Chapter 151 Choice

Chapter 151 Choice

"Aye travels to the Imperial City every year for his official report, and I disguise myself as his servant to accompany him. You must be curious why I risk so much to go to the Imperial City?"

Wu Shunian slowly straightened her back, her gaze distant and profound.

"My father may seem like a traitor in your eyes, but to me, he is a great hero.

A hero can accomplish astonishing feats that shake the world; they can also die alone on a winter night, all with integrity.

I have lived my life under his protection, achieving little, hiding and cowering, but..."

She took a deep breath.

"But as long as I am still breathing, I will not allow anyone to slander him or besmirch his name.

So every year when I travel to the Imperial City, I secretly investigate the true murderer of the Zheng family.

Until three years ago, when I started taking the Soul Restoration Pill, I... I no longer had the strength to clear my hero's name."

Tears fell from her deeply sunken eyes.

Zhou Ye stepped forward and gently embraced Wu Shunian, speaking solemnly, "For the past three years, I have been the one traveling to the Imperial City alone. Apart from reporting and buying medicine, I have been constantly seeking opportunities."

Yan Sanhe: "What kind of opportunity?"

"The reason we couldn't pursue the investigation was because I am an outsider, unable to access the inner workings of the Imperial City, let alone gauge its depths. But you..."

Zhou Ye exhaled slowly.

"A Right Shanshi of the Monastic Registry Office, and a Commander of the Northern City Military Office, you are not only immersed in the waters but also familiar with their depths."

"Are you asking us to investigate the Zheng family case?" Pei Xiao exclaimed.

"We will help you resolve your grievances."

Zhou Ye's gaze swept slowly over Yan Sanhe, Xie Zhifei, and Pei Xiao, speaking deliberately.

"You help the Wu family clear their names and find the true murderer of the Zheng family, honoring the spirits of the dead, and also allowing Shunian and me... to rest in peace."

Each word struck their eardrums harshly. Before they could react, Wu Shunian suddenly spat out several mouthfuls of blood.

"Shunian?"

"Master!"

Wu Shunian gave Zhou Ye a bitter smile, "I'm sorry, Aye. This time, I couldn't hold back!"

Zhou Ye's face turned pale, and he swiftly lifted her into his arms.

"I will wait for you for half an hour, and only half an hour."

The courtyard fell silent.

The three exchanged glances, their faces grim.

...

At this point, all the mysteries were revealed.

What remained was a choice.

But how to choose?

Yan Sanhe looked at the fish in the water tank and said calmly, "Let's each state our positions."

Pei Xiao glanced at Yan Sanhe and then at Xie Zhifei, "Before stating our positions, I have a question: Do you believe what they said?"

Yan Sanhe: "I do!"

Xie Zhifei: "I don't!"

Pei Xiao rolled her eyes.

Look!

If we can't agree internally, how can we respond to others?

Pei Xiao asked, "Yan Sanhe, why do you believe them?"

Yan Sanhe: "Because they have no reason to go through such lengths to fabricate a lie."

Pei Xiao then asked, "Xie Wushi, why don't you believe them?"

Xie Zhifei glanced at Yan Sanhe.

"Four departments investigating the same case simultaneously makes it nearly impossible for anyone to tamper with it. I have personally reviewed the case files, and there are no issues."

"Why did you review the Zheng family's case files?" Pei Xiao was taken aback.

Something flashed in Xie Zhifei's eyes.

"Since the perpetrator has not been caught, the case is brought up every year during evaluations. How can the Five City Military Office apprehend anyone without reviewing the files?"

"Xie Zhifei."

Yan Sanhe stared directly at him, "Give me a reason why Wu Shunian would lie."

"Yan Sanhe."

Xie Zhifei retorted, "Then give me a reason why Wu Shunian is not lying?"

Yan Sanhe: "Do you admit that Wu Guanyue loves his people like his own children?"

Xie Zhifei: "I do."

Yan Sanhe: "His love for the people has two consequences."

Xie Zhifei: "Which two?"

Yan Sanhe: "One is that the people of Dali still remember him fondly to this day."

Xie Zhifei: "And the other?"

Yan Sanhe: "Zhou Ye, influenced by him, also loves his people like his own children."

Xie Zhifei's eyebrows furrowed, "And then?"

Yan Sanhe: "When Wu Guanyue rebelled and forced the emperor to abdicate, he slaughtered the Chen clan but spared even an old minister named Sun Bin, correct?"

Xie Zhifei stiffened, his voice noticeably slowing down, "Correct!"

Yan Sanhe: "This shows that he does not kill innocents, right?"

Xie Zhifei nodded with difficulty.

"I remember when we were resolving Yan Xing's inner demon, I said to your father, 'The guilty must pay, but it was not General Zheng's entire household.'"

Yan Sanhe tapped her fingers on the edge of the jar.

"Besides Old General Zheng, who else in his household deserved to die?"

Boom!

Xie Zhifei's ears rang, and the color drained from his face. The roar in his heart surged up, almost breaking free from the body that did not belong to him.

No one deserved to die; they were all innocent.

My father was innocent;

My mother was innocent;

My sister was innocent;

And even I...

I am innocent too!

Buddha says good people do good deeds and gain enlightenment. They were such good people, so why did they die in a sea of fire and blades?

Why?

"Xie Zhifei, Xie Zhifei..."

"Xie Wushi, Xie Wushi..."

"What?"

Third Master raised his head, his eyes unfocused.

Yan Sanhe, irritated, "At a time like this, you can still drift off? Can't you focus?"

Pei Xiao, equally annoyed, kicked him, "Xie Wushi, are you possessed by a ghost? We've been calling you!"

Xie Zhifei's scattered pupils finally focused, and he managed to utter a sentence.

"Yan Sanhe, take charge of what comes next."

What do you mean by taking charge?

Yan Sanhe frowned deeply, looking at him.

This person has been acting strange all night, nothing like the usual Xie Zhifei.

Is he really possessed by a ghost?

"Yan Sanhe!"

Xie Zhifei knew what she was suspecting and deliberately replied with a smirk, "Are you looking at me because you have feelings for me?"

Pah!

Yan Sanhe ignored him and turned to Pei Xiao, "As the representative of the aggrieved party, make a statement!"

Pei Xiao took a deep breath and calmly said, "There is no choice but to agree. Besides, I can see that Wu Shunian doesn't have much time left."

"I agree with you."

Yan Sanhe left these words behind and walked out of the courtyard.

"Go tell your master that we accept."

"Yes!"

"Hold on, please prepare an altar, three platters of fruits, two candle stands, and one incense burner. Also, ask your master to bathe and change clothes, preparing to resolve the grudge and dispel the demon."