The entire hall was deadly silent.
Looking at the completely lifeless corpse, the blood drained from the faces of those present, leaving them as pale as paper.
Before they could react, two more officials from the Taxation Bureau and the Mariti Trade Bureau fell down one after another, starting to convulse violently, mouth gushing fresh blood, eyes gradually losing focus.
Chu Yanli waved her hand and said, "Lying here is sowhat unpleasant to behold, making everyone lose their appetite. Drag them outside and burn them."
Two Black Armor Guards standing by the door ca in and dragged the corpse out of the hall, leaving several winding trails of blood on the ground.
A mont later, flas ignited in the courtyard, and the air was filled with the burnt aroma of roasted at.
Only now did the officials present truly realize that the Princess was not joking...
There really was sothing wrong with the wine!
"Ugh!"
Soone couldn't help but retch, his stomach turning over.
Others sat cross-legged, circulating their True Yuan, trying to force the Gu Poison Worms out.
"It's useless," Chu Yanli said flatly. "The characteristic of the Seven Absolute Gu is that it dissolves upon contact with water, its toxicity extrely potent. Even the Peak of Mortal Transformation Martial Artist can only hold on for an hour at most. Instead of wasting effort, better to eat your fill now and prepare to walk your final path."
"Your Highness, why is this?" An elderly Assistant asked tremblingly, "Where have we offended your grace that you should use such a harsh hand?"
"Want to know the reason?"
"Alright, then let you die with clarity."
Chu Yanli raised her hand and knocked on the table, saying, "Bring them up."
With the sound of clanking chains, two beautiful won were escorted up, kneeling in the center of the hall.
The faces were not unfamiliar to those present, one was Hua Yinglan, the actual head of the city's Head of Grain Transport and the Li Family, the other was Ming Yuchun, the pillar of the Pear Cloud Hall, recently at the center of controversy.
Looking at the absent key personnel of the Mariti Trade Bureau, so had already faint suspicions.
"Hua Yinglan, not only did you have secret dealings with the Gu God Sect, but also colluded with Cao Shi Tang Xingbang to privately transport Barbarian Slaves using rchant ships. Is this true?" Chu Yanli asked out loud.
"What?"
"Barbarian Slaves?!"
Suddenly, the scene was in uproar!
These two words in Great Yuan, especially in the Southern Border, were absolute taboos!
They knew Tang Xingbang was close with the Li Family, initially thought it was just exploiting his position for profit, not expecting to involve the Barbarian Tribe too?
Most looked stunned, while a few officials showed slight changes in their expressions, hands clenched tightly within sleeves.
"This is bad!"
...
...
Hua Yinglan lowered her head, eyes dim.
Ever since last night when Qian Yi didn't return all night and Little Butterfly mysteriously disappeared, she recognized sothing was wrong.
Before dawn, she took Ming Yuchun intending to escape the city by water. Just as they boarded the ship, they were surrounded by governnt officers...
At this mont, facing the Princess' questioning, Hua Yinglan knew resistance was pointless; there was no way she could leave the State Mansion alive today.
She glanced at the terrified Ming Yuchun, silently making a decision, gritted her teeth and said, "This is indeed my doing, I am willing to take full responsibility. But Mr. Ming was not involved, knew nothing of it, and I beg your grace to spare her..."
"Yes, that's right!" Ming Yuchun seed to grasp at a lifeline, said hurriedly, "I'm just an actress, know nothing else, please ask the Princess to make a wise judgnt!"
"Is that so?"
Chu Yanli arched an eyebrow, saying, "But how have I heard, you were kept as Tang Xingbang's mistress, at his behest, you intentionally got close to Hua Yinglan, not only helped them liaise but also secretly monitored Li Family's movents?"
A trace of panic flashed in Ming Yuchun's eyes, "I really haven't..."
Chu Yanli raised her hand and tossed over a pile of letters, like snowflakes scattering, "These were found at your residence, the evidence is irrefutable, what do you have to say to that?"
One letter happened to fall in front of Hua Yinglan; she picked it up and glanced over, her expression instantly solidifying.
It bore Tang Xingbang's handwriting, with a Dharma Seal marked to be burnt after reading, yet retained by Ming Yuchun through certain ans.
In the letter, Tang Xingbang ntioned the Princess would soon arrive at the State City and might trace the Li Family. If the winds seed unfavorable, eliminate Hua Yinglan ahead to avoid implicating the two of them —
Just like when Grandmaster Li was poisoned to death before.
"Yuchun, is this true?" Hua Yinglan's voice was dry.
Yesterday she was still maneuvering with Tang Xingbang, hoping to use her "trump card" to protect Ming Yuchun, yet these two were plotting to kill her?
"Fake, all fake!"
Ming Yuchun's eyes road, pointing at Hua Yinglan, voice shrill, "This woman must've pulled a trick! She forged the letters, wanting to fra ! Just now she put on a good person's act, clearly trying to use the bitter at strategy to confuse your grace! Your highness mustn't fall for it!"
"Yuchun..."
Hua Yinglan looked incredulously at the person beside her.
That sinister deanour, at this mont seed completely unfamiliar.
Chu Yanli impatiently cut in, "Enough, stop these unnecessary antics. You think I'm interrogating you? Just letting you die with clarity... Guards, take them down and burn them together."
"Understood."
The Xuan Armor Guards ca forward, escorting the two out.
"Your Highness, injustice, oh Your Highness... Hua Yinglan, you vile woman, it's all your fault! If you hadn't exposed the position of the Barbarian Slaves, how could this have implicated ! You deserve death!" Ming Yuchun struggled desperately, incoherent curses pouring from her mouth.
While Hua Yinglan was utterly desolate, silent, as if she had lost all Essence Qi and spirit.
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