What kind of illusion was this that could even block outside sounds?

Below the platform, Feng Miaojun slowly stood up and said in a gentle voice: “Kidnapping Miao Hansheng, committing treason, secretly training armed forces, and colluding with foreign powers. Lu Wenda, do you have anything else to say?”

He had practically admitted to all these crimes just now, and the audience below had heard it with their own ears. What more evidence was needed?

The surrounding lanterns illuminated the area as bright as day. Grand Tutor Lu had never felt lantern light could be so blinding. Sweat poured down his forehead as his gaze shifted, suddenly pointing at Yun Ya: “The Queen is mistaken. You say I colluded with foreign powers, but what about you joining forces with the State Preceptor of Wei to deal with your old official? Does that not count as betraying the Yao people and betraying New Xia?”

“It doesn’t,” Feng Miaojun replied with a smile. “Which eye of yours saw the State Preceptor of Wei here?”

With a sweep of her beautiful eyes, the “Yun Ya” on the platform immediately tore off a mask from his face, revealing the countenance of an ordinary man.

Those plain, unremarkable features were worlds apart from the State Preceptor’s extraordinary elegance.

This man bowed slightly to Feng Miaojun: “At Your Majesty’s service!”

Even the State Preceptor was fake. Grand Tutor Lu stood dumbfounded, his once-straight back finally hunching. He repeated the word “good” several times: “In terms of tactics, Lu Wenda falls far short of the Queen. I only wish to see the young prince once before I die, or I will not rest in peace even in the underworld!”

He faced multiple charges and knew he would surely die, but he also hadn’t forgotten that people tend to be more merciful toward their dying kin and would be willing to fulfill a final wish.

Even at death’s door, he still attempted to gain the upper hand. Feng Miaojun smiled: “New Xia lent a helping hand when Yao was in peril, saving everyone in Yinzi City, including your Lu family. Not only are you ungrateful, but you conspire to rebel and break away from New Xia. Lu Wenda, you deserve to die without peace.”

Grand Tutor Lu pressed his lips tightly together, his gaze still defiant.

Winners become kings, losers become outlaws—he didn’t believe he had done anything wrong. Even if he had, it was only because his scheming was inferior to the Queen of New Xia’s.

At this point, Feng Miaojun changed the subject: “However, considering your meritorious service to Yao, I will fulfill your final wish.” She raised her left hand, pointing to the side. “Look, who is that?”

Grand Tutor Lu looked in the direction she indicated and saw Princess Hanyue sitting just a few yards away, holding a child in her arms. The Queen’s powerful presence and the sudden turn of events had prevented him from noticing Princess Hanyue’s presence.

Princess Hanyue stared at him unwaveringly, her expression complex, impossible to tell whether it was pity or resentment.

Grand Tutor Lu’s gaze moved downward, falling on the child’s face in her arms.

Those eyebrows, those eyes, that face shape—it was indeed Miao Hansheng. The child seemed to sense his gaze and smiled at him, completely innocent.

“How can this be?” Grand Tutor Lu murmured. “What is going on?”

If the son Princess Hanyue had brought back was real, then who had been in their hands all along?

Feng Miaojun said coolly: “As you can see, the child is with Princess Hanyue. Grand Tutor Lu, you can rest in peace now.”

“Grandfather!” Several voices cried out from below the platform, sounding terrified.

Grand Tutor Lu looked toward the sound and saw the entire Lu clan below the platform. The women were in tears, their eyes filled with fear, while the men were ashen-faced, silent.

The crime he had committed would implicate nine generations of his family. His relatives would share his fate.

Grand Tutor Lu opened his mouth to plead but didn’t know what to say, his mind completely blank.

It was over.

Feng Miaojun had no intention of listening to him further and waved her hand: “Take them all away.”

The Lu family members on the platform knew the situation was hopeless. With the area surrounded by a dense crowd, they had lost all will to fight and were bound with their hands behind their backs by the city guard and led away.

The Yao people below remained silent, making way for them.

Feng Miaojun then clapped her hands twice, drawing everyone’s attention, and smiled: “This was just a small interlude to add excitement to the Lantern Festival. The stage program is just beginning, and I have red packets to give away. At the west side of the lantern tower, all adults present tonight will receive red envelopes with one tael of silver, and there will be candy for the children.”

The officials beside her made several gestures. The sound of silk and bamboo instruments resumed, and firecrackers crackled continuously. After the earthen platform was cleared, the opera troupe quickly ascended to set up their props, and soon the singing began.

The atmosphere of severity dissipated into nothingness. The residents of Yinzi City watched the opera for a while, comforted their children, and then glanced covertly toward the west.

Silver awaited them there.

Children, with their good memories, pointed in that direction and wheedled their parents: “Want candy!”

Soon, people began collecting the red envelopes. Then a second person went, and a third…

The Yinzi City Lantern Festival returned to its lively state as if nothing had happened.

No one noticed that the carriage that had brought Grand Tutor Lu and his grandson was now quietly moving away, soon disappearing from everyone’s sight.

Only when it reached a dark corner by the lake did the driver jump down and tear off his disguise.

Before he could remove his coarse cloth garments, a voice nearby said: “So it was you—”

He turned around to see Yu Huaizhen, hearing her continue languidly: “—Chen Dachang.”

He smiled and explained: “The Queen wouldn’t trust anyone else with this task.”

Yu Huaizhen nodded: “She indeed values you highly.”

In tonight’s carefully set trap by the Queen, the most crucial step was to lead Grand Tutor Lu and his grandson into a pre-arranged illusion, making them believe they had traveled to a hideout in an outer town when in fact they had walked onto the main stage of the Lantern Festival, confessing their crimes under the gaze of thousands of eyes.

The “guide” essentially determined the success or failure of this bold trap.

Feng Miaojun had entrusted this task to Chen Dachang. He had to meticulously design the route, calculate the timing, and ensure that even the sounds of insects, flowing water, and rustling leaves were realistic. He couldn’t overlook any contingencies.

In short, Chen Dachang had to ensure that neither the grandfather and grandson in the carriage nor those in the following carriage would become suspicious. This was no easy task, but Chen Dachang executed it perfectly, demonstrating his meticulous nature.

The Queen of New Xia’s trust in him was not without reason.

Chen Dachang’s lips curled slightly upward, accepting her praise. After all, with this crisis now peacefully resolved, he too had breathed a sigh of relief: “Princess Hanyue has her child back, and the Queen has caught the mastermind. This matter is completely resolved. Lady Yu, what is your decision?”

She had said that if the Queen of New Xia handled this matter properly, she would agree to become the State Preceptor.

Yu Huaizhen smiled faintly: “You’ll know tomorrow.” She turned her head toward the sound of music. “Your task is complete, why not hurry to accompany your beloved? Earlier, I saw Miss Xie sitting alone below the platform, looking so forlorn it was quite pitiful.”