Chapter 365: Confrontation in the Court

Zhongshan spotted the other two Great Princes of the Daxuan Dynasty, and they in turn noticed him as well. Upon seeing the Sacred Sword in Zhongshan's hand, their eyes gleamed slightly. Zhongshan! They knew him, just as he knew them. They were well-informed about Zhongshan's identity and capabilities.

Prince Taizong looked at Zhongshan with a smile full of infectious charm, nodding slightly in a very friendly manner, like a spring breeze blowing gently. Prince Zhantian glanced at Zhongshan with a smirk of arrogance before turning his head away. Neither of the two Princes spoke to Zhongshan.

The two Great Princes had just returned to the court, and there were rules to follow in the celestial court. If they wanted to return to their former official positions among the court officials on both sides, they needed the Emperor's permission.

In the Ancient Holy Palace:

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

All the court officials and the Gu Clan relatives who were observing the trial bowed together.

"Hmm!" Ancient Gushentong Emperor responded lightly.

Gushentong, elevated and supreme, in the Ancient Holy Palace, he was like a deity overlooking the world.

"Let's proceed together," Gushentong said lightly.

A eunuch nearby bowed slightly and stepped forward.

"Announce the entry of Prince Taizong into the palace～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

"Announce the entry of Prince Zhantian into the palace～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

"Announce the entry of Marquis Dongfang into the palace～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

As soon as the eunuch inside the hall finished announcing, the eunuch outside the hall followed suit.

"Announce the entry of Prince Taizong into the palace～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

... Layer by layer, it spread all the way down to the foot of the Ancient Holy Mountain.

Zhongshan nodded slightly to the two Princes and made a slight bow. The two Princes stepped forward.

Prince Taizong walked in front, with Prince Zhantian closely behind him, and Zhongshan followed at the rear. They quickly arrived at the entrance of the Ancient Holy Palace.

The three entered together.

"Your Majesty, your sons pay their respects. May Your Majesty enjoy eternal happiness and longevity equal to that of the heavens!" Both Great Princes spoke simultaneously.

"Minister Zhongshan pays respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty live ten thousand years!" Zhongshan bowed.

"Take your positions," Ancient Gushentong said calmly.

"Yes!" The two Great Princes responded immediately.

Prince Taizong stood behind King Daxuan, and Prince Zhantian stood behind Prince Taizong. In the center of the hall, only Zhongshan remained.

The court was solemn and majestic, and no one dared to speak out of turn.

Zhongshan scanned the surroundings. Beyond the two rows of court officials were the relatives of the Gu Clan, all standing patiently on the periphery, waiting for the trial of Princess Qianyou.

"Dongfang Marquis Zhongshan!" Gushentong called out.

"Here!" Zhongshan replied.

"We promised you one month. Have you found out the truth?" Gushentong asked.

"Your Majesty, I have unraveled the cause and effect. Today, I am here to report to Your Majesty, to the Gu Clan, and to the world!" Zhongshan affirmed confidently.

Upon hearing Zhongshan's words, everyone looked at him. Grand Tutor Huan Tulong looked at Zhongshan with a slight smile. Prime Minister Zheng Yi Wang gazed at Zhongshan, his eyes still cloudy, revealing nothing distinctive.

As King Daxuan looked at Zhongshan, his gaze held a scrutinizing intent. Prince Taizong maintained his gentle and unchanged demeanor, akin to the warmth of spring breeze. Prince Zhantian, with an attitude of looking down upon all living beings, cast a disdainful glance at Zhongshan.

In a distant corner, Fan Yipin stood silently, his expression devoid of emotion. Meanwhile, Marquis Qitian narrowed his eyes, his gaze coldly fixed on Zhongshan. The most powerful figures of the Daxuan Dynasty had all gathered here.

Their ultimate task: to pass judgment on Princess Qianyou.

"Announce!" Ancient Gushentong spoke lightly.

Immediately, an elderly eunuch beside him stepped forward, holding a decree: "In the 8,014th year of Daxuan, on the fifth day of the third month at noon, Princess Yingling was shot to death by the Wind God's Arrow in her residence. The first to arrive at the scene was Marquis Dongfang Zhuiyue, the Deputy Minister of Punishments, who summoned numerous guests of the princess's mansion to witness the crime scene. At the scene of the crime, Princess Qianyou was found holding the Wind God's Bow, aiming directly at Princess Yingling. Princess Yingling had been shot in the back with the Wind God's Arrow, which pierced her purple palace, causing instant death without any last words!"

While the eunuch announced, Princess Qianyou was escorted into the hall by several guards. Simultaneously, another eunuch carried a tray holding the deadly weapons: the Wind God's Bow and Arrow.

The prime suspect: Princess Qianyou.

Upon seeing Qianyou, Zhongshan gave her a reassuring glance. Qianyou nodded in response and stood aside.

Qitian Marquis had been watching Qianyou closely since her entrance into the hall. Midway through, he glanced at Zhongshan, then took a deep breath as if to adjust his state. Suddenly, a hint of anger erupted in his eyes as he stared directly at Princess Qianyou.

The four Great Princes watched silently.

"Gu Qianyou, We ask you: did you kill Yingling?" Ancient Gushentong asked solemnly, as if passing divine judgment.

"Your Majesty, I did not kill Yingling!" Princess Qianyou immediately responded.

As Qianyou spoke, Qitian Marquis glared angrily at her.

"Qitian Marquis, do you have something to say?" Ancient Gushentong turned and asked.

Upon hearing the Emperor's call, Qitian Marquis immediately stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, Qianyou is lying! Several court officials witnessed it with their own eyes that day. We cannot wrong Yingling's vengeance. I vow to make the one who killed my own sister pay the price. If there is a traitor among the Gu Clan relatives, they must be exposed to uphold justice!" Qitian Marquis declared with righteous indignation.

As Qitian Marquis spoke, the surrounding Gu Clan relatives nodded one after another, echoing his sentiments. Indeed, if a princess could murder a relative with impunity, the status of the Gu Clan relatives would plummet rapidly.

The court officials also nodded in agreement.

The four Great Princes continued to stare at Princess Qianyou without uttering a word.

"Well said. Such a traitor must be exposed to uphold justice. Since you are so certain that it is Gu Qianyou, then it shall be you who will accuse her of the crime," Ancient Gushentong said lightly.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Qitian Marquis breathed deeply in satisfaction.

"Zhongshan, report the findings you have gathered these days!" Ancient Gushentong commanded.

"Yes!" Zhongshan responded respectfully.

Zhongshan glanced at everyone and walked over to the eunuch holding the Wind God's Bow and Arrow.

"Minister Ma!" Zhongshan suddenly called out.

Deputy Minister of Punishments, Ma Zhuiyue, frowned slightly but stepped forward nonetheless.

"Were you the first to see the crime scene that day?" Zhongshan asked.

"Yes!" Ma Zhuiyue replied.

"Please use your spell to project the scene you first saw," Zhongshan requested.

Marquis Zhuiyue frowned slightly but proceeded to use his spell within the grand hall, projecting the scene he had witnessed firsthand.

In a courtyard, Princess Qianyou held the Wind God's Bow, while Yingling had her back turned to Qianyou, struck by the Wind God's Arrow which ended her life instantly.

As the scene replayed, the Gu Clan relatives frowned in unison. Wasn't it clear that Princess Qianyou had shot Yingling?

Qitian Marquis sneered, "Back then, with no one around, Marquis Ma was the first witness. Gu Qianyou killed Yingling with the Wind God's Arrow. There's no room for debate. Do you still want to defend her?"

"Your Majesty, Marquis Ma was indeed the first eyewitness. What he saw cannot be surpassed by subsequent witnesses. But what happened before? Some claim Qianyou killed Yingling. For fairness and justice, let Princess Qianyou recount exactly how the events unfolded that day," Zhongshan proposed.

"Granted!" the Emperor said.

All eyes turned to Princess Qianyou. Using magic like Marquis Ma, she swiftly projected the scene from the courtyard that day.

"It happened like this. As I was using my divine consciousness to investigate the courtyard, the culprit had already escaped!" Princess Qianyou stated.

"Nonsense! Haha, Gu Qianyou, you killed Yingling and now you're still trying to argue? Many court officials saw it with their own eyes. Are they all wrong? The Wind God's Bow and Arrow belong to your biological father. Are you suggesting they were separated? Did you give the Wind God's Arrow to this so-called 'culprit' who then framed you? Ridiculous! Ridiculous~~~~~" Qitian Marquis laughed angrily.

Qitian Marquis's words were logical. The Gu Clan relatives looked at Princess Qianyou with cold indifference.

In this case where both circumstantial and physical evidence pointed to her guilt, her attempt to defend herself seemed hopeless.

Princess Qianyou glared at Qitian Marquis but said nothing more, trusting Zhongshan.

"Hehe, Qitian Marquis, there's no need to be so anxious. The truth cannot be determined by one-sided words, but by evidence," Zhongshan interjected.

"Evidence? Huh! The evidence is right here—Wind God's Bow, Wind God's Arrow, and Marquis Ma's eyewitness account. Isn't this evidence enough?" Qitian Marquis retorted angrily.

"Eyewitness? Marquis Ma? Marquis Ma was only a witness who appeared later. In fact, there was another person who witnessed Yingling's death in the courtyard that day, and he saw clearly how she was killed and by whom," Zhongshan said.

As Zhongshan spoke, the courtiers looked at each other, and the Gu Clan relatives began to murmur.

Another witness? How is that possible? Why wasn't this discovered earlier? Did Zhongshan deliberately fabricate this?

All discussions turned towards Zhongshan.

"Oh? I'd like to see who you've found to give false testimony for Gu Qianyou. Who dares to be so bold as to give false testimony in the Ancient Holy Hall!" Qitian Marquis glared.

"False testimony? How do you know it's false testimony? Are you so sure there were no witnesses in the courtyard at that time?" Zhongshan pressed Qitian Marquis.

"Hmph, if there were still witnesses, they would have been discovered long ago. Why wait until now? Bring them out!" Qitian Marquis retorted immediately.

Naturally, Qitian Marquis did not believe there was a third person because he had already thoroughly investigated the surroundings before the crime occurred.

"The witness I'm talking about is Yingling herself," Zhongshan narrowed his eyes.

Yingling? As Zhongshan spoke, the court erupted in renewed discussion. Yingling—yes, she must have known the truth. But wasn't it said that she couldn't be summoned?

(To be continued)