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'Will you be able to handle the truth?'

Yu Cheng... What exactly did you see...?

How strange. The Feast has already started, so why has His Imperial Majesty not yet arrived?

No need to panic. His Imperial Majesty is busy. Something urgent might have come up. All we can do is wait.

I heard he's been ill for a while now. What if it is something to do with that?

Shh! Stop blabbering.

Preposterous! Simply preposterous!

Don't you know where we are!? What right have you to obstruct a court mandarin?

What's all this noise about?

This man says he's Assistant Minister Tang Jian of the Ministry of Revenue, but we've already checked, and every seat under the Ministry of Revenue is already accounted for...

I <i>AM</i> TANG JIAN! None of this 'he says' rubbish! Look, do you see this seal in my hand? Whose name is on it?!

...Hmmm?

All falls silent.

Three blasts of the horn mark the seventh hour of the night.

The moons shine bright overhead, their light so clear they wash away all color.

All rise—

One by one, the mandarins stand, looking towards the center of the Feast with bated breath.

Waiting for the one meant to be seated at the head of the table—

I have something to report, Your Majesty!

Fire.

None knew where the burst of flame came from, but all it needed was a gust of autumn wind to engulf the entire banquet.

The flickering flames act like wild beasts, brandishing their fangs and claws as they pace about above the table.

The wind blows, and the beasts of fire grow and grow and grow with speed. The conflagration bloats and bulges, letting off unsettling noises. Some liken it to shouting, others to laughter—

Bizarre flames pour like falling rain. Having already tainted the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies, they flit and flicker as they climb up the faces of the panicking mandarins.

What the... What's going on?

Fire! FIRE!

Assassins! Protect His Majesty!

Guards, guards—

Put out that fire! Lock the dining area down!

Take care—

The source of this fire...

Everyone! Stay away from the wine in the cups!

(A fire that does not burn hot...)

(Who did this... and what are they up to?)

Lin Qingyan tries to calm down the panicking crowd, but her voice is quickly drowned out by the shouting and screaming.

In the midst of the chaos, she spots a familiar face.

Their eyes met for only a moment, but she is more sure than anything.

That person saw her, saw her attempt to cross the line of propriety in front of all.

But the target is not her.

Blaze...!

What's going on? What's with all this ruckus?

This is bad! I heard some kind of demonic fire broke out at the banquet! No idea how it happened!

The guards have the dining area surrounded. No idea what's going on inside, or if His Majesty is hurt...

They're talking about... cutting the Feast short...

Lin Qingyan...!

We've been notified of unknown persons infiltrating the Feast. We will now be conducting an inspection.

I ask that everyone stay where they are and not move. Please cooperate.

(Dammit... What the hell happened over where Leizi is?)

(This is bad. I can't leave her to fend for herself. I need to go take a look...)

You there! Stop moving!

(What do I do what do I do? I can't get in a fight here!)

(No time to think, dammit!)

After her!

First Battalion, Fifth Battalion, seal off the southern entrance! Seventh and Ninth, close the northern gate!

Everyone else, sweep the palace from south to north. If you find anyone suspicious, arrest them immediately.

Our intel says there are at least two culprits working together to ruin the Feast, so take care!

So many guards... What a pain.

What kinda trouble did you manage to get yourself into here, Leizi?

Sounds like you haven't gotten caught yet, at least... So where the hell are you?

Tsch... This palace is way too big...

Why're <i>you</i> here?!

Shh—

I thought you two just wanted to ask His Majesty to reopen the case? How did it come to this?

I don't know either! That fire's not our doing!

But the timing...

You need to leave, right away! There's no talking your way out of it if they find you.

What I <i>need</i> to do is save Lin Qingyan!

...Let me go look for her.

How can I ask you to do something that dangerous?!

I'm more familiar with the Forbidden City than you are. Even If I did get caught, I'll have some leeway to explain myself.

Don't worry. I'll find her.

But...

You still don't trust me. What, still angry at me?

Of course not—

Head to the southern exit, before the guards seal it off!

We'll meet up at that restaurant once we're all out of here.

...Okay.

You take care too.

Wait, did the soldiers manage to get a good look at you?

Err... Yeah, I think so.

That's... not good.

Oh, I know! Let's swap clothes. Come on, get them off.

I saw someone running away up ahead! Over there!

*Sigh*...

The dining area's been cleared out... Deputy Minister Lin wouldn't be here.

But who started all this at the Feast...

I hope Blaze managed to make it out by now—

Why is she here?

These two...

Is this fate at work?

Looks like it's not too far away now...

Wonder how things are going over on their side...

Found you...

Who's there?!

So it was you.

Damn... That's one hell of a sword!

You're not dressed like your average soldier. What are you, a general?

Save the chatter.

So you're the one Lin Qingyan has been hiding behind her back... But why would she bring you to the Forbidden City?

Err... So I know it's impolite to barge in on someone else's banquet, but would you believe me if I said we didn't mean anything bad by it...?