After Terra Su and Gu Qianyin entered the venue, they found it to be quite large. Although it was on a yacht, the space was indeed not small.
Looking around, they saw elegantly dressed dignitaries everywhere, gathered in small groups, leisurely chatting and laughing.
The arrival of Terra Su and Gu Qianyin quickly caught the attention of everyone present.
However, what they were interested in was not Terra Su and Gu Qianyin themselves, but the person leading them—Lu Xueguang!
Everyone knew that Lu Xueguang was a close confidant of the Crown Prince. To see him respectfully guiding these two, could it be that they had some extraordinary background?
The crowd’s gaze unanimously fell on Terra Su and Gu Qianyin. With keen eyes, they could easily tell that among the two, Terra Su was the leader, and Gu Qianyin was the follower.
Yet, when they noticed Gu Qianyin’s exceptional temperament and unparalleled elegance, they couldn’t help but wonder even more. How could such a woman merely serve as a companion to that young man? Who exactly was he?
A scion of imperial lineage?
A descendant of a hidden sect?
“Hahaha, Brother Terra, you finally made it.”
The Crown Prince greeted Terra Su with a hearty laugh, giving him a warm bear hug upon meeting, and said with a smile, “I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”
With that, the Crown Prince immediately arranged for Terra Su to sit at the best spot in the venue and introduced him to everyone present: “This is Terra Su, a good friend of mine.”
The crowd curiously watched the Crown Prince, waiting for him to reveal more about Terra Su’s identity.
Unfortunately, the Crown Prince had no intention of providing further introductions.
An old man couldn’t help but ask, “Your Highness, may I ask which family’s outstanding young talent this Young Master Su belongs to?”
They were all heads of prominent families in Anyang City, invited by the Crown Prince to attend the banquet, each with their own agendas. They wanted to see what kind of connections and strength the Crown Prince had, and whether he was worth their full support compared to other princes.
Choosing sides was a delicate matter. If they supported the Crown Prince and he ascended the throne, they would become founding fathers, enjoying wealth and glory. But if the Crown Prince failed in his bid for the throne, they would undoubtedly share in his misfortune.
Despite the risks, the potential rewards were too tempting. Therefore, they wanted to scrutinize the Crown Prince to determine if he was worth betting on.
One crucial criterion for their judgment was the Crown Prince’s connections. If Terra Su truly was a descendant of a hidden sect or someone with a significant background, it would undoubtedly add considerable weight to the Crown Prince’s scale.
The Crown Prince smiled mysteriously and said, “Brother Terra is a student at Anyang Academy.”
What?
A student at Anyang Academy?
The crowd was instantly deflated, feeling an indescribable disappointment.
Anyang Academy had at least several thousand students, and even the upper division had over two hundred. It was nothing special.
Moreover, not many talented individuals from good backgrounds attended Anyang Academy; most who went were from humble origins.
So, the identity of an Anyang Academy student might impress a few people outside, but to these dignitaries, it held no value.
Even those family heads who originally supported the Crown Prince were now smiling wryly. What was the Crown Prince thinking, valuing an Anyang Academy student so highly? This was not how one showed humility.
In this setting, the Crown Prince should be showcasing his connections and strength. If he were to introduce someone, it should be someone with fame and power, someone who could make those present willingly submit.
As it stood, it was meaningless.
“Anyang Academy, haha, what a coincidence. My grandson, Qi Yuntian, is also studying at Anyang Academy. I wonder if Young Master Su knows him?”
A sharp-eyed old man in the crowd chuckled and spoke. This old man was a Supreme Elder of the Qi Family, one of the top three super-rich families in Anyang City.
His only grandson, Qi Yuntian, was said to be exceptionally gifted, having reached the Transforming Realm at just eighteen, and was indeed studying at Anyang Academy.
“Haha, Elder Qi’s grandson is exceptionally talented, not someone a child from a humble background can compare to.”
A middle-aged man spoke sarcastically without holding back.
The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed slightly. Terra Su was his honored guest, and he wouldn’t allow anyone to mock him like this. His gaze fell on the middle-aged man, silently adding him to his blacklist.
“The Third Prince has arrived!”
At that moment, a loud shout came from outside.
The Third Prince was here?
Everyone was astonished. Wasn’t it known that the Third Prince and the Crown Prince were fiercely competing for the throne? Why would the Third Prince suddenly show up at the Crown Prince’s banquet?
“Big Brother!”
A young man soon appeared at the door. He looked about twenty-five or twenty-six, tall and robust, with thick hair and bright eyes, exuding an extraordinary aura.
“Big Brother, you won’t blame me for showing up unannounced, will you?” This young man was the Third Prince, smiling as he approached the Crown Prince, looking nothing like someone embroiled in a fierce rivalry.
“Hahaha, what are you saying, Third Brother? What wind blew you here today? Please come in, please come in.” The Crown Prince also smiled, walking over to greet the Third Prince.
When they were just a step apart, both stopped simultaneously, smiling at each other and exchanging pleasantries, appearing as friendly brothers, yet neither got closer.
“Third Brother, what brings you here?” the Crown Prince asked with a smile, showing no hint of rejection or hostility.
“How could I not attend my brother’s yacht banquet?” the Third Prince replied with a smile.
The Crown Prince couldn’t help but frown slightly. The purpose of hosting this yacht banquet was to win over the family forces in Anyang City and persuade them to support him. Now, the Third Prince had suddenly shown up, clearly to make trouble.
However, despite his thoughts, the Crown Prince maintained a bright smile and said, “In that case, let me thank you in advance, Third Brother.”
“By the way, I brought a distinguished guest with me,” the Third Prince added.
“Oh? And who might this distinguished guest be?” the Crown Prince asked, though inwardly he was on high alert. The Third Prince bringing someone at this time was surely with ill intent, and he wondered who it might be.
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