Chapter 202: Celebration

The banquet was held in a residence adjoining the Golden Dragon Bank's estate. As the very embodiment of "rich and overbearing" in the Great Xia Kingdom, when Yu Yu Hongxi wanted to throw a birthday banquet for her daughter, the scale and grandeur were naturally nothing to scoff at.

Before the residence, carriages streamed in an endless flow, with guests arriving in unbroken succession.

Here, one could see the vast majority of the forces that ranked among the top in the Great Xia Kingdom. The various prefectures and great clans all had business dealings of every kind with the Golden Dragon Bank, and combined with the bank's traditionally neutral stance, if one were to speak of who had the most friends, it would probably be impossible to find a second in the entire Great Xia Kingdom.

The Holy Mystic Star Academy did have this ability and qualification, but the Holy Mystic Star Academy did not befriend any force. If the Golden Dragon Bank was said to be adept at social graces, then the Holy Mystic Star Academy exuded a kind of aloof pride.

Of course, there was also the Great Xia Royal Court. As the legitimate authority of Great Xia, the various forces held a certain awe toward it.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge stepped down from the carriage, which drew a few gazes—mostly directed at Jiang Jiang Qinge, since the latter's fame in Great Xia City far surpassed Li Luo's.

However, the eyes of some noble ladies from the great clans also swept over Li Luo, and their gazes could not help but light up slightly. After all, the latter's looks were quite outstanding as well. That face, which had inherited the fine traditions of his parents, though still carrying a touch of youthful greenness, was also radiant and full of spirit.

That head of grey-white hair gave him an additional unique air, drawing the frequent gazes of young maidens.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge paid no heed to the gazes around them, and instead cast their eyes directly toward the main gate of the residence, where two graceful figures were receiving the guests.

They were Lv Qing'er and Yu Yu Hongxi.

Today's Lv Qing'er, wrapped in a pale-colored dress that clung to the youthful curves of her slender figure, her legs beneath the skirt straight and long, and set off by the white silk stockings, looked all the more rounded and slender.

Her dark hair fell softly down to her slim waist, swaying gently in the breeze, radiating the unique youthful vitality of a young girl.

On her fair and lovely little face hung a faint smile as she accepted the praises of the many distinguished guests.

Yu Yu Hongxi beside Lv Qing'er, as usual, wore a red dress, gorgeous and captivating. Compared with Lv Qing'er, her bearing appeared far more mature, but because of her lofty position, her brows and eyes radiated a certain pressure, making people dare not let their gazes linger on her for too long.

The two standing together did not look like mother and daughter, but rather like sisters.

Lv Qing'er followed her mother in receiving the guests, a flawless smile hanging on her little face, though the smile was somewhat formulaic, until at a certain moment, her moving gaze suddenly caught sight of Li Luo stepping down from the carriage.

And so a touch of light bloomed in her eyes.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge also stepped forward at this moment, handed their invitation to the attendant at the side, then bent slightly toward Yu Yu Hongxi: "Luo Lan Mansion's Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, here to offer congratulations."

A smile hung on Yu Yu Hongxi's gorgeous face. Her gaze measured the two of them, especially Li Luo, and looking at this young face from such close range, her narrow eyes narrowed slightly.

He really looks too much like Li Taixuan.

And there was also the shadow of Dantai Lan.

Thinking of these two, a wave of complicated emotions inevitably welled up within Yu Yu Hongxi. Then she gave a light chuckle and said, "Thank you, two distinguished guests."

"Please, come inside."

Her attitude was polite, without appearing overly familiar.

"Let me take you in," Lv Qing'er at the side said with a smile.

But Yu Yu Hongxi at the side cast a reproachful glance and said, "Today you are the host. There are still guests behind. How can you just leave? That would be far too rude."

Lv Qing'er complained, "I'm not much use here anyway."

In the end, Li Luo said with a smile, "It's fine. You stay here and greet the guests first. We'll go in ahead and chat later."

Saying so, he ascended the steps with Jiang Jiang Qinge and entered the residence first.

Lv Qing'er pulled her gaze back from Li Luo's back, then she noticed Yu Yu Hongxi beside her staring at her, so she immediately composed her expression and, without a flicker, reminded her, "Mother, more distinguished guests are here."

Yu Yu Hongxi smiled, did not expose the little girl's trick, and instead showed a smile toward the approaching guests.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge walked into the residence. Inside, lanterns and decorations were hung everywhere, and the flow of people made it extremely lively.

"How about it? You've now met Yu Yu Hongxi as well," Jiang Jiang Qinge asked.

"She feels unfathomable, very pressuring," Li Luo said honestly. Although Yu Yu Hongxi was all smiles and there was nothing at all to fault in her attitude, Li Luo could faintly sense a pressure.

"After all, she is a titled Marquis-level powerhouse. In terms of strength, she ranks among the top even in Great Xia. On top of that, she controls the Golden Dragon Bank single-handedly, with a host of powerful subordinates under her and staggering wealth. To speak plainly, even the current Eldest Princess is a shade inferior to her. Don't be fooled by that gorgeous, captivating exterior," Jiang Jiang Qinge said with a faint smile.

"But I feel she seems a bit... cold toward me, or rather, averse?" Li Luo nodded, then said.

The corners of Jiang Jiang Qinge's lips curved slightly. She tilted her head to look at him: "Who asked for that face of yours to carry the shadow of your master and mistress? If there is anyone in this Great Xia who could make Yu Yu Hongxi lose her composure even slightly, I'm afraid it would be those two."

Of course, she vaguely guessed there was another reason, but she simply had not mentioned it to Li Luo.

Li Luo was a little speechless. The grudges of the previous generation had to drag the younger generation into it too. It seemed that although this President Yu Yu Hongxi was a strong woman, she could not avoid being a little petty.

Of course, this could only be said in his heart.

"Lv Qing'er this time seems to have changed a bit as well."

Jiang Jiang Qinge shifted the topic: "The faint cold aura emanating from her is several times purer than before. If my guess is right, her Ice Phase should have already risen to Eighth Rank."

Li Luo's steps faltered, somewhat shocked: "Eighth Rank Ice Phase?"

This was the first time he had personally witnessed someone raise their own phase from Seventh Rank to Eighth Rank, because he knew very well just how difficult such an advancement was.

One had to know that others did not have his kind of talent, able to use Spiritual Water Wonders without limit. For Lv Qing'er to raise her Ice Phase from Upper Seventh Rank to Eighth Rank meant that she had probably been refining and absorbing Seventh Rank Spiritual Water Wonders ever since her phase awakened.

"There's nothing strange about it. Seventh Rank Spiritual Water Wonders are indeed expensive, but is that hard to come by for Yu Yu Hongxi, who controls the Golden Dragon Bank?"

"She has enough wealth, and the Golden Dragon Bank has also given her enough resources. As long as she wants, Lv Qing'er's supply of Seventh Rank Spiritual Water Wonders will never run out," Jiang Jiang Qinge said.

Li Luo sighed. What could he say? He could only say Yu Yu Hongxi was truly too extravagant.

If he also had a Golden Dragon Bank at his disposal to squander, he felt that his dual phases would probably have already reached Seventh Rank by now, wouldn't they?

As the two spoke, they had already arrived outside the most brightly lit pavilion, and just as they reached it, they saw a figure walking out from within.

"I saw the two of you earlier. What were you talking about?" A gentle, laughing voice came over.

Li Luo looked up, gazing at the tall, graceful figure that walked out. Just that one sweeping glance at the magnificent waves was enough to tell him who had come.

Who else could it be but the Eldest Princess?