Chapter 519: Premeditated False Charges

Snort, they had arrived so fast.

Lin Mengya’s words just now were meant for them anyway.

Lin Mengya did not need to worry about Qian Yuming playing dirty tricks in the presence of so many people.

Instantly, a look of regret flashed across Qian Yuming’s eyes.

He shot Lin Mengya a vicious look. It was obvious that his hatred for her had intensified.

Nevertheless, this did not bother Lin Mengya. She was keenly aware that she would eventually offend all the people here. What was happening now was merely a prelude.

Her composure was clearly written on her face. There was no panic whatsoever. On the contrary, Elder Qian looked like a desperate man who would risk anything.

“What happened here?”

As his disciples clustered around, Nan Rui asked the question while knowing the answer.

Immediately, Qian Yuming tried to play up the situation, blaming the death of Du Zhong solely on Lin Mengya and her company.

Although it was an ugly accusation, his story sounded vivid and lively.

To a person who did not know what happened, it would sound as if Qian Yuming was an eyewitness to the entire event.

However, Nan Rui and the two Duanmus kept quiet while looking serious and just. After they exchanged looks, they began saying some pleasantries to Lin Mengya and her company.

“Your Highness, this matter concerns the life of one person. I believe you naturally would not have done this given your status, Your Highness. However, Du Zhong’s death was rather fishy. I wonder if you could assist me in finding out the truth?”

Despite sounding polite, Lin Mengya somehow felt that Nan Rui was harboring some ill intentions.

However, if she refused, she would be accused of abusing her powerful position when she refuses to cooperate out of guilt.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Mengya still did not give them a positive answer.

“Elder Nan’s suggestion makes sense. What happened is indeed fishy. Let’s be open towards each other since we’re all present here, lest there be any troubles afterward.”

In this way, Nan Rui and the others could not say otherwise.

At this critical juncture, as they spoke, some men had brought Du Zhong’s body out.

Du Zhong’s body had been guarded by Zuo Qiuyu and Long Tianyu. Surely no one would have the chance to do anything to it.

For this reason, Qian Yuming was crest-fallen.

In reality, Lin Mengya did not manage to have a good look because the visibility in the cold storage was low due to little light.

However, now the body had been exposed under the sunlight. Everyone could see clearly the numerous closely spaced pin holes on Du Zhong’s face.

Nevertheless, the pin holes were very small that they appeared to be tiny red spots on his face.

His eyes were opened wide and there was even a bizarre smile on his face.

The sight of him brought chills up the people’s spines.

However, the people in the Pavilion of Herbs had seen all kinds of illnesses that the sight of Du Zhong’s injury did not really alarm them.

Lin Mengya purposely walked to Du Zhong’s side and pointed at his right hand.

“He’s holding the key to a box in his hand. I’d like to ask all of you, the elders a question. This box had obviously been given to Prince Shen as a tool for the competition. Why was the key to this box in Du Zhong’s possession? Could it be someone’s intentional act, or was it Du Zhong who wanted to secretly frame Prince Shen?”

Lin Mengya beat them to ask a difficult question and Nan Rui and the others were at a loss of how to react.

However, veterans were after all abler than recruits. The look in Nan Rui’s eyes transformed and his expression became solemn. He averted his gaze onto the lifeless Du Zhong with a look of enmity.

“This damned thing! To think that he had done such a shameless thing, he’s deserving of death anyway!”

Hearing Nan Rui’s words, Qian Yuming was naturally displeased.

“Elder Nan, maybe someone was trying to fabricate a charge against Du Zhong! This had happened in the cold storage. Why didn’t Prince Shen think of ways to open the box in his room but chose to come to the cold storage? Moreover, I had sent Du Zhong to take care of the guests out of good intentions. The princess could at least give me an account of what happened given that he died a dubious death.”

Was this not obvious that he was trying to blame everything on her?

Nevertheless, Lin Mengya sneered as she fixed her eyes on Qian Yuming.

“Because the box was one with an abstruse secret. If it was not opened in the freezer, Prince Shen would be the one who’s dead by now.”

The expressions of the faces of the elders changed simultaneously at a simple statement Lin Mengya made.

All the more, Lin Mengya knew that these people were aware of the content of the box with an abstruse secret.

If they had to sacrifice a person in order to open the box with an abstruse secret, why not use this opportunity to get rid of Zuo Qiuyu. That would save them some effort.

While this was supposed to be a secret plan, Lin Mengya who was always unconventional had exposed the plan openly.

They had actually undermined their own plan now!

“So it was actually the box with an abstruse secret! Elder Nan, It looked like it was the will of heaven for Prince Shen to have picked the box with an abstruse secret!”

It appeared that Chang Tianhua had been kept in the dark, which was why he looked surprised when Lin Mengya mentioned the box with an abstruse secret.

Nan Rui’s face fell.

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However, in the presence of so many disciples, he could only suffer the grievance quietly.

“This… There must be some misunderstanding! The box with an abstruse secret is a very precious treasure in the Pavilion of Herbs. How could it be used in this competition as an item to be given away? The elder who’s in charge of its care must have made a mistake, so by accident, it had gone to Prince Shen. Please do return the box, Your Highness.”

Duanmu Yang, who had been keeping silent, quickly forced a smile as he spoke with a polite tone.

However, Lin Mengya snorted. Her almond eyes were shooting daggers. Even Duanmu Yang could not help but shrink back.

“Why didn’t you recognize this fact when Prince Shen first brought the box back? Now that the box had been opened and here you are to snatch it away openly! To be honest with you, I’ve been sent by the emperor to supervise you!”

It was at this moment that Lin Mengya drew out the Black Dragon Token which she had been carrying with her.

In that instant, there was a look of fear in the eyes of Nan Rui and his company. Yet, deep inside, they could not suppress the covetousness for power that came with the Black Dragon Token.

As Lin Mengya scanned their faces, she could tell that these people were terrorized by the Black Dragon Token and no longer dared to make trouble for her on the surface.

Although Lin Mengya also knew that they would continue to do their thing secretly.

“Since Your Highness is in possession of the Black Dragon Token, we have to obey your words. However, this box with an abstruse secret is way too important to us. We would like Your Highness to leave it in the care of the elders of the Pavilion of Herbs.”

While Nan Rui tried to hold back his emotions, apparently he was not ready to give up.

Nevertheless, the box with an abstruse secret was indeed of great importance. Not only the elders, but also the disciples were gazing at the box with yearning.

It was indeed difficult for Lin Mengya and her company to say no to the elders.

She turned her head around and shot Zuo Qiuyu a look, but Zuo Qiuyu shook his head solemnly. The bronze key appeared primitive and crude under the sunlight.

Suddenly she had a brain wave and she conceived a plan in her mind.

“I can hand the box over to your care temporarily. However, since the content of the box had been given to Prince Shen, it rightfully belongs to him. If you do not agree, I will destroy this key right here!”

No one had expected Lin Mengya to agree to return the box back to the elders.

Nevertheless, her request had put Nan Rui and his company in a spot.

“I agree that the box with an abstruse secret should be given to the fated person. Since Prince Shen was the first to gain possession of it, it should belong to him according to the rules.”

Chang Tianhua added matter-of-factly.

However, the other elders must be cursing in their hearts by now.

Everyone in the Pavilion of Herbs was aware that this old man who refused to die had already pledged his loyalty to Princess Anle.

Had he not turned around to bite them?

Lin Mengya and Chang Tianhua exchanged looks. There was an unspoken rapport between the two.

Although the medicine which he created for Lin Mengya had caused her much pain, this old man was actually a good man!

“This… This…”

Nan Rui had kept silent while Qian Yuming looked as if he was going to devour all of them. For this reason, Duanmu Yang appeared to be at a loss of what to do.

Coming to a deadlock, Nan Rui finally nodded and Duanmu Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

“Alright. According to the rules, the box with an abstruse secret should be given to the fateful person. Even if it were put under our care, for now, we will return it once the competition is over.”

Lin Mengya sneered quietly. They should never assume that she did not understand the meaning of Duanmu Yang’s words.

Although it should be given to the fateful person, no one had clarified who the fateful owner of the box was.

However, they did not seem to be aware of the other function of the box with an abstruse secret.

After she whispered something into Zuo Qiuyu’s ear, the two of them entered the cold storage. It only took a while for them to bring the empty box out.

Zuo Qiuyu placed the key in the box before all the people.

With a “plop”, the box snapped close in front of all the people. Resembling nature, the box looked as if it had not been opened by anyone before now.

“Take it quickly! Watch out, for I will question you if you mixed up the box with other things!”

Duanmu Yang allowed the elder in charge of such items to take the box with an abstruse secret from Zuo Qiuyu’s hand.

Lin Mengya welled up with a feeling of resentment when she observed the excited look in their eyes, which they failed to suppress.

All of them were harboring evil intentions in their hearts. They did not really care about sacrificing someone’s life for the sake of their own interest.

All of them deserved to be punished for their sins!

“Elders, although the box with an abstruse secret would be put under your care temporarily, could my cousin then be considered to win this round? After all, the box with an abstruse secret carried the key to the secret realm of the Chief Elder. According to the rules of the Pavilion of Herbs, the person who’s fated to gain possession of the key in the box would have the priority to be a candidate for the Chief Elder, right?”

The moment Lin Mengya spoke those words, even Zuo Qiuyu snapped up his head and looked at her with shock in his eyes.

In that instant, the faces of Qian Yuming and the elders looked terrible.

This was because the rule was a top secret of the Pavilion of Herbs.

Apart from the records in the ancient records, only the chief priests of the various generations would know about it.

However, there were also some elders in the Pavilion of Herbs who were in charge of the succession plan knew about this rule.

But they were quite certain that some of these things would be kept a secret as a collective effort. How did this happen?

“Are you, the elders, unaware of this rule? It’s alright. Since I have the Black Dragon Token, I have the duty to tell you some of the rules.”