The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

As the performance of *Farewell My Concubine* concluded, He Wanyong led the applause, and the room instantly erupted in a thunderous ovation and shouts of acclaim.

Qin Yun prepared to go on stage, while Chen Dong found an empty seat in the audience to enjoy the performance.

He had just sat down when an Attendant came over and said arrogantly, "You're a bodyguard, aren't you? This section isn't for you. Get up, now. If you want a seat, go find one at the outdoor banquet tables."

Chen Dong raised an eyebrow. 'The He Family really knows how to treat people according to their station,' he thought. 'Just because I'm a bodyguard, I can't sit in the inner courtyard and watch the show?'

But a chubby little boy, about seven or eight years old, sitting nearby said, "This big brother can sit next to me. He won't be in anyone's way."

The Attendant hesitated. "Ninth Young Master, but he..."

The little fatty puffed out his cheeks. "No buts! He's not even taking up a seat. What more do you want? Go get another chair!"

When he got all worked up, the little Fatty looked like a small gas canister ready to explode. Chen Dong found it rather amusing.

Chen Dong moved his chair to sit next to the little fatty. The boy said, "You must really like Sister Qin, big brother. I'm a huge fan too! When she's finished, I'm definitely going to get her autograph!"

The little fatty had mistaken Chen Dong for a fan of Qin Yun's, thinking that was how he'd gotten in here.

Chen Dong, however, was thinking, 'This kid's not so bad. Maybe I should cure his poison later.'

Just then, Qin Yun gracefully walked onto the stage. Dressed in red, she looked as ethereal as a Fairy descending to the mortal realm, her dark brows like clear ripples upon autumn waters.

Gasps of awe rippled through the audience. The little fatty exclaimed excitedly, "So beautiful!"

Qin Yun played the zither and sang a classical-style song, and even Chen Dong found himself captivated. Qin Yun's skill with both her voice and the instrument had reached an extremely high Realm.

After the song ended, the audience was silent for a moment before He Wanyong finally sighed in admiration, "This woman's musical skill is astounding. It's like a heavenly melody that will linger in my ears for three days!"

Only then did thunderous applause break out.

Amid the applause, He Wanyong said to the Attendant beside him, "We'll take the woman on stage as my seventeenth concubine."

The Attendant nodded and left.

Before the applause could die down, a scream cut through the venue!

"AH—! ~~~~~~~"

"Brother Yu, Brother Yu, what's wrong?"

He Kaiyu's eyes were bloodshot, his lips had turned black, and he was foaming at the mouth. He was no longer breathing!

The scene instantly descended into chaos. At the He Family's birthday banquet, the family's direct-line eldest grandson had died on the spot!

And it was clearly a death by poisoning!

He Wanyong's face was as black as iron as he roared, "No one is to leave this place! You will all wait until my He Family has concluded its investigation!"

The guests who heard this were furious but dared not voice their objections. No one in Lower River dared to offend the He Family.

The birthday banquet wasn't scheduled to formally begin until the afternoon, so there weren't many guests present yet. All the more reason no one would dare to stick their neck out.

An old woman examined He Kaiyu's condition and reported, "Patriarch, Kaiyu died of poisoning. I cannot identify the poison at the moment, as it is not my area of expertise. We should now focus on investigating those who have been in contact with Kaiyu."

It was obvious to everyone that the person who had been in closest contact with He Kaiyu these past few days was Yuan Wenwen.

Yuan Wenwen was the first person everyone suspected, and all eyes in the room focused on the promiscuous, bewitching woman.

Tears streamed down Yuan Wenwen's face as she sobbed, "I... I don't know what happened to Brother Yu. One moment he was fine, and the next... he was just gone..."

He Wanyong asked Yuan Wenwen in a cold voice, "Who has Kaiyu been in contact with recently? Or who might he have offended?"

He didn't believe a woman like Yuan Wenwen would dare to poison the direct heir of his He Family.

This was one of the reasons Yuan Wenwen had dared to act. With her lowly status, she had nothing to gain from poisoning He Kaiyu. Although she would be the first to be suspected, it would also be easy for her to clear her name.

Yuan Wenwen continued her performance, sobbing pitifully. "Just a little while ago today, Brother Yu... Brother Yu had a conflict with Li Jianwen of the Li Family."

He Wanyong roared, "Where is Li Jianwen? Find him for me, now!"

Chen Dong's focus sharpened. 'How did Li Jianwen get dragged into this?'

Soon, a bruised and swollen Li Jianwen was dragged to the scene.

He had already been planning to leave. After clashing with the He Family's heir, there was no point in presenting a birthday gift anymore. He had just managed to clean himself up and was about to drive back to Jiangzhou when a group of the He Family's men surrounded him. Without a word, they forcefully dragged him back to the banquet.

When Li Jianwen saw He Kaiyu's body on the floor, he was shocked and instantly understood why he had been seized.

He Wanyong immediately asked in a frigid tone, "Were you the one who did this? Confess now, and my He Family will only hold you accountable!"

Li Jianwen hurriedly said, "It wasn't me! I didn't do anything!"

Yuan Wenwen immediately shrieked like a shrew, "It must be him! He's obviously still shamelessly lusting after me! Seeing me with Brother Yu made him jealous, so he poisoned him! Brother Yu even beat him up today, so he definitely has a motive!"

Li Jianwen stared at Yuan Wenwen, his eyes filled with hatred. "You're lying! You're framing me! I didn't do it. I just didn't."

He couldn't believe this was the kind of person she was. 'I used to feel so guilty toward her,' he thought. 'Even after He Kaiyu beat me to a pulp, I didn't hate her at all. I thought I was the one at fault, that I had let her down. But now... the understanding, gentle woman I once knew wants to send me to my grave.'

'If the He Family determines I'm the murderer, I'm a dead man for sure.'

He Wanyong was also convinced that Li Jianwen was highly suspicious. His aura flared as he threatened, "If you don't confess, not only will you die, but your Li Family will suffer a miserable fate as well!"

Yuan Wenwen chimed in frantically, "Just because you say you didn't, doesn't mean you didn't!" She turned to He Wanyong and said, "Patriarch He, I'm sure he's the killer! If you don't believe me, search him!"

Hiding in the crowd, Huang Cheng cursed inwardly when he heard this. 'Damn it, that bitch is being too hasty!'