The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 401 Speaking the Truth
Marquis Zhenbei had never been afraid of anyone in his life, but when he saw Lang Jiuchuan, this thin and frail girl, he felt a chill run down his spine for no reason, and his straight back bent down again.

She was clearly smiling, but the smile didn't reach her eyes at all. She was clearly just a young girl of marriageable age, but the aura emanating from her was more fierce and menacing than that of seasoned generals.

The debt she mentioned should be settled. What debt? Is it the debt for killing one's father?

The Marquis of Zhenbei's face was extremely gloomy.

"My lord, His Majesty is waiting," a palace guard beside him said indifferently.

When the Marquis of Zhenbei came to his senses, he looked at Lang Jiuchuan again, but the other party had already left at some point, as if the meeting just now was just an illusion.

But the cool, medicinal scent in the air reminded him that the other person had been there.

Marquis Zhenbei shivered, his expression becoming somewhat dejected.

Before the morning court session ended, everyone was waiting for the Marquis of Zhenbei, waiting for the truth.

But when the Marquis of Zhenbei stepped into the main hall, everyone gasped and looked at the man in purple robes with fear in their eyes.

Is this the Marquis of Zhenbei? He's only in his early forties, but he looks much older than his forties, even more so than Prime Minister Meng.

Emperor Anhe was also startled when he saw the Marquis of Zhenbei. Just a few days ago, he didn't look like this. How could he have been drained of all his energy in just a few days?
However, now is not the time to discuss his appearance. Emperor Anhe spoke with a stern face: "Minister Xie, do you know your crime?"

His voice was devoid of emotion, yet to the Marquis of Zhenbei, it was colder than ice.

The Marquis of Zhenbei slowly raised his head and said, "Your Majesty, I do not know what crime I have committed?"

Shen Qinghe stepped forward and sternly rebuked, saying, "You disregard the laws of the land, using the sinister art of the Heart-Eating Gu to harm the deceased General Anbei, severing the pillar of our Great Dan court, destroying His Majesty's vital organs, and even manipulating the imperial physicians with Gu worms. Such actions are truly malicious and rebellious, and your heart deserves to be punished." He then bowed to Emperor Anhe and said, "Your Majesty, such treacherous officials and villains should be executed in accordance with the law, to comfort the loyal souls and appease the hearts of our Great Dan soldiers."

The Marquis of Zhenbei's icy gaze shot towards Shen Qinghe: "Your Majesty, I am innocent. I beg Your Majesty to investigate. Someone is plotting against me, using evil magic to cause me nightmares. This is also harming Your Majesty's vital organs and is intended to destabilize the border defenses of Dadan. I beg Your Majesty to clear my name."

Shen Qinghe glared at him, his beard bristling. "You shameless villain, do you want to hear what you're saying? Trying to shift the blame?"
Everyone was stunned. How could the Marquis of Zhenbei also say that he had been cursed by evil magic?

However, he really does look like he's possessed. Otherwise, how could he suddenly turn into this? Even if he suffered a huge blow, it's impossible for him to suddenly age twenty or thirty years, right?

Shen Qinghe sneered: "Your Majesty, in my opinion, the Marquis of Zhenbei doesn't seem to be under the influence of any evil magic. Rather, he's just feeling guilty and can't sleep at night, suffering from nightmares and being haunted by vengeful ghosts, isn't he?"

"Don't make false accusations!" The Marquis of Zhenbei's eyes were even colder. If he hadn't lived alone and Shen Qinghe hadn't been just an ordinary official, he would have suspected that Shen Qinghe was behind his ghostly appearance!

"Your Majesty, for over a decade I have faithfully guarded the border, never uttering a word of complaint despite the harsh conditions. Director Shen, with just his words, has slandered me for harming loyal souls. I know not what his intentions are, attempting to sow discord between Your Majesty and us border guards." The Marquis of Zhenbei kowtowed violently: "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext. I, Xie Zhenming, have earned all my merits on the battlefield. My blade has always been used against foreign enemies, and I have never shed the blood of my comrades. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly."

Emperor Anhe's face was grim.

"Then why doesn't Marquis Zhenbei explain why Consort Qing would use Gu to control the imperial physicians?" Shen Qinghe sneered, "And what is your purpose in supporting the Gu sorceress and shaman?"

The Marquis of Zhenbei looked up in shock. A sorcerer?

not good!

Shen Qinghe looked outside the hall: "Summon the witness, Lingwu." The Marquis of Zhenbei turned his head and saw the heir of the Duke of Dingguo escorting a snow-white-haired, dazed, thin and old woman into the hall. Although the woman's face had aged considerably, he still recognized her as the long-lost Lingwu.

Was she arrested by the Inspectorate?

Zuo Yan brought the spirit witch to the side of the Marquis of Zhenbei. Whether it was an accident or something else, his hand slipped and the spirit witch fell at the Marquis of Zhenbei's feet. He hurriedly tried to pull her up, but in the chaos, no one saw a talisman stick to the corner of the Marquis of Zhenbei's robe and disappear.

“Marquis Zhenbei, why don’t you take a look and see who this person is?” Shen Qinghe said.

The Marquis of Zhenbei's gaze was stern: "Your Majesty, I do not know him."

The dull and foolish shaman sniffed the air and peered at him like a dog, his voice rough and hoarse as he said, "Gu, you smell of Gu."

what?
Everyone was shocked.

The Marquis of Zhenbei's pupils contracted slightly.

Zuo Yan instinctively stepped in front of the imperial carriage, his gaze sharp, and said, "Your Majesty, I request that my colleagues in the Censorate thoroughly investigate whether the Marquis of Zhenbei possesses any evil magic, so as to ensure that you will be heard."

"Prelude!"

The Marquis of Zhenbei roared, "Your Majesty, if Your Majesty listens to slander and doubts my loyalty, I will immediately hand over my military command, retire from the army, and return to my hometown to be dealt with by Your Majesty." He stood up angrily, surveyed the entire audience, and sneered arrogantly, "You all frame me, so what? I, Xie Zhenming, am guarding the border, and 100,000 soldiers obey my orders. You want to bring me down? Don't you even know who can take my place? I killed Lang Zhengfan with the Heart-Eating Gu, so what? Besides having a better family background, what makes him stronger than me..."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

In broad daylight, the Marquis of Zhenbei must be possessed by a ghost, otherwise what kind of nonsense is he spouting?
Zuo Yan: The Mantra Talisman is indeed extraordinary!

The Marquis of Zhenbei covered his mouth in shock, his eyes filled with fear. How could he have said such a thing?
Zuo Yan didn't allow him to remain silent. With a whirlwind, he pulled down his arms and forcefully dislocated them, the speed of which was so fast that it was impossible to see clearly.

The Marquis of Zhenbei cried out in pain, but it was far less than the fear in his heart. What had he just said?
"Xie Zhenming, what did you say? You said Lang Zhengfan was murdered by you!" Emperor Anhe's eyes blazed with anger.

“That’s right, I asked her for the Heart-Eating Gu and put it on him, and then secretly shot him with a cold arrow to cover it up… Your Majesty, no, someone used evil magic on me…” Marquis Zhenbei gritted his teeth, not wanting to continue, but it was as if someone was controlling his mouth, and he continued to speak: “Not only the Heart-Eating Gu, but also the Love Gu, which my son Qinghua took and used on the imperial physician, in order to plan for the future… um.”

His jaw was removed by Zuo Yan.

Shen Qinghe glanced at Zuo Yan. "You've already said everything you needed to say. Everyone knows that His Majesty has been cuckolded."

But everyone's attention wasn't over yet. Zuo Yan's use of force, while dislocating the Zhenbei Marquis's jaw, also triggered the protective Gu due to the force of the attack. As soon as the golden light appeared, it directly blasted Zuo Yan a ten feet away.

Everyone was terrified: "Protect the Emperor!"

Surrounded, Emperor Anhe's face was ashen, his eyes blazing with fury. He stood up and roared, "Enough! Guards! Marquis Xie Zhenming of Zhenbei has used witchcraft and evil magic to harm loyal and upright officials. He is stripped of his title, official position, and tiger tally. Immediately seize him and bring him to the Zhenbei Prison for a thorough investigation. Confiscate the Marquis of Zhenbei's residence, and detain all those within. Interrogate them severely. Anyone who resists will be executed without mercy. Consort Qing has formed a clique for personal gain; she is to be executed immediately..."

The Marquis of Zhenbei's eyes turned bloodshot, and he spat out a mouthful of blood as the protective Gu flew towards Emperor Anhe.

(End of this chapter)