King of Creation Chapter 1668: 1653: Evidence

“Your Majesty, I charge the Third-class Earl Ye Zhen of North Sea and the Second Road Wind Patrol Envoy of West Patrol, Ye Zhen, with exceeding his authority and interfering in the Tianhou Country’s conflict, which caused massive losses to our Tianming Marquisate, leaving the populace in ruins with countless casualties. I beg Your Majesty to deliver justice for the countless soldiers and commoners who perished fighting for our Tianming Marquisate!”

Ming Tang spoke these lines brimming with passion, his voice

overflowing with grief. Once finished, he slammed his forehead to the floor, dropping to his knees and staying prostrated.

Suddenly, silence gripped the Universe Hall so deeply that a needle’s drop would echo. Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s grin gradually vanished from his features, sending an eerie coldness creeping into every heart present.

An emperor’s fury unleashes rivers of blood.

This Universe Hall forms its private domain, where Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long holds absolute sway. Should Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long desire, his emotions could shift the hall’s atmosphere like the turn of seasons.

Right now, Ren Venerate Emperor was signaling to all officials one clear message—he was displeased!

“Hmph, Ming Tang, you dare accuse a minister I just honored and commended for his deeds and talents. What do you mean by this? The official I deemed competent now stands as the villain in your tale, ravaging the people. Are you saying my judgment is flawed?”

Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s furious bellow thundered through the Universe Hall like lightning, causing Ming Tang to shudder violently, flattened against the ground, scarcely daring to exhale.

In that instant, real terror seized him.

Should Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long rule against him on these grounds, Temple safeguards might spare his life, yet they could easily wipe out the Tianming Marquisate’s very existence.

Hearing this, figures like Baili Fei, Mu Xu, and Ji Yuan felt utter shock.

Good heavens, wasn’t this hearing prearranged for their defense ages ago?

Is he genuinely puzzled, or merely feigning ignorance?

Under Princess Ji Yuan’s insistent look, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice reluctantly advanced, “Your Majesty, two months back, the Tianming Marquisate already lodged this complaint with the Ministry of Justice and informed Your Majesty, providing heaps of proof, all set for Ye Zhen’s account today.”

Minister Cui’s words neatly placed the Tianming Marquisate heir Ming Tang in the right light, while also validating the assault on Ye Zhen, tipping the balance ever so slightly.

“My thanks to Minister Cui for jogging my memory; otherwise, this affair might have slipped my mind entirely. Fine, I’ll keep Minister Cui in note.” Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s weighted tone rang out, sounding appreciative, yet all could sense his true underlying purpose.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, who had just clawed back some favor for the Qintian Temple side, now teetered on despair. Even backed by the Temple, drawing such notice from Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long spelled certain doom.

His role ensured nagging issues aplenty, no matter if others hounded him relentlessly.

Secretary Cui shot Princess Ji Yuan a pleading look like a beleaguered spouse, signaling he’d given his all and pleading for an escape strategy.

Princess Ji Yuan gave a subtle nod, granting Secretary Cui faint comfort.

“Minister Ye, you face charges of abusing power and meddling in Marquisate strife, resulting in widespread ruin. Have you any defense?” Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long inquired.

At that moment, Ye Zhen, sporting a purple fish bag on his eunuch robes, eyed the kowtowing Ming Tang, “Your Majesty, this is utter fabrication!”

“True, I entered Shahe City, but on official duty, hunting a Soul Demon Sovereign that crossed the border. I confidentially informed the Heavenly Patrol Department of this.

Besides, after tireless pursuit, I traced the Soul Demon Sovereign’s Qi, only for it to vanish in Shahe City under Tianming Marquisate control.

Though hard proof eludes me, the Heavenly Patrol Divine Generals I lead, along with thirteen tracking Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters, and 125 Spirit Scout Wind Scouts altogether, stand ready to vouch that the Soul Demon Sovereign vanished in Shahe City, held by the Tianming Marquisate.

What’s more, it disappeared inside the Tianming Marquisate’s army camp at the time, corroborated by Spirit Shadows from my Spirit Scouts!”

After meticulous examination involving numerous Heavenly Patrol Divine Hunters and Spirit Scout Wind Scouts, our conclusion points to a strong link between the Soul Demon Sovereign and the Tianming Marquisate.

The Soul Demon Sovereign possesses utterly strange powers. To avert massive turmoil, I implore Your Majesty to conduct a full probe within and beyond the Tianming Marquisate to uncover the Soul Demon Sovereign’s location,” Ye Zhen declared fervently.

At these words, Ming Tang went rigid, his face draining of color as he snapped his head up, eyes blazing at Ye Zhen. “You… you’re spouting lies!”

Linking with the Demon Clan in Great Zhou amounts to a severe crime, particularly for a noble house like the Tianming Marquisate.

In the past, the Enfeoffed Nations under Great Zhou had fallen under Demon Clan control, sparking a massive uprising that wrought endless devastation. Ever since, any ties between Enfeoffed Nations and the Demon Clan face absolute intolerance.

This explains Ming Tang’s present terror.

Ming Tang racked his brain for ways to counter Ye Zhen, yet he never anticipated Ye Zhen striking back in this manner.

Still, Ming Tang remained relatively calm, knowing such a made-up charge couldn’t cause real waves.

For Ming Tang knew full well that the Tianming Marquis Country held no connections whatsoever to the Demon Clan.

Regrettably, Ming Tang overlooked one crucial fact and failed to foresee another.

What he forgot was Ye Zhen’s affiliation with the Heavenly Patrol Department, whose agents excel at manufacturing proof.

What he couldn’t have fathomed was that Ye Zhen possessed real evidence in this case, not forged documents.

“Slandering, am I?” Ye Zhen scoffed, producing a Jade Scroll sealed in multiple layers, and offered it forward with both hands. “Your Majesty, this secret record was compiled by my West Patrol’s Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy elites following their in-depth probe into the affair.

It also contains the Spirit Shadow captured firsthand by my subordinate Spirit Scout Niu Er, depicting the Soul Demon Sovereign’s appearance at the army camp beyond Shahe City in Tianming Marquis Country.”

Hearing this, Ming Tang stood stunned. “Impossible! Utterly impossible!”

Ignoring Ming Tang entirely, Ye Zhen pressed on. “Furthermore, I discreetly informed the Grand Celestial Official about this half a year back for the archives.” With that, Ye Zhen clasped his hands and turned to Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu. “I seek the Grand Celestial Official’s fair verdict!”

In response, Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu advanced steadily. “Your Majesty, this is true. I duly filed it in the Heavenly Patrol Department’s confidential records at headquarters back then.

Given its gravity, I prudently passed it along to Chief Yu at the time.” While the Great Zhou Emperor commanded the covert Secret Overseer agency—unknown to the public—all Great Zhou Dynasty officials knew of it.

Yu Chaoen, with a bow, edged forward a half-step. “Your Majesty, the Grand Celestial Official did relay this to this old servant, but lacking conclusive findings, I held off reporting to Your Majesty.”

Close by, Xiao Qiangu, freshly returned from West Patrol, grimaced in revulsion, like he’d choked down something foul.

Damn it, he’d just vowed to heed lessons, and now Ye Zhen skipped his superior entirely to manage things.

If not for the issue’s delicacy, he’d demand why Ye Zhen hadn’t reported to him.

Sweat poured in thick drops down Ming Tang’s brow. Even Prince Ji Yuan, Baili Fei, Mu Xu, and Zhen Yan of the Heavenly Temple showed grave faces.

They were certain Tianming Marquis Country wouldn’t deal with a Demon Clan Soul Demon Sovereign, but in the Great Zhou court, if the Heavenly Patrol Department and Secret Overseer teamed up against a minor Marquisate, doom was sealed.

Without these figures present, Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long could order Tianming Marquis Country’s destruction unchallenged.

Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s knife-sharp lips tightened as his piercing stare settled on Ming Tang. All recognized this as the sign of imperial fury building.

Kneeling beneath Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s gaze and crushing sovereign might, Ming Tang started shaking.

Even without Ye Zhen unveiling his proof, the alliance of notorious spy networks—the Heavenly Patrol Department and Secret Overseer—against Tianming Marquis Country foretold an inevitable end, needing no words.

Right when Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long was about to seize the chance to target Tianming Marquis Country first, Prince Ji Yuan came forward and voiced his thoughts.

Prince Ji Yuan knew well that staying quiet would mean Tianming Marquis Country couldn't endure the mounting pressure.

For the Heavenly Temple, Tianming Marquis Country served as a crucial pawn, placing its rivalry against Great Zhou squarely in the court today.

Both Ye Zhen and Tianming Marquis Country would act as the barometer in the clash between Great Zhou and Heavenly Temple.

The faction that suffers elimination signals a defeat for their backing power.

Should Tianming Marquis Country be completely crushed, the ministers from vassal states in Great Zhou—who have gradually sided with Heavenly Temple over the years—would swiftly lose heart.

On the flip side, eliminating Ye Zhen would show Heavenly Temple gaining the advantage, spurring countless waverers to boldly align with Heavenly Temple.

“Your Majesty, everyone awarded lands and titles are Great Zhou’s heroes who shed blood and sweat, with nine out of ten feats from butchering endless Demon Clan.

Tianming Marquis Country fits this perfectly. After deep reflection, I’m convinced they lack both ability and motive to link with the Demon Clan.

I implore Your Majesty to probe deeply, uncover the truth, and avoid judgments rooted only in guesses and scant reports. Else, from this day forward, Great Zhou’s officials will dwell in endless dread!” Prince Ji Yuan declared.

The moment Prince Ji Yuan finished speaking, silence enveloped the entire court.

Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Prince Ji Yuan for several breaths before responding, “Imperial Brother… speaks wisely. Great Attendant, display Minister Ye’s captured Spirit Shadow for all in court to witness… the proof!”

Hearing the commanding tone from Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long, a chill gripped Prince Ji Yuan’s heart, filling it with an ominous dread.

Simultaneously, Yu Chaoen got hold of Ye Zhen’s Spirit Shadow Jade Slip, gave a casual flick of his fingers, a burst of Spirit Light erupted, and a radiant screen materialized in the Universe Hall.