"This wooden figurine," Xie Yun raised the wooden figurine and showed it to everyone. She said in a low voice, "is not the Crown Prince."
The hall seemed to freeze for a moment. Then, like cold water being poured into a pot of oil, it immediately exploded!
"What happened?"
"What did you say?!"
"Impossible, Your Majesty!
Your Majesty! "
The Emperor looked stunned. He panted for a while and pointed at Xie Yun with a trembling finger, "You, what did you say?
Bring it over for me to see! "
Xie Yun went forward and knelt on one knee. She raised the wooden figurine in front of the Emperor.
The wooden figure had a ferocious appearance. It was painted with cinnabar, and its body was pierced through by several golden needles. It emitted a nauseating smell of mud. Perhaps it was a psychological effect, but they felt that it was indeed gloomy and sinister, making them shudder in fear.
On its abdomen, there were four crookedly carved words. The Emperor recognized that they were the month and day of the Crown Prince's birth characters. He could not help but feel dizzy, "This is not the Crown Prince?
Why are you still quibbling?! "
"Your Majesty, if the Empress wanted to harm the Crown Prince, how could she not know the exact time of the Crown Prince's birth and only carve the day and month of his birth?
According to Zhao Daosheng, this wooden figurine was buried in the ground by a maid of the Xie Residence. How could I not do it myself and let a maid do it for me? "
The Emperor opened his mouth to scold her, but before he could say anything, he heard Xie Yun say loudly, "This Yan Sheng technique is not targeted at the Crown Prince. The date of birth carved on the wooden figurine is actually for someone else."
"Who?!"
"Your Majesty," Xie Yun said coldly, "it's me."
All the officials were suddenly frightened. Even the Emperor was tongue-tied.
"... You, you, you are..."
Shan Chao's first reaction was disbelief. Then, he suddenly realized something important.
He also did not know Xie Yun's date of birth characters!
Xie Yun never celebrated her birthday. No one in the capital knew her date of birth!
"The Crown Prince's birthday is on the third day of the fourth month of the second year of Yong Hui. The date of the month coincides with this subject's, but this subject has never celebrated his birthday to avoid the Crown Prince. Those who serve me closely know this, but they do not know when this subject was born.
There is only a moon and a sun on this peach wood figurine, and it is buried in this official's residence. Isn't the truth obvious? "
Xie Yun paused, only to hear Zhao Daosheng's angry and sharp voice behind her, "You're lying!
Since no one knows your exact date of birth, isn't it all up to you now? "
Xie Yun did not turn her head to look at him. She only calmly said to the Emperor, "Chen Fu's housekeeper and the others all know. Your Majesty will be able to distinguish between the truth and the lies after a trial."
The Emperor looked hesitant, and Zhao Daosheng couldn't think of a rebuttal. Prime Minister Dai Zhide stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I don't think it's appropriate!"
"… What did my beloved minister say?"
"The testimonies of all the relatives and servants are all beneficial to the accused. How can such testimonies that involve interests be accepted?
Your Majesty, please make a decision! "
Dai Zhide was indeed from the Prime Minister's aristocratic family. His words were logical and very reasonable. Several important officials agreed with him, and even the Emperor's attitude began to soften.
Just as the discussion on the scene gradually became one-sided, Xie Yun suddenly opened his mouth.
"— What Minister Dai said is very true.
It is indeed biased to only ask about the servants, but there is another person in the world who can prove that this witchcraft spell is engraved on this official's birthday. "
"… Who is it?" the Emperor asked suspiciously.
Xie Yun maintained the posture of kneeling on one knee. He lowered his head slightly, forming a neat arc from his shoulder to his spine.
"Your Majesty, it's Yin Kaiyang."
— — The leader of the Dark Clan, Yin Kaiyang.
Xie Yun grew up in the Dark Clan. It was only when she was in her teens that Yin Kaiyang led her to the palace for the first time to meet the Emperor.
Although the palace had records of the names and birthplaces of the Dark Clan members, how much of the records were true for these killers whose origins were difficult to verify?
The person who knew Xie Yun's origins the best was indeed Yin Kaiyang, who had personally brought her back from Qianzhou.
Eight years ago, after the Mount Tai Martial Arts Competition, Yin Kaiyang had a discussion with the Emperor.
No one knew how he convinced the Emperor. Even Queen Wu, who wanted to spy on him, couldn't find out anything about his methods. He only knew that the Emperor didn't blame him for the serious crime of using illusions. Instead, he was allowed to leave Chang An and go to the Eastern Capital.
In the following eight years, the Dark Clan had been hiding in the Eastern Capital, Luoyang. They had extended their influence and infiltrated all aspects of Luoyang City, but they couldn't touch Chang An, which had Xie Yun in charge.
And now, Yin Kaiyang was actually required to testify for Xie Yun?
The Emperor's expression changed, but the Empress of Heaven maintained her calm and fearless appearance with her hands in her sleeves.
Xie Yun's handsome face was slightly lowered. Her eyelashes covered her expression, and she was as motionless as a white marble sculpture.
After a while, the Emperor slowly said, "… Sect Leader Yin lives in seclusion in the Xuanyang Prefecture."
He casually pointed at his trusted eunuch beside him.
"You, hurry up and bring this Witchcraft Wooden Doll to him. Ask him if he can recognize the eight characters on it."
The eunuch carefully wrapped the muddy wooden doll with a piece of red silk, bowed, and retreated.
Everyone in the hall held their breaths as if they were standing on a pile of wooden stakes. The atmosphere was so tense that it was almost solidified.
The Emperor slumped in his armchair. His cloudy eyes unconsciously glanced at his feet. He suddenly realized that Xie Yun was kneeling very close to him. The corners of his eyes twitched slightly.
"General Shan."
Shan Chao did not expect to be called out so suddenly. "Yes."
The Emperor pointed to his side. Although he did not say anything, one could hear the vigilance in his voice. "Carry your sword and stand beside me."
As soon as the Emperor said this, everyone in the hall felt threatened. The Prime Ministers were frightened!
Shan Chao could feel his shoulders and muscles trembling slightly due to the excessive tension. However, when he stood up, his every move was very steady. Even his voice was as calm as usual.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Shan Chao walked forward and brushed past Xie Yun. Then, he walked past the silent Queen Wu and stood beside the Emperor.
Looking down from this vantage point, he could clearly see the expressions of everyone in the hall. Grief, unease, panic, anger … Even those who were secretly taking pleasure in others' misfortune were clearly reflected in his eyes.
Although the time was not right and the place was not right, Shan Chao suddenly had a completely unrelated thought in his mind.
So this is what the Emperor, who sits high in the throne room, has to face every day?
Then, when the Emperor stands at the top of the Da Ming Palace and looks down on hundreds of millions of people, what kind of feeling does it feel like?
Shan Chao's mind turned quickly. Suddenly, he fixed his eyes on Xie Yun.
Xie Yun maintained her kneeling posture just now. She was respectful and silent like a virgin. No one would notice anything unusual if they saw her.
However, Shan Chao, who had been with her for many years and had the most intimate physical contact with her, felt that something was wrong.
Xie Yun's body was very stiff.
She had one hand on her knee and the other hand pressed on the dark gold tiles of the hall. Her five fingertips were slightly pale.
If one looked carefully, they would discover that her upper arm had an indistinct outline under her sleeves. That was a sign that her muscles were extremely taut.
Queen Wu stood between Xie Yun and the Emperor. Her hands were hanging by her side and she did not say a word. Her cheeks were slightly protruding from her tightly clenched teeth.
Instantly, Shan Chao realized that something was very wrong.
They actually did not know how Yin Kaiyang would respond.
This was actually not arranged in advance.
Shan Chao's back suddenly felt an icy chill. Subconsciously, he looked at Zhao Daosheng, who was not far away, and discovered that he was actually smiling.
It wasn't the kind of smile where the corners of his mouth curled up, but there was an indescribable pride and expectation that clearly flowed out from the bottom of his long and slender eyes. He couldn't even hide it.
Who exactly was he?
Was he really an ordinary eunuch of the Prince of Yong's household?
At this moment, the sound of hurried hooves could be heard from the entrance. Immediately afterwards, the eunuch rolled off his horse and hurriedly ran up the steps. Lifting up his robes, he crossed the threshold.
Everyone turned their heads to look. They saw the eunuch holding a piece of red silk in his hands. His body was stooped as he strode forward in three steps, two steps. He knelt by Xie Yun's side, facing the Emperor. "Reporting."
In that instant, not a single person present moved. No one even made a sound.
Everyone's gazes were fixed on the wooden dummy in the eunuch's hands. If gazes had heat, then the piece of red silk would have burst into flames.
Can I take Xie Yun away?
Shan Chao could not help but have this thought.
When the situation has reached a point of no return, can I risk my life and disregard everything to take Xie Yun away?
"Sect Master Yin kowtows to the Emperor and respectfully welcomes Your Imperial Majesty!"
The eunuch gasped for breath and said loudly, "Reporting to Your Imperial Majesty, the remaining eight characters carved on this wooden dummy should be born on the third day of the fourth lunar month. He knows that only two people were born on this day. One is the current Crown Prince, and the other is the Commander Xie of the Beiya Imperial Guard. Your Imperial Majesty, please investigate!"
Xie Yun instantly closed his eyes and let out an almost inaudible sigh.
The Empress's tightly clenched teeth suddenly relaxed.
"Im … impossible!" Zhao Daosheng cried out involuntarily. "How could Yin Kaiyang say that?!"
Before anyone could react, Xie Yun suddenly turned around and stared straight at him. "How dare you!
How could a lowly servant dare to call the Dark Sect Master by his name?! "
As soon as she finished speaking, Shan Chao's eyebrows trembled violently.
Zhao Daosheng was stunned and his thoughts were in chaos. At this moment, he heard Xie Yun say in a deep voice, "Your Imperial Majesty, think about it. If the Empress wanted to take the Crown Prince's life, wouldn't it be straightforward to poison and assassinate him? Why would she use witchcraft that has no practical effect and is easily exposed?
The Empress was also someone who was harmed by the deposed Empress Wang's witchcraft. Does it have any effect now?
The date of birth carved on this wooden dummy coincides with this subject's, but is this subject affected in any way?
It can be seen that witchcraft is just a groundless accusation. Its actual function is to frame and fabricate crimes! "
"Moreover!"
Xie Yun suddenly stood up. Under the gazes of the crowd, he strode in front of Zhao Daosheng. His words were cold and clear, "Witchcraft is ever-changing, but the Crown Prince just had to die from the poison sealed in this peach wood human body. How could there be such a coincidence in this world?"
Zhao Daosheng's lips trembled, but he couldn't say a word.
"Whether the Heavenly Empress and I've failed in our scheme, or whether someone is framing us, we can all see what's going on, right?" Xie Yun looked down from above and said with a heavy tone, "Isn't that right, Chamberlain Zhao?"
Zhao Daosheng struggled to get up and yelled hoarsely, "I don't believe it!
I saw with my own eyes that Jinxin took the wooden dummy out of your bedroom and buried it in the ground … this is impossible! "
"Is that so?
Then do you want to ask His Imperial Majesty to search my side hall and see if you can find any evidence? "
Zhao Daosheng said angrily, "You!"
"I'm right in front of you. Do you want to search it yourself?"
Xie Yun suddenly leaned forward, almost sticking to Zhao Daosheng's ear. Her soft and magnetic voice was full of malice, "Didn't you frame me and search me in the past, hm?"
Zhao Daosheng's expression changed dramatically.
Xie Yun's soft lips curled. She turned and walked to the dragon-patterned cloud pillar in the main hall. She snatched the teapot from the servant who was serving hot water and splashed it!
Splash!
Zhao Daosheng couldn't dodge in time and was splashed all over. He instantly screamed!
"You, you!" Li Xian, the Prince of Yong, scrambled forward, stammering, "What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Xie Yun repeated, full of interest. Her gaze shifted to Li Xian.
"His Imperial Highness, the Prince of Yong, sheltered a wanted criminal from the imperial court, deceived the heavens, stole a wooden dummy, and even got involved in the case of the Crown Prince's murder. What is His Imperial Highness thinking?"