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I suddenly recall the words.

'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?