Capítulo 366: Chapter 366: Chaos in the Realm of Qitian Marquis
"Yingning?" Qitian Marquis's pupils contracted.
"I wonder if Princess Yingning herself can testify? And if she does, would it be considered false testimony?" Zhongshan smiled confidently.
If Princess Yingning testified in person, who would dare call it false? It would undoubtedly be the most authentic proof.
"Yingning? Yingning has passed away. Tian Lao said her soul has not yet entered the Underworld's Ghost City, so we cannot summon her!" Qitian Marquis retorted immediately.
"Not being summonable doesn't mean Yingning can't testify. Tian Lao has found another way to have Yingning confront everyone here in the Ancient Sacred Temple, to confront Princess Qianyou, and to confront Qitian Marquis!" Zhongshan narrowed his eyes.
Seeing Zhongshan's resolute gaze, Qitian Marquis's expression tightened, his aura weakening slightly. Nevertheless, he feigned composure. "Ha, then let Yingning come out and personally point out the murderer. Let her expose the crimes of Princess Qianyou."
"She will, she will point out the real culprit!" Zhongshan stared at Qitian Marquis and smiled.
At this moment, Qitian Marquis seemed to dislike Zhongshan's smile intensely. Seeing Zhongshan's calm smile, an inexplicable sense of irritation arose within him.
Turning his head, Zhongshan looked towards the Emperor. "Your Majesty, I have already discussed with Tian Lao. Please allow Tian Lao to enter the hall."
"Mm!" Emperor Gushentong nodded.
At that moment, Tian Lao needed no announcement. He leaned on his cane and slowly entered.
Tian Lao held a very high position in the Great Luo Dynasty. Although he held no official title, no one dared to underestimate him.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Tian Lao greeted as he entered.
"Mm!" Emperor Gushentong nodded.
In the court hall, everyone watched quietly. What was Tian Lao going to do, everyone knew. He was a Feng Shui master, different from those pursuing official careers, yet possessing his own mystical abilities, the most mystical being his ability to communicate between the realms of Yin and Yang.
Summoning spirits?
Tian Lao was capable of summoning spirits. There had been precedents in the past, but over a month ago, Tian Lao had already said he couldn't summon Yingning's soul. Could it be possible now?
Zhongshan respectfully bowed to Tian Lao. "Senior, we are counting on you."
"Mm!" Tian Lao responded lightly.
"Tian Lao, can you summon Yingning's soul now?" Qitian Marquis asked with some anticipation.
"I cannot. But I can show you Yingning's soul. She can also see all of you. Whatever she says will be her own words; no one can force her. Her soul is still in the Underworld." Tian Lao spoke calmly.
Upon hearing Tian Lao's words, everyone in the court held their breath. They waited silently, as if setting up projections for both sides to see each other.
Qitian Marquis stared at Tian Lao, his brows slightly furrowed, swallowing nervously, his fists clenched. However, his response was quick. "Then please proceed, Tian Lao."
Seeing Qitian Marquis, Zhongshan smiled faintly. Did Qitian Marquis really invite Tian Lao to proceed? Outsiders might not discern much, but Zhongshan knew well: Qitian Marquis must be feeling extremely tense inwardly. Yet he refused to back down, guided both by his apparent calm and his inner wisdom, knowing that he could not retreat until the very end.
Feigning composure?
"Tian Lao, please proceed." Zhongshan respectfully urged.
Tian Lao nodded, then stowed away his Heavenly Wood Cane and produced a square scroll from nowhere. The scroll was covered with various eerie symbols. Zhongshan glanced at it and felt as if those symbols were constantly moving, as if they might jump out at any moment. The longer he looked, the more confused his vision became.
Tianlao laid the scroll flat on the ground, his stooped figure facing it directly. He gently swayed his hand, and drops of purple liquid dripped from his fingers onto the scroll.
As the purple drops fell, the symbols on the scroll began to pulse faster and move rapidly. In an instant, the entire scroll blurred completely, becoming indistinct, but simultaneously projecting a faint green light.
Tianlao silently muttered something, incomprehensible to anyone, yet everyone seemed to understand.
Above the scroll, the faint green light gradually gathered, like fireflies converging into one. Gradually, a figure began to appear in the air above the scroll.
The figure became clearer and clearer. Finally, it fully materialized—a woman in white, exquisitely beautiful, her hair flowing loosely, eyes filled with deep sorrow.
Yingning! It was Yingning!
Seeing Yingning's appearance, almost all the courtiers gasped in astonishment and began to whisper. Even the peripheral members of the Gu family sucked in their breath.
Yingning had appeared, truly appeared. Now the truth behind the case could be revealed.
At the sudden appearance of Yingning, Duke Qitian unconsciously stepped back, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure, staring fixedly at Yingning, uncertain whether this was real or not.
Duke Qitian was skeptical yet deeply worried.
In the court, the Grand Preceptor and the Four Crown Princes furrowed their brows slightly, as if sensing something. Their deep composure prevented any outward display.
Zhengyi Wang's eyes briefly cleared, then clouded over again.
Daxuan Wang's gaze was fixed on Duke Qitian.
Zhan Tianwang continued to stare at Yingning.
Huantulong glanced at Duke Qitian, Zhongshan, and Yingning in turn.
As for Emperor Gushentong, his expression remained unchanged as he began to circulate around the hall the moment Yingning appeared.
"Princess Yingning, who was it that shot you back then? With so many courtiers present, what do you have to say?" Zhongshan whispered softly.
Yingning's gaze first turned towards Princess Qianyou, causing everyone to hold their breath. Was Princess Qianyou the real culprit?
However, in just three breaths of time, Yingning's gaze shifted to the Emperor, locking eyes with him. She looked at the Emperor for three breaths, then turned to Daxuan Wang, staring at him intently for three breaths. Next, she scrutinized some of the members of the Gu family with a tinge of sadness in her eyes, leaving everyone feeling deeply oppressed.
During this time, Duke Qitian clenched his fists continuously. If not for the toughened palms from his cultivation, his hands might have bled by now. Beads of cold sweat appeared on his forehead. He swallowed nervously, watching Yingning examine each person's face so quickly—just a glance?
Finally, Yingning turned towards Duke Qitian. In that moment of intense gaze, Duke Qitian involuntarily stepped back again, albeit subtly, relying on the support of his rear foot.
Yingning's sorrowful gaze seemed to penetrate Duke Qitian's soul, delving into the deepest recesses of his heart.
Duke Qitian tightened his fists even more, feeling as if a taut string was holding him back, as if he wanted to blurt out something but was stifled by this intense tension.
At this moment, Duke Qitian was no longer the composed figure he once was.
For such a long, agonizing time, Yingning glanced past everyone swiftly, but why did she spend so much longer looking at me? Why hasn't she turned away yet?
Duke Qitian's inner turmoil screamed with fear. Could Yingning be about to expose me? Is she going to speak the truth? Is it coming out?
Duke Qitian felt like his heart was about to stop beating. Sweat poured down his forehead more and more.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of tension, Yingning turned her head. Then, she looked at Tianlao, her figure dispersing slightly, and vanished.
Yingning didn't say anything? She really didn't say anything.
"We've lost contact with Yingning," Tianlao shook his head.
Lost contact? But Yingning hadn't even had a chance to speak. The Gu family members grew anxious. Princess Qianyou, nearby, also showed signs of worry.
What now? Lost contact?
At this moment, everyone in the court suddenly looked at Duke Qitian. What happened to Duke Qitian? Why was he covered in sweat?
Zhongshan kept his gaze fixed on Duke Qitian. He actually made it through?
Duke Qitian was drenched in sweat, his clothes almost soaked through. He was filled with extreme fear, but he had managed to endure it. Ha, he had made it through. Yingning didn't appear, she didn't say anything. That was great, really great, she didn't say anything.
"Duke Qitian, what's the matter with you?" Zhongshan asked.
Although Duke Qitian had managed to hold on, his inner turmoil left him in a state of extreme excitement, mixed with relief and exhilaration.
When Zhongshan questioned him, Duke Qitian immediately realized his lapse.
"Yingning, why did you leave like that? Why didn't you say anything to me? Why didn't you point out Gu Qianyou, who killed you?" Duke Qitian didn't answer Zhongshan directly but looked sorrowfully at the scroll on the ground where Tianlao had worked his magic.
"Duke Qitian, are you feeling unwell?" the Emperor asked.
"No, Your Majesty, I... I was just too overwhelmed by seeing Yingning's soul, so I broke out in a sweat. I'm fine, it's just a pity that Yingning couldn't point out the real culprit and let me avenge her!" Duke Qitian said with a melancholy expression.
What a good actor! Zhongshan sighed inwardly.
"Tianlao, can you summon Yingning's projection again, like you did just now?" Emperor Gushentong asked.
Emperor Gushentong asked, and Duke Qitian nervously looked at Tianlao. Outsiders might think he was concerned about his sister, but only Duke Qitian knew why he was so nervous.
"No, it's not possible anymore. At least not for another year," Tianlao shook his head and bent down to slowly roll up the scroll, putting it away.
No longer possible? Does that mean Yingning can never testify again?
After Tianlao finished speaking, Duke Qitian let out a long sigh and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
Barely perceptible to most, but not to those who had been watching him closely.
Zhongshan saw Duke Qitian's almost imperceptible smile and felt a surge of joy. He had succeeded in disrupting Duke Qitian's rhythm. Duke Qitian had broken out of his perfect defense; his inner defenses had collapsed. Now, it was time for Zhongshan's most intense attack.
Fan Yipin, caught in the middle of the Gu family's internal affairs, shook his head slightly, as if foreseeing the outcome.
Daxuan Wang, however, kept staring intensely at Duke Qitian. Seeing Duke Qitian's expression and movements, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes lightly for a moment, then opened them again.
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