Chapter 62: The Old Scoundrel's Rudeness

Cui Tang looked and saw that another elephant, which had been calmed by its handler, had also broken free and was now charging toward the sacrificial pit.

The tension, which had only just started to ease, immediately returned.

“Damn it! Is it never going to end?” Chang Kuo cursed, not caring about anything else. He snatched a knife from a Xuanzhe soldier, held it in one hand, and grabbed Chang Suining with the other, intending to protect her as they retreated.

“father, there's no need,” Chang Suining held his arm back, gently shaking her head.

The mother elephant soon approached the two of them, but its speed had slowed down. Chang Kuo lowered the knife slightly, his battlefield instincts telling him that the elephant was no longer a threat.

Chang Suining stepped forward, past Chang Kuo.

The mother elephant let out a sorrowful cry and extended its trunk to lightly touch her injured left shoulder.

Chang Suining turned her head slightly and saw the wound on her shoulder, with blood seeping out.

The mournful cry continued, and those who heard it were filled with an inexplicable sense of sadness.

The disheveled girl stood tall, looking up at the massive creature.

Despite the stark visual contrast between the young girl and the giant elephant, the scene appeared surprisingly harmonious, like a painting full of Zen, bringing a sense of calm to all who saw it.

The mother elephant’s eyes were filled with a look of plea and sorrow.

“Don’t worry, we won’t kill it,” Chang Suining said.

It was as if the mother elephant understood her words. It raised its head and let out a call before retreating to the side, standing guard over its companion in the sacrificial pit.

Xi’er rushed forward, seeing Chang Suining covered in blood but unsure where to start, her eyes filled with tears. “Miss!”

At that moment, a large hand extended a dark cloak.

Chang Suining followed the bloodstained hand upward to see a stern, expressionless face.

Her torn and tattered clothing made her accept the gesture without hesitation. She gave a small nod. “Thank you.”

With the girl’s acknowledgment, Xi’er quickly took the cloak and helped her put it on and fasten it. Meanwhile, Chang Kuo exchanged a glance with Cui Jing, who was still watching the elephant in the pit.

Seeing that Chang Suining was safe, Yao Ran finally let out a long-held breath and approached her mother, Pei Shi. 

*Slap!*

Pei Shi raised her hand and slapped Yao Ran across the face, gritting her teeth. “Useless! You can’t even take care of yourself!”

Yao Ran stared at her, dumbfounded.

The girl, who had just survived a near-death experience, met her mother’s cold, suppressed eyes—eyes that seemed filled with a hatred she didn’t understand. In that moment, Yao Ran could no longer hold back her feelings of grievance, and tears streamed down her face.

At the same time, a terrifying thought flashed through her mind.

Was her mother really angry at her for not taking care of herself?

Or… had things not gone the way her mother expected, and that was why she was venting her anger on her?

This suspicion chilled Yao Ran to the core, and her tears suddenly stopped.

“Enough…” Even the usually submissive Zeng shi couldn’t hold back anymore. “Ran’er just narrowly escaped death… Why must you be so harsh, sister-in-law?”

As she spoke, she pulled Yao Ran to her side.

Pei Shi’s gaze turned icy. “I’m teaching my daughter. It’s none of your business.”

“Enough.” The Yao family’s matriarch frowned, interrupting the unpleasant exchange.

Yao Xia, her cheeks flushed with anger, dared not say anything out loud, but in her heart, she clasped her hands together and made a silent plea—They said the Dayun Temple was a place where gods and spirits were especially attentive! So if Buddha saw and heard all of this, may he strip Auntie of her merits!

Take them all away!

Make her owe them!

The young girl quietly voiced her darkest and most wicked accusations in her heart.

No one else seemed to notice the brief argument among the Yao family’s women.

With the rampaging sacred elephant now trapped in the sacrificial pit, the crisis appeared to have passed, bringing a momentary calm.

But this calm was clearly superficial.

Everywhere one looked, the wreckage spoke of the same terrifying outcome—the entire blessing ceremony had been utterly ruined.

the Holy Emperor had meticulously prepared for this spring festival.

Now, though the imperial face didn’t show fury, it had taken on a frosty air.

Several elephant handlers knelt at the base of the altar, begging for mercy. “We failed to detect the sacred elephant’s distress earlier. Our incompetence is inexcusable!”

“Yet everything was done with the utmost care… We don’t know where things went wrong!”

“The sacred elephant has always been gentle and has never rampaged without reason. Today’s events… we truly don’t know what caused it…”

“Please, Your Majesty, punish us as you see fit!”

No one even dared to plead for leniency.

A few officials also knelt. They oversaw celestial phenomena and divinations, including the selection of auspicious dates. The head, trembling under the Holy Emperor’s cold gaze, finally spoke, “The sacred elephant would never harm people without reason… The elephant embodies the symbol of peace and is a harbinger of good fortune, a messenger connecting Your Majesty and the Da Sheng Dynasty to the heavens… For the sacred elephant to behave this way during the blessing ceremony, I fear… it must have sensed some ominous presence…”

At these words, the faces of the surrounding people paled.

Instinctively, everyone turned to look for this “ominous presence.”

At that moment, a loud voice suddenly rang out.

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

“You officials from the Astronomical Bureau, is this how you work—carelessly slandering others without a shred of evidence?”

Chang Kuo pointed angrily at the head official. “You, with your sneaky, rat-like face, make people sick just by looking at you. If anything, you’re more like the real ominous presence! And that mouth of yours is as filthy as a sewer. If we ever go to war again, we won’t even need to prepare sewage to repel the enemy—just bring you and your mouth along, and we’ll win without lifting a finger! Wouldn’t that be grand?”

He continued, turning his fury on the other Astronomical Bureau officials, “I see your bureau must be completely broke! What, can’t even afford a rope to tie this rabid dog up? If you don’t have the money, I’ve got some!”

With that, he actually pulled his money pouch from his waist and hurled it hard at the head official’s head.

“Take it all! If you don’t need all of it for a rope, use the rest to make paper effigies, buy funeral banners, or hire pallbearers! Just make sure you keep the coffin steady this time—don’t let it flip over again and bring even more bad luck, in life *and* in death!”

The head official’s face turned a deep shade of red and black as his official cap flew off from the impact of the pouch. Humiliated and frightened, he couldn’t even lift his head.

How could this old scoundrel be so vulgar and shameless?

Isn’t anyone going to step in and stop him?

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 63: The First Spouter of Xuanzhe

Does cursing help?    

It may seem like mere venting, but it undeniably has its uses at certain times. Not to mention the more refined insults that occasionally surface during heated debates in the court—

But on the battlefield, before two armies engage, they often start with a barrage of insults. If one can deploy a skilled verbal warrior with a strong enough conviction, it can break the enemy’s composure and shake their morale.

Hence, cursing has always been an art. If mastered, it can yield great benefits.

The legendary title of the "First Spouter of Xuanzhe" once belonged to Chang Kuo, a man well-versed in this art. And now, his outburst wasn’t just a mindless tantrum.

Sure enough, the crowd’s attention was visibly diverted by his stream of insults, and the oppressive tension brought on by the term "ominous object" dissipated significantly.

For example, Cui Lang was utterly captivated, marveling, "Isn’t it said that martial men are not good with words? How is it that General Chang curses so... pleasantly?"

He then looked at his elder brother, who had helped earlier, and commented, "Why is it that you’ve only learned the sword and fists from General Chang? I say... this verbal skill should be studied well too!"

How could his elder brother not learn something so useful?

Cui Tang replied coolly, "What? You want to see me bring this skill home and argue with Father three hundred rounds every day?"

Cui Lang nodded slightly in anticipation, "Not a bad idea..."

Over on Chang Kuo’s side, just as he was ready to continue, Chang Suining tugged at his robe. He immediately understood.

You can't close off all avenues—after all, you have to leave some room for negotiation.

He raised his hand toward the Holy Emperor, speaking solemnly, "My daughter has already been through a terrifying ordeal and nearly lost her life today. This misfortune was a freak accident. Thanks to the protection of Buddha and the Saint, she narrowly escaped death! Having just survived such a calamity, she must not be unjustly maligned. I beseech Your Majesty to look into this matter clearly!"

the Holy Emperor’s gaze slowly fell on the girl beside him.

The girl stood with her head slightly bowed, her expression unreadable, though her demeanor was unmistakably fearless—she couldn’t even pretend to look frightened.

"Thanks to the protection of Buddha and the maiden, she narrowly escaped death?"

No—

the Holy Emperor’s mind replayed her actions earlier when faced with the attacking elephant. This girl was no ordinary daughter of a noble family. Her voice revealed no emotion: "The divine will never wrong the innocent."

Chang Suining did not lift her eyes but inwardly scoffed.

That statement was certainly worth pondering—was she innocent? When it comes to such mystical matters, what's real and what's fabricated? Who has the final say?

In the end, the inspector’s words from the Hontian Bureau were not just an attempt to deflect blame; they were also an effort to curry favor with the Holy Emperor.

After all, the calamity at the Spring Blessing Ceremony needed a scapegoat—otherwise, rumors would spread, and it could be seen as a sign of divine punishment. Such news could easily provide rival factions with opportunities to make a fuss.

Naturally, the Holy Emperor would not allow a situation contrary to his interests.

Thus, a "scapegoat" was necessary.

While the Holy Emperor had to maintain a veneer of mercy, not being too arbitrary, those sycophantic officials would ensure they cast enough doubt on her innocence.

As expected, someone echoed, "This matter is indeed suspicious, and there’s an old saying: unusual behavior indicates something supernatural..."

"Yes, it's unprecedented for the sacred elephants to harm people. This might be an omen."

"Throughout history, those who bring bad omens have disrupted the country’s fortune and brought disaster."

"Exactly. The Spring Blessing Ceremony concerns the nation's destiny. Your Majesty, this matter must not be handled lightly!"

Three voices are enough to create a rumor, especially when it involves matters of destiny. No substantial evidence is needed in such cases, and ominous portents have always been the greatest concern for those in power. With a mentality of "better safe than sorry," countless people have met their fates over mere words.

She would not be the first, nor would she be the last.

Some women, understanding the situation, quietly cast sympathetic glances at the girl.

A girl who could survive a confrontation with an elephant now faced her fate being sealed by a few careless words.

Chang Kuo held his tongue for now, though the veins on his forehead bulged with anger. He had already taken mental notes of all the offenses committed today.

Some mistook his silence for hesitation and hastened to urge, "General Chang, this concerns the nation’s fortune. You must consider the bigger picture."

"Indeed, General Chang..."

They were practically one step away from offering condolences. Chang Kuo bit back his curses with great difficulty.

Duan shi, the wife of the Marquis Zheng, could no longer contain her fury. "They speak of national fortune while ignoring morality and justice! Disgusting—what a bunch of hypocrites!"

"Madam..." Her maid trembled with fear, "Please, keep your voice down."

"And that brat—what's he waiting for? Has his sense of morality also gone to the dogs?" Duan shi knew her words carried little weight, so she placed her hopes in her son.

Wei Shuyi stood by the Holy Emperor, silent.

Even the flicker of worry that had briefly crossed her face had vanished, replaced by curiosity. She was curious why this girl, now the center of such hostility, remained so composed.

She stood there, seemingly small and frail, wrapped in a black cloak too large for her frame. In the face of imperial scrutiny, she appeared more like prey—yet something about her was different.

She didn't seem like prey at all.

In fact, quite the opposite.

And so, Wei Shuyi chose to remain silent, observing alongside her as they awaited the outcome.

As the Holy Emperor remained silent, the voices of those supporting the accusation grew louder.

Then the Holy Emperor turned slightly and asked, "Luo’er, what do you make of this?"

"Your Majesty, I believe the ministers’ words hold some truth." Ming Luo glanced at the girl below the altar. The oversized cloak she wore was particularly eye-catching.

She continued, "The sacred elephants have never harmed people. What happened today was indeed unprecedented."

"Given that there's no precedent, there must be something suspicious."

At that moment, a young voice spoke with firm authority. It was Cui Jing, stepping forward to stand before the Chang family.

Ming Luo froze in surprise.

Cui Jing raised his hand solemnly and said, "This unforeseen disaster at the ceremony was also my failure. I humbly request that Your Majesty grant me time to investigate thoroughly. Within half a day, I will uncover the truth."

After speaking, he glanced around at the crowd, saying, "When the time comes, it won't be too late for you, sirs, to convict anyone."

The officials had varied expressions.

Was this kid from the Cui family toying with them?

Did he truly understand the gravity of the situation?

When Cui Jing spoke, his words carried far more weight than others'. Wasn't he deliberately making things difficult for the Holy Emperor?

Yet, after Cui Jing spoke, another person immediately stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I request to investigate this matter together with Commander Cui."

The crowd was momentarily abuzz at the sight of this person stepping forward.

What was Yao Yi doing here, getting involved again? Didn't he have enough cases to investigate at the Court of Judicial Review?

"It's Uncle!" Yao Xia jumped up joyfully, her eyes filled with excitement and admiration. "Uncle is truly just and impartial!"

Yao Gui also felt touched—if he ever joined the civil service, he vowed to be a righteous official like his uncle!

Yao Yi, of course, couldn't hear this. If he had, he would surely respond, "There's no need for such praise. Don't get involved where you're not needed."

Yao Ran was relieved, but her attention shifted to her mother's emotional changes beside her.

From the moment Yao Yi stood up, Pei shi's gaze had grown ice-cold.

Though Yao Yi was considered an upright official, he wasn't a reckless, straightforward fool. He was cautious in his actions, which is how he'd made steady progress to his current position. More than anyone, he should understand that with the Holy Emperor's uncertain mood and no clear leads, this was not the time to stand out as a hero.

Yet, he still stood up.

For that little wench!

That girl had a tough life, surviving both Zhou Ding's failed assassination and the giant elephant's attack.

But today... no matter what, she wouldn't let that wretch leave alive!

She wanted Yao Yi to personally witness the girl's execution right before his eyes—

She wanted to see how far he would go for that little wretch!

As she fantasized about the upcoming scene, a gleam of vengeful delight appeared in Pei shi's eyes.

Looking at the two high-ranking officials who had stepped forward, Holy Emperor remained silent, as if weighing something in his mind.

"Your Majesty, I believe General Cui and Court official Yao's words are of great importance," Yu Zeng, standing beside the Holy Emperor, spoke up. "If we are to say that Miss Chang's misfortune 

with the divine elephant is an ill omen, then just moments ago, I saw the elder female elephant being quite affectionate towards Miss Chang. It did not react as if it sensed something unholy."

Holy Emperor did not look at him, but responded with an indistinct tone, "It's rare to hear you speak up for anyone."

Yu Zeng shi lowered himself even further and said softly, "This young lady of the Chang family is the orphan entrusted to me and General Chang by the late Crown Prince... I confess, I harbor some personal feelings."

His frankness caused the Holy Emperor's eyes to shift slightly.

She looked at the young girl again and asked, "Miss Chang, do you have anything to say in your defense?"

The voice came from atop the altar, as distant and majestic as the voice of heaven.

Only then did Chang Suining slowly raise her head, meeting the Holy Emperor's scrutinizing gaze.

"Your Majesty—" Chang Suining spoke calmly, "I believe that if the fate of the Da Sheng dynasty can be ruined by a mere girl, then the fate of our empire would not be worth much."

The crowd suddenly fell silent, followed by a chorus of angry voices.

"What kind of statement is that...?"

"To speak so recklessly of the empire's fate... how audacious!"

"Does she even understand what fate means...?"

Ming Luo's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery.

Yet the young girl's expression remained unchanged as she continued, "I am confident that I am not an ill omen to destroy the empire's fate, nor are any of the people present here."

Such a crime should not be unfairly imposed upon any innocent person.

Cui Jing turned his head slightly, looking at the girl beside him.

Her face bore numerous scratches, which stood out sharply against her pale skin. Yet despite her bedraggled appearance, her eyes alone showed no sign of distress.

Unlike the ministers' anger, Emperor Shengce simply looked at her and asked, "I would like to hear how you are so certain you are not an ill omen."

"One thing the ministers have said is true: divine elephants do not harm without reason." Chang Suining responded, "The elephant is wounded, likely deliberately so, in an attempt to sabotage the Blessing Ceremony."

She was well-versed in how to turn false accusations back on their accusers.

"The elephant... is wounded?" the Holy Emperor's eyes narrowed as her gaze shifted from the girl's face to the elephant handlers.

The kneeling handlers exchanged glances, all equally terrified. The lead handler pressed his head to the ground. "Your Majesty, we did not find any injuries on the divine elephant!"

Chang Suining said, "The injury is on the neck, hidden beneath the folds of its skin. The wound is very small and difficult to detect, likely caused by a sharp object."

Her voice was firm, causing cold sweat to drip from the lead handler's forehead. "How... how could this be?"

But upon closer reflection, that bull elephant had indeed been more agitated since the previous night, yet they had noticed no wounds during their care.

The handlers had been guarding the elephants day and night as the ceremony approached, never letting their vigilance waver. How could anyone have gotten close enough to wound the divine elephant?

Because of this, they had assumed the bull elephant was merely throwing one of its occasional tantrums, never considering the possibility of an injury.

Cui Jing spoke up, "Whether Miss Chang's words are true or not, we can verify it."

the Holy Emperor nodded slightly.

As an emperor born outside the main lineage, she had made it this far not by clouding her judgment but by remaining shrewd and perceptive. While someone had to take responsibility for the disrupted ceremony, that didn't mean other possibilities should be ignored.

While the ministers debated the girl's supposed ill fate, the Holy Emperor had been observing and thinking all along.

Though no one could refute the notion of fate, it held less sway when compared to evidence and facts.

And she needed to know the truth.

One of the handlers, driven by a desire to atone for his negligence, said, "I am willing to go and inspect the divine elephant for injuries!"

An official looked toward the direction of the ceremonial pool and warned, "But with the elephant still so agitated, it may be difficult to approach."

No sooner had the words been spoken than a eunuch arrived with a physician in tow.

After bowing, the eunuch said, "Lord Wei, I have brought the anesthetic powder you requested. There's not much of it—will it suffice?"

Earlier, upon noticing the escalating situation, Wei Shuyi had refrained from stepping forward and instead thought of using the powder to sedate the elephant. He had then sent the eunuch to fetch it from the physician.

The handler immediately understood the meaning and nodded quickly. "It should be enough!"

Though it wouldn't completely knock the divine elephant out, it would calm it down sufficiently.

The handlers accepted the powder and, with the help of the imperial guards, descended into the ceremonial pool.

The women watching from a distance could hear the bull elephant's cries gradually quiet, knowing that the plan was working.

Soon, the handlers and physician returned.

--- 

Next Chapter▶▶

  **Chapter 64: My Suspicion Is Indeed Great**

Xiang Nu knelt down in a panic, his words stumbling: “It was my oversight... I didn’t realize the divine elephant was injured!”

Cui Jing reported, “The divine elephant has an injury in a concealed area on its neck, and it was pierced by a steel needle. Therefore, there are no noticeable bloodstains on the surface.”

At that moment, a medical officer stepped forward, holding a cotton cloth that clearly displayed the steel needle extracted from the divine elephant’s body.

The needle was about five inches long, sharp and hard, stained with dark blood.

“Your Majesty, this needle is coated with poison. Given the divine elephant’s massive size, this amount of poison wouldn’t be lethal but is certainly the root cause of its rampage,” the medical officer said.

A strange silence enveloped the surroundings.

In this silence, the eyes of the crowd were filled with astonishment.

Ming Luo’s expression changed: “Your Majesty, if this is the case, then someone must have secretly poisoned the divine elephant, deliberately trying to sabotage the blessing ceremony.”

Looking at the needle, the holy Emperor’s gaze turned icy.

Deliberately sabotaging the blessing ceremony meant targeting her as the Holy Emperor.

“Your Majesty, the person behind this has ulterior motives. We must investigate this as soon as possible!” Yao Yi sternly suggested.

Pei Shi couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.

Her eagerness to investigate this matter—was it for the public good or for personal reasons? She knew better than anyone!

She could see that her husband was just eager to defend that little wretch after nearly getting into trouble...

Her husband truly was overly concerned for his daughter!

“Is there really a need to investigate?” Pei Shi stepped forward, her demeanor exuding the noble pride typical of aristocratic women. She raised her hand and bowed to the holy Emperor, saying, “Your Majesty, my family has also kept elephants, so I am somewhat familiar with their nature. I dare to share my humble opinion—”

The holy Emperor looked at her: “Madam, please speak freely.”

Pei Shi lowered her eyes, calmly stating, “Since the divine elephant previously showed no signs of agitation, it is likely that it recognized the person who harmed it during the ceremony, leading to this retaliatory action.”

Yao Yi watched her, subtly frowning.

The surrounding chatter grew noisy again, and everyone, including the holy Emperor, turned their attention back to the young girl.

“Are you implying that I am the one who harmed the divine elephant?” Chang Suining asked calmly.

Having just escaped the ominous implications, she was now facing the accusation of “being retaliated against by the divine elephant”—it must be said, the opponent’s tactic of using the elephant to harm her was indeed well-prepared, ensuring she wouldn’t easily escape.

Hearing the girl’s direct question, Pei Shi kept her gaze steady: “I did not say that. I merely stated my knowledge and assumptions, as a reminder for our family’s lord in handling this case.”

This statement was clearly meant for outsiders, and Yao Yi wouldn’t believe a single word of it—Pei Shi evidently didn’t care whether he believed it or not.

Or rather, she had come forward at this moment to torment him.

“Of course, investigations cannot rely solely on assumptions; we must gather evidence,” Pei Shi said, raising her chin slightly, then turning to Yao Yi: “But the task of finding evidence should be left to Grand General Cui and our family’s lord.”

Meeting her gaze, Yao Yi inevitably felt a strange suspicion in his heart.

But as Pei Shi said, all assumptions must rely on evidence—

He fixedly looked at Pei Shi: “Rest assured, Madam. I will not fail the trust placed in me by Your Majesty and will uncover the truth behind this matter.”

To investigate the person who secretly harmed the divine elephant, it was inevitable to first question who had come into contact with the elephant since yesterday—according to the medical officer, the needle had been inside the divine elephant for at least a night.

Xiang Nu inevitably mentioned the previous day’s events at the temple: “...At that time, many young gentlemen and ladies were present…”

Seeing him glance at her but hesitate, wanting to avoid causing trouble, Chang Suining took the initiative to say, “I was also there yesterday.”

Xiang Nu finally nodded: “Yes... I remember.”

After all, this lady was exceptionally beautiful, making her hard to overlook after just one glance.

“And I approached the male elephant,” Chang Suining continued. “It made a noise at that time, and looking back, it indeed seemed like it had suffered some sudden attack. The divine elephant must have been injured at that moment—my suspicion is indeed great.”

Xiang Nu trembled and nodded again, even looking at the frank girl in disbelief—her words sounded almost like a confession!

Chang Suining didn’t take it to heart—when investigating, one must prioritize expediting the process.

Facing her honest eyes, Yao Yi and Cui Jing fell into silence.

Chang Suining continued, “Perhaps because of this, the divine elephant remembered me, mistakenly thinking I harmed it, leading to its act of revenge today.”

Elephants are intelligent, but one cannot expect them to be overly clever.

Cui Jing looked at her: “Are you suggesting that someone harmed the divine elephant while you were near, intentionally misleading it?”

“Exactly. Animals don’t lie in their reactions, but people can create false appearances to deceive them,” Chang Suining said. “I think, if the person is skilled enough, they wouldn’t need to get too close to stab the needle into the divine elephant, correct, Grand General Cui?”

Meeting her gaze, which showed no real intent to question, Cui Jing still nodded in agreement: “Yes.”

As a military general, he needed to step in at such critical moments to convince the crowd.

The young man’s cooperation at this moment appeared particularly glaring in Ming Luo’s eyes, and her unshakable unease began to swell.

“Though it sounds reasonable, ultimately, these are merely Miss Chang’s speculations. As the saying goes, words alone carry no weight; how can we fully trust them?” Pei Shi asked in a somber tone.

“I can testify for Sister Chang!”

Yao Xia's voice suddenly rang out.

The girl seemed to muster all her courage, driven by the belief that "but Sister Chang really needs me," as she stepped forward to stand beside Chang Suining, facing the holy Emperor: "Your Majesty, during the observation yesterday, I remained at the side of Miss Chang the entire time. Even when Miss Chang went to observe, it was at my invitation. I can prove that Miss Chang is definitely not the one who harmed the elephant!"

She finished in one breath, her trembling hands betraying her anxiety.

But for Sister Chang, she had to stand up, no matter how scared she was!

Her feelings for Sister Chang were sincere!

Yao Xia gazed fervently at Chang Suining, trying to offer her encouragement and confidence.

Chang Suining nodded slightly at her.

Although it wasn't necessary at all... she still appreciated it.

Yao Yi looked at his niece and said objectively, "Ah Xia's words can indeed serve as corroboration, but they cannot be decisive evidence."

And since there was a lack of conclusive evidence, they needed to look for it.

At this moment, Cui Jing said, "Perhaps we can first check the area where the elephant was kept in the temple."

Yao Yi nodded, just about to volunteer to accompany Cui Jing when a voice beat him to it: "Your Majesty, this monk has found a suspicious person!"

It was an extremely loud voice.

Everyone turned to look in the direction of the sound.

It was none other than Master Wu Jue, who had been presiding over the rituals at the Heavenly Maiden Tower, now draped in his monk's robe.

Chang Suining also turned to look.

Coming with him was Chang Sui'an.

The young man was tall, dressed in a neat indigo narrow-sleeved round-neck robe, but his rugged face bore several scratches and bruises, clearly the result of a recent close encounter.

Two warrior monks accompanied him, escorting a robust man dressed as an ordinary servant.

Master Wu Jue's gaze first caught sight of Chang Suining. He must have heard the gist of the matter on his way here and quickly walked over, his expression filled with sympathy: "Oh dear, this poor child... truly, Amitabha, may the Buddha bless you! Are you scared? You must have been frightened! When we return, I’ll recite a calming mantra for you to listen to!"

In a different scenario, it could have been a matter of reciting prayers for the dead!

Chang Suining: "..."

As a high monk, he shouldn't appear so approachable.

Wu Jue sighed heavily, turning to the holy Emperor: "Your Majesty, you must stand up for this poor child!"

As he spoke, he pointed at the robust man being held by the warrior monks: "Look, the evidence is right here!"

The holy Emperor was already used to Wu Jue's antics and simply said, "First, let us hear the details of what happened."

Wu Jue immediately replied, "Your Majesty, this man was acting suspiciously, intending to sneak into the meditation hall where miss Chang resides. Fortunately, he was discovered by a passing Chang family young lord, who intended to drive him away but unexpectedly found that this man had some skills. It took several of us working together to capture him!"

The robust man turned his head away with a sullen expression—how absurd, this "passing by" and "unexpectedly discovering"! 

That place was anything but an ordinary meditation hall; it was a well-laid trap!

Not only was the Chang family young lord watching from the shadows, but even the seemingly ordinary cleaning monks were all skilled fighters who dropped their brooms and began to punch him!

He had been beaten to a pulp!

"This man is indeed acting strangely, and we found this on him, which is highly suspicious!" Chang Sui'an presented a porcelain vial.

The holy Emperor furrowed her brows slightly, signaling the medical officer to come forward and inspect it.

After examining it, the medical officer's expression changed slightly: "Your Majesty, the poison in this vial is the same as that which harmed the divine elephant!"

Yao Xia gasped in surprise: "I understand now, I completely understand! This man brought poison intending to sneak into Sister Chang's meditation hall when no one was around, clearly with the intention to frame her! The one who harmed the divine elephant must be him!"

Having said that, she shocked herself—she didn’t even know where that sudden insight came from!

She glanced at her uncle and the others, who looked at her in disbelief, surely awakened by her sudden epiphany!

Yao Yi: "..."

If it weren't for his niece speaking up, he might have been left in the dark for a lifetime.

Yet, Yao Xia felt unexpectedly encouraged by her own outburst and turned to the robust man, questioning, "First, you misled the divine elephant to take revenge on Sister Chang, and now you're attempting to frame her. Tell me, who exactly instructed you?"

Yao Yi did not stop his niece from speaking for a reason.

Such firm suspicions expressed by him, as the Minister of Justice, would seem premature, but coming from a child, it was just right and highly effective in building the atmosphere.

As expected, as the situation developed in unexpected directions, the surrounding discussions grew increasingly loud.

Pei Shi silently clenched her fingers within her sleeves, staring intently at the robust man.

"I did injure the divine elephant," the robust man finally spoke, tightening his lips momentarily before looking at Chang Kuo and his daughter: "The one who instructed me was General Chang. He just wanted to push me out to take all the blame once things went awry."

"A joke!" Chang Kuo laughed coldly instead of getting angry: "Why would I instruct you to harm the divine elephant? What could I possibly gain by using my own daughter's life as bait? Do you really think such absurd accusations can confuse the issue and let you off the hook?"

"I am merely following orders," the robust man said, his expression strangely calm. "I’m only stating what I know; as for why General Chang would go to such lengths to ruin this blessing ceremony, I do not know."

"Claiming ignorance while already framing my father with the intention to ruin the blessing ceremony. This involves party disputes, and being involved could lead to utter ruin—" Chang Suining looked at him with some appreciation: "You’re not an ordinary lackey, but too bad you’ve chosen the wrong master."

"Why must you father and daughter play at accusing me here?" the robust man sneered, insisting: "What I said is the truth!"

As soon as he finished speaking, having just straightened his lips, his jaw twitched, and a sudden sword strike knocked his face sideways.

"Poof—"

The sword had not been drawn, yet its force was great enough to cause the robust man to turn away, spitting out a knocked-out tooth and the poison he had been ready to bite.

Cui Jing sheathed his sword: "Before you admit the truth, you won't die."

The robust man clenched his teeth and spat out a mouthful of blood: "Everything I said was true; I just didn't want to suffer any more torment before I die!"

"Take him away and interrogate him strictly," Cui Jing instructed Cui Yuanxiang: "Also, pull up the roster of servants from each household involved and verify this man's identity thoroughly."

"Yes!"

At the holy Emperor's signal, Yu Zeng also instructed a subordinate from the palace to accompany Cui Yuanxiang in this investigation.

"Wait, I remember... I have seen this man before!" Suddenly, a youthful voice spoke up.

Yao Yi looked over and saw his nephew, Yao Gui, stepping forward.

Why are all the ones stepping up today from the Yao family?

Cui Jing turned to the young man: "Do you recognize this person?"

"Not quite recognizing, but I have seen him!" Yao Gui replied: "During the observation yesterday, he was indeed present!"

He had vaguely seen someone at the time, but it had been a fleeting glance, and he hadn’t clearly seen it—only now, after looking at the man closely for a while, did he remember!

He also recalled, "Previously, I saw Aunt by the back door of our home talking with this man!"

The young man glanced over at Pei Shi and the servant women beside her.

Yao Yi frowned abruptly.

Pei Shi's expression changed, and she coldly said, "Do you know what nonsense you are talking about?"

How could these fools keep bringing her trouble! Was she fated to clash with the Yao family?

"Neph... nephew indeed saw him," Yao Gui mustered his courage, looking into those always intimidating eyes: "I just wanted to ask Aunt if she knew this person's background..."

But why did Aunt's reaction have to be so extreme?

"This servant does not recognize or know this person," the servant beside Pei Shi stated firmly: "My lord must be mistaken."

"That shouldn’t be..." Yao Gui's voice dropped, filled with strange uncertainty.

He wasn’t uncertain about what he had said but about... whether he had touched something he shouldn’t have?

In the next moment, his seemingly outrageous guess was confirmed.

"General Cui doesn’t need to bother investigating, I recognize this person—"

This time, it was a slightly trembling voice from a girl that spoke up. 

(End of this chapter)

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Chapter 613: Everyone Is Gone

"Go and fetch Ah Yu and Xiao Jin." Qian tugged on his sleeve, quickly catching up to Chu Liushi, whose complexion didn't look good.

Chu Liushi couldn't wait at the side gate of the yamen. Seeing the closed gate, she anxiously paced in place.

Chu Ziluo, being pulled by her, also felt at a loss.

Qian didn't need to ask, she also felt worried.

Confused, Chu Xing looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression. "Mother, Third Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you?"

At that moment, the side gate suddenly opened.

A group of people walked out from inside, all villagers who had come to pick up their children from the yamen.

"Did you see Xiao Jin and Third Sister-in-law?" Chu Liushi hurried forward and grabbed a villager she knew to ask.

Li's daughter-in-law, holding her son's hand, saw Chu Liushi and exclaimed, "Madam Chu, hurry in! Xiao Jin was just crying. We were curious why we didn't see Madam Scholar."

"What?" Chu Liushi's face changed drastically.

She rushed inside, only to see Chu Jin crying with tears streaming down his face, standing in place. Chu Liushi felt heartbroken as she hugged him and wiped his face, asking urgently, "Xiao Jin, where's your mother?"

Qian and Chu Xing hurriedly followed and saw this scene, feeling a little panicked.

Chu Jin hiccupped and cried, "Just now, Mother and I were called away by a servant. Mother suddenly pushed me into Uncle Han Zhuang's arms, and she was taken away by someone."

"Where's Han Zhuang?" Qian asked anxiously. He was skilled, didn't he catch the person who took your mother and beat them up?"

"Because suddenly there were seven or eight people in the corridor, Uncle Han Zhuang handed me over to the villagers and chased after them."

Chu Liushi exclaimed in anger, "They came prepared!"

"What... what should we do?" Qian slapped her thigh anxiously.

Chu Xing finally understood what was happening. "Mother, did someone take Sister-in-law away?"

"Yes, that's exactly what happened. What do we do now? How do we find her?" Qian was anxious, looking at Chu Liushi subconsciously.

Chu Liushi held Chu Jin with one hand and the crying Chu Ziluo with the other. She took out two pieces of silver from her waist and gave them to Liu Hai, saying, "Go hire someone to draw a portrait of Ah Yu. Draw about seventeen or eighteen of them, then bring them to the Xie Family."

"Let's go, let's ask the Xie Family for help."

At this moment, Chu Liushi thought it over and realized that only the Xie Family had the manpower to contend with Wang Dizhu.

She had to be quick, and she couldn't even leak the news to other villagers. After all, Third Daughter-in-law was a woman. If she went missing, it would harm her reputation. She couldn't afford to be careless in such a busy situation.

She also carefully recalled what Chu Jin had said. It seemed that Third Daughter-in-law had sensed something was wrong early on, so she had protected Xiao Jin first. And with Han Zhuang chasing after them, she felt a little relieved.

Liu Hai not only went to find someone to draw the portrait but also immediately informed steward Luo.

At the same time, Chu Liushi, with Chu Jin and Chu Ziluo, along with Qian and Chu Xing, arrived at the Xie Family's gate and happened to meet the steward returning.

"Steward Xie, it's me." Chu Liushi hurriedly stopped him, disregarding everything else, and whispered the situation, "Please ask Third Young Master for help. Regardless of whether he can rescue the person, my Chu Family is willing to agree to any request from Third Young Master."

The steward of the Xie Family supported her, his expression also looking grim. "Madam, I understand your situation, but... our Third Young Master is also missing. You... come with me into the house first and protect yourselves from harm."

Chu Liushi almost stumbled, but she knew she couldn't collapse at this moment. With two crying children, she knew that the best thing she could do now was to protect herself and the children. She even gave money to others to find Third Daughter-in-law.

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 614: Leaving the City

At the back door of the yamen, an inconspicuous carriage was seen. Two cloth bags were carried inside in succession. Sitting in front of the carriage were two unremarkable middle-aged men. The carriage quickly left the yamen.

Inside the carriage, one of the cloth bags made a muffled sound as it was cut open by a sharp knife from the inside.

Ye Muyu crawled out from it, her hair a bit messy, but she paid it no mind as she casually brushed it aside and emerged from the cloth bag.

As soon as she shook off the ropes on her hands, her gaze fell on the other cloth bag beside her.

She reached out, making a cut in it. When she saw a piece of clothing poking out from inside, Ye Muyu pursed her lips and quickly tore open the cloth bag.

Inside was Xie Yu.

Xie Yu was in a state of unconsciousness. Ye Muyu tried to wake him up but, realizing she couldn't, she leaned over and sniffed lightly. As expected, she smelled the scent of a knockout drug.

Ye Muyu took out a pill from her waist and fed it into Xie Yu's mouth.

The knockout drugs commonly used by the public weren't very potent, they only caused a brief period of unconsciousness and dizziness. The antidote for such drugs was made from licorice.

Three days ago, after she learned that she had to go to the yamen, she had asked Lu Sangqi to prepare some antidotes.

At that time, Lu Sangqi had thought it was miraculous, saying that with Han Zhuang and others protecting her, the likelihood of something happening was very low, so she didn't need to worry.

However, Ye Muyu felt that there was no absolute safety, and she had to have some self-defense ability just in case. If something did happen, she could protect herself.

In fact, Ye Muyu was unlucky enough to have to use the items she had prepared beforehand. It wasn't a good thing, but it indicated that Wang Dizhu was getting anxious. Who knew if he would continue to act recklessly?

Fortunately, she was fine now, which was considered a good thing.

Soon, Xie Yu woke up.

Ye Muyu also peeked out from the corner of the carriage window and saw that the carriage was heading towards the city gate.

"Sister-in-law..." Xie Yu hadn't even finished speaking when Ye Muyu covered his mouth. She put a finger to her lips, gesturing towards the front of the carriage and the cloth bags inside.

Xie Yu's eyes widened in realization. He quickly nodded at Ye Muyu and pointed to her hand.

Ye Muyu saw that he understood and let go of his mouth. The two of them sat facing each other, and Ye Muyu spoke in a low voice, "In a moment, the carriage will leave the city. We can't follow."

"Sister-in-law, what should I do?" Xie Yu felt a little embarrassed. Originally, he had come to rescue Ye Muyu, but now he was the one being rescued. He looked at Ye Muyu curiously. Among the women he knew, none were as capable as her. At least, if they were tied up, they definitely wouldn't be able to escape so quickly and calmly.

Ye Muyu didn't notice his change in emotions and quickly said, "In a moment, you should..."

Soon enough, the carriage arrived at the city gate.

The soldiers at the city gate were patrolling as usual.

"Get down and check the carriage."

The two men driving the carriage looked at each other. One of them got down from the carriage and spoke to the nearby soldier with a smile on his face.

The other man quickly pressed a button on the carriage. Inside the carriage, both of them dropped into a compartment underneath.

The man opened a corner of the curtain and took a look, confirming that the carriage was clean with nothing inside. He then jumped down from the carriage.

Seeing this, the man who got down from the carriage first laughed and stepped aside.

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 175: The Title of Consort

Guarding the imperial tomb was merely a result of the Emperor’s temporary anger. Once the storm passed, he would find a way back. He loudly exclaimed, "Thank you, Your Majesty for granting my wish."

With that, he rose and left, leaving the onlookers with many thoughts.

The happiest were naturally the Crown Prince's faction. With Duke Wei, the stabilizing force, gone, their actions would be much easier to execute.

Duke Wei, oh Duke Wei, who would have thought your lifelong wisdom would fail you at such a critical moment? By the time you return from the tomb, the court might have changed entirely.

Thinking this, the Crown Prince felt elated and found the Qinglei's goddess more pleasing to the eye than before.

He immediately bowed, saying, "Your son congratulates Father on gaining another beauty. Greetings to Consort Shu."

The goddess before him appeared no older than twenty, much younger than he was. But what did that matter? As his father's woman, she was naturally his 'stepmother.'

Emperor Qi, seeing the Crown Prince's respectful attitude, regarded him more favorably. "My son, you have worked hard. Your handling of the envoy reception was thorough. In a few days, I shall reward you."

"Thank you, Father!"

Glancing at the Ninth Prince's dark, brooding face, the Crown Prince felt all his long-standing grievances dissipate.

Standing beside Emperor Qi, Yueyao remained indifferent, neither pleased nor opposed. To her, being made a consort seemed as routine as a daily chore.

Her slender fingers were tightly held by Emperor Qi. If not for the many people present, he might have pulled her into his arms.

The once astute Emperor Qi now seemed bewitched, his eyes fixated on Consort Shu like a lovesick youth, oblivious to the subsequent gifts from the envoys. His heart and mind were wholly occupied as he led his newly appointed consort away, leaving the Crown Prince to handle the aftermath.

"Honored envoys from afar, your presence graces our Jin dynasty. The banquet at Ninghui Hall is ready. Please join me." The Crown Prince's courteous manner led many envoys to reconsider their positions.

Given the current situation, the Crown Prince's chances of becoming the Crown Prince seemed high. It was better to befriend him than make an enemy. Thus, many envoys treated him with extra respect.

The Sixth Prince, accompanying them, occasionally interjected, making the Crown Prince quite comfortable. Pleased, he patted the Sixth Prince’s shoulder, saying, "You are doing well, Sixth Brother. In the future, I won't forget your efforts."

Though his words were not explicit, the Sixth Prince understood their meaning.

Smiling, he replied, "Thank you for your guidance, Elder Brother. I will serve diligently."

His respectful attitude resembled that of a subordinate. Unfortunately, the Sixth Prince’s maternal family was weak, and he had no support from his wife's family, making him insignificant in the court. If not for the recent favor of the Crown Prince in managing the envoy reception, he wouldn’t have had the chance to be seen.

The Sixth Prince in the front court was akin to Concubine Liu Xian in the back palace.

Both were unimportant, but no one troubled them.

Concubine Liu Xian, once a maid, had risen to a consort's rank but now often resided in quiet temples, not due to loss of beauty but due to her noncompetitive nature. She neither flattered nor slighted anyone, becoming a rare tranquil presence in the palace. Thus, Emperor Qi would occasionally visit her to calm his mind.

Today, while the front court received envoys, the back palace was also bustling.
First, the Crown Prince’s wife was about to give birth. Second, Consort Wei’s niece was getting married, one joyous event after another, seemingly heralding a good year.

The Empress, dressed in a golden phoenix robe, looked radiant. Her hair was meticulously styled, adorned with a gold hairpin set with colorful gemstones, and a phoenix tassel in the middle of her forehead added to her elegance.

To her left sat Consort Wei, looking charming and youthful, showing few signs of aging. Her lazy demeanor and seductive gestures made her appear still in her prime.

To her right, Consort Liu Xian wore a simple green palace dress, neither striving for attention nor seeking fault.

However, below her, Concubine Zhen dressed extravagantly, eager to wear all the Emperor’s gifts, which earned a disdainful glance from Consort Wei, who whispered, "Dressed like a wild pheasant, utterly vulgar."

Concubine Zhen didn’t hear and remained smug.

Other palace concubines sat according to their ranks, filling the room with a scene more delightful than the imperial garden.

The Crown Prince’s wife, about to give birth, had a large belly. She should have sat lower, but the Empress, feeling for her daughter-in-law, had a stool brought to her side, with several maids attending her meticulously.

"Seeing the Crown Princess’s belly, it looks as round as a pomegranate. I’m sure Princess Fuyue will have a sister soon." Consort Wei smiled, her eyes fixed on the Crown Princess, wishing her ill.

Princess Fuyue, the Crown Prince’s eldest daughter, was almost ten. Since her birth, the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince’s household had no other children. This pregnancy, likely a male heir, was highly valued by the entire family.

The Empress, especially, had carefully chosen midwives, maids, and wet nurses for the birth.

Hearing Consort Wei’s words, the Crown Princess remained unprovoked. "Thank you for your kind words, Consort Wei. Regardless of gender, the child will be our treasure. You should urge the Ninth Prince to focus less on duties and more on providing the royal family with heirs. Otherwise, your longing for grandchildren might age you."

"The Crown Princess is quite sharp-tongued. I hope your birth goes smoothly. I’m looking forward to presenting gifts."

"Don’t worry, Consort Wei. You won’t be missed at the full moon celebration."

Their verbal sparring might have continued if not interrupted by an eunuch delivering an imperial decree.

"Greetings to the Empress, Consort Wei, Consort Liu, and the Crown Princess."

"Rise, Eunuch Wang. Is the banquet ready?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is prepared. You may lead the consorts to the feast."

The Empress smiled in satisfaction, taking the Crown Princess’s hand, and nodded. Understanding her intention, the Crown Princess said, "Mother, rest assured. With His Highness in charge, everything will be perfect."

Consort Wei, impatient, asked Eunuch Wang, "Where is His Majesty? Has he already gone?

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