The Marquis of Zhenbei had lived to this age without fearing anyone, yet when he laid eyes on Lang Jiuchuan — that slight, slender girl — an inexplicable chill crept up his spine, and the back that had been held so straight bent once more.

She was clearly smiling, yet that smile never reached her eyes. She was clearly still a girl who had only just come of age, yet the aura radiating from her entire person was fiercer and more murderous than even those generals who had weathered countless battles.

She had said that a debt was due for reckoning. What debt — could it be the debt of a father’s murder?

The Marquis of Zhenbei’s expression grew exceedingly dark.

“My lord, His Majesty is waiting.” The palace guard at his side said flatly.

The Marquis of Zhenbei came back to himself and looked toward Lang Jiuchuan again, but she had already departed at some point unknown, as though the encounter just moments ago had been nothing but an illusion.

Yet in the air, that faint cool fragrance carrying a hint of medicinal herbs reminded him that she had been here.

The Marquis of Zhenbei gave a shudder, his expression growing somewhat haggard.

The morning court had not yet dispersed. Everyone was waiting for the Marquis of Zhenbei — waiting for the truth.

Yet when the Marquis of Zhenbei stepped into the great hall, everyone drew a sharp breath, staring in shock and alarm at the man in the purple robes.

This was the Marquis of Zhenbei? He could not be more than forty-some years old, yet this appearance — how could he look like a man past forty? He appeared even older than Chief Minister Meng.

When the current Emperor, An’he, saw the Marquis of Zhenbei, he too was startled. Just a few days ago, he had not looked like this at all. How could such a short span of days leave him looking as though his very vitality had been drained from him?

But now was not the time to discuss his appearance. Emperor An’he’s expression hardened as he spoke: “Minister Xie, do you know your crimes?”

His voice betrayed neither pleasure nor anger, yet to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s ears, it was colder than ice itself.

The Marquis of Zhenbei slowly raised his head. “Your Majesty, this subject does not know what crime he has committed.”

Shen Qinghe stepped out of rank and rebuked him sharply: “You disregarded the laws of the realm, used dark and wicked arts — the mind-devouring gu — to harm the late General Anbei, severing a pillar of strength from our great Dang court, destroying one of Your Majesty’s most trusted supports. Furthermore, you used gu parasites to manipulate an imperial physician. Such conduct is nothing short of harboring treacherous intent, plotting against the realm — your heart deserves to be put to death.” He bowed toward Emperor An’he and continued: “Your Majesty, a treacherous subject such as this should be immediately subjected to proper punishment, executed on the spot, to console the soul of a loyal minister and settle the hearts of our great Dang soldiers.”

The Marquis of Zhenbei’s icy gaze shot toward Shen Qinghe. “Your Majesty, this subject has been wronged. This subject also beseeches Your Majesty to investigate clearly — someone has conspired against this subject, using dark and wicked arts upon this subject, causing him to suffer endless nightmares. Such an act also harms Your Majesty’s trusted supports and seeks to throw the frontier defenses of our great Dang into turmoil. This subject begs Your Majesty to restore his innocence.”

Shen Qinghe’s eyes went wide, his beard practically bristling — you shameless villain, do you hear what you’re saying? Turning the tables on others?

Everyone else was equally bewildered. How was it that the Marquis of Zhenbei was also claiming he had been subjected to dark and wicked arts?

Though in truth, the way he looked did bear resemblance to someone who had been cursed — how else could he have changed so drastically? Even the greatest of blows couldn’t age a man twenty or thirty years overnight.

Shen Qinghe gave a cold snort. “Your Majesty, in this subject’s view, the Marquis of Zhenbei does not appear to have been afflicted by any dark arts. It is rather that a guilty conscience keeps him from sleeping, and he has been plagued by nightmares and vengeful spirits.”

“Cease your slander!” The Marquis of Zhenbei’s gaze grew colder still. If he didn’t live alone, and if Shen Qinghe weren’t merely an ordinary official, he would have suspected this state of his was that man’s doing.

“Your Majesty, for more than ten years this subject has obeyed imperial command and stood guard at the frontier without a single day of rest — not once has he voiced complaint even in the bitter cold of the border. Yet Director Shen, with nothing but his mouth, accuses this subject of harming a loyal soul. What purpose lies behind this, if not to drive a wedge between Your Majesty and the soldiers who guard the frontier?” The Marquis of Zhenbei suddenly kowtowed heavily. “What crime cannot be invented with enough determination? This subject, Xie Zhenming, has earned every honor on the battlefield. The blade in this subject’s hand has always been turned against foreign enemies — never has it been stained with the blood of comrades-in-arms. This subject begs Your Majesty to investigate clearly.”

Emperor An’he’s expression remained heavy.

“Then perhaps the Marquis of Zhenbei might care to explain why Noble Consort Qing Pin used gu to manipulate an imperial physician?” Shen Qinghe gave a cold smile. “And furthermore — why has he been keeping a gu woman and a spirit medium all this time? What was his purpose?”

The Marquis of Zhenbei’s head snapped up in alarm. A spirit medium?

This was bad!

Shen Qinghe looked toward the entrance of the hall. “Bring the witness — the spirit medium.”

The Marquis of Zhenbei turned his head and saw the heir of the Duke of Dingguo escorting a small, emaciated old woman inside — her hair entirely white, her expression vacant and dazed. Though her features had grown withered and aged beyond recognition, he still identified her. This was the spirit medium who had long since gone missing.

She had been captured by the Surveillance Division?

Zuo Yan brought the spirit medium to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s side. Whether it was carelessness or some other intention, he loosened his grip, and the spirit medium stumbled and fell at the Marquis of Zhenbei’s feet. He hurriedly moved to pull her up, and in the flurry and confusion, no one noticed a talisman slip against the hem of the Marquis of Zhenbei’s robe and vanish.

“Perhaps the Marquis of Zhenbei might tell us — who is this person?” said Shen Qinghe.

The Marquis of Zhenbei’s gaze was sharp and cold. “Your Majesty, this subject does not recognize her.”

But the dazed and addled spirit medium sniffed the air, then craned her neck toward him like a dog, her voice rough and hoarse. “Gu. You carry the scent of gu.”

What?

Everyone was greatly alarmed.

The pupils of the Marquis of Zhenbei contracted slightly.

Zuo Yan instinctively moved to position himself in front of the imperial carriage, his eyes sharp and severe. “Your Majesty, this subject requests that colleagues from the Surveillance Division thoroughly investigate whether the Marquis of Zhenbei is concealing a wicked gu upon his person, so that justice may be openly demonstrated.”

“Granted!”

The Marquis of Zhenbei roared furiously: “Your Majesty! If Your Majesty heeds slander and doubts this subject’s loyalty, this subject will surrender the military tally immediately, disarm and return to the countryside — it shall be as Your Majesty sees fit.” He rose to his feet in fury, sweeping his gaze across the entire hall, and laughed coldly with imperious arrogance. “Even if all of you conspire to frame me — what of it? It is I, Xie Zhenming, who guards the frontier. The hundred thousand soldiers all answer to my command. If you wish to drag me down from this position, ask yourselves first — who is there to take my place? That Lang Zhengfan — yes, I used the mind-devouring gu to harm him — and so what? Aside from having a better family background than mine, in what way was he superior to me…”

The moment these words were spoken, the great hall fell utterly silent.

In broad daylight — had the Marquis of Zhenbei been possessed? What in the world was he saying?

Zuo Yan, inwardly: The Truth-Speaking Talisman — truly extraordinary!

The Marquis of Zhenbei was horror-struck as he moved to clamp his own mouth shut, his eyes wide with terror and disbelief. How could this be — how had he said such things?

But Zuo Yan would not allow him to stay silent. In one fluid motion, he seized both arms and wrenched them down with force, dislocating them at the shoulder — the speed was such that no one could follow it clearly.

The Marquis of Zhenbei cried out in pain, but it was nothing compared to the terror in his heart. What had he just said?

“Xie Zhenming — what did you say? You said Lang Zhengfan was killed by you!” Emperor An’he’s eyes blazed with fury.

“That’s right — I obtained the mind-devouring gu from her and administered it to him, and secretly loosed a cold arrow to conceal it… Your Majesty, it wasn’t — someone has cast a dark art upon this subject…” The Marquis of Zhenbei clenched his teeth with all his strength, desperate not to continue, but it was as though someone was controlling his mouth, and it opened again: “Not only the mind-devouring gu — there was also a love gu, which was taken by my son Qinghua and administered to an imperial physician, so as to secure influence for the future… Mm.”

His jaw was dislocated by Zuo Yan.

Shen Qinghe glanced at Zuo Yan — that jaw dislocation of yours was a touch late, wasn’t it? Everything that needed to be said has already been said. Everyone now knows. His Majesty has apparently been cuckolded.

But the audience’s attention was not yet exhausted, for Zuo Yan’s use of force — while it had dislocated the Marquis of Zhenbei’s jaw — had also, through the force of the attack, triggered his protective gu. A burst of golden light erupted outward, blasting Zuo Yan a full zhang backward.

Everyone was greatly shocked. “Protect His Majesty!”

Emperor An’he was surrounded on all sides, his complexion a livid iron-grey, his eyes blazing as he rose to his feet and roared: “Enough! Someone — the Marquis of Zhenbei, Xie Zhenming, used shamanic gu and wicked objects to murder loyal and worthy officials who were the pillars of this court. Strip him of his title, his rank, and his military tally. He is to be immediately thrown into the Surveillance Division’s secure prison for full investigation. The Marquis of Zhenbei’s estate is to be searched and confiscated — all persons within the household are to be arrested and subjected to rigorous interrogation. Any who resist are to be executed on the spot. Noble Consort Qing Pin colluded with factions for private gain — she is to be executed immediately…”

The Marquis of Zhenbei’s eyes turned bloodshot, and he spat a mouthful of vital blood. The protective gu flew toward Emperor An’he.