them, but because of an academy that was on the verge of collapse, Lei Chen had instead publicly snubbed them for that trashy place. They did not dare to hold it against Lei Chen, so they had directed all their bottled up burning rage against the disciples of the Zephyr Academy here.
"Those few are from the Zephyr Academy?"
"They look so soft and fluffy, every inch the type that's nice to look at, but in reality, completely useless." Several disciples from the Dragon Slayers Academy said in a jerring sneer. They did not lower their voices as they spoke, in fact, they seemed to want Jun Wu Xie and the others to hear them.
The banquet had not even begun and the air was already smoking with the smell of gunpowder.
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Chapter 777 : Banquet (4)
The six from the Zephyr Academy were like as if accursed. Within the entire banquet, masses of disciples from the other academies were pointing and whispering about them. The Zephyr Academy had already been a "hot topic" this year and with Lei Chen's favoured treatment showered upon them, they were immediately thrown into the muck.
To be fair, the six of them possessed outstanding looks, but to all the other youths there, they couldn't find it in themselves to like them. Afterall, they were all here to compete and outshine the others in the Spirit Battle Tournament, and before the competition had even begun, the people from the Zephyr Academy had already gained the Crown Prince, Lei Chen's favour, how could they be expected to be happy about it?
"Meow~" The black cat was lying on Jun Wu Xie's lap, its sharp ears listening to those barbed and barely veiled sarcasm, as it swung its tail slowly in the air.
[This whole bunch of unruly kids, are they all too free? It is just a Spirit Battle Tournament, why are they all acting as if the Crown Prince is selecting his concubine! ? Every single one of them acting like jealous women.]
[Lei Chen had merely spoken a sentence more to Jun Wu Xie and all these people are wishing fervently they can chew Jun Wu Xie up.]
Jun Wu Xie stroked the little black cat's soft fur gently, blocking out all those words around her. She was not interested in wasting time with these kids. They only reason she came here was to use this opportunity this banquet provided to investigate further into the Crown Prince, to allow them to strike more easily after the conclusion of the Spirit Battle Tournament.
Maybe it was too noisy and rowdy at the banquet, Jun Wu Xie carried the little black cat and suddenly stood up. Lei Chen who was chatting lightly with other disciples noticed Jun Wu Xie's actions and he suddenly asked with a smile on his face: "Little brother Jun, is anything wrong?"
Jun Wu Xie looked at the smiling Lei Chen and said expressionlessly: "Too stifling." And she immediately walked towards the outside of the banquet. Qiao Chu and the others exchanged glances with each other, knowing what Jun Wu Xie intended to do, as they continued chatting merrily with each other.
In a show of generosity and affability to the contestants, the Crown Prince had specially allowed the youths coming to the banquet to freely move about the Crown Prince's Residence. In this way, he would be able to show his amicable nature and the disciples would get to witness the grandeur of the Crown Prince's Residence.
Lei Chen stared after Jun Xie's departing back and a trace of a smile came into his eyes.
People who possessed an arrogant nature did not like people to fawn over them too enthusiastically. Although he wished to win Jun Xie over, he would not push it too aggressively. To make the other party serve him wholeheartedly, he would naturally have his ways.
Lei Chen secretly cast his gaze at the row of youths seated behind him. They were all disciples of the Dragon Slayers Academy and almost immediately after the moment that Jun Xie had got up to leave the banquet hall, the disciples of the Dragon Slayers Academy had moved as well, discreetly getting out of their seats to follow after.
......
"My Royal Brother. Why are you being so courteous to that little kid? He is so skinny and frail looking, he doesn't look like he possesses any capabilities." Lei Yuan who was gorging himself silly beside Lei Chen looked at Jun Xie as he departed, grumbled with his mouth full.
Lei Chen smiled and replied: "It is rare to see someone representing the Zephyr Academy to take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament at such a young age. All things aside, he is also the youngest contestant this year and it is only natural that we look out for him a little. Why would my Second Royal Brother say something like this?"
Lei Chen's tone was extremely gentle, but the meaning his words were expressing was made crystal clear. Although he was indeed showering Jun Xie with extra attention, it was because of his young and tender age. In this way, it would not cause people to suspect that he had any ulterior motives, but instead feel that the Yan Country's Crown Prince was a man as caring as it was rumored.
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Chapter 778 : Banquet (5)
Not a single disciple from the other academies would dare speak ill of Lei Chen. So it fell onto Jun Wu Xie who had because of the exceptional attention Lei Chen showed to her, to have suddenly attracted a large amount of jealousy against her.
"If you're too young, then don't come take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament. We are not just playing house here." Lei Yuan said, as his gaze shifted. He smirked to himself and he immediately made up some excuse to leave the banquet for a while. He had spotted the disciples from the Dragon Slayers Academy follow behind Jun Xie to leave the banquet and he knew there would sure be a great show to watch, so how could he miss it?
Lei Chen watched Lei Yuan leave, his face still showing his gentle smile, but his eyes were tinged with malicious triumph.
[The wise and resourceful does not need to dirty his own hands, but use other means around him to achieve his own desired ends!]
.....
Lei Chen's official residence was indeed befitting of the Crown Prince of the biggest country throughout the lands. From the front to the back, it was separated into four individual wings. They each had their own courtyard and under the silvery moonlight, ripples ran across the water's surface in the pond, as natural rocks filled the rock garden, accompanied by emerald green grass. Lined with resplendent lanterns and the glow from the pale moonlight, it was breathtaking, like a picturesque painting, every aspect emphasizing the Crown Prince's Residence's lavishness and indulgent extravagance.
At that time, most of the youths who had arrived at the Crown Prince's Residence were mainly still at the banquet. Instead of appreciating the beauty of the Crown Prince's Residence, they would all rather attempt to win Lei Chen's admiration. Afterall, with the reputation of being the largest and most prosperous country behind him, if they really managed to catch Lei Chen's eye, they would be able to gain a strong foothold in the Yan Country when Lei Chen ascends to the throne. With an opportunity for their lives to immediately soar up into the skies right before their eyes, not a single one among them was able to let go of it.
Only Jun Wu Xie was in the garden in this part of the Crown Prince's Residence. Guards occasionally patrolled past, and when they saw the uniform on Jun Wu Xie, and were certain that she was a guest from the banquet, they did not go forward to impose.
In the quiet of the night, the garden was silent. Compared to the rowdiness at the banquet, Jun Wu Xie was more comfortable in this place.
She put the black cat in the ground and whispered: "Go investigate."
The little black cat glanced once at Jun Wu Xie and it immediately ran off, its tiny black body quickly blending into the darkness. As it took on such a tiny form, most people would not even notice the little black cat's presence.
If Lei Chen was really holding the map, that would mean that he was in cahoots with one of the palaces among the Twelve Palaces. Jun Wu Xie did not intend to cross swords with the Twelve Palaces yet so she needed to first ascertain that there were no members of the Twelve Palaces in the Crown Prince's Residence.
......
The little black cat had left just moments before and Jun Wu Xie suddenly heard footsteps coming from behind her.
"I say the Zephyr Academy is really slipping and getting from bad to worse. They are even sending a little brat like this to take part in the Spirit Battle Tournament! It wouldn't be good if those thin arms and skinny legs get broken during the competition." A voice edged with sarcasm sounded out, shattering the tranquility in the garden, as several youths dressed in the uniforms of the Dragon Slayers Academy stepped in.
Jun Wu Xie turned around to stare at the several tall youths, her eyes cold and clear as water.
"Kid, you having a good time sucking up to the Crown Prince?" One of the disciples of the Dragon Slayers Academy said, looking at Jun Wu Xie in disdain, his expression blatantly showing his unfriendly intentions.
Lei Chen's relationship with the top three academies had always been more or less the same, and he was only slightly closer to the War Banner Academy. But that was completely understandable as Lei Chen had studied under the War Banner Academy in the past. However, this time Lei Chen had taken the initiative to cozy up to the Zephyr Academy and this made the people from the Dragon Slayers Academy, who was also one of the top three, highly displeased.
"The Zephyr Academy has fallen in decline and they had resorted to unscrupulous means to pander up to people? How utterly shameless." Another youth sneered loudly, as his eyes scanned the lone Jun Wu Xie from head to toe.
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Chapter 779 : Banquet (6)
If Lei Chen had only plainly showed the Zephyr Academy polite concern, it would not have been a big issue. But Lei Chen had first sent his guards to inform the Dragon Slayers Academy but the Zephyr Academy had unashamedly cut in and invited him over instead. Although the Dragon Slayers Academy did not really place that much importance on gaining Lei Chen's favour, but having been slapped publicly like that was not something they were prepared to take lying down.
They did not mind who Lei Chen chose to be friendly with, but if they were humiliated by others, they made sure they seeked recompense.
Before the Spirit Battle Tournament began, all forms of fighting were prohibited, so they were not able to make any moves against the disciples from the Zephyr Academy during the banquet. But since this little brat had run out here all alone, and to a place so completely devoid of people, then the brat could only blame himself for presenting them with such an irresistible opportunity!
Several of the disciples from the Dragon Slayers Academy surrounded Jun Wu Xie, sinister smiles on their faces.
"Hey kid, running out here all alone under the darkness wasn't a really wise move." One of the youths said, cracking his knuckles.
Jun Wu Xie looked icily at the youths surrounding her, her face expressionless.
Coming in at the far corner of the garden, Lei Yuan was running huffing and puffing and when he saw Jun Xie being surrounded, he stopped in his tracks, just standing there in his spot, a smile coming onto his face as he waited in anticipation for the show to begin.
"Second Prince, are we really not going to interfere?" The personal attendant that had followed Lei Yuan here asked worriedly as he looked at Jun Xie in the garden.
Lei Yuan waved his hand dismissively and said: "Why interfere? The Zephyr Academy is already in dire straits. We should just sit back and enjoy the show. Moreover, this incident is caused by my Royal Brother carelessness when he chose to snub the Dragon Slayers Academy and instead went to the fallen Zephyr Academy. I really can't understand what he was thinking. There is nothing of worth in the Zephyr Academy anymore."
The attendant opened his mouth, but did not say anything, and only looked at Lei Yuan.
Lei Yuan was only half a year apart from Lei Chen in age and his mother was the Imperial Consort then. The time of their births and the statuses of their mothers differed very slightly, but Lei Yuan was born not as lucky, being just a notch lower in both aspects. Lei Yuan had been holding a grudge against Lei Chen for a very long time but Lei Chen had been very discretionary in all his deeds all this time and he had not given Lei Yuan the opportunity to have any excuses to use against him. And when their father, the Emperor had delegated the entire task of organising this year's Spirit Battle Tournament to Lei Chen, that had caused Lei Yuan to become more nervous.
Which Prince wouldn't yearn for that seat at the pinnacle of power? Lei Yuan was respectful and deferential before Lei Chen on the surface, but he had other plans kept deep in his heart. The incident where Lei Chen had abandoned the Dragon Slayers Academy yesterday had been investigated by Lei Yuan. Immediately after Lei Chen had just stepped out to go to the Immortals' Loft that the people from the Zephyr Academy were staying at, Lei Yuan had followed right after to go pay a visit to the Dragon Slayers Academy. Although the three top academies did not belong to any particular country, but every one of them always had highly gifted disciples in them. Those disciples would only need a little bit more polishing and they would be able to shine, serving their masters.
......
"My Royal Brother graduated from the War Banner Academy and his relationship with them is self evident. I was afraid that he would use his position as the organiser of this year's tournament to win over the Dragon Slayers Academy but he had unexpectedly been so dumb as to disregard the Dragon Slayers Academy and gone to the Zephyr Academy instead. If I do not grab this once in a lifetime opportunity now, would I be able to still survive in future?" Lei Yuan said with a sinister smile on his face. The Zephyr is over and done, the Dragon Slayers independent. If he managed to win them over, he would still be able to carve out a niche for himself.
"Second Prince..... By doing this, aren't you afraid that His Highness the Crown Prince would retaliate?" The attendant asked worriedly.
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Chapter 780 : Banquet (7)
Lei Yuan retorted: "Afraid? Father's health is getting worse by the day while my third brother is completely useless and fourth brother is on very good terms with my elder brother. If I do not put up a fight while my father is still around, I wouldn't stand the slightest chance in the future!"
The reason why the this year's Spirit Battle Tournament was fully delegated onto Lei Chen to organize was for two reasons. One was that the Emperor wanted Lei Chen to learn the ropes, and the second was because of the Yan Country's Emperor ailing health which was deteriorating by the day. A large bunch of Imperial Physicians were now all huddled within the palace to treat the Emperor's ailments. The Yan Country looked to be peaceful on the surface but problems were beginning to show internally.
"Don't think that I am not aware of it. I know that my Royal Elder Brother has his eye on the girl from the War Banner Academy who goes by the name of Qu Ling Yue, and that lass is the daughter of the Grand Chieftain of the Thousand Beast City. My Royal Elder Brother intends to marry that lass in order for him to win over the Grand Chieftain of the Thousand Beast City, do you think I did not notice it? Everybody says he has a friendly and amicable personality but that is all just bull." Lei Yuan disliked Lei Chen from the bottom of his heart and to outsiders, Lei Chen might be a extremely ideal heir to the throne, but to Lei Yuan who had grown up together with Lei Chen, he had seen Lei Chen for the kind of person he really was. If by the time Lei Chen ascended the throne and Lei Yuan still had not gained the might to protect himself, the lone option that would presented to him at that time would only be death.
For self preservation, and to take a final all out gamble, Lei Yuan went out of his way to grasp at this one opportunity to try to win over the people from the Dragon Slayers Academy.
"If the Crown Prince already has such plans in mind, then all the more reason we should suspect that he has an ulterior motive in the extraordinary care he is showing the Zephyr Academy. Not too long ago, wasn't there a rumour that the honourary Headmaster of the Zephyr Academy, Wen Xin Han, had successfully broken through to the purple spirit?" The attendant said quickly.
Lei Yuan narrowed his eyes and his mouth curled up into a sneer.
"Even if he want to wins over the Zephyr Academy, he must first see whether he would have the chance to do that! That honourary Headmaster, Wen Xin Han, of the Zephyr Academy is indeed an impressive figure, but according to my knowledge, Wen Xin Han is on very familiar terms with our Yan Country's Grand Adviser. Do you really think that Wen Xin Han, who is on such close terms with our Grand Adviser, Wen Yu, would be taken in by my Royal Elder Brother's schemes?"
The attendant was suddenly taken aback: "His Highness, the Crown Prince isn't on good terms with the Grand Adviser?"
Lei Yuan bit on his lip, realising he had spoken too quickly and too much. He glared at the attendant and said: "Why are you asking so much? People who know too much usually do not live long."
The attendant's face turned pale and immediately zipped his mouth.
Lei Yuan had no interest in the Zephyr Academy in the slightest and it was instead the Dragon Slayers Academy whom he had put down in his list. So, he did not have the slightest intention in standing up for Jun Xie at that moment, but instead, was highly anticipating for the disciples of the Dragon Slayers to quickly make their move. And when this matter blew up, that would be the result that he wanted to see.
If Lei Chen did not pursue the matter, it would then no longer matter for what reason he was trying to win over the Zephyr Academy as he would be doomed to failure. And if he were to admonish the Dragon Slayers Academy over the incident, that would be as good as him being on opposing sides with the Dragon Slayers Academy, making it a whole lot easier for Lei Yuan to win the Dragon Slayers Academy over to his side.
......
Highly excited, Lei Yuan looked on at the situation in the garden, his eyes smiling in glee. He wished fervently that the disciples of the Dragon Slayers Academy would strike down and kill the little kid from the Zephyr Academy right where he was standing and the incident would undoubtedly be blown up into epic proportions.
The disciples of the Dragon Slayers Academy were throwing an endless stream of sarcastic remarks and insults upon Jun Xie but they could not get a single reaction out of him. Finding themselves being completely ignored and disregarded, it got them burning hot under the collar. When they looked at the cold and tiny expressionless face, they even began to feel incredibly slighted. They then tightened the ring they had surrounded the little brat in, fully prepared to teach the dumb and mute little youth a lesson he would never forget.