The Banquet She Told Him Not to Attend-Su Chen Was Going Anyway

The moment those words fell.

The expressions of several people at the edge of the field changed.

Shen Zhi frowned first.

"Xu Tinglan, what are you up to now?"

The woman in the moon-white dress didn't look at him.

She simply kept holding the thin letter out in midair, her steady gaze fixed on Su Chen.

"Whether you take it is up to you."

"What's in the letter?"

Xiao Wu spoke first.

In one step, she moved to stand just ahead of Su Chen, staring at Xu Tinglan with little courtesy in her eyes.

"You say 'don't go,' and expect people to believe you?"

Only then did Xu Tinglan turn to look at her.

Her gaze was light. It first swept over the Carrot Wooden Hairpin in Xiao Wu's hair, then settled on the beads of sweat at her temple, which hadn't dried yet.

"You just finished fighting."

"Of course you're heated."

"I'm not going to argue with you."

Xiao Wu was even more annoyed.

"Who's arguing with you?"

"I'm asking you a question."

Xu Tinglan didn't rise to the barb.

She simply looked back at Su Chen.

"Tonight's banquet isn't a celebration."

"It's a test."

Han Su stood not far away, his expression darkening at once.

"Xu Tinglan."

"Since when does the Internal Affairs Department get to let you come out and spout nonsense?"

Xu Tinglan finally turned her face to the side.

She looked at Han Su, her voice still soft.

"Am I wrong?"

"Those invited tonight aren't just people from the branch hall."

"Several families in the city who are close to the branch hall are on the list too."

"Everyone knows who you want to watch and who you want to make take sides."

Han Su's gaze turned cold.

"You're with the Internal Affairs Department, not the Judgment Department."

"Who gave you the nerve to stir up trouble in public?"

The small silver keys at Xu Tinglan's waist lightly clinked together.

She neither hurried nor backed down.

"Why are you so anxious?"

"I'm only warning His Highness the Holy Son."

"As for whether it's trouble—"

She paused.

"You know that better than anyone."

The atmosphere at the edge of the field tightened at once.

Shen Zhi stood in the middle, his eyelids twitching twice.

He knew Xu Tinglan had never been one to show her face.

Usually, she thought even one sentence was too much.

For her to dare challenge Han Su in public today meant she really had something in her hands.

Only then did Su Chen reach out and take the thin letter.

The paper was thin.

And cold.

There was no wax seal, only a faint silver pattern.

He didn't open it right away.

"Why are you warning me?"

Xu Tinglan looked at him.

"Because if you really don't go, what's in this letter will be useful."

"If you decide to go..."

"Then it can only count as half a trump card."

Xiao Wu's brows drew tighter as she listened.

"Can you stop talking in circles?"

"Just say it plainly."

Xu Tinglan looked at her.

"Plainly put..."

"Someone will test you at the banquet tonight."

"Some will use toasts and gifts to force you to take a side."

"And others..."

Her gaze swept past Han Su.

"Will take advantage of the chaos to steal something they shouldn't."

Su Chen lightly pressed a fingertip against the edge of the envelope.

"What thing?"

"The entry and exit records for the second level of the Branch Hall Secret Vault."

Xu Tinglan's voice was quiet.

"And the External Transfer Registry for the past three months."

At those words, Han Su's expression finally changed.

Not anger.

A strained, dark look he could no longer hide.

Su Chen saw it clearly.

That meant what was written in the letter was most likely true.

Xiao Wu didn't understand all the twists and turns, but she could read Han Su's reaction.

She immediately turned her head toward Su Chen.

"Something's fishy."

"Mm."

Su Chen replied and finally opened the letter.

There were only two pages inside.

The handwriting was fine and steady.

One page listed tonight's attendees.

Han Su, branch hall deacons, people from several merchant guilds in Suotuo City, and two Spirit Hall transfer deacons.

The other page was a hand-drawn map.

The Branch Hall Rear Hall, Banquet Hall, Side Corridor, Secret Vault Entrance, and Key Room were all marked.

A tiny line of writing was squeezed into the lower-right corner.

Tonight, at the third quarter of the xu hour, the keys will change hands once.

After reading it, Su Chen folded the paper back up.

"What do you want me to do?"

Xu Tinglan answered quickly.

"It's simple."

"Either don't go."

"Or, if you do go, don't just eat."

Xiao Wu let out a soft snort.

"After all that, you still just want to drag him into this to do your work for you."

Xu Tinglan didn't deny it.

"Yes."

"Because he's the only one who can keep Han Su in check right now."

"And I'm with the Internal Affairs Department. I have keys, but no blade."

She said it bluntly.

Xiao Wu was at a loss for words.

She hated people who schemed in every word and gesture.

But Xu Tinglan had laid her schemes out in the open, making it hard to keep berating her.

Shen Zhi spoke up then.

"Xu Tinglan."

"Since you know there's a problem tonight, why not report it directly to the Main Hall?"

Xu Tinglan looked at him.

"You really think I haven't reported it?"

Shen Zhi paused.

"No one took it up?"

"They did."

"And buried it."

Her tone finally turned a little cold.

"Because Han Su isn't the only thing rotten in Suotuo Branch Hall."

Silence settled over the edge of the field.

The wind swept past the torn edge of the flag, making it flap in a continuous rustle.

Xiao Wu unconsciously moved half a step closer to Su Chen.

"Then you definitely can't just go tonight."

"Who said I wasn't going?"

Su Chen slipped the letter into his sleeve, his tone mild.

"You're still going?"

"She said it's a trap."

"That's why I'm going."

Su Chen turned his head to look at her.

"Otherwise, how would we see who makes a move tonight, and who starts to panic?"

Xiao Wu opened her mouth.

She'd wanted to say it was far too dangerous.

But when she met Su Chen's gaze, she knew he'd already made up his mind.

She pressed her lips together.

"Then I'm going too."

"You were going anyway."

"I mean, I'm going with you."

"Mm."

Su Chen answered naturally.

"Stay with me."

Only then did Xiao Wu relax a little.

Xu Tinglan watched the two of them. Her gaze lingered on Su Chen's face for a moment, then shifted to Xiao Wu.

"She'd better not stray too far from you tonight."

"There won't be only wine in the banquet hall."

Xiao Wu immediately retorted.

"I'm not made of porcelain."

"I know," Xu Tinglan said.

"But some people will go after whoever seems easy to bully."

Xiao Wu's face turned cold at once.

"Let them try."

Han Su finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He took a step forward, his gray-and-gold robe stirring in the wind.

"Enough."

"Xu Tinglan, you've crossed the line too many times today."

"Guards."

Two guards from the branch hall immediately stepped forward.

Xu Tinglan didn't even blink.

"You want to lay a hand on me here?"

Han Su stared at her.

"If you keep spouting nonsense, I'll have to deal with you according to the branch hall's rules."

"Rules?"

Su Chen suddenly let out a laugh.

Han Su froze.

Su Chen turned around, his gaze settling on the two guards.

"Stand down."

The two exchanged a glance, but they truly didn't dare move forward again.

Han Su's face turned livid.

"His Highness the Holy Son, this is branch hall business—"

"She's talking to me."

Su Chen cut him off.

"Why are you butting in?"

As soon as those words fell, silence swept over the area again.

What Han Su hated most was being put in his place in front of everyone.

But right now, he didn't dare say a single harsh word.

Su Chen no longer looked at him. He spoke only to Xu Tinglan.

"Will you be at tonight's banquet?"

"Yes."

"And the keys are in your hands?"

"For the first half."

Xu Tinglan gently lifted the little silver keys hanging at her waist.

"For the second half, someone will borrow them."

"Who?"

"Lu Ming, the chief steward of the accounts office."

"One of Han Su's people?"

"Not on the surface."

"And in reality?"

"You can assume he is."

Su Chen nodded.

"All right. I understand."

Xu Tinglan looked at him as if waiting for him to say more.

But Su Chen said nothing further.

She was silent for two breaths before giving a slight nod.

"Then I'll wait for you."

With that, she turned and left.

The hem of her moon-white skirt brushed the ground, making almost no sound.

The little silver keys at her waist clicked softly against each other as she walked, then quickly vanished into the crowd.

Xiao Wu stared at her retreating figure. A few seconds later, she spoke in a low voice.

"She talks kind of weird."

"What was weird?"

"What did she mean by 'I'll wait for you'?"

Xiao Wu wrinkled her nose.

"It sounds like she's already dug a pit for you to fall into."

Su Chen glanced at her.

"Then stay close to me."

Xiao Wu had still been on guard, but at that, she froze.

"Huh?"

"Aren't you worried I'll fall into a pit?" Su Chen said evenly. "Then keep an eye on me tonight."

Xiao Wu broke into a grin.

"Sure."

"Then I'll keep my eyes on you all night."

Shen Zhi stood to one side and silently turned his face away.

He suddenly regretted sticking around.

Han Su had watched all of this unfold, and his expression grew darker by the moment.

He knew it very well.

Tonight's banquet was supposed to be where he captured people, vetted them, and kept things under control.

But now, before Su Chen had even entered the Banquet Hall, he'd already turned half the tables.

The most infuriating part was that Xu Tinglan herself had handed him the opening.

Han Su suppressed his anger and forced his tone back to an even pitch.

"Since His Highness the Holy Son has decided to attend, the branch hall will naturally be waiting to receive you."

"However."

He glanced at Xiao Wu.

"The branch hall's evening banquet has rules. Uninvited outsiders—"

"She doesn't count as an outsider."

Su Chen cut him off.

"She came with me."

Xiao Wu raised her chin and chimed in.

"You heard him, didn't you?"

"Stop trying to save face."

Han Su's hand clenched inside his sleeve until his knuckles bulged.

But he still lowered his head.

"Fine."

"Then I'll see you tonight."

With that, he turned and left.

His back was ramrod straight.

But his footsteps were much heavier than when he'd arrived.

Only after Han Su and his people had dispersed did the oppressive air around them finally ease.

Xiao Wu immediately turned around.

"What do we do now?"

"Find somewhere to rest first."

Shen Zhi answered.

"The Enrollment Banquet is tonight. Going to the branch hall now would be like walking into a cage ahead of time."

"I have an old rest room behind the Training Ground. No one uses it anymore."

"We can stay there for a while."

Su Chen nodded.

"Lead the way."

The rest room wasn't big.

But it was quiet enough.

The wooden window stood half open, facing a row of old birch trees. When the wind blew, their leaves rustled softly.

Inside were a long table, two armchairs, and a daybed.

A copper basin sat in the corner, filled with freshly changed water.

As soon as Xiao Wu entered, she took the Carrot Wooden Hairpin from her hair and carefully placed it on the corner of the table.

Then she sat down by the daybed and rubbed her calves.

"At last, I can sit down for a while."

Su Chen glanced at her.

"Are your legs still sore?"

"A little."

"How much is a little?"

"It's... fine."

"Stubborn."

Su Chen walked over, crouched in front of her, and gently tapped the training boot by her foot.

"Take it off."

Xiao Wu's eyes widened.

"What for?"

"What do you think?"

"How would I know?"

"Your laces are too tight."

Su Chen looked up at her.

"You were limping a little when you walked off the field."

Xiao Wu fell silent.

She hadn't expected him to notice something so small.

Two breaths passed before she muttered softly,

"How do you manage to notice everything?"

"Because someone always insists on pretending she's fine."

Xiao Wu pouted, but she obediently stretched out her leg.

Su Chen didn't touch anywhere else.

He simply loosened the laces on her training boot, adjusted them, then tied them again.

His movements were unhurried.

And steady.

Xiao Wu lowered her head, watching his long fingers. Suddenly, the tips of her ears felt warm.

She coughed, trying to find something to say.

"Have you tied anyone else's shoes before?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Why do you keep asking questions like that?"

Xiao Wu was momentarily at a loss for words, then glared at him.

"Can't I just ask?"

"You can."

Su Chen tightened the final knot and stood up.

"You can ask more questions today."

"Why?"

"Because tonight might not be so easy."

His words pushed all Xiao Wu's muddled thoughts to the back of her mind.

She sat up straighter.

"Do you really think something will happen tonight?"

"Yes."

Su Chen sounded certain.

"And it won't be as simple as a table full of food and wine."

Just then, Shen Zhi came in from outside, carrying two sets of fresh clothes and a simple seating chart for the banquet.

"I just went to take a look."

"They've already started setting up the Banquet Hall."

"The head table is in the middle. The branch hall people are on either side, along with the guests from outside."

He spread the map across the table.

"Han Su's position is just in front of the seat of honor, off to the side."

"Xu Tinglan usually stands toward the back. She won't be at the table."

"You two."

He pointed to two spots in the lower-right corner of the map.

"You'll most likely be assigned here."

Xiao Wu leaned over to take a look.

"That far off to the side?"

"That's what makes it convenient for someone to strike."

Su Chen pressed his finger against the edge of the map.

"It'll be lively up front, and trouble in the back. Perfect."

Shen Zhi looked at him.

"You have a plan?"

"A bit of one."

"Let's hear it."

But Su Chen didn't answer.

He only pushed the map toward Xiao Wu.

"Memorize the positions first."

"Once you're inside tonight, keep an eye on three things."

Xiao Wu immediately grew serious.

"Which three?"

"The wine flask."

"The people serving the dishes."

"And whoever's closest to Xu Tinglan."

Xiao Wu nodded.

"Got it."

"What about you?"

"I'll watch Han Su."

The wind outside the window picked up.

The rustling of the leaves grew more and more intense.

No one in the room joked anymore.

The banquet hadn't even begun.

Yet that invisible rope was already tightening, little by little.

Just then, three measured knocks sounded at the door.

Shen Zhi turned at once.

"Who is it?"

No one answered outside.

Only a tiny silver key was slowly slipped under the door.

A strand of moon-white thread was tied to the end of the key.