in2ebook Chapter 316 The End of Misleading People with Evil Words
Chapter 316 The End of Misleading People with Evil Words
Queen Li was horrified, but she could not stop it. She just stared at Murong Yanhui with angry eyes. She thought that Prince Yan was a helper, but she never expected that he was a disaster!
The Taoists behind the screen obviously didn't expect that the screen would be opened suddenly, and they panicked for a moment. Fortunately, the old Taoist was used to cheating people, so he was familiar with dealing with such situations. He just flickered his eyes and then returned to his mysterious appearance.
Concubine Yu was detained by two young Taoist priests in a miserable state. When she saw Murong Shileng coming, she couldn't help showing a little joy. Subconsciously, she felt that the emperor had come and she would be saved.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, save me!" Concubine Yu cried out for help at the top of her lungs, "I am not some demon fox!"
But to Concubine Yu's disappointment, Murong Shileng just stood there, motionless, as if waiting for the final result given by the Queen.
At this moment, Concubine Yu was heartbroken! A self-deprecating smile appeared on her lips. Yes, how could she forget that she was just a substitute? Besides, the emperor was ruthless. How could she be so stupid as to have any expectations of the emperor?
Was it the luxurious life she had been living these days that made her dazed, or was it the sweet words she had heard these days that made her sink into delusion? She had actually forgotten everything Yu Qingli said when he saved her that day!
At this moment, Concubine Yu seemed to have been enlightened, and suddenly she became extremely clear-headed. She stopped struggling and her eyes met with Yu Qingli. For a moment, there was no sadness or joy, only trust in her eyes!
Yu Qingli looked at her and suddenly felt relieved. It seemed that now she didn't have to worry about Concubine Yu betraying her, at least not now!
"Huh? Didn't they say that the fox demon has revealed its true form? Where is it?" Murong Yanhui continued to make jokes, his tone full of disappointment and dissatisfaction.
The other concubines were also very puzzled. Logically, since they had just seen the shadow of the fox demon, the Taoist priest should have caught the fox. However, Concubine Yu did not look like a fox at all now. She was clearly still a beauty.
Murong Shiling said sternly, "Queen, didn't you say that Concubine Yu was a fox demon in disguise? Is this the evidence you showed me?"
Queen Li's face turned pale and she looked at the old Taoist priest with cold eyes, as if waiting for his explanation.
The old Taoist priest swept his whisk and said, "Amitabha, this monster has been cultivating for a thousand years. Even if I were to intervene, I could only make its soul manifest..."
"Tsk, after all this talk, it turns out this Taoist isn't that skilled enough. How disappointing! No wonder they had to hide it behind a screen. So, there's still no way to prove that Concubine Yu is actually a fox!"
Murong Yanhui showed disdain on his face. These few simple words had the effect of making light of a heavy matter!
As expected, Murong Shiling heard this and said, "The King of Yan is absolutely right. Why don't you let go quickly!"
Seeing the emperor's cold face, the young Taoist priests immediately let go of their hands, and soon a palace maid came forward to help Concubine Yu over.
"Your Majesty, doesn't what the Taoist priest just said prove that Concubine Yu was a demon in disguise? The shadow just now was clearly a fox..."
"Puchi!" Yu Qingli laughed out loud.
At such a serious moment, someone still laughed. This was not just rudeness, but a clear sign of going against the Queen. When everyone's eyes fell on the place where the laughter came from, everyone was a little stunned, of course, except Murong Yanhui.
"Yu Qingli, what are you laughing at?"
The Queen's face was extremely ugly, and the little good impression she had left of Yu Qingli disappeared at this moment. This Yu Qingli actually dared to laugh at her in front of the Emperor and so many concubines. It was simply rebellious!
Murong Shileng was also a little surprised. He always had an inexplicable feeling about this daughter-in-law. He had mistaken her for Yu Liuli before, and although it was later clarified, he felt more and more embarrassed, especially when facing Yu Qingli's pair of clear eyes like stars, he, the emperor, was inexplicably timid.
Therefore, he tried his best to avoid meeting Yu Qingli.
But at this moment, even he couldn't help but become curious. In the face of this situation, what was Yu Qingli laughing at?
Yu Qingli suppressed her smile and lowered her eyebrows, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I just found it funny and couldn't help laughing."
"Oh? What's interesting about that?"
Yu Qingli didn't answer, but walked up to Concubine Lin and bowed, "Your Highness, could you please stand behind the screen for a moment?"
The old Taoist priest suddenly became anxious, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely impossible. This formation of mine is used to subdue demons and monsters. How can an ordinary person stand here?"
Yu Qingli said, "The Imperial Concubine is the chosen one by Heaven, and she is imbued with His Majesty's dragon energy. Isn't she more precious than the rest of you? If you can stand there, why can't the Imperial Concubine?"
In one sentence, he praised Concubine Lin and criticized those Taoist priests.
The Taoist priest was about to say something when the emperor spoke up, "Since you claim to have profound Taoist skills, why not let someone examine you? Concubine Lin, please stand behind the screen."
Concubine Lin was nervous, but she couldn't disobey the order. She just looked at Yu Qingli sharply. Yu Qingli looked indifferent, pretending not to see it.
Murong Yanhui raised the corners of her lips and smiled brightly, and considerately lifted up the screen that she had pushed down earlier.
Several Taoists were driven out from behind the screen. At this time, only Yu Qingli and Concubine Lin were behind the screen, and the shadow on the screen was only the silhouette of the beauty.
"Your Majesty, please look!"
Murong Shiling heard Yu Qingli's voice in his ears, and when he looked at the screen again, the originally graceful beauty had turned into the shadow of a fox.
Everyone was amazed. Murong Yanhui laughed and said, "Interesting, this is really interesting! Lili, how did you do it? Could it be that Concubine Lin was also a fox demon?"
"How is that possible?! My origins are clean, as evidenced by the facts!"
Concubine Lin's voice suddenly rang out, and soon after, Yu Qingli said, "Uncle, please move this screen away."
The screen was quickly pushed open, and a faint smile appeared on Yu Qingli's cold face. "Your Majesty, this is why Qingli laughed just now. I wonder if Your Majesty is satisfied?"
Murong Yanhui asked curiously, "Lili, can you tell me the secret behind this?"
Yu Qingli explained, "Actually, this is just a trick. This person is just using a folk magic prop."
As Yu Qingli spoke, she took out a shadow puppet from under the so-called altar table and placed it in her hand.
Murong Yanhui took the shadow puppet from her hand and said, "Oh? Is this the magic prop? Why haven't I seen it before?"
"It's just a kind of play created by ordinary people to entertain themselves in their spare time. However, because of its interesting form, it is very popular among children. It is generally not worthy of being performed in a formal setting. It's not surprising that Your Highness has not seen it."
Murong Yanhui placed the shadow puppet in Murong Shiling's hands. "Look, my royal brother! This little fox is really lifelike! With the lighting, the screen, and the smoke, let alone pretending to be a fox demon, even if it's said to be a deity descending to earth, I'm afraid some people would believe it!"
Murong Shiling nodded slightly, his eyes filled with anger. He stared at Queen Li without even glancing at the Taoists, and ordered, "Capture these monsters for me!"
Murong Shiling gave an order and soon the guards came and tied up the Taoists.
Queen Li's face turned ashen, and there was a hint of murderous intent in her eyes as she looked at Yu Qingli. Damn Yu Qingli, how dare he ruin her good thing!
The old Taoist priest was also panicking at this point. He had been wandering the world for many years, but no one had ever cracked the secret of this mechanism. So he was still unconvinced and shouted loudly, "Your Majesty, please don't arrest the wrong person. I'm afraid these two women are fox spirits like the woman just now!"
"Shut up!" Murong Shiling shouted coldly, veins popping out of his forehead as he looked furious to the extreme. "According to what you said, has my harem become a den of scoundrels? Do you think I'm the ancient, foolish King Jie of Shang?"
Murong Shiling snorted coldly and continued, "Even if I am that tyrant emperor, looking at your wretched appearance, you can't be the Jiang Ziya who can slay demons and monsters!"
The old Taoist priest was speechless and looked at Queen Li with a pleading look, hoping that she could save him.
However, Queen Li is now in a difficult situation herself, so how can she have the ability to save them?
"Queen, you'd better explain this matter to me clearly. You are the mother of a country, yet you openly spread lies to deceive the people and even do such a ridiculous thing. If you think what the queen does is boring, I don't mind replacing her!"
Murong Shiling's words were extremely serious. After hearing them, Queen Li trembled like a candle in the wind, and her face was as pale as a ghost.
Seeing this, Nanny Li behind her quickly reached out to help her, but she shook her hand away! She was the queen, and she could never show weakness first.
The queen's eyes flashed, and she had already thought of her words. She lowered her brows and said obediently, "Your Majesty, this time it was I who was inappropriate, but I was also bewitched by someone else. The sisters here can testify to this. This matter was brought up by Concubine Lin!"
Concubine Lin was horrified. Why did the Queen suddenly pin the blame on her? She recalled the scene in the Chaofeng Palace and realized belatedly that she had fallen into a trap.
Most of the other concubines hung their heads in silence. Only one seemingly obedient concubine spoke up, "Your Majesty, I testify that the Queen is absolutely right! It was indeed Concubine Lin who proposed this demon-hunting mission."
Concubine Lin's eyes secretly turned red, and she looked at the concubine hatefully. She vaguely remembered that the person was a new concubine who entered the palace and had close contacts with the queen. So it seemed that what happened today was premeditated.
The Queen's plan of killing two birds with one stone is really a good one!
Murong Shiling remained silent, only gazing coldly at the Empress and Consort Lin, making them shudder. He then ordered, "Drag those evil Taoists out and execute them. As the head of the harem, the Empress has taken the lead in spreading evil and misleading the people, framing others. From today on, you must reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors! You are not allowed to step out of Chaofeng Palace for three months!"