“Uncle, thank you…”

Lu Xiaoyao looked as though all her energy had been drained; her face was pale, and her steps were unsteady. She looked like she was "floating" out of the restroom, making her quite frightening to encounter late at night.

As she walked, Lu Xiaoyao’s legs gave way, and her vision went black. She tumbled right into the entrance of a tent.

Fortunately, someone noticed her and helped her to a small pile of grass beside the tent, then turned around and brought her a bowl of hot water.

Lu Xiaoyao gratefully accepted the hot water from the kind uncle.

But while grateful, Lu Xiaoyao still glanced up at the kind person before drinking.

She saw that although he was dressed in Chu Rong attire, he wasn’t wearing the uniform of a Chu Rong soldier, and his eyes were clear and honest.

Only then did Lu Xiaoyao relax slightly and take a sip of the hot water.

It was even a little sweet.

"You girls from the Nanman region just don't eat enough; is it any wonder you feel faint?"

The man babbled a few more times beside Lu Xiaoyao’s ear, "See, I added some sugar water, and your complexion is already better, isn’t it?"

"Yes… thank you, Uncle."

Lu Xiaoyao wanted to argue that she actually ate a lot, but she knew she would inevitably be asked why she still looked so weak and starved.

And if she wasn’t careful, she might accidentally blurt out that she ate too much and had a bad stomach, which would be embarrassing.

"Looking at you, girl, you wouldn't happen to be one of the dancers for tonight, would you?"

"Ah… yes, Uncle, where is this? It was too dark just now, and I didn't notice. How far is it from the banquet?"

"This is the kitchen! You… how unlucky. There happens to be a team delivering food here. Judging by the time, your team should start after all the dishes have been served. You can just go back with them then."

"Ah, thank you, Uncle! You’re so kind! What's your name, Uncle?"

Lu Xiaoyao dared to say that this was one of the top three NPCs in the game who had shown her goodwill!

"Me? Just call me Feng Xun."

"Uncle Feng Xun!"

Lu Xiaoyao climbed up the pole, calling him "Uncle" right away. Feng Xun’s eyes flickered with slight discomfort, and he smiled slightly to cover his awkwardness.

…

"Brother, I'm back!"

"How did you…"

Seeing Lu Xiaoyao bouncing back to life in front of him, Lu Gui hadn't finished his question when his suspicion kicked in. He immediately reached out and pinched Lu Xiaoyao’s face hard!

"Ouch!"

Lu Xiaoyao’s yell, even with the singing and dancing at the banquet, didn't stop Ming Mei and Mu Chen from looking up at the tent.

Ming Mei was quicker; with Gui Gui’s reminder, Ming Mei opened the live broadcast view, and saw Lu Xiaoyao covering her cheek, glaring resentfully at Lu Gui.

"Are you sick?!"

Lu Xiaoyao never expected her own brother!

To pinch her face as soon as he saw her? Was he crazy?!

Feeling Lu Xiaoyao’s resentful gaze, Lu Gui knew he was probably being too suspicious. When Lu Xiaoyao came out just now, he thought someone was impersonating her. After all, she’d dosed a dozen people with laxatives; she shouldn't be so energetic unless she was immortal.

"No… is your stomach better?"

Lu Gui guiltily looked away and asked Lu Xiaoyao.

"It's all out… I drank some sugar water, and it got better."

"What kind of sugar water is so effective?"

"It was from the chef in the kitchen… The sugar water he made was delicious. My stomach doesn't hurt anymore after drinking it!"

Lu Xiaoyao, mentioning Feng Xun, seemed to have discovered a new continent. She hadn't expected there to be such a kind-hearted NPC hidden in the game. It was truly amazing!

Then, Lu Xiaoyao hurriedly recounted everything that had just happened.

…

"Mu Chen, I need to leave for a bit."

Ming Mei had naturally heard the news that Lu Gui had heard.

"What's wrong?"

Mu Chen didn't expect Ming Mei to suddenly leave, and her expression seemed quite serious.

"I think I've been overlooking something…"

Ming Mei said, suddenly closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. The hand hidden in her sleeve clenched tightly. She hadn't considered it before, but thinking about it carefully, everything seemed to follow a pattern.

"I might have guessed who the Zerg have tampered with."

"Do you want me to come with you?"

Mu Chen was worried about Ming Mei leaving alone, but Ming Mei shook her head, indicating that she could handle it.

In the game, her various data indicators were actually higher than the player limit.

"Be careful here yourself; the dance is about to begin…"

"I know. You be careful."

Saying that, Mu Chen, hiding from view under the table, took Ming Mei’s hand and slipped a dagger into her hand.

"Then…"

Seeing Mu Chen’s weapon being placed in her hand, Ming Mei was even more worried about Mu Chen. But she saw Mu Chen slightly lift a corner of his robe, good heavens—

All kinds of knives were strapped to his body!

Ming Mei even wondered if she had been blind when she helped Mu Chen change his clothes this afternoon.

How had she not seen them?

The key point was, if she wasn't mistaken, the dagger in her hand was probably the shortest and smallest one on Mu Chen, right?

…

Ming Mei took advantage of the palace servants bringing up wine and mixed in with them, retreating from the scene. Naturally, some people noticed.

"I'm going to change my clothes."

Lord Cui silently straightened his clothes, stood up, and walked out. Julian and Maddison exchanged puzzled glances.

"What's going on?"

Maddison watched Lord Cui’s composed departure, wondering, "It doesn't look like he's going to the restroom, does it? He hasn't eaten much all night."

Saying that, Maddison and Julian both glanced at his table. The dishes on Lord Cui’s table looked the same as when they were brought out.

"Holy crap!"

Maddison’s face suddenly turned ugly, and Julian was startled by his expression.

"What's wrong?"

"No way, the food hasn't been poisoned, has it?"

"What?" Julian’s hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly. In reality, he hardly ever drank alcohol, and he rarely drank in games, but when he entered the *Assassin Emperor* script, he remembered the magical taste of the white wine.

Head-spinning, spicy!

This time, he hadn't restrained himself much and had drunk a few more cups. But after Maddison said that, his nerves, which had just been numbed by the white wine, quickly cleared, and he understood the other’s idea!

Why wasn't Lord Cui eating or drinking?

He had been eating and drinking normally in previous storylines!

Julian subconsciously looked up at the tyrant above with a hidden gaze. Only then did he remember that the tyrant hadn't eaten or drunk anything either!

"I'm going… no way?"

Then, Julian suddenly stood up, swaying his body with a look of being drunk, startling Maddison.

After that, he heard the other say he was going out to sober up, leaving Maddison with a bewildered face.

"What terrible acting?!"

Only then did Maddison realize that Julian was pretending to be drunk, and he muttered to himself.

He picked up his wine glass, acting like he was giving up on everything. Since he had eaten so much just now, it seemed useless to find out now. So, he continued to eat and drink like a fool, while observing the surrounding situation.

Sigh~

He couldn't let everyone run away after discovering something, could he?

This was at least the main field of the original plot, so he would hold down the fort… for now.