Chapter 114: The Day the Deceitful Plot Is Laid Bare and Justice Is Served, a Moment of Great Satisfaction as Righteousness Prevails

Chapter 114: The Exposure of the Conspiracy and the Day of Justice, Heartfelt Relief and Righteous Vindication

Lin Shiya and Murong Fu stood back to back, a chilling aura of lethal intent swirling around them like a biting winter wind.

Facing the swarm of black-clad assassins and the final villain’s sinister face, neither showed the slightest hint of fear in their eyes.

Lin Shiya gripped the letter tightly in her hand; the coarse texture of the paper gave her unparalleled courage.

Murong Fu’s dagger gleamed coldly, like a coiled venomous snake ready to strike a fatal blow at any moment.

The air around them seemed to freeze, leaving only their quickened breaths and the faint clash of blades—a suffocating tension permeated the hall.

Lin Shiya glanced around, catching sight of Inspector Zhang trembling at the back of the crowd, which strengthened her resolve. Today, she vowed, she would cleanse the court of its deepest filth!

“Who do you think you are? It turns out you are but two young upstarts,” the final villain stepped forward slowly, his voice hoarse and low, like a serpent flicking its tongue. “You dare challenge me? Truly overestimating yourselves.” His eyes flickered over the letters and ledgers in their hands, a trace of panic momentarily flashing before being replaced by cold cruelty. “These documents—what do you think they prove? Nothing but baseless fabrications!”

“Baseless fabrications?” Lin Shiya sneered, her crisp voice shattering the heavy silence. “These ledgers, this secret chamber, your hidden arsenal—are they not all evidence of your treason and betrayal? Do you intend to tell the world these are all made-up lies, false accusations from me?” Raising her voice, she fixed him with a piercing gaze.

Within the grand hall, civil and military officials held their breath, not daring to inhale fully.

They watched Lin Shiya and Murong Fu, encircled in the center, then glanced at the villain’s ashen face, understanding that something monumental was about to unfold.

They were shocked by Lin Shiya and Murong Fu’s courage and curious about the evidence these two held to confront the traitor so boldly.

The final villain’s face turned ashen from Lin Shiya’s words. He opened his mouth to retort, but found himself utterly speechless.

Cold sweat dripped down his forehead as he forced a calm smile. “You certainly have sharp tongues. But alas, today you are destined to die here—no one can save you!”

Hearing this, Lin Shiya’s lips curled into a confident smile. Calmly, she produced another letter from her bosom and unfolded it before all present.

The paper bore familiar handwriting, ending with a clear seal recognized by nearly everyone present—it was…

The letter in Lin Shiya’s hand, thin yet explosive like thunder in the court.

That elegant yet firm handwriting was unmistakably the villain’s own, and the seal at the bottom was his private stamp—impossible to forge!

The contents laid bare his years of secret collusion with enemy nations, betraying national interests. Each word was a dagger piercing the traitor’s heart.

A commotion erupted in the hall.

The officials’ eyes widened in disbelief.

Those who usually wore a sanctimonious mask now wore faces full of fear and incredulity.

Their reverence turned to shock, then to disgust as they stared at the villain.

His complexion drained to a ghastly white, cold sweat pouring down like beads of rain as if his soul had been ripped away.

He gaped for words but realized all his deception had been shredded by this undeniable proof.

His carefully spun lies over the years appeared laughably fragile in the face of such evidence.

His cronies behind him, like lost dogs, wore panicked faces, utterly at a loss.

“Don’t slander my lord!” shouted the villain’s personal assassin, shattering the suffocating silence.

Like a mad beast, he brandished his blade and lunged at Lin Shiya, desperate to snatch away the evidence that would doom his master forever.

His movements were ghostlike in speed, but just as he was about to reach Lin Shiya, a taller figure blocked his path.

“General Ding, what are you doing?” the assassin snarled, eyes red with fury, yelling at General Ding who stood firm in front of him.

General Ding’s expression was impassive, his spear gripped tightly. “By imperial command, arrest the traitors!”

At his order, soldiers hidden in ambush surged forward, encircling the assassins.

Realizing escape was impossible, the assassins fought wildly, blades clashing with the soldiers in fierce combat.

The clang of metal, shouts, and the dull thud of weapons piercing flesh filled the grand hall.

Officials scattered in panic, fearing to be caught in the sudden melee.

They watched in terror as the once lofty court became a bloody battlefield.

Lin Shiya’s eyes narrowed with unease.

She knew the final villain would never surrender easily.

The more frenzied his actions, the more he must have a hidden plan.

A sharp sound of flesh pierced by a blade was faint amidst the chaos but sent a jolt through Lin Shiya’s heart.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a dark figure dart away. Without hesitation, she dashed after it but was pulled back by Murong Fu.

“Be careful!”

Though anxious, Lin Shiya understood the need for caution.

She clutched her evidence tightly, scanning the surroundings with a determined gaze.

Suddenly, a shadow flashed, a cold blade streaking through the air toward the hostage witness.

The witness screamed in terror, curling up instinctively.

Lin Shiya’s heart leapt violently; she tried to rush forward but was seized by a brutal thug.

“Let go of me!” she struggled fiercely, but icy iron claws held her wrists like shackles, rendering her immobile.

On the battlefield, General Ding fought the assassins fiercely. The clang of weapons was sharp and piercing, punctuated by soldiers’ agonized cries, the air thick with the scent of blood.

Breathing rapidly, footsteps pounding, Lin Shiya’s vision blurred with tears, yet she saw the witness’s bloodied wound—his limbs trembling, barely able to stand.

At this desperate moment, a figure shot forward like lightning, positioning himself before the witness.

Murong Fu’s voice was steady and strong, unyielding as a rock: “Stop!”

He seized the assassin’s wrist, wrenching the knife from his grasp, which clattered to the floor.

With lightning speed, Murong Fu struck the assassin’s chest, sending him flying several meters.

The assassin spat blood on landing, unable to rise again.

Murong Fu quickly shielded the wounded witness, arm extended defensively, eyes alert for threats.

“Lin Shiya, quickly!” Murong Fu urged, pushing the witness toward her.

Understanding his intent, Lin Shiya pulled the witness behind her, using her body as a shield against any attack.

“You heartless villains, do you think you can escape justice?” Lin Shiya’s voice rang through the hall like a clear bell.

The letters and ledgers in her hands fluttered, each page accusing the final villain’s crimes.

She continued, “The secret forces lurking in the prison’s underground tunnels, your treacherous dealings with enemy states—all exposed in broad daylight! What do you have to say for yourself now?”

Murmurs of shock and anger rippled through the officials.

The final villain’s face was deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down his brow. Glancing at the evidence in Lin Shiya’s hands, his cohorts lowered their heads, avoiding her gaze.

Lin Shiya’s eyes swept over each of them, her voice firm and resolute: “Today, your crimes will be made known to the world, and you will face the punishment you deserve!”

At that moment, an iron chain suddenly appeared in Murong Fu’s hand. With a forceful swing, it coiled around the final villain like a serpent.

The villain’s struggles grew feeble; tightly bound, he could no longer move.

A cold smile crept across Lin Shiya’s lips, a surge of indescribable satisfaction welling within her.

Her gaze unwavering, her voice commanding: “Murong Fu, give the order!”

Taking a deep breath, Murong Fu shouted, “Seize the traitor and all his accomplices!”

His command thundered through the hall, striking terror.

The imperial guards surged forward, encircling the final villain and his henchmen.

The clash of armored footsteps echoed throughout the chamber, ringing in everyone’s ears.

The final villain collapsed like a venomous snake drained of its backbone, limp on the ground, dragged away by the guards. His face was a mask of despair and resentment; once a figure of immense power, now reduced to nothing but a fading memory.

His cohorts, like defeated dogs, were bound and pale as death.

The grand hall transformed from tense standoff to a farcical spectacle, utterly disheveled.

As they were dragged out, sunlight fell upon them harshly, as if mocking their crimes.

Outside the court, a crowd of eager citizens pressed forward.

Seeing the traitor led away, they erupted into deafening cheers that surged like waves, threatening to shake the entire palace.

Their faces shone with excitement and joy, as if drought had ended with a sudden rain, and long-suppressed fury was finally unleashed.

Justice had finally arrived!

Lin Shiya gazed at the scene with a heart full of emotion.

She scanned the crowd, her eyes resting on Murong Fu, whose gaze held tenderness and love.

They exchanged a deep look, and all exhaustion and worry vanished in that moment.

Drawing close, they embraced tightly, feeling each other’s warmth. Amid this harrowing struggle, their love had become as solid as a rock.

A gentle breeze blew, carrying the warmth of early summer, dispersing the stench of blood from the court.

The cheers of the people echoed in Lin Shiya’s ears, filling her with unmatched relief and joy. The heavy burden weighing on her heart for years was finally lifted.

She knew this victory belonged not only to her but to all who longed for fairness and justice.

Yet just then, a palace attendant hurried in, panting, holding an imperial edict. “Madam Lin, congratulations! You have been nominated as a candidate for the Imperial Examination Inspector!”

The attendant’s voice broke the brief calm, and the words on the edict felt like a heavy stone pressing once more on Lin Shiya’s heart.

She took the edict, her fingers brushing the cold paper, her heart stirred by waves of emotion.

She understood that behind this apparent honor lay new challenges.

Being an examiner meant greater responsibility and even harsher trials.

Raising her head, she gazed into the distance, her eyes deep and resolute, a meaningful smile playing at her lips.

Murong Fu squeezed her hand tightly, silently standing by her side.

“I…”