After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Inside the waterside pavilion, light gauze curtains hung down, a cool breeze blew, and the cool air from the ice mirror mingled with precious incense, refreshing and invigorating.

Princess Yongning was talking with several ladies of high status when she saw the head maid leading Jiang Dusheng in, and she personally got up to greet him.

Amid the slightly surprised gazes of the guests, she warmly took Jiang Dusheng's hand and said, "We've been waiting for you."

Princess Yongning led Jiang Dusheng to the seat of honor beside her and introduced him to everyone with a smile:

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the recently famous Jiang Dusheng, a young lady from Changling. Not only is she skilled in divination, able to see the secrets of heaven and predict good and bad fortune, but more importantly, she is kind and benevolent."

"I, the princess, have long admired your beauty, and today I have specially invited Miss Jiang to enjoy the flowers and tea with you all."

Her introduction immediately drew everyone's attention to Jiang Dusheng.

Some people had already seen Jiang Dusheng during the Night Parade of One Hundred Ghosts, while those who had not seen her were curious, scrutinizing, and inquiring.

The banquet began soon after.

Princess Yongning specially removed the screens that usually separated male and female guests, and only made slight divisions on both sides of the garden pavilion, with the middle naturally separated by blooming flowers and flowing water.

During the meal, exquisite tea and snacks were served in a continuous stream.

As the maids brought out plates of pastries adorned with various flowers, Princess Yongning smiled, raised her cup, and made some opening remarks about appreciating flowers and enjoying tea. The atmosphere was harmonious.

Jiang Dusheng sat quietly for a moment.

When the pipa music had temporarily ceased and the hall was relatively quiet, she slowly rose, faced Princess Yongning and the guests, and bowed, her voice clear and gentle:

"Princess, distinguished guests. Today is a grand gathering of a hundred flowers, and all are enjoying themselves. I, Dusheng, am unworthy and possess nothing of value, except for a few minor esoteric arts I have learned since childhood."

"I would like to borrow the princess's place to invite you all to watch a play, just to entertain the princess and add a little bit of fun to this Hundred Flowers Banquet."

"play?"

A slight commotion arose at the table as people whispered among themselves, their faces showing curiosity and confusion.

Before anyone could investigate further, Jiang Dusheng took out two exquisitely cut plain paper figures from his sleeve.

The paper figures, a man and a woman, though lacking facial features, possess a lively and spirited quality.

Jiang Dusheng gathered spiritual power at his fingertips and waved them in the air. The two paper figures moved without wind, floating lightly into the air and landing on the slightly open space in the center of the flower hall.

A glint of light shone from Jiang Dusheng's fingertips as he softly recited:

"Heaven and earth are our guide, and spiritual energy is our inspiration."

"Paper-cutting creates human figures, imbuing them with spiritual energy."

"Past events, like smoke and clouds, reveal their traces through form."

"Reality and illusion intertwine, tracing back to the source."

"The imperial edict is hereby proclaimed!"

As the incantation ended, specks of clear light spilled from her fingertips, disappearing like stars into the two paper figures on the ground.

The next moment, to everyone's astonishment, the two paper figures seemed to be drawn by invisible threads, or as if they were infused with life, and slowly stood up, gradually transforming into two phantoms.

One of the women was slender and graceful, with a beautiful face but a hint of melancholy, and dressed in simple, elegant clothes.

The other was dressed as a wealthy young master, wearing a brocade robe and a jade crown. He looked handsome, gentle, and polite.

Jiang Dusheng's voice seemed to possess a magical power to guide people's hearts as he slowly narrated, his words intertwining with the movements of the paper figures in the arena, as if fragments of dialogue had been peeled away from time itself:

"This play tells the story of Nguyen, the orphaned daughter of a loyal and virtuous woman."

"His parents died in battle at a young age, sacrificing their lives for the country. His Majesty posthumously honored them with great rewards, which benefited their descendants. However, behind the glory, he was ultimately lonely and helpless, and had to live with his maternal grandparents."

In the arena, the woman's illusory figure stood alone in her boudoir, her face serene and scholarly.

"My maternal grandfather valued integrity and reputation throughout his life, and fearing that his daughter would have no one to rely on in the future, he instructed his aunt to choose a reliable and virtuous husband for her in Changling, so that she could have someone to depend on for the rest of her life..."

The image shows a dignified old man talking to a middle-aged woman.

"It was then that she met someone who ruined her life." Jiang Dusheng's voice turned cold, and his gaze suddenly shot towards Chu Yanzhao, whose face had already turned somewhat ugly.

A suppressed gasp and murmurs immediately rose from the table.

"The Ruan family..."

"Heavens! Could it be Miss Ruan, the one who's infatuated with Prince Chu?"

"This play... could it be suggesting that there's more to the story than meets the eye?"

Chu Yanzhao's smile froze completely, and the fingers holding the wine glass tightened slightly.

In the illusory image, a man and a woman are talking to it, their behavior appearing quite proper.

"Later, Miss Ruan gradually realized that this man's words and actions were inconsistent, and she also knew that he was of noble status and had close ties with noble ladies, so he was not a good match for her. Therefore, she decided to stay away from him and avoid him whenever possible..."

In the image, the woman's silhouette makes several gestures of politely declining the invitation.

"However, the other party refused to give up. One day, at a chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, Miss Ruan had already declined, but was persuaded to go by her aunt. During the banquet, her clothes were wet, and she was led to a secluded courtyard room with the door locked."

Jiang Dusheng's voice suddenly became sharp, and his fingertips changed their hand seals, causing an even stronger spiritual energy fluctuation to spread out.

Everyone present heard the terrified banging on the door and the woman's suppressed sobs.

"Let me out! Prince Chu, please have some self-respect!"

The man approached slowly and deliberately, a smile on his face. "Miss Ruan, why are you so flustered?"

"I, Chu, have long admired you, young lady, and heaven and earth can attest to my sincerity. Why not marry me, young lady? You will surely enjoy endless riches and honor in the future."

The woman retreated in alarm, bracing herself against the door, her voice trembling with fear and anger:

"You...you're already engaged! What does this mean for me and Miss Jiang? Open the door!"

"A marriage agreement? That was just a joke among elders. With a daughter of such character and beauty, I, Chu, am willing to treat her with the respect due to a principal wife. Even if Wanqing enters the family, the two of you can address each other as sisters, equally matched, sharing wealth and honor. What do you say?"

"Shameless!" The woman's voice suddenly rose, filled with despair. "If you don't let me out, I'll call for help! I'll let everyone see the true face of the Prince Chun's heir!"

The man let out a low, contemptuous laugh, laced with undisguised threat:

"Shout then. Let's see whether your reputation is more important, or the honor of my Prince Chun's Mansion!"

This was followed by the ear-piercing sound of tearing fabric, the woman's desperate scream, and the dull thud of a heavy object hitting something.

Finally, the porcelain shattered and a resolute female voice rang out: "If you take another step forward, I will immediately kill myself here! Let everyone see how the heir of Prince Chun's mansion forced the descendant of a loyal and righteous man to his death!"

The hallucinatory fragments abruptly ended.

In the center of the flower hall, the two paper figures suddenly froze, then transformed back into two light, plain-colored paper figures and fell back to the ground.

Only that final, resolute cry seemed to still linger in the rafters, striking the hearts of everyone present.