Su Ding went to sleep with anticipation, preparing for the banquet the following evening.
Meanwhile, in a storeroom in the servant quarters of Huangtian Fort, a faint light suddenly appeared in the darkness.
A man pushed aside the weeds covering him and sat up.
His eyes were sinister and fierce, filled with intense hatred, and there were a few bloodstains on his weathered face.
This was Ouyang Gong.
He had escaped in the chaos when Ouyang Kai attacked Yinshan.
He had originally intended to evade pursuit by controlling some influential figure, but to his surprise, everyone he contacted refused to see him.
His followers had all been shot.
"Ouyang Zhenfeng, Ouyang Kai, Su Ding, Jin Ye." Ouyang Gong silently recited these names in his heart, each one uttered with gritted teeth and bone-deep hatred.
He knew that his situation was dire.
The exit points from the island were heavily guarded, leaving him with almost no chance to escape.
After years of planning, to end up in this predicament, he was unwilling.
Everything had been within his grasp, but he had miscalculated one thing: those who could easily pledge allegiance to him could also betray him just as easily.
The islanders of Lijing Island, while greedy for profit, were even more fearful of death.
Compared to power and wealth, seeking peace and quiet was their lifelong pursuit. These people were fundamentally different from those outside.
Here, there was no intense competition, no stark disparity between rich and poor.
Therefore, he had misunderstood their demands from the start. Ouyang Donghe, the main opposing force behind the Yinshan laboratory, had been so easily defeated.
He had made a mistake.
That's why he found himself in this predicament.
Ouyang Gong leaned against the broken wall, the image of Ouyang Zhenfeng's family reuniting flashing through his mind.
"Even if I die, I won't let you have an easy time."
He clenched his fist fiercely and took out his phone.
With a grim expression, he sent out several text messages, conveying his final arrangements to his trusted confidante.
Finally, he slowly stood up, ready to prepare for that matter.
...
The daytime passed quickly, and it was soon evening.
The moon hung high in the sky, and the entire Huangtian Fort was bathed in the festive atmosphere of lanterns and decorations. The back garden, serving as the main venue, was already bustling with guests.
"I never knew we had a little princess on Lijing Island who was living outside."
"Yes, I saw this little princess a few days ago. She's so beautiful."
"How could the daughter of the Fort Master's wife be anything less?"
"What do you think are my chances of proposing marriage to the Fort Master with my aged face..."
"They're married, so you're just dreaming."
...
Guests held their wine glasses, toasting and chatting about the banquet.
The smiles on their faces were slightly forced. Inwardly, everyone was secretly speculating about the investigation that Ouyang Kai had initiated three days prior.
Quite a few colleagues were currently in prison, and some had even disappeared without a trace.
It was said that someone had colluded with outsiders to overthrow the government. They had also heard rumors but still didn't understand what was happening.
Others were filled with trepidation.
Some of them had received letters from Ouyang Gong, and a few had even wavered, maintaining an ambiguous stance.
Three days prior, Ouyang Kai had visited their homes to warn them.
They had initially planned to secretly earn some extra money, but compared to their noble status, how could they dare to harbor any other intentions?
Moreover, Lijing Island, managed by Fort Master Ouyang Zhenfeng, was a good place.
They had no reason to get involved in this matter.
This also saved them from imprisonment, for which they were incredibly relieved.
Everyone present engaged in socializing with their own agendas. Some gazes, however, were cast in confusion towards another table.
"Who are they? I've never seen them before."
"I don't know."
The ones they were referring to were seated at a table in the VIP section.
An elder in a Tang suit, with white hair but an energetic demeanor, was seated beside a middle-aged man who appeared refined and presentable. There was also a pretty girl, a tall and handsome boy, and beside them, a woman with a cold and elegant aura.
"Grandpa, Dad, do you think Cousin and Cousin-in-law will be surprised to see us?"
Jin Miaomiao said with a smile. After the previous incident, she realized she had wronged Su Ding for a long time, and Su Ding's lack of resentment towards her had brought her some peace.
Now, she only wished for her cousin and his wife to be happy.
"They will be. Fort Master Ouyang secretly sent people to invite us, so they likely don't know."
Old Master Jin said with a smile, looking around with a touch of curiosity.
He hadn't expected the mysterious Lijing Island to be so interesting.
"They're here, they're here!"
Amidst a chorus of exclamations, four people walked in from the banquet entrance.
Ouyang Zhenfeng led the way, flanked by the young master Ouyang Kai, impeccably dressed in a suit and exuding an imposing aura, and a beautiful, gentle, and radiant girl.
Beside the beautiful girl stood a tall, handsome man with black hair.
The appearance of this family stunned everyone present.
All of them possessed high-end beauty, the men handsome and the women beautiful, exuding an aura of noble distinction.