Chapter 266 "Qian"

Xia Fan's eyes met Yu Yi's.

He was a plain-looking middle-aged man with beards of varying lengths on his cheeks and chin. Obviously, he did not follow the secular rule that hair is inherited from the body and parents, and often cleaned his beard himself. Unfortunately, his shaving skills were quite rough, making him look much older.

And the obvious sagging bags under his eyes and the long face made him look more like a down-and-out martial artist, rather than the first-class Yu Yi of the Privy Council.

"Ahahaha, when can't I say the introduction? Why do you have to be so serious? Look, you've made the atmosphere awkward!" The other party moved over and took Xia Fan's arm to sit down, and patted him on the shoulder, "When you stepped into the gate of the Privy Council, the teacher should have taught you that etiquette is not so important in the palace, so relax. This is just a dust-washing banquet, you can eat the same way you usually eat here!"

This Yu Yi really has a bit of... familiarity.

Xia Fan sat up straight and bowed to everyone, "I am Xia Fan, Bai Ren of Jinxia Mansion. As for my nickname..." He thought for a moment, "People call me Jiuxiao Tianlei Envoy."

"Puchi——" Yu Linglong laughed out loud, "Jiuxiao... Tianlei Envoy? Haha... Hahaha, this is really a powerful nickname."

Mrs. Wei also raised her hand and covered her lips inconspicuously.

Fei Nian coughed twice in embarrassment, "Xia Fan, this title... You don't have to force it. When you become a core member, people will naturally remember your origins in a few years."

"You belong to the Zhen element?" Qian asked, "Are you good at Zhen art?"

"It shouldn't be bad." Xia Fan said modestly.

"Then why not?" Qian waved his hand nonchalantly, "Whether it was given by others or by yourself, whether it can be spread depends on personal ability. In this case, it is better to choose a more suitable one yourself!"

"I think so too."

"Yes, you have much more potential than Fei Nian." Qian nodded repeatedly, "The alchemist is definitely not as simple as sensing qi. The stronger the ability to accept things, the more advantages you can gain in the competition. I have a hunch that the Privy Council will add another capable person this time!"

"Lord Qian, you should wait for the Tianshu Envoy to come back before making a decision," Baizhan said coldly at this time, "If Lord Tianshu Envoy says no, it will only make people happy in the end."

Tianshu Envoy? Xia Fan's heart skipped a beat. What kind of position is this? Shouldn't the official position in the Privy Council end at Yuyi?

"I've already said it was a premonition, why do you bother with these details? No wonder you're only a Qingjian until now." Qian laughed, "Just wait and see, this young friend will probably surpass your achievements in just one or two years."

Bai Zhan turned away in disdain, as if he didn't want to talk to this Yuyi anymore.

The servant who interrupted Qian's chattering was the one who served the dishes. As the Wandeng Banquet officially began, Qian finally stopped talking to him and picked up the wine pot to drink by himself. "If you want to drink with me, fill your cup. If you don't want to drink, eat the dishes! Fei Nian, remember to take good care of your classmates!"

"In short... Lord Qian is like this, you don't need to take it to heart." Fei Nian moved to Xia Fan's side, "Since we parted in Qingshan Town, your performance has really surprised me. At that time, Luo Qingqing trusted you very much, and I thought she had misjudged you, but I didn't expect that I underestimated you."

"It's human nature to underestimate you. After all, you are a disciple of the Fei family."

It was not until then that Xia Fan had time to look at the remaining three people. Yunshang Jushi looked to be around 27 or 28 years old. He was well groomed and even his eyebrows looked like they had been specially trimmed. He was wearing a white robe with a blue edge and a cloud pattern, which was simple and elegant, and he looked like someone from a different world compared to Qian.

The woman named Yu Linglong was also observing him. When their eyes met, she deliberately stuck out her tongue. Judging from the age, the other party was probably the same age as himself... In other words, to be able to become a garrison before the age of 20, he must be extraordinary.

The last person, Wei Huang, had a very personal style of dressing. Although she was dressed like a woman with a high bun on her head, her clothes were not restrained at all. Bright red was her main color, and the tight robe almost completely fit her figure, outlining her chest completely. The robe had no sleeves and was broken at the shoulders, exposing her two white arms. A snow-white velvet scarf was hung around her neck, making her look luxurious and dignified.

She was also the one who wore the least in this cold season.

One feathered robe, two green swords, and one guard, the capital's Privy Council is really rich. Xia Fan thought to himself, fortunately Luo Qingqing did not choose to kill directly to the palace at that time. Although the fairy art dragon scales are strong, she is only one person after all.

"What Fei family disciple..." Fei Nian laughed self-deprecatingly, "This identity may be envied by the scattered sects, but in the main palace, identity is the most meaningless thing."

"Is there only one table of alchemists who come to participate in the Wandeng Festival?"

"How could it be, there are at least seven or eight tables. There are more guests like you who are invited by the Privy Council, I guess there are about ten tables."

"So many? Who are they?" Xia Fan asked curiously.

"There are all kinds of people. Overseas merchants, alchemists, upper-class nobles, wandering royal families... As long as they are useful for future plans, the Privy Council will deal with them." Fei Nian paused, "But you are the special one. Xin Wu should have said that the people who participated in the ceremony should have been entertained by the second prince himself."

"What exactly is the ceremony?"

He shook his head, "Like you, I am a participant in the ceremony. Before it started, no one except the core members knew its details."

"Then this meeting..."

"It's just to let everyone get to know you. For you, it's a real dust-reception banquet." Fei Nian laughed, "The Capital Privy Council is very mysterious, but not as mysterious as you think. The way of entertaining guests is basically the same as that of the Ministry of Rites."

Well, it seems that this trip is really to eat the special supplies of the palace and make a familiar face in front of the core members of the alchemy.

Just then, there was a commotion in the square.

Xia Fan noticed that the number of torches on the palace wall suddenly increased by two or three times.

"Here comes the most boring part." Qian put down the wine pot and stuffed a piece of winter bamboo shoots into his mouth, "It's better to listen to the night crows than to listen to him talk."

Him?

Perhaps seeing the doubt in Xia Fan's eyes, Fei Nian took the initiative to explain, "It's the current crown prince, His Royal Highness Ning Weiyuan."

"No matter how hasty it is, His Royal Highness is the legitimate heir." Bai Zhan said calmly, "If someone with ulterior motives sees your attitude, I'm afraid it will implicate us, so please restrain yourself."

"There are no outsiders here." Qian looked at Xia Fan, "I said... you should have no respect for secular authority, right?"

Is this a test?

Xia Fan frowned slightly, "Why do you ask?"

"Because you are a Taoist priest, and a Taoist priest recognized by the list." Qian raised the corner of his mouth, his eyes full of confidence... even arrogance, "The more potential the Qi Sensing, the more so - they believe in only one thing, that is their own power."

He remained silent. At this time, whether to agree or deny was not a good choice.

The torches on the palace wall were separated into two rows, and a man in a golden dragon robe walked out of the night and stood in the center where he could overlook the crowd inside and outside the wall at the same time.

He should be Ning Wanjun’s elder brother, Ning Weiyuan, Xia Fan thought.