In the Ancient Holy Capital, after more than ten days of propaganda.
The positive image of Zhongshan has been infinitely magnified. Initially, there were doubters, but as each piece of evidence was presented, those who doubted could only shut their mouths. After all, Zhongshan's actions were too unbelievable. However, after the initial skepticism, Zhongshan's positive image grew even larger.
Perhaps many people didn't care much about this legendary figure, considering him at most as a topic for leisure talk, laughing it off and encouraging themselves. However, a minority began to admire Zhongshan, eager to witness the god-like man himself!
Zhongshan slowly rose in the Ancient Holy Capital like the sun, causing a stir that continued to spread, just as the saying goes: "I am not in the rivers and lakes, but my legend is."
At the sa ti, regarding the recent public condemnation of the royal family's sister-killing incident, many people no longer scorned Princess Qianyou so much. Instead, they were filled with extre curiosity, waiting for the final judgnt.
Could Zhongshan really reverse the situation and find the true culprit?
Within the Ancient Holy Capital, so gambling dens had already set up bets, awaiting the final outco. In any case, at this mont, everyone's gaze was focused on Zhongshan and Princess Qianyou.
Princess Qianyou's Mansion, within the Qianyou Hall.
Zhongshan sat opposite Princess Qianyou, looking at the docunts in his hand. Princess Qianyou carefully poured a cup of tea for Zhongshan, as tenderly as if treating her husband.
Seeing Zhongshan's frowning expression, Princess Qianyou couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.
"Sigh~~ Ah~~!" Zhongshan sighed deeply and threw the docunts in his hand aside.
"What's wrong?" Princess Qianyou asked.
"These past ten days, I've investigated these suspicious figures separately—testing, tracking, and even interrogating, but it's all been fruitless," Zhongshan shook his head.
"Could it be an outsider?" Princess Qianyou asked.
"An outsider? Possible, but it could also be the sa person, just speculation," Zhongshan said.
"Who?" Princess Qianyou stared at Zhongshan intently.
"Duke Qitian!" Zhongshan frowned.
"Duke Qitian? Are you sure?" Princess Qianyou looked sharply at Zhongshan.
"I can't be sure, or rather, there's not a shred of evidence," Zhongshan sighed.
"Then why do you think it's him?" Princess Qianyou asked.
"It's a feeling, perhaps. First, during this period, Duke Qitian threatened twice—once at the Ancient Holy Temple after court, and the other ti at Yinging's morial. He threatened both tis," Zhongshan said.
"Duke Qitian had a deep affection for Yinging. Perhaps he just cares too much about her and thought you were covering up for , so he got emotional. Moreover, during those days in court, he was very aggressive, swearing to avenge Yinging. It didn't seem like an act," Princess Qianyou furrowed her brow.
"There are two possibilities. It could genuinely be out of hatred, or everything he did was just an act?" Zhongshan furrowed his brow.
"An act?" A sharp gleam flashed in Princess Qianyou's eyes.
"Yeah, and that day at the morial, Duke Qitian was burning paper money for Yinging. He only noticed after I entered the mansion and approached the morial? Was he too engrossed before? Also, I found out he goes to burn paper money every day since Yinging's death, without fail. Why? Maybe because he misses Yinging. But what kind of person is Duke Qitian? Over the years, I've co to understand him sowhat. Although not entirely heartless, especially since he found out he was the reincarnation of Shen Qitian, he's beco extrely cold-hearted. Why would he burn money for a dead person every day?" Zhongshan rubbed his head and said.
Seeing Zhongshan rubbing his head, Princess Qianyou imdiately stood up, walked behind Zhongshan, and leaned his head against her abdon, gently massaging his head.
Princess Qianyou could see that Zhongshan had been ntally active for the past ten days, constantly working without rest for her case. Therefore, he was showing signs of slight fatigue, sothing she couldn't help with directly, but she could use her own thod to alleviate his exhaustion.
This ti, Zhongshan didn't resist at all. He leaned comfortably against Princess Qianyou's soft body, closed his eyes, and allowed her to massage him gently.
"Do you suspect that he burns paper money every day out of guilt for killing Yinging?" Princess Qianyou saw right through him.
"Yes, but it's just speculation. There's no evidence to prove that he's the murderer or that he had a motive. All traces at the cri scene have been erased. There's not a shred of evidence to be found," Zhongshan sighed deeply.
"Why do you suspect him then? Is it due to personal feelings?" Princess Qianyou asked.
"Personal feelings? There's always so influence from personal feelings that makes unconsciously think of him. And there's another thing that makes suspect him even more. It's the look in Yinging's eyes before she died. You said that after she was shot, she had a look of disbelief on her face. According to normal logic, she should have shown signs of fear first. But she showed a look of disbelief instead. Who killed her? It's very likely soone she trusted the most, and in the end, that most trusted person killed her. Anyone would find that unbelievable. And on that day in the Princess's mansion, who did Yinging trust the most? Duke Qitian! When Duke Qitian picked up Yinging's body, he managed to make her expression look peaceful! Isn't that a way to destroy evidence?" Zhongshan sighed deeply.
"If it wasn't Duke Qitian, then it could be another powerful figure sneaking into the Princess's mansion, making it even harder to investigate," Princess Qianyou frowned.
"Yes, no matter who it is, all traces of the cri have been wiped clean, leaving no clues!" Zhongshan sighed deeply.
"Sir, Princess, Master Shuijing requests an audience!" A-da called from outside the hall.
"Shuijing?" Zhongshan opened his eyes wide, and Princess Qianyou stopped massaging.
"Please, bring him in!" Zhongshan said.
"Yes!" A-da imdiately responded from outside the hall.
Zhongshan and Princess Qianyou glanced at each other, then got up and went out of the hall to greet him.
Soon, Master Shuijing arrived dressed in Confucian attire, holding a feather fan.
"Master Shuijing pays respects to Princess Qianyou and greets Duke Dongfang!" Master Shuijing smiled as he approached.
"Master Shuijing, when did you return? Please co in!" Zhongshan smiled in welco.
Princess Qianyou smiled faintly, relinquishing the host's role here to Zhongshan.
Master Shuijing glanced at the two of them, a hint of understanding in his eyes, but he didn't reveal it. Instead, he smiled and entered the Qianyou Hall.
"Duke Dongfang has kept in the dark for so long!" Master Shuijing exclaid as soon as he entered.
"Oh?" Zhongshan looked puzzled.
"The Tianbeng Plan. I only found out about it yesterday upon my return. The plan to collapse the Great Yu Dynasty was actually orchestrated single-handedly by Duke Dongfang. I wondered why Emperor Daxuan appointed you as the Supre Commander of the Three Armies back then. It's because you single-handedly conquered the battlefield over there," Master Shuijing laughed.
"Hehe, Master Shuijing overpraises . It was just a few tricks that anyone could have used. I just happened to think of it at the ti. As for the battles of the Great Guang Dynasty, didn't Master Shuijing also devise a strategy for a major decisive battle? Conquering twenty cities in three months, and finally entering the Aurora City, all thanks to Master Shuijing," Zhongshan laughed.
"Hehe, compared to Duke Dongfang, my actions were just minor skirmishes, and I didn't manage to implent anything in ti," Master Shuijing laughed.
"I wonder what brings Master Shuijing here so suddenly?" Zhongshan asked with a smile. After all, both of them were intelligent people. They could praise each other endlessly, but it was better to get to the point.
Upon hearing Zhongshan's question, Master Shuijing's expression turned serious. "Upon my return yesterday, I heard about the incident involving Yinging. Shuijing deeply regrets it and firmly believes that the princess is not capable of such fratricide."
"Yes, thank you!" Princess Qianyou nodded gratefully.
"Hehe, speaking of which, thanks to the princess in the past, I had several opportunities to et her," Master Shuijing suddenly said inexplicably.
Her? Both Zhongshan and Princess Qianyou imdiately thought of whom he ant—the Ninth Princess Consort of King Daxuan, the woman whom Master Shuijing had always been reluctant to part with. During the recent release of sky lanterns in the ancient capital, Princess Qianyou had invited Master Shuijing and her to release sky lanterns together.
"Thank you very much, Master Shuijing. Regarding the Yinging case, although Shuijing doesn't know much about it, I happen to have so information that may be useful for Duke Dongfang's investigation, so I ca here without delay. I hope I'm not interrupting anything," Master Shuijing said.
"How could that be? We are grateful that Master Shuijing thought of us. We're just curious about what's so serious that made Master Shuijing co," Zhongshan frowned.
"Do you rember the eve of the imperial examination? That ti when you returned, did Duke Qitian release a sky full of petals to welco the princess?" Master Shuijing asked.
"Yes," both nodded.
"Before that, Duke Qitian told that he had prepared three strategies: top, middle, and bottom!" Master Shuijing said.
"Top, middle, and bottom strategies?" Zhongshan raised an eyebrow.
"Top strategy attacks the mind, middle strategy attacks the body, bottom strategy attacks the cri!" Master Shuijing said.
"Attack the mind with the top strategy? Attack the body with the middle strategy? Attack with cri in the bottom strategy? Hiss..." Zhongshan took a deep breath.
Attack the mind?
Was it the romantic atmosphere created by the petals? Perhaps there was more to it. However, Princess Qianyou had been with him ever since, so Duke Qitian couldn't execute it. That could only be changed to the middle strategy.
Attack the body?
In the Valley of Ten Thousand Apes, Zhongshan forced Princess Qianyou's life and death, even using the strongest aphrodisiac under heaven to try to get Princess Qianyou's body first and then her heart? But it failed! It was disrupted by the dominant Sword God Palace Master, Jian Hong?
Attack the cri?
Princess Qianyou had indeed committed a cri now. According to what Princess Qianyou said, after the cri was established, it was not necessarily fatal, but it would definitely strip her of her princess status. At this ti, Duke Qitian could co forward and take Princess Qianyou directly back ho. Because in the past, Gu Lin and Gu Qianyou had a marriage contract. Princess Qianyou could jump out of the marriage contract only because she beca a princess. However, if she were removed from her princess status, did Duke Qitian have the right as her fiancé to take her back ho for education?
"What a poisonous plan, what a ruthless heart!" Princess Qianyou took a deep breath.
"But this can only be considered as a train of thought. If Duke Qitian doesn't admit it, it can never beco evidence," Zhongshan frowned.
(To be continued...)
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