Chapter Ninety: The Birthday Banquet (5)

The man’s fist, surging with a fierce, barely restrained anger, slammed into the tree behind her.

“I want the truth,” he said.

She flinched, startled by his sudden rage. She had never truly seen him angry before. Meeting his eyes, she looked faintly aggrieved.

“Mr. Huangpu…”

What he could not stand most was that look on her face. The little girl seemed wronged to the core, even her voice trembling.

“Be good. I shouldn’t have frightened you. But tell me the truth, all right? I cannot tolerate even the slightest danger to you.”

She clutched at his clothes. “Then… then don’t be angry?”

“Tell me first.”

“He, he found me later, and then he fired at me, but I dodged it.”

She did not dare quite meet his eyes.

“Very well. So, girl, have you really learned something impressive?”

“I… Mr. Huangpu…”

She wrapped her arms around him and buried herself in his embrace, too afraid to lift her head.

Seeing her cowering like that, like an ostrich hiding its head in the sand, he let out a bitter laugh. He lowered his head and bit her ear, venting the fury he had not yet managed to spend.

“If this ever happens again and you still don’t tell me, I’ll just bite you to death.”

She shrank a little in his arms, listening to the strong beat of his heart, and felt utterly at peace.

Not far away, a woman dressed in white watched their entwined figures. Her eyes reddened, and jealousy mixed with hatred swelled wildly within her.

—

“Where did you go?”

When she came out, he had not seen her, and was just about to send someone to look for her when she appeared.

“I just went for a walk. What’s happening in the banquet hall?”

“I finally understand why that so-called general didn’t invite our family. So they actually know that crowd around Huangpu Shenqing. When I went in with her just now, I even saw the legendary Lord Nine. Truly, there is no one else in this world like him.”

As Huangpu Qingyin recalled that breathtaking scene, she noticed Bai Xi looking utterly lost. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing, Qingyin. What are we going to do next?”

“Next? I just heard from Qiansuoyin that…”

—

“Ziyan.”

Her voice was bright with delight. She had never imagined that one day he would come looking for her of his own accord.

“Do you still remember what you did?”

Ye Ziyan’s tone was icy, and his gaze upon her was as strange as if they had never met.

Her face stiffened at once. “You came to me for her?”

“Do you know that I was stripped of my name by the royal family because of her?”

“And that I lost an arm because of her!”

“That was your own doing. Otherwise, I would have taken one of your hands as well.”

“What did you say?” Her pupils widened, disbelief filling her eyes.

“I never liked you. How many people did you harm? How many people suffered because of your selfishness? One day, you will pay for it.”

“You say I’ll pay for it?” Qiansuoyin laughed, and as she laughed, tears began to fall.

“Ten years! Ten whole years! Ye Ziyan, I’ve liked you for ten years, and in the end this is all I get from you—that I’ll pay for it?”

“You should know your place. Don’t use liking me as an excuse for harming others.”

Without giving her another glance, Ye Ziyan left that quiet place.

“Know my place? Ye Ziyan, how could you even say that?”

She collapsed to the ground, all her former poise gone.

She had first seen him at her coming-of-age ceremony, and from that moment on, her heart was lost—lost to a man called Ye Ziyan.

She pursued him obsessively, learned everything about him, investigated him, gathered every photograph and video she could find. She had liked him for ten years and chased after him for ten years.

And in the end, all she received was a single line: know your place. You will pay for it. I would even break one of your hands myself.

“Ye Ziyan, how ruthless your heart is!”

“Princess, Princess, what happened?”

“Biya, what am I supposed to do? He actually… actually told me to know my place?”

“Princess, Princess…”

Biya held her close. She had watched with her own eyes as her princess changed, step by step, into the person she was now.

“What’s wrong with your princess?”

Huangpu Qingyin and Bai Xi had also come over.

Qiansuoyin wiped away her tears. She would not let anyone see her weak side. “Nothing. What else do the two of you need to do?”

The two exchanged a glance, and Bai Xi said, “I heard the banquet lasts until tomorrow morning?”

“So?”

“Then there are many things we can do now.”

…

“Where did you go? The evening banquet is starting.”

The banquet beginning now allowed guests to move into the manor to dine, of course, only if they wished.

“I won’t go. I’ll stay here. You all go ahead and eat.”

“All right. Then be careful. Muya and I will go over first.”

Xia Wanqing, Ouyang Muya, and the others headed toward the banquet hall.

Shangguan Renran was afraid of causing them trouble, so she did not go with them. Staying here to eat matcha cake was enough.

“Ye Zuo, you should go eat too. I’m fine staying here.”

“Since there’s no one by the young lady’s side right now, I won’t leave.”

Huangpu Shenqing had gone to the banquet hall to deal with something, though Shangguan Renran did not know exactly what. Still, there were many people at this venue, and she did not stand out.

As for where Huangpu Shenqing had gone to “deal with business,” he had gone to seek revenge.

Anyone who dared kill his little girl would have to answer for it.

The venue had been arranged like a restaurant, with most people gathered in small groups over their meals.

The banquet would continue until tomorrow morning, so everyone was eating to keep up their strength and, perhaps, to enjoy the rest of the night even more.

It was already ten o’clock in the evening. The king and queen had left the table.

Ye Ziyan had also gone; he had never intended to stay long in the first place.

Some who disliked staying up late, as well as some older guests, had also departed. Two-thirds of the banquet remained.

Seeing Huangpu Shenqing arrive so late, Ouyang Mufeng and the others seated in the front were somewhat puzzled.

They had thought he would stay by Shangguan Renran’s side and not come over.

“Second Brother? Where’s Second Sister-in-law? Why didn’t she come with you?”

Huangpu Shenqing sat down beside them. “She’s staying on the banquet side and not coming over. That’s better.”

It made things more convenient for him to handle.

Lin Yan asked, “What do you mean by that?”

“Big Brother, your birthday tonight may not be a peaceful one.”

Hearing Huangpu Shenqing say that, the others immediately guessed he was planning something.

Lin Yan spread his hands. “Do as you please.”