Chapter 6: Famous in a Single Battle, the Capital’s Foremost Scoundrel

"There's a monster here! Did you all see it?"

"There are so many, so many monsters! Hurry, catch them!"

The shouts, like a thunderclap on a clear day, jolted the guests out of that demonic rhythm. They awoke as if from a dream, abruptly stopping their hands from pressing, rubbing, and scraping. A wave of confusion and terror spread through the crowd. They had no memory of what had just transpired. They only felt their eye sockets aching and swollen, as if they had been struck hard. That eerie sensation of having no control over their own bodies still lingered in their minds, chilling them to the bone.

Ye Qingyan, her face deathly pale, scrambled up from the floor, her slender fingers trembling as she pointed in one direction.

"Everyone, look!" In that direction, the culprit, Li San, was obliviously finishing the final step of the "eye-scraping" maneuver. His thick, stubby thumbs were still meticulously scrubbing his puffy, swollen eyes. Under the dead silence of the entire hall, his actions appeared particularly prominent and bizarre.

"Grandmother! It’s him!" Ye Qingyan’s voice was laced with a trembling sob as she hid behind the nearest table. "It was him! He just used sorcery on me! Everyone... everyone was controlled by him!"

Every gaze whipped toward Li San. Suspicion, fear, and rage intertwined.

Li San was completely dazed. "I... I..." His mind was a blank slate, his hands finally frozen in place, unable to utter a single word. Sorcery? What sorcery? He had only taken Lady Wang’s silver to take advantage of the situation and ruin the reputation of this dim-witted girl. How had he suddenly become a monster capable of witchcraft?

"I... I didn't..." He tried to defend himself, but his throat felt as if it were blocked, allowing only dry, hoarse gasps to escape. Everyone around him looked at him as if he were a monster or a demon. Those gazes were sharper than blades, slicing him to pieces. The sensation of losing control over their bodies had been too real; the panic of being mere puppets made everyone believe it without question.

Standing directly opposite Ye Qingyan, Wang Feifei finally broke free from that strange force. Her face turned from deathly pale to ashen. She immediately realized the plan had failed completely. Not only had it failed, but it threatened to backfire on her!

*This Li San is absolute trash!* she cursed internally. *I must distance myself immediately!*

Wang Feifei slammed her hand on the table, rose abruptly, and pointed at Li San, berating him sharply. "Audacious scoundrel! How dare you perform your sorcery and harass the nobility at the Old Matriarch's birthday banquet! Someone! Seize this demonic creature!"

Her voice was shrill and piercing, filled with righteous indignation, as if she had absolutely no connection to Li San. Li San looked at Wang Feifei in disbelief. This noblewoman, who had promised him great wealth just moments ago, had turned on him faster than one could flip a page.

Ye Qingyan loved watching this kind of dog-eat-dog drama. Li San wanted to open his mouth and reveal the truth, but Wang Feifei’s murderous gaze made him deflate instantly. Several burly servants rushed over and pinned him firmly to the ground.

"I've been wronged! It was Lady Wa—" Before Li San could finish, a handkerchief from an unknown source was stuffed firmly into his mouth.

The world seemed to hit the mute button. The Old Matriarch of the Ye family, seated in the place of honor, had not spoken a word from the beginning. She slowly swept her gaze across the room. She saw her most prized daughter-in-law, Wang Feifei, her most beloved granddaughter, Ye Qinglian, and the hall full of shell-shocked dignitaries. Finally, her gaze landed on Ye Qingyan.

The Old Matriarch certainly did not believe in sorcery; she had seen too much in her life. But it was a fact that her granddaughter had been "molested," and it was a fact that the banquet had been turned into a disaster. The dignity of the Ye family must not be lost on her watch. She picked up her teacup, gently blew away the foam, and spoke in a voice that was not loud, yet carried unquestionable majesty.

"It is merely a drunkard causing trouble and disturbing everyone. Someone, drag him out and beat him with sticks; do not let him soil this joyous occasion."

Her voice was cold and calm, as if she were merely ordering servants to dispose of a stray dog that had been barking.

"Yes!" The servants received their orders and immediately hauled the struggling Li San away. The sound of Li San’s muffled whimpers and the dull thuds of fists and feet hitting flesh became the final coda to this farce.

Wang Feifei breathed a sigh of relief, though her back was drenched in cold sweat. She had lost money, invited trouble, and nearly implicated herself—it was a case of losing the bait without catching the bird. She looked at her daughter, Ye Qinglian, who also wore an ugly expression; the mother and daughter were the biggest losers of the night.

The Old Matriarch then soothingly reassured the guests: "Honored guests, there was a minor disturbance just now, and I apologize for the fright. Someone, bring fresh tea and fine wine; let the music and the dancing continue."

The banquet returned to its former liveliness. But the smiles on everyone's faces held a trace of stiffness and lingering fear. When they spoke to one another, their eyes would uncontrollably flicker toward Ye Qingyan, filled with an indescribable sense of awe and distance.

Although the Ye family tried their best to seal the news, claiming only that a drunkard had caused a scene, the events of that night were simply too bizarre. By the next day, rumors that "the eldest daughter of the Ye family went mad at her birthday banquet, scaring the entire room of guests into collective convulsions" had sprouted wings and spread through every street and alley of the capital.

The versions of the rumor became increasingly outlandish. Some said, "The eldest daughter of the Ye family is actually possessed by evil spirits; she can spit out curses and manipulate human hearts." Others said, "She is a baleful star; whoever gets near her has bad luck." Still others claimed, "That Li San, who was beaten half to death, was no drunkard but a powerful sorcerer whose magical body was shattered on the spot by the eldest Miss Ye."

In any case, Ye Qingyan’s reputation as a "mad, dim-witted girl" was officially upgraded overnight to "a chaotic demon king tainted by evil." From then on, everyone in the capital avoided her like the plague. Those young masters and noblewomen who once wanted to make a mockery of her or bully her now took a wide detour upon seeing her, fearing they might be infected by the "evil aura" she carried.

This, unexpectedly, gave Ye Qingyan a perfect layer of protection, allowing her to enjoy a level of peace she had never known before.

Deep in the night, Ye Qingyan lay on her bed, recalling the thrill of the day, and couldn't help but giggle. "Hahaha, that was absolutely hilarious!"

[...Rebellious subject, your "Imperial Might" is truly... unique.]

In her mind, the system, which had been silent for a long time, finally squeezed out a comment. The tone was filled with an indescribable complexity, as if a king had watched his own Imperial Jade Seal being used to crack walnuts.

Ye Qingyan was in a very good mood and couldn't be bothered to argue with it. Just as she was enjoying this peace that no one dared to disturb and preparing for a good sleep, there was a light knock on her door. The steward's voice rang out from outside, carrying a touch of unusual solemnity.

"Eldest Miss, there is a matter I must report to you."

Ye Qingyan threw on a robe, got up, and opened the door. The steward bowed, his expression grave.

"Eldest Miss, the Cousin-Master... has returned from the neighboring country."

"Cousin-Master? Who is that?" Ye Qingyan muttered to herself.