Chapter 360: Wind God Bow, Wind God Arrow

"Sister, you've got sharp eyes!" Yingning chuckled.

"The Wind God Bow originally belonged to my birth father. After he fell in battle and disappeared, its whereabouts were unknown. How did it end up in your hands? And where is the Wind God Arrow?" Princess Qianyou narrowed her eyes.

"I didn't get the Wind God Arrow, only this Wind God Bow. But now, it's not your father's anymore, it's mine," Yingning smiled.

With that, Yingning pulled the bowstring of the Wind God Bow. As she did, a strong wind gathered, quickly forming a wind arrow on the bow. It was entirely composed of wind.

Yingning relaxed her grip, and the wind arrow shot towards a large rockery not far away.

"Boom~~~" The giant rock exploded into powder.

Just pulling the string caused this? Wind forming into an arrow?

Princess Qianyou squinted, while Yingning looked excited. She pulled the bowstring again, and once more, a strong wind gathered into an arrow.

This time, Yingning aimed the arrow at Princess Qianyou.

"Yingning, what are you doing?" Princess Qianyou's face darkened.

"It's rumored that the body of Xun Ding is most adept in wind magic, even able to resist most wind spells. This Wind God Bow won't harm you. Today, I just want to see for myself," Yingning smirked.

"You scoundrel!" Princess Qianyou's eyes flashed with anger as she lunged towards Yingning.

"Shoo~~~" The wind arrow pierced directly into Princess Qianyou's face. She widened her eyes.

"Bang~~~" The wind arrow suddenly dissipated, becoming invisible.

"Snap~~~" Princess Qianyou slapped Yingning away and snatched the Wind God Bow.

Yingning staggered back, clutching her chest, but Princess Qianyou hadn't used her full strength, merely pushing Yingning away without injuring her.

"Sister, you truly are the body of Xun Ding!" Yingning exclaimed with excitement, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of her earlier actions.

"The Wind God Bow..." Princess Qianyou began.

"Shoo~~~" Mid-sentence, a green arrow shot through Yingning's chest from behind.

Both women froze. Princess Qianyou stared blankly at the green arrow lodged in Yingning's chest, while Yingning wore an expression of disbelief, looking down at herself where the arrow had pierced through, fatally breaking her Purple Mansion.

Yingning couldn't believe it. She turned, looking towards the distant pavilions, her eyes filled with disbelief and denial. Was this how she died? Dead?

"Someone! Princess Yingning is dying~~~" Suddenly, a cry for help echoed from a nearby building. Immediately, Ma Zhuirui rushed over, embracing Yingning, but it was too late. Yingning, with a trace of regret, had already passed.

Dead! Princess Yingning was dead? Ma Zhuirui's earlier shout had attracted numerous officials who had come to see the scene in the courtyard, where a giant rockery had been blasted to pieces. They were already puzzled, but Ma Zhuirui had rushed over to investigate.

In the courtyard were only two people: Princess Qianyou and Princess Yingning. Yingning had her back to Princess Qianyou, completely unguarded, and an arrow had pierced through her Purple Mansion, killing her instantly.

Who shot the arrow? There were only two in the courtyard: Princess Qianyou, holding a strong bow, directly facing Yingning's back. It was Princess Qianyou who shot the arrow! It could only be her!

"Wind God Arrow?" Ma Zhuirui recognized the arrow that had pierced Yingning's body as he held her.

At that moment, Qitian Hou flew over from nearby and snatched Yingning's body from Ma Zhuirui's grasp.

"Wind God Arrow? Wind God Bow? Qianyou, you have a heart as cruel as it gets. It's not Yingning's fault for not being chosen by the heavens. Did you really shoot her out of jealousy? You're terrifying!" Qitian Hou glared at Princess Qianyou, his eyes red with fury.

"Guards, seize Princess Qianyou!" Ma Zhuirui shouted.

Inside Princess Qianyou's mansion, she brooded with resentment.

"Did you investigate where the arrow came from?" Zhongshan frowned.

"When Yingning was shot, I was shocked stiff. It was only after a moment that I used my spiritual sense to investigate the surrounding pavilions, but in that short time, the assailant had vanished. No, they likely blended into the crowd!" Princess Qianyou explained.

"Pre-meditated, flawless execution. To outsiders, you appear undoubtedly guilty," Zhongshan frowned.

"Yes," Princess Qianyou nodded.

"If your guilt is established, what would be the consequence?" Zhongshan asked.

"Stripped of my princess title, demoted to commoner, perhaps even stripped of cultivation, banished from the Great Luo Celestial Empire, never to return," Princess Qianyou sighed.

"Don't worry, I will clear your name," Zhongshan assured her solemnly.

Princess Qianyou shook her head. "Apart from the emperor, there's nothing left in the Great Luo Celestial Empire worth staying for. Even my father... Heh, my father... In the past, how much did I do for him, recruiting talent, solving difficult problems, and in the end, he... heh, the title of princess means nothing to me now. What matters is your safety."

"Rest assured, with me here, no one can falsely accuse you! No one!" Zhongshan asserted.

Seeing Zhongshan's determination, Princess Qianyou smiled contentedly.

"I have only a month. It's been a day already. I'll go investigate the scene now and come see you in a few days!" Zhongshan said.

"Yes," Princess Qianyou nodded.

Outside the princess's mansion, Zhongshan headed straight to the Ministry of Punishments!

In a grand hall within the Ministry of Punishments, Ma Zhuirui greeted Zhongshan.

"Lord Ma, I want to know: on the day of the incident at Princess Yingning's mansion, who exactly was present? I need every detail," Zhongshan requested.

"Who? Are you trying to find a scapegoat among this group?" Ma Zhuirui retorted coldly.

"Heh, scapegoat? I'm looking for the real killer. Lord Ma, you were the first to arrive at the scene of the incident and called a large number of guests to come to the scene, weren't you?" Zhongshan pointed out.

"And what if I was? Princess Qianyou killed Yingning, she's the murderer," Ma Zhuirui stated.

"Hmph, until the case is clear, everyone in the princess's mansion that day is a suspect, especially you, Lord Ma," Zhongshan accused sharply.

"Zhongshan, are you accusing me without evidence?" Ma Zhuirui was furious.

"At the moment Yingning was shot, no one else noticed it. Why did you? Perhaps you shot Princess Yingning yourself and framed Princess Qianyou," Zhongshan suggested.

"You... Yingning is my niece. How could I kill her? I was the first to arrive because of a loud noise in the courtyard that I went to investigate. I just happened to see Princess Qianyou shoot Yingning," Ma Zhuirui replied urgently.

"Why you, specifically?" Zhongshan demanded.

"Me? Zhongshan, are you trying to frame me? Is it because of court matters, holding a grudge and trying to pin the blame on me?" Ma Zhuirui's face turned red with urgency.

"Frame you? Hmph, you're not worthy. I know you keep records here. Go fetch me all the information on everyone present at the princess's mansion that day," Zhongshan coldly ordered, then sat down in a high-backed chair. He held the Sacred Sword, blazing with fire, standing beside him.

"You're not worthy?" Ma Zhuirui heard the humiliating words. Normally, he would be furious, but now, he merely glared at Zhongshan and hurried fearfully to gather the documents.

Ma Zhuirui found that Zhongshan seemed like his nemesis, someone he dared not linger around for even a moment. Indeed, Ma Zhuirui was unworthy—this type of person feared sullying their intellect even when being framed. At the same time, Zhongshan knew Ma Zhuirui wasn't the culprit because he lacked the courage and audacity. Zhongshan's harsh words were meant to provoke him into compliance.

Soon enough, Ma Zhuirui returned with a stack of documents, wearing a stony expression.

Taking the documents, Zhongshan began examining them carefully. Time was short; he needed to make selections quickly.

Including the servants, there were a total of two hundred and thirty-four people at the princess's mansion that day. The documents detailed everyone from Qitian Hou and various courtiers attending the banquet down to the kitchen staff and maids. Each person's personal history, current residence, and whereabouts during the incident were meticulously recorded.

"What about the Wind God Arrow and Wind God Bow?" Zhongshan inquired.

"They are being held at the Ministry of Punishments, awaiting the princess's guilt to be determined before they are handed over to the emperor," Ma Zhuirui replied.

"Bring them to me," Zhongshan ordered.

"They are crucial pieces of evidence!" Ma Zhuirui protested.

"Exactly why they are needed for the investigation. The emperor has tasked me with this case, and I have the authority to manage anything relevant to it. Bring them here!" Zhongshan ordered decisively.

Ma Zhuirui hesitated to argue further but seeing Zhongshan's unwavering gaze, he swallowed his anger and went to retrieve the Wind God Arrow and Bow.

In that grand hall of the Ministry of Punishments, Zhongshan swiftly sifted through the documents on his desk. Time was of the essence!

Firstly, he eliminated those who had others present with them during the incident. Zhongshan's analytical skills were unparalleled. By the time Ma Zhuirui reluctantly brought the Wind God Bow and Arrow, Zhongshan had already narrowed down the suspects from the documents to fifty individuals, having removed a hundred and eighty-four.

"Here is the Wind God Bow and Wind God Arrow," Ma Zhuirui presented the bow and arrow.

(To be continued...)