As dusk settled in, this New Year’s banquet finally began.

In Xie Queshan’s plan, he would slip the drug into the last sweet soup that Song Muchuan ate. When leaving, Song Muchuan would only think his drowsiness came from drinking too much wine, and would be helped onto the carriage by servants to take him home… When he woke up again, he would already be on a ship bound for Jinling.

But no one had anticipated that just as everyone was taking their seats in small groups, before the dishes could even be served, an ornately luxurious carriage stopped at the gate of Wangxue Manor.

In no time, a servant came running in breathlessly to report, so urgent he could barely catch his breath: “Wan, Wan… Lord Wanyan has arrived!”

Everyone’s faces darkened, not knowing what this uninvited guest had come for.

“He’s also brought Princess Lingfu!”

At this, even the usually unflappable Madam Gantang’s face immediately changed.

She had just arrived and hadn’t yet heard about Princess Lingfu’s situation.

Madam Gantang’s husband, the Marquis of Pingnan, was Princess Lingfu’s uncle. She had once stayed in the palace for a period and had a close relationship with Princess Lingfu.

She had thought that Xu Kouyue had been captured along with the other royal family members, never expecting she had been brought to Li Du Mansion. Thinking of this beloved niece, her steps became unsteady, and she couldn’t care about the other guests, heading straight for the outer courtyard.

Xie Queshan followed with a stern face. How could it be such a coincidence that Wanyan Jun chose to visit the Xie family for New Year’s greetings precisely when Song Muchuan was present? This was definitely planned.

Just as they stepped outside, they encountered Wanyan Jun’s party. Two rows of servants stood in neat formation, carrying New Year’s gifts in their hands. At a glance, even these boxes were intricately carved, clearly presenting the appearance of a New Year’s visit.

Wanyan Jun was tall and imposing. Unlike typical Qi people, his features weren’t coarse, and his dress and manner had a scholarly elegance. He could be considered handsome, but his eyes held a sinister, ruthless gleam. Being swept by his gaze made one inexplicably feel a chill.

Xu Kouyue walked behind him with her head lowered, dressed in fine clothing, but with each step came the rustling sound of iron chains clashing.

She made no attempt to hide it, displaying her status as a golden prisoner for everyone to see.

Seeing this scene, Madam Gantang gasped and couldn’t say a word, nearly stumbling before being supported by a maidservant beside her.

Xu Kouyue looked up, gazing at her aunt from afar, and only gently shook her head, signaling her not to do anything.

Wanyan Jun remained composed. Upon seeing Xie Queshan, he spoke with familiar enthusiasm: “Brother Queshan, Happy New Year—these noble families celebrate more grandly than outsiders. Your house is so lively today, it wouldn’t be right not to invite your brother, would it?”

“Lord Wanyan, Princess Lingfu,” Xie Queshan cupped his hands in greeting, showing no disrespect toward Princess Lingfu and offering her the proper courtesy of a minister. “Today is just a casual gathering of the family’s womenfolk. I was planning to properly host you both another day—”

These polite words came naturally to Xie Queshan. He turned to Madam Gantang: “Second Sister, please prepare the seats of honor for Lord Wanyan and Princess Lingfu.”

As he spoke, Xie Queshan glanced toward Song Muchuan’s direction, signaling Madam Gantang to take him away. Though Madam Gantang was momentarily slow to react due to her extreme shock, she still understood and composed herself.

Just as she turned around, she heard Wanyan Jun say: “Oh my, and this young master is—”

Wanyan Jun’s gaze fell on Song Muchuan.

Immediately, Xie Queshan understood everything. Wanyan Jun would never show courtesy or curiosity toward any Han person without reason, unless he already knew who they were.

Wanyan Jun had taken a fancy to Song Muchuan’s talents and wanted him to work at the Bureau of Ships to build vessels.

Today, taking advantage of the Xie family’s banquet, he intended to put his purpose on the table, catching Xie Queshan off guard. No matter what thoughts he had, he could no longer make any small moves. He had to follow Wanyan Jun’s wishes and force Song Muchuan into compliance.

Even one day later, Xie Queshan would have already sent the man away, but it had to be right now!

Xie Queshan paused only briefly before Wanyan Jun looked at him with a half-smile, studying his reaction.

When Zhang Yuehui sold him Song Muchuan’s information, she had kindly reminded him: “If My Lord insists on forcing this, I wonder if it might put Young Master Queshan in a difficult position? After all, he’s an old friend.”

The proprietor of Guilai Hall was someone who enjoyed watching drama unfold, but he didn’t want any friction with Xie Queshan. However, a subtle thorn had been planted, and he was naturally curious about where this turncoat minister’s loyalties truly lay upon returning to his homeland.

Xie Queshan was very clear that at any time, his primary task was to preserve his own position.

He smiled impassively and introduced candidly: “This is my old friend, Song Muchuan.”

Wanyan Jun feigned surprise: “Master Song, I’ve long admired your reputation. I’ve heard you come from a family of craftsmen and are a rare talent!”

Song Muchuan raised his hands respectfully without being servile: “Lord Wanyan, you flatter this commoner.”

“Brother Queshan, this is quite unkind of you. Having such a talented and virtuous friend, how could you not introduce him to me sooner?”

Xie Queshan smiled without warmth, his nerves already taut. He knew he was in a passive position, and any words against Wanyan Jun would arouse suspicion.

But he was skilled at reading situations and maintaining his facade at all times.

So he went along with the flow and seized the opportunity: “Isn’t today a perfect chance? My Lord, Princess, please come inside.”

The great gong sounded, and the spring banquet finally began.

Everyone wore brand-new clothes, facing a table full of delicacies, but their smiles had collectively vanished. They were on edge, not daring to breathe freely.

The women’s seating was arranged in the inner hall. They had expected Wanyan Jun to let Xu Kouyue join the women for the meal, but after taking his seat, he refused to release her, keeping her by his side instead.

He made her pour tea and wine, fetch water and towels, and even had her use chopsticks to feed him. Wanyan Jun lounged brazenly, occasionally pulling her waist close or placing his hand on her skirt, his actions crude and unbearable to watch.

This was clearly treating the dignified princess like a serving maid… no, worse than a maid—like the lowest concubine, leaving her no dignity whatsoever.

Even Xie Queshan felt his smile growing stiff.

Even someone as well-mannered as Madam Gantang was angered enough to show a cold expression.

Her daughter Afu happened to restlessly reach for food on the table, knocking over a bone dish. It wasn’t a big matter, but it caused Madam Gantang to scold her harshly.

The little girl didn’t understand the situation and burst into tears.

The piercing cries faintly reached the men’s table outside, making the already freezing atmosphere even more oppressive.

Song Muchuan and Wanyan Jun had nothing in common. He wouldn’t even drink the wine offered to him, much less accept his earnest invitations.

“I’m grateful for Lord Wanyan’s regard, but this commoner is a demoted civilian, not qualified to take on important duties at the Bureau of Ships,” Song Muchuan said, though he didn’t completely break decorum. “Since Master Xie has distinguished guests, this commoner won’t disturb you further.”

He actually stood up as if to leave.

At this moment, Xie Queshan felt a trace of despair. He desperately hoped Song Muchuan could leave like this—once he reached the door, his men would immediately knock him unconscious and take him to the ship, and tomorrow this man would vanish without a trace from Li Du Mansion. But he also knew all too well that Wanyan Jun would never let him go so easily.

He couldn’t walk out that door, and Xie Queshan couldn’t influence even the slightest bit of this outcome.

Sure enough, Wanyan Jun’s expression had darkened: “It seems my face isn’t worth enough to convince Master Song.”

“Xu Kouyue, he was once your subject. Go speak with him. If you can persuade him, I’ll reward you handsomely.”

Xu Kouyue, who had been kneeling silently beside Wanyan Jun, was suddenly called upon and looked up with a frightened expression.

The others hadn’t yet grasped what this meant, but Xu Kouyue, accustomed to torment, already understood.

Wanyan Jun looked at Xu Kouyue with amusement: “Think about how to speak to Master Song to move him.”

Behind the screen, the women fell completely silent, everyone sensing the powder keg atmosphere.

As fellow women, the women of Li Du Mansion were fortunate—regardless of their status, at least they weren’t prisoners. But this princess, who had once been elevated like a precious pearl, had come to such an end.

Yet everyone knew there was nothing they could do.

Even Xie Queshan couldn’t make any move.

Because of the vast disparity in power, this situation existed. Under such disparity, everyone had to surrender their dignity.

Xu Kouyue’s pleading gaze struggled around the table. The moment it touched Xie Queshan’s, it dimmed in resignation. She knew he wouldn’t help her.

In the silence, Xu Kouyue slowly shifted her knees, the iron chains rustling again. She knelt facing Song Muchuan’s direction, her voice trembling like a thread: “Master Song, I humbly beseech you…”

The second half caught in her throat, unable to emerge.

She could only let Wanyan Jun manipulate her at will, but she knew that those scholars still held loyalty to the old dynasty in their hearts and still regarded her as a princess.

How could she ask them to serve the Qi people?

She bit her lip and refused to say more.

Song Muchuan clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles white with force. He stood there, unable to leave, yet unwilling to sit back down in humiliation.

“Tsk,” Wanyan Jun shook his head regretfully. “It seems that’s still not enough to move Master Song. I wonder what Master Song’s interests might be?”

No one responded, so Wanyan Jun continued talking to himself: “—How about beauty? Master Song won’t speak, but I know you scholars value face. Speaking of which, Princess Lingfu should be the most beautiful pearl of your Yu Dynasty, shouldn’t she?”

Wanyan Jun suddenly grabbed Xu Kouyue’s outer robe: “How about we remove your clothes one by one until Master Song agrees?”

From behind the screen came the sound of a table being overturned. Xie Sui’an kicked down the screen with her foot, her sword already unsheathed.

“Wanyan Jun, don’t go too far!”

The screen fell, instantly removing the barrier between inner and outer seating, exposing this shameful scene to everyone.

“Xie Xiaoliu—” Xie Queshan’s tone had never been so severe. “Sit down!”

His scolding was mere posturing, fierce on the surface but weak within, revealing his powerless undertone.

Xie Sui’an refused to comply, but Nanyi immediately stepped forward, forcibly pulling her back.

“Xiaoliu, don’t do this.” Nanyi looked at Xie Sui’an almost pleadingly.

Tears of helplessness immediately welled up in Xie Sui’an’s eyes. But after Nanyi tugged at her several times, she still sat down stiffly.

How could she not understand what even Nanyi could figure out?

So what if she acted on impulse and played the hero? Could she rescue the princess? Could she kill Wanyan Jun? She could do nothing, and might even put herself in danger, losing both the lady and the soldiers.

Wanyan Jun sighed: “You’re not satisfied with that either—shall I kill the princess then? Don’t you Han people like to say that scholars can be killed but not humiliated?”

Xu Kouyue surrendered. Her hands trembled as they reached for her clothing, removing the first piece—a light green jacket. She then undid the hidden fasteners, loosened her collar, and slowly withdrew her arms from the crossed-collar jacket.

This was the second piece. Underneath remained only a dark-colored bodice, leaving large areas of her shoulders and neck exposed.

The bodice ties were at her back. She reached behind to untie them, but perhaps trembling too severely, she couldn’t reach them.

Time stretched endlessly.

Nanyi clenched her fists, her nails nearly digging into her flesh.

Her heart cried out desperately: Do something, do something—but what could possibly be done?

Suddenly, she saw Xie Queshan give her a look. He glanced at the window, then casually looked at the candlestick.

That glance was so quick it seemed never to have happened.

Nanyi’s mind buzzed as she suddenly understood! She quietly drew out her sleeve arrow and shot it at the nearest window.

With a ding, the arrow embedded in the window frame, the rebound force throwing open the loosely closed window. The cold wind outside howled in, rushing through eagerly and instantly extinguishing all the candles in the room.

The hall plunged into darkness.

The darkness gave everyone a moment’s respite and left Xu Kouyue what little dignity remained.

After a long moment, Song Muchuan’s defeated voice came through: “I agree.”

Xie Queshan closed his eyes, his sigh hidden in the darkness. He rarely felt powerless, but at this moment he seemed to be pulled along by an invisible net.

The cold wind cut across everyone’s face like knives, a slow torture.

The candles hadn’t yet been relit when the sound of iron chains clashing was heard, as if Xu Kouyue was running—everyone immediately realized what was happening.

She was already a worthless person not worth saving—how could she let scholars bow their heads for her sake? She didn’t want to be the sword that severed the scholars’ integrity. If she did that, all the humiliation she had endured would truly become disgrace.

This grand spring banquet had originally carried beautiful meanings, but everyone knew in their hearts that even if the calendar turned to the new year, it still couldn’t change anything. The filthiest, most unbearable things were laid bare before everyone’s eyes, accompanied by the decadent sounds of pipes and strings, like a room full of brocade turning to ash in an instant.

Madam Gantang let out a heart-wrenching cry: “Yaoyao!”

Yaoyao was Xu Kouyue’s childhood name, known only to those extremely close to her. But this call still couldn’t recall her resolve.

With determined resolve, she rushed headfirst toward the pillar.

Where eyes could reach was only darkness, making every sound particularly startling.