"Nah, I’ll be right back," Nanli said before whispering a few words in Ye Siheng’s ear. Then, she took out a teleportation charm and, in front of everyone’s eyes, disappeared without a trace.
Elder Cao couldn’t help but widen his eyes, and the members of the commoner factions also exclaimed in surprise. Ye Siheng remembered what Nanli had said and immediately instructed Qing Feng to handle it.
In just the time it took to brew a cup of tea, as people barely exchanged a few words, a gust of wind swept through the courtroom, and two figures suddenly appeared.
Master Lingzhen, dressed in simple robes, seemed a bit unsteady when landing for the first time after being teleported.
Nanli grabbed his arm, exerting quite a bit of strength to steady him. "Master, are you all right?"
"I’m fine, just a little dizzy," Master Lingzhen replied after catching his breath. He looked around and, seeing that he had indeed arrived at the Grand Court in the capital, couldn’t help but express his surprise, "This teleportation charm is truly miraculous and convenient. I wonder if the princess consort has more in stock. I’d like to buy one."
"We can discuss that later. If I agree now, it might seem like I’m bribing you," Nanli replied.
Master Lingzhen already understood the purpose of his visit. He adjusted his expression and said, "One teleportation charm is not enough to make me tell lies."
By now, Elder Cao had approached them, and he clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect. "Master Lingzhen."
When the late emperor passed away, Master Lingzhen had come to the palace to recite scriptures. Elder Cao had the honor of meeting him once.
He trusted Master Lingzhen’s character.
Master Lingzhen glanced at him, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. "The princess consort has already explained the situation to me. Please rest assured, Elder. I will do my best to assist in uncovering the truth and bring justice to your student."
"Thank you, Master," Elder Cao expressed his gratitude.
Turning around, Master Lingzhen urged, "Where is the body?"
If Sun Yaozu was indeed killed by unconventional means, the body needed to be examined as soon as possible; otherwise, the traces would soon disappear.
Qin Zheng immediately had the body brought in.
The white cloth was lifted, revealing a body that had undergone autopsy and stitching, with a long scar on the abdomen.
Seeing this, everyone couldn’t help but shudder, feeling nauseated.
Elder Cao couldn’t help but feel sorrowful at the sight of his student not only losing his life but also having his body dissected for examination. Tears welled up in his eyes.
He swore that if Chu Huan was indeed the culprit, he wouldn’t show any mercy!
Master Lingzhen observed the body as Nanli stepped aside to avoid suspicion.
Ye Siheng was a bit puzzled. "I don’t see anything."
He thought that Sun Yaozu had been injured by someone else first, and Chu Huan just happened to be unlucky to encounter him. And how did A’Li know about the curse if she hadn’t seen Sun Yaozu’s body at first?
"If you can’t see it, then it’s just right. This curse is intricate and mysterious," Nanli said without turning her head, her gaze fixed on Sun Yaozu’s body.
Ye Siheng became even more confused. How did she know about the curse?
At that moment, Master Lingzhen squinted his eyes and pressed the hand holding the Buddhist beads firmly onto the body.
A faint black mist immediately dispersed!
If everyone hadn’t been paying close attention, they wouldn’t have noticed it at all.
However, that wisp of black mist, once it left the body, still possessed an attacking nature. It immediately rushed towards Elder Cao.
Master Lingzhen’s expression turned solemn, and he formed a Buddhist seal with his hands, sending out his prayer beads to firmly enclose the black mist. The mist struggled and thrashed about but gradually weakened until it was on the verge of dissipating.
Everyone watched intently, whispering among themselves.
Elder Cao was still in shock. "What is this?"
He had just felt the breath of death.
Master Lingzhen’s gaze was heavy. "It’s the curse of the lost soul. Planted on a living person, it can easily take their life."
Chu Huan immediately realized, "So, it wasn’t me who killed him. Sun Yaozu was cursed by someone?"
"That’s what it means," Master Lingzhen nodded.
Chu Huan breathed a sigh of relief, tears of joy welling up in his eyes. It was a huge relief that he hadn’t shed blood.
However, someone from the commoner factions voiced skepticism, "Cursed? I’ve never heard of such a method of killing! Elder Cao, we’re not familiar with any kind of occult arts or curses. Don’t let yourself be deceived by some trickery!"
After all, the venerable monk had been brought back by the Ninth Princess.
Elder Cao fell into contemplation, unable to make up his mind.
Nanli spoke up, "It’s normal for you not to believe in such a way of death for Sun Yaozu. But as they say, actions have consequences. Whoever planted this curse will eventually have it return to them. That’s when everything will be revealed."
She nodded as a sign.
Master Lingzhen grunted and lifted the spell of confinement.
The black mist drifted.
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on it.
Suddenly, Nanli appeared next to the small official, clutching his hand tightly.
She smiled, but there was a hint of coldness and pressure in her expression. "Don’t throw it away."
The small official’s face turned pale because what he held in his hand was a torn-up talisman.
He tried to struggle and pull his hand back, but Nanli seemed to possess infinite strength, nearly crushing his hand to pieces. He winced in pain, sweat breaking out on his forehead. "Let go... let go of me!"
A paralysis talisman was stuck to the small official’s body, rendering him unable to move, only able to watch as Nanli took the talisman from his hand.
He was both shocked and anxious, hastily explaining, "This is just my protective talisman!"
"A protective talisman?" Nanli glanced at it. "This talisman can attract lost souls. When torn, it triggers the curse on the living, causing immediate death."
Master Lingzhen leaned over to take a look. "Indeed."
"The subtlety of this death curse makes it easy to plant on a living person without being noticed. But what’s difficult is how someone could precisely control Sun Yaozu to die under my brother’s hands," Nanli said firmly. "Therefore, the person who can trigger this death curse must have been present at the scene."
"Don’t slander me! Elder Cao, I didn’t do it! They want me to take the blame for Chu Huan!" the small official exclaimed frantically.
"Then why were you so eager to throw away this talisman? The black mist couldn’t return to you at all. Just now, I was only deceiving you," Nanli turned to Elder Cao and said, "If Elder Cao doesn’t believe me and Master Lingzhen, then please invite other Taoist priests to come. They’ll see right through this talisman and understand its effects."
Upon hearing that Sun Yaozu had died from a burst blood vessel, Nanli suspected that he had been secretly attacked by unconventional means.
She had full confidence in her brother, so when the small official mentioned that he had been struck twice by Chu Huan, she immediately became suspicious of him.
But she had to avoid suspicion herself, so she had Master Lingzhen come to examine the situation and reveal the truth.
Elder Cao looked deeply at the small official and instructed his attendant to make arrangements.
At this moment, the small official’s face turned pale. When he had cursed someone to death, he had been in a panic and had forgotten to dispose of the talisman. Now, when Nanli brought it up, he realized she had been watching him closely all along!