The banquet prepared by Wanmin Restaurant arrived at the Jade Chamber right on time.
Baishi leaned in and spoke softly. "Lady Ningguang, the banquet is ready."
Ningguang smiled at the merchants seated before her. "Everyone, the dishes are prepared. Please, let's move to the table."
Once they were seated, Ningguang glanced over the spread and let a satisfied smile show.
"Please, enjoy."
Everyone lifted their chopsticks and turned to the dishes laid out before them.
The moment the rich, fragrant flavors touched their tongues, expressions of pleasure spread across their faces.
"As expected of a banquet arranged by Lady Ningguang. This is the finest food I've ever tasted."
"It truly is."
"I wonder which restaurant Lady Ningguang hired for this? Was it Xinyue Kiosk or Liuli Pavilion?"
"Neither." Ningguang tasted the Adeptus' Temptation and nodded in approval. "It's from Wanmin Restaurant."
The merchants were visibly surprised.
"Wanmin Restaurant?"
Everyone knew Wanmin was famous for its everyday dishes—affordable, home-style cuisine beloved by the people of Liyue.
None of them expected such a luxurious banquet to be executed with this level of mastery.
More than a few quietly thought that maybe, just maybe, the next time they hosted a banquet at home… they should consider hiring Wanmin Restaurant.
Seeing their reactions, Ningguang felt completely satisfied.
This was precisely the outcome she'd hoped for.
Wanmin's original purpose was to fill the stomachs of ordinary people, not chase profit the way other merchants did.
That was why the menu contained no extravagant dishes.
But that didn't mean Wanmin Restaurant wasn't capable of making them.
As Wanmin's investor, Ningguang had always believed in its potential.
She was more than happy to raise its profile and let more people know its worth.
Her gaze swept the table, and she noticed that among the standard banquet dishes, there was also a bowl of Bamboo Shoot Soup.
Her eyes lingered on it for a few seconds. Standing at her side, her secretary immediately caught the signal and served her a bowl.
Ningguang lifted the bowl, scooped a spoonful, blew on it lightly, and tasted it.
That flavor…
Her movements stilled.
This wasn't Chef Mao's cooking.
Ningguang had very personal memories tied to Wanmin's Bamboo Shoot Soup. She went back for it every so often.
She had eaten Chef Mao's version so many times that she could recognize it instantly.
This wasn't his craftsmanship.
But the taste… why did it feel so heartbreakingly familiar?
---
A sharp ache spread through her chest. Regret and grief surged up all at once.
Clang!
Everyone at the table turned. They saw Ningguang's spoon hit the ground with a clear chime—then crack apart.
"Lady Ningguang?"
Confused looks spread around the table.
Ningguang was always the picture of composure. Dropping a utensil was shockingly out of character.
None of them had ever seen her slip like this.
Her fingers trembled before she steadied herself and smoothed away the sorrow in her eyes.
She gave them a gentle smile.
"My apologies. I slipped. Please don't mind it. Do continue enjoying the meal."
---
After the banquet ended and the merchants dispersed, Ningguang finally let her perfect expression fall away, revealing exhaustion beneath.
Her elegant hand rose to her temple, rubbing lightly at the throbbing ache.
The pain in her chest kept pulsing over and over. She'd spent a great deal of effort masking it during the banquet so she wouldn't lose composure in front of others.
She looked tiredly at Baishi. "Today's banquet wasn't prepared by Chef Mao, was it?"
Baishi answered immediately. "As expected of Lady Ningguang. You noticed right away. Chef Mao collapsed, so today's banquet was made by Xiangling and a outsiders."
"Outsiders?"
Ningguang frowned.
---
The pain radiating from her heart had begun right after she finished that bowl of Bamboo Shoot Soup.
She knew Xiangling well.
Xiangling would never do anything to harm her.
Which meant the problem could only lie with the outsider.
Baishi continued, "Yes. I was preparing to report this. The outsider possesses two Visions. His control over Elemental Power is more precise than anything I've ever seen. I don't believe he's just an ordinary chef."
No one in Teyvat had ever wielded two kinds of Elemental Power.
Ningguang didn't think he was ordinary either.
Was he trying to harm her through Wanmin Restaurant?
But…
Ningguang knew exactly how much Chef Mao valued Wanmin Restaurant's reputation. There was no way he would let a suspicious person into his kitchen.
Something about this was wrong. There were far too many unanswered questions.
The sharp, persistent ache in her chest only made her irritation worse.
"Have the Millelith capture that outsider. I'll interrogate him myself."
If she had truly been poisoned, she needed answers—every last one.