The next day was the old madam’s birthday banquet at the general’s residence.
Early in the morning, the entire estate was already bustling.
Outside, the streets were packed with luxurious carriages blocking the entrance.
With the Crown Prince and Prince of Qi locked in rivalry, both seeking to win over General Xie Pingyue who held military power, the general’s residence had become the hottest place in the capital.
Because Xie Pingyue was cautious by nature and rarely accepted visitors, this banquet drew nearly all the influential families of the capital.
Inside the Longevity Hall, the atmosphere was warm and lively.
The old madam sat in the main seat, dressed in luxury, surrounded by younger members of the Xie family.
At her lower seat sat a young married woman in a hibiscus-red dress, her slightly rounded belly visible.
She was Han Wan, from the Han family of Qingling, the old madam’s niece and Xie Pingyue’s cousin.
After returning widowed years ago, she had quickly become his concubine.
She leaned affectionately against the old madam, coaxing laughter with just a few words.
The old madam patted her hand fondly: “This banquet today was all arranged by Wan’er. She is always so considerate…”
Hearing this, everyone praised the old madam’s “wise judgment” and Han Wan’s “filial intelligence.”
Only Madam Jiang forced a stiff smile, her handkerchief nearly torn to pieces.
Just as the hall was filled with laughter—
A figure stepped through the threshold.
Tall, broad-shouldered, long-legged, dressed in deep indigo robes that outlined his figure perfectly.
His features were deep and striking, calm and composed—like a nobleman from a chaotic world.
The room quieted for a moment.
Then came the low gasps as everyone saw the gray haze covering his left eye.
Expressions varied—disgust, curiosity, even faint fear.
Xie Yi did not care. He calmly greeted the old madam.
Her expression darkened slightly, but since he had committed no offense, she could not openly rebuke him and only gave a cold response.
Xie Yi had no intention of performing familial affection anyway, and went to sit aside.
Because of his appearance, the lively atmosphere cooled significantly, and even Han Wan withdrew awkwardly.
Madam Jiang, seeing her rival falter, felt a flicker of satisfaction.
But when she looked at Xie Yi again, she frowned slightly.
For years, he had stayed in that remote courtyard.
She had almost forgotten him.
She had expected a timid, crude, unpresentable man—but reality was completely different.
A faint sense of unease rose in her heart.
She called her maid and instructed her to ensure everything for tonight was ready.
As soon as the maid left, Lin Zhiji immediately noticed and reported: 【Host! Host! I saw it! They’re sneaking around—definitely something going on!】
Xie Yi’s focus, however, was strangely different: 【You’ve been watching them?】
Lin Zhiji: ?
That’s the point?
Isn’t the point that they’re plotting against you??
Xie Yi raised an eyebrow: 【Then tell me—how do you think they’ll harm me?】
That amused tone was exactly the same as when he had asked how to punish the steward earlier.
Lin Zhiji instantly realized—
Xie Yi already had everything planned. He was just toying with him.
The little light ball immediately flickered in frustration again.
Xie Yi couldn’t help but laugh.
Lin Zhiji: ????
Even angrier now.
Xie Yi looked at the curled-up ball of light in his consciousness space, glowing faintly gold like some small fluffy creature.
His fingers itched slightly, and he casually adjusted the jade pendant at his waist.
Soon, the old madam dismissed the younger generation to play outside.
Xie Yi followed them out but separated soon after, heading alone to a side courtyard.
A plain-looking maid knelt before him.
Lin Zhiji: !
He was right again.
Xie Yi had already made full preparations.
“Mm.” Xie Yi said calmly. “Report. What did you find?”
The maid hesitated for a moment before saying, “Madam Jiang has arranged for aphrodisiacs to be given to you and Concubine Han. Then people will be brought in to catch you in the act. A son born of a concubine and a consort committing adultery in public—once the general sees it, he will surely be enraged. Concubine Han and the child in her womb will not survive, and as for you……”
Xie Yi smiled lightly and finished for her, “And I, a bastard already deemed inauspicious, committing such scandalous depravity, would most likely ‘commit suicide out of guilt,’ then be wrapped in a straw mat and dumped in a mass grave.”
The maid trembled all over and lowered her head, not daring to speak.
Lin Zhiji was still half-arguing with his host in silence, but still perked up his ears.
After hearing this, he was completely stunned: this… this is way too vicious!
Then he heard Xie Yi let out a soft sigh.
Lin Zhiji’s heart inexplicably softened for a moment.
Even though Xie Yi was a bit of a monster most of the time, being treated like this by his so-called family… he still must feel hurt, right?
He awkwardly prepared to offer comfort, but then heard Xie Yi say in a regretful tone, “After all these years, she still hasn’t improved at all. What a waste of the gift I prepared for her.”
Lin Zhiji: ???
—
As night fell, the general’s residence was illuminated brightly with lanterns.
The banquet hall was lavishly decorated, and servants moved efficiently through the crowd carrying exquisite dishes.
Guests were led to their seats, and delicacies flowed onto tables like a river.
Yet Madam Jiang, seated at the main table, had little appetite.
By her original plan, she should have already led people to the side courtyard and exposed Han Wan and that bastard in public disgrace.
But Han Wan never went to the side courtyard.
Madam Jiang’s expression darkened as she looked at Han Wan, who was laughing softly while leaning against her husband.
A wasted pawn!
And then—she saw that very pawn step out from the shadows.
Under the flickering candlelight, he looked over with a faint, almost mocking smile.
Those gray-clouded eyes were like something out of a nightmare.
Madam Jiang quickly averted her gaze in shock and uncertainty.
Why was Xie Yi here?!
He hadn’t been drugged?
What were Li Guan and the others doing—can’t even handle a small task properly!
And now none of them reported back.
Even her personal maid had vanished without a trace……
Wait.
She froze.
Only now did she realize, belatedly, that Li Guan and her maid had been missing for far too long.
Before she could think further, Han Wan stood up gracefully and smiled toward General Xie Pingyue. “Husband, today is Grandmother’s birthday banquet. I’ve prepared a surprise for her.”
Xie Pingyue smiled. “Oh? What is it?”
Han Wan looked slightly shy. “I heard Grandmother loved fireworks when she was young, so I invited the famous Fireworks Liu to put on a display. I wish Grandmother longevity and prosperity, and husband peace and success.”
Xie Pingyue and the old madam were both pleased.
Compliments filled the hall once again.
Lin Zhiji had no interest in the flattery and focused instead on Xie Yi: 【Host, try this!】
Ever since discovering that Xie Yi didn’t mind “feeding tasks,” Lin Zhiji had become increasingly bold, often using so-called “missions” as excuses to make Xie Yi taste food.
Anyway, it seemed Madam Jiang’s schemes were already under control.
If Xie Yi didn’t want to explain, Lin Zhiji wasn’t that curious either.
Compared to that, eating something good—or triggering some daily task rewards—was far more appealing.
At that moment, however, the fireworks that were supposed to erupt still had not appeared.
A murmur of confusion spread through the hall.
Han Wan steadied herself awkwardly. “Perhaps there was a small delay—”
Lin Zhiji snapped out of his food trance: 【What’s going on? No fireworks?】
Xie Yi rested his chin on his hand: 【You wanted to see fireworks?】
Lin Zhiji hesitated: 【I mean… I guess?】
He hadn’t seen fireworks in a very long time.
Xie Yi smiled faintly: 【Alright.】
The moment he spoke—
BOOM.
A massive explosion shattered the night sky.
A brilliant red firework bloomed above the general’s residence.
Everyone looked up.
Then came a second explosion.
More crimson blossoms erupted, and something began to fall with them.
A guest suddenly felt something cold splatter onto his face. Thinking it was rain, he wiped it away—only to see dark red flesh on his fingers, faintly stinking of blood.
It was—flesh.
“Aaaaah——!!”
Screams tore through the banquet.
Everyone looked up in horror.
In the sky, a mangled, bloodied head fell through the fireworks light.
Half its face was still visible.
It was Li Guan.
The hall fell silent for a split second.
Then it erupted into chaos.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Fireworks continued to bloom—each explosion accompanied by falling flesh and blood rain.
The air filled with gunpowder and thick, metallic blood.
A banquet turned instantly into a slaughterhouse.
Guests screamed and fled in terror.
Only Xie Yi sat calmly, watching the spectacle like a performance.
He even asked mildly, “Pretty?”
Lin Zhiji was frozen stiff.
He couldn’t say a single word.
【Don’t like it?】 Xie Yi sounded faintly disappointed.
【That’s a pity.】