Zhou Huai wore a faint smile as he looked at Ye Zhentian.

“Uncle Ye, just look at Lu Qi’s current state, and everything will be clear, won’t it?”

As Zhou Huai’s words fell, countless gazes in the banquet hall, like searchlights, simultaneously focused on the figure at the main table.

Lu Qi, who was stuffing cake into his mouth, suddenly froze.

He looked up and saw everyone in the hall staring at him, his expression instantly becoming flustered.

The food stuffed in his cheeks made him look both comical and pathetic.

“Zhou Huai!”

Liu Yuru slammed her wine glass on the table with a “bang” and abruptly stood up, her sharp voice piercing the brief silence.

“Don’t talk nonsense here!”

She pointed at Zhou Huai, her eyes full of venom.

“Qi’er just finished the National Examination; he’s merely a bit listless!”

“I think you just can’t stand Ye Xi marrying Lu Qi, and you deliberately came here to cause trouble!”

Ye Zhentian also looked at Zhou Huai, his face darkening.

“Zhou Huai, I know you and Xi’er have been close since childhood.”

“You showing up now, I can consider it youthful impulsiveness and not hold it against you.”

“Go back immediately, otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to ask someone to escort you out.”

Zhou Huai shook his head, his gaze sweeping past him to the tear-stained girl in the center of the dance floor.

“Uncle Ye, do you really want to marry Xi’er to a fool?”

“That would truly ruin Xi’er’s future.”

He retracted his gaze, slowly turned his wheelchair, and faced all the guests at the banquet.

“I presume many of you present may not yet know what exactly happened during this year’s National Examination.”

“Someone colluded with the Dawnbreaker Guild and launched an attack during the National Examination!”

“They nearly wiped out the most outstanding candidates from various provinces!”

“And the person who colluded with the Dawnbreaker Guild...”

Zhou Huai’s voice paused, each word clear and distinct.

“It was Lu Qi!”

“Shut up!”

Liu Yuru was furious, her voice shrill.

“Don’t slander him here!”

Before she finished speaking, Ye Xi suddenly rushed out and stood in front of Zhou Huai.

“That’s right! Everything Brother Zhou Huai said is true!”

The girl’s voice was clear and tearful, yet exceptionally firm.

“I saw it with my own eyes! It was Lu Qi! I can prove it!”

Zhou Huai added another sentence.

“I presume you all received news a while ago that the military sent people to the Zhou Family and took away quite a few individuals.”

These words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake.

The banquet hall instantly erupted in discussion.

“Such a big incident happened during the National Examination?”

“Oh my goodness, this is a huge scoop!”

“So, the news about the Zhou Family being investigated by the military a while ago was true? I thought it was just a rumor.”

“To think a birthday banquet could also serve up such a big scoop.”

Zhou Feng’s face was ashen; he stood up, his voice icy.

“Nonsense!”

“If Lu Qi really colluded with the Dawnbreaker Guild, could we still be standing here perfectly fine?”

Zhou Huai chuckled softly.

“That’s thanks to your good wife.”

“I must say, the influence of the Imperial City Liu Family is indeed vast.”

Zhou Feng’s expression froze.

Zhou Huai ignored him and changed the subject.

“Getting back to the main point. During the National Examination, Zuo Daolin of the Dawnbreaker Guild possessed Lu Qi.”

“Then, when he separated from Lu Qi’s body, he damaged his Soul.”

“Now, Lu Qi’s Soul is damaged, and his mental capacity will not exceed that of a five-year-old.”

“You say he’s not a fool, then what is he?”

Zhou Feng and Liu Yuru’s hearts sank abruptly.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing unconcealed horror in the other’s eyes.

They had never mentioned Lu Qi’s damaged Soul to anyone.

How could this Zhou Huai know so clearly?

Ye Zhentian had also calmed down by this point.

He did want to get on board with the Zhou Family, or rather, the Liu Family behind the Zhou Family.

But for him to marry his daughter to a fool, that was another matter entirely.

His sharp gaze once again locked onto Zhou Huai.

“Is what you say true?”

Zhou Huai pointed at Lu Qi.

“If you don’t believe me, you can ask him yourself.”

“Isn’t ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) he sitting right there?”

Swish!

Everyone’s gaze once again converged on Lu Qi.

Lu Qi had his head down; no one could see his expression.

But those with sharp eyes could notice that his body had begun to tremble uncontrollably.

Liu Yuru quickly walked to Lu Qi’s side, tugged his hand, and whispered in a voice only they could hear, comforting him.

“Qi’er, don’t be afraid. Don’t say anything next; leave everything to Mom.”

Lu Qi lowered his head and softly hummed in acknowledgment.

Only then did Liu Yuru stand up, straighten her clothes, and resume her arrogant demeanor.

She walked in front of Ye Zhentian, her voice calm.

“Clan Chief Ye, Lu Qi did make some mistakes during the National Examination.”

“But he didn’t collude with the Dawnbreaker Guild; rather, he was used by them.”

“I admit that Qi’er’s mental state does have some issues now.”

“However, we have already found the best Great Master for his treatment in the country, and I believe it won’t be long before he fully recovers.”

After she finished speaking, she looked directly at Ye Zhentian, her tone neither humble nor overbearing.

“Today is a joyous occasion, and we don’t want to make things too ugly.”

“The engagement of the two children, strengthening the bond between our two families, is a good thing.”

“But if you now choose to believe the one-sided words of this useless Zhou Huai, then our Zhou Family has no choice.”

She paused, a cold smile playing on her lips.

“If it really comes to it, let’s call off the marriage between our Zhou and Ye families.”

“It is our Lu Qi who is unworthy of your Ye Family’s esteemed daughter.”

This tactic of retreating to advance was played exceptionally well.

Ye Zhentian’s expression immediately softened.

He quickly waved his hand, a smile returning to his face.

“Madam Zhou, what are you saying?”

“I naturally won’t believe Zhou Huai’s one-sided claims.”

“I assure you, the engagement between Xi’er and worthy nephew Lu Qi still stands.”

“Once worthy nephew Lu Qi’s mental state recovers a bit, we’ll pick a good day for them to marry, how does that sound?”

Zhou Huai’s brows furrowed.

He had underestimated this woman Liu Yuru’s cunning.

And even more so, Ye Zhentian’s thick skin.

Lu Qi is like this, and you’re still desperately trying to suck up to them?

Did Zhou Feng desecrate your ancestral grave, or did his wife and he witness you committing murder?

Zhou Huai sighed inwardly.

It seems he would have to resort to another move.

Just as Liu Yuru and Ye Zhentian were chatting happily and the atmosphere was gradually easing.

At the main table, Lu Qi, who had his head down, suddenly felt a chill on his ankle.

A cold, eerie sensation crept up his pant leg.

He curiously lowered his head and looked under the table.

With just one glance, all the blood in his body seemed to freeze.

He saw a pale, swollen human face slowly emerge from the shadows beneath his feet at some unknown point.

That face was staring at him, revealing an extremely chilling smile.

A pair of jet-black, sharp-nailed claws had silently crept onto his ankle, tightening little by little!

“Ghost... a ghost!”

A shrill, distorted scream suddenly erupted from Lu Qi’s mouth.

He was scared out of his wits, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and he sprang up from his seat.

He scrambled on all fours, tumbling and crawling to Liu Yuru, clinging desperately to her thigh.

“Mom! There’s a ghost! There’s a ghost under the table!”

Tears and snot streamed down his face, his voice filled with boundless terror.

“I’m so scared! Mom! I’m so scared!”

He cried and trembled violently.

A warm liquid flowed down his pant leg, quickly soaking a large, dark stain onto the expensive carpet.

A foul odor permeated the air.

He had, in fact, peed himself out of fright.