Let’s Squander A Billion First!

Chapter 877: Chapter 877: Phoenix Dominates the Rivers and Mountains (19)

The Seventh Princess brought this Taoist nun here for this very scene.

But Chuzheng paid her no heed.

Let her perform by herself.

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen and the Seventh Princess played well off each other, scaring everyone present.

One after another, they distanced themselves from Chuzheng.

”The Grand Imperial Princess is truly not right.”

”I always feel there’s a creepy aura around her.”

”Possessed by a ghost...”

”Risen from the dead...”

”How terrifying.”

The room’s atmosphere seemed to drop several degrees.

The people clustered together, staring at Chuzheng with pale faces.

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen was reputed to be highly skilled in Taoist arts, making her words much more credible than street rumors.

The Seventh Princess pointed at Chuzheng, questioning: ”I thought something was off. Who exactly are you? What have you done to my Imperial Sister?”

”Weren’t you hoping for my demise?” Chuzheng replied.

Your exaggerated acting makes it hard for me to believe.

The Seventh Princess shouted angrily: ”You’re lying. I never had such thoughts. You’re definitely not my Imperial Sister. Daoist Nun Hui Zhen, you must rid us of her. She can’t be allowed to harm others.”

”This...”

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen hesitated.

”Do you have a problem, Nun?”

Ning Yao still spoke up for Chuzheng: ”Seventh Imperial Sister, don’t cause trouble. The Imperial Sister holds a noble identity; how could she be possessed by a ghost?”

”Third Imperial Sister, look at her. Ever since that incident, does she behave like the Grand Imperial Sister she used to be? She was closest to you before, and now? Does she even acknowledge you? She is not our Grand Imperial Sister at all.”

Ning Yao frowned: ”But...”

The Seventh Princess interrupted her: ”Third Imperial Sister, I am going to the palace to report to Mother’s Empress for her ruling!”

The Seventh Princess told her people to surround the area, letting no one leave.

The Empress doesn’t believe in these things.

But the Seventh Princess brought along a Taoist nun.

Coupled with Chuzheng’s recent odd behavior, the Empress finally summoned Chuzheng to the palace for a confrontation.

Chuzheng had Yann Ge sent back first and went to the palace alone.

-

”Xiao Zheng.”

Wen Wu was also present inside the hall, nervously approaching her.

”Father.” Chuzheng addressed.

”Don’t be afraid.” Wen Wu reassured her.

”I’m not afraid.” Chuzheng replied calmly: ”Just watch, Father.”

Wen Wu wanted to say something more, but seeing Chuzheng’s calm and steady gaze, he swallowed his words and nodded, retreating to his position.

The Empress sat dignified on the throne, imposing and majestic: ”Xiao Zheng, do not fear. Mother’s Empress is here. If they speak falsehoods, I will not pardon them.”

The Empress seemed to be siding with Chuzheng.

Chuzheng: ”...”

If it were the original, they might have cried.

Unfortunately.

I’m not that gullible fool.

Chuzheng remained silent, making the Empress feel a bit awkward.

”Daoist Nun Hui Zhen, do you have a method to identify Xiao Zheng?” The Empress looked at Daoist Nun Hui Zhen.

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen seemed lost in thought, not responding even when the Empress spoke to her.

”Daoist Nun Hui Zhen, Her Majesty is speaking to you.” A female officer beside the Empress reminded her.

Only then did Daoist Nun Hui Zhen snap back to attention.

She glanced at the Seventh Princess.

The Seventh Princess gave a barely noticeable nod.

But the next second, the Seventh Princess’s expression froze.

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen suddenly knelt down.

Everyone was taken aback.

What does this mean?

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen spoke with an astonishing tone: ”Your Majesty, this humble subject was momentarily bewildered by spirits... coerced by the Seventh Princess to claim that the Grand Imperial Princess was possessed by a ghost. This humble subject admits the error and beseeches Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

The Empress’s face darkened: ”Number Seven.”

The Seventh Princess was frightened out of her wits: ”Mother Empress, I did not instruct her. She’s slandering me. It was”

”This humble subject dares not.” Daoist Nun Hui Zhen pressed her forehead to the ground: ”There’s no such thing as ghosts in this world. It was the Seventh Princess who forced this claim about the Grand Imperial Princess being possessed.”

”Mother Empress, I didn’t!”

Everything had been agreed upon beforehand.

Why did Daoist Nun Hui Zhen suddenly change her statement?!

Now, fear mingled with the Seventh Princess’s shock.

”She was the one who said something was off with the Imperial Sister.” The Seventh Princess pointed at Daoist Nun Hui Zhen: ”I too found the Imperial Sister peculiar recently, having returned from the dead. That’s why I came to inform Mother Empress, fearing some evil might collide with Mother Empress.”

”Your Majesty, be discerning, this humble subject dares not falsely discuss Her Royal Highness the Princess.”

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen detailed how the Seventh Princess had bribed her and conspired with her, laying everything out clearly.

She even produced the payment from the Seventh Princess.

Within was an item that could represent the Seventh Princess’s identity.

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen claimed it was a token, and after the plan succeeded, the Seventh Princess was to give her the remaining payment and retrieve it from her.

The Seventh Princess instinctively checked her sleeve.

It was empty...

How could this be!

The Seventh Princess panicked.

Her Majesty the Empress’s face grew increasingly cold and stern.

”Since you conspired with Number Seven, why expose it now?”

”This humble subject... this humble subject was scared.”

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen claimed that standing in the grand and majestic hall, seeing the wise and mighty Empress, she was overwhelmed with fear.

She dared not conspire with the Seventh Princess any longer, fearing for her life.

-

Chuzheng stood to the side, watching the spectacle as if it were none of her business.

Ning Yao’s gaze fell on her.

This Daoist Nun Hui Zhen was surely bought off by the Seventh Princess.

But why change her testimony now?

Ning Yao recalled their journey to the palace carefully.

Chuzheng had been entirely composed, unhurried and serene, like an onlooker.

That’s right!

When she had her companion sent back, she seemed to have had brief contact with Daoist Nun Hui Zhen...

But in such a short time, could she really have said something to change Hui Zhen’s stance?

”Audacious!” The Empress slammed the table in anger: ”She is your Imperial Sister, yet you claim she’s a monster, even bringing others to slander her. How have your father and mother taught you!”

”Mother Empress...” The Seventh Princess quivered in fear: ”I didn’t, Mother Empress.”

”The Seventh Princess speaks nonsense and disrespects her superiors, drag her out to be flogged with twenty strokes as a warning to others!” The Empress seemed immensely angry.

”No...”

This isn’t right.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

”Let go of me, Mother Empress, I didn’t do it, please believe me!”

”It’s you...” The Seventh Princess pointed at Chuzheng: ”It’s your doing, you framed me!”

Chuzheng: ”...”

Even if it was me, what can you do about it! Hit me then!

”Wretch! Wretched!!”

The Seventh Princess cursed with a twisted face.

The Empress seemed unable to listen any longer, impatiently waving her hand.

The Imperial Guard Army swiftly removed the Seventh Princess.

Chuzheng’s fingers moved slightly, the silver thread unwound from Daoist Nun Hui Zhen, gradually winding back around Chuzheng’s wrist.

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen went limp.

While they were on their way here.

Chuzheng suddenly pressed a stack of silver notes and a token into her hand.

She only said one sentence, instructing her to admit her conspiracy with the Seventh Princess to Her Majesty.

Even if it was the truth.

Daoist Nun Hui Zhen was unwilling.

It would be a death sentence!

But the next second she felt a deathly chill, as if something was creeping over her.

Yet, she saw nothing.

Nothing at all.

A fear of death engulfed her.

Confessing would anger the Empress, but not confessing might mean death on the way.