Everyone inside the fourth VIP room was now standing after the emperor stepped inside. Even Lu Sulan rose from her seat to express her respect to Emperor Elyk.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
The young disciples brought by Lu Sulan and Jiu Shen bowed as they greeted the emperor.
Yang Zenke, Han Sen, and the others who were formerly the slaves of the imperial family glanced at Emperor Elyk with complex expressions. However, their expression promptly returned to normal after recalling that they were now under a new master! They were now the swords of Jiu Shen!
There was only one person inside the fourth VIP room who had remained seated on his chair. Jiu Shen didn’t even face the emperor and he just nonchalantly sat with a calm look.
The emperor and Fourth Prince Dante who knew Jiu Shen’s attitude were unbothered by his lack of courtesy. However, the crown prince, the second prince, and the third prince frowned when they saw this. Dissatisfaction covered their faces, but it was instantly replaced by fake smiles.
“Wine Master Jiu, we meet again! Hahaha!” Emperor Elyk laughed happily as he stared at Jiu Shen who was still seated on his chair. He didn’t mind Jiu Shen’s nonchalance since he already knew the latter’s strength and ability.
Jiu Shen didn’t even glance at the emperor, and he just spoke indifferently. “Elyk, sit and we’ll talk.”
Emperor Elyk was all smiles upon hearing this and just as he was about to walk, an unhappy voice suddenly echoed inside the VIP room, making everyone stunned.
“Wine Master Jiu, what is the meaning of this?! You didn’t stand to greet emperor father, but I just let it slide. And now, you even dare to order emperor father around?! Who do you think you are?!” Crown Prince Reinhardt said with a loud volume of voice. It was obvious that he was angry about Jiu Shen’s lack of respect.
The second prince, third prince, fourth prince, and even the fifth princess were stunned upon hearing this. They immediately cursed in their hearts: Crap!
Every one of them knew that Jiu Shen was not a simple man, but the crown prince was unaware of this since he was not present in Beltran City all this time. He had been moving from one place to another to gather more men to serve under him. He had also visited many noble families all over the Silver Wing Empire in order to strengthen his status as the crown prince, so he was truly unaware of what was happening to Beltran City since he had just come back a few days from his long trip.
Emperor Elyk glared at the crown prince, but the latter wasn’t even looking at his father. Reinhardt was staring straight at the back of this so-called Wine Master Jiu. He had heard a lot about Jiu Shen after he had come back to Beltran City, but he didn’t think too highly of this so-called Alchemy Saint and unfathomable expert. He didn’t believe that there was really such a capable man in Beltran City.
Jiu Shen had his back facing against them, so the crown prince could still not see his face.
“Reinhardt! Apologize to Wine Master Jiu right now!” Emperor Elyk shouted angrily while looking at his foolish eldest son with disappointment.
Hm?
“E-Emperor father… T-This…”
The crown prince was surprised at the sudden outrage of his father. He was actually telling him, the crown prince, to apologize to someone?
Reinhardt frowned as he thought of countless possibilities. Could it be that this man is truly as the rumors say he is? He suddenly regretted speaking without thinking at that moment, but there was no pill for regret.
The second prince and the third prince smiled gloatingly at the crown prince, while the others remained silent as they looked at the scene with shocked expressions.
“Do you want me to repeat my words?!” Emperor Elyk’s voice was a tad louder this time, and his face also started to warp because of his anger. ’This foolish eldest son of mine! Why did I even confer him as the crown prince? Sigh…’
Before the crown prince could speak, an indifferent voice drifted into everyone’s ears as Jiu Shen turned to face the emperor. “Elyk, it seems like you failed to teach your son some manners.”
The crown prince wanted to retort, but when he saw Jiu Shen’s face, Reinhardt’s expression froze.
“It’s you!” Crown Prince Reinhardt pointed his finger at Jiu Shen’s face, but he hurriedly retracted it after seeing the fiery look on his father’s face. ’Lord Jiu Shen… Wine Master Jiu… So that’s how it is! It’s actually this bastard!’
Jiu Shen turned his gaze to the crown prince and said with a disinterested look. “Your Highness, we meet again.” There was a tone of sarcasm in his voice when he said the word ’Crown Prince’. It was as if Jiu Shen disdained to talk to him.
“This… So it’s Lord Jiu Shen. I apologize for my disrespect Lord Jiu. I didn’t know it was you. By the way, how is Proprietress Liuli?” The crown prince said with a forced smile. He wasn’t a complete idiot, and he realized that he had misspoken, so hurriedly changed the subject.
Emperor Elyk’s expression softened a bit after seeing that the two knew each other. He then said with an angry look. “Reinhardt, you must not talk like that to Wine Master Jiu again, or else I’ll beat you up personally.”
“Yes, emperor father. I wouldn’t dare.” The crown prince bowed at the emperor with a forced smile. His father had actually spoken such words in front of a lot of people. Although he felt humiliated, he didn’t dare express his dissatisfaction. He just silently cursed in his heart. ’This fucking Jiu Shen again! First, you stole my woman, and now, you even have my father dancing at your fingertips!’
Jiu Shen ignored the crown prince as he turned his gaze back to the emperor. “Elyk, you can send your sons back. I only want to talk to you.” Jiu Shen said.
After seeing that Jiu Shen actually ignored him, Reinhardt gnashed his teeth while cursing Jiu Shen’s eighteen generations inside his heart.
Emperor Elyk sensed the seriousness in Jiu Shen’s tone, so he turned to look at his four sons. “You all can go back to the fifth VIP room.” He then turned his gaze to his daughter and said in a berating tone. “And you! Go back to the reception hall to receive the other guests!”
The four princes and the fifth princess immediately scurried out of the fourth VIP room. They didn’t want to anger their father any longer. They knew that they wouldn’t end well if they remained.
Now, the only ones left inside the fourth VIP room were Jiu Shen’s people and the emperor.
Lu Sulan glanced at the young disciples and gestured for them to give space to the two. Although she was curious as to what Jiu Shen wanted to speak with the emperor, she didn’t dare sit beside them.
Jiu Shen flicked his fingers, forming an invisible barrier around him and the emperor which blocked the hearing of everyone inside the fourth VIP room.
The emperor sensed it, but he acted normal.
“Wine Master Jiu, what do you want to speak about?” His voice sounded calm, but he was feeling slightly anxious in his heart. Anything that comes out of Jiu Shen’s mouth was something serious and usually involves his Silver Wing Empire, so he could not help but feel his heart tightening.
Jiu Shen glanced at him calmly and replied. “I initially wanted to tell you this at a later date, but I keep on sensing that something bad will happen to the Silver Wing Empire anytime now.”
Jiu Shen paused for a moment, and the emperor waited for him to continue.
“Elyk, you have to be careful about your second son. He isn’t how he used to be.” Jiu Shen wanted to tell Emperor Elyk about the identity of the second prince, but he held himself back. It might significantly affect the emperor’s psyche and it would be detrimental for the Silver Wing Empire if their emperor’s state of mind is unstable.
Emperor Elyk frowned when he heard that and he remained silent. His silence lasted for about three minutes, but Jiu Shen gave him some time. In the end, the emperor released a heavy sigh and he seemed to have aged by a few years. He was no fool, he had also seen the changes of his second son, and although he didn’t know what happened to him, Emperor Elyk already had his guesses. Just that, he wasn’t sure of what really happened.
“Sigh. Thanks for your reminder, Wine Master Jiu. I’ll keep an eye on that brat Arslan.” The emperor said with a weak voice.
Jiu Shen patted the emperor’s back and said. “Don’t make him discover anything abnormal and just keep a close look at his movements. He’s no longer the Arslan that you know…”
He left some clues in his words, but he didn’t speak the whole truth. It was better left unsaid at this moment.
