The Arrogant Little Consort: Your Highness, Come Catch a Bug

Chapter 128: Twisting the Truth Hua Lingqin turned her gaze toward him: “That’s why I still need you. You’re their brother; you should know better than I do how to talk to them.” “Boss…” Yun Xiu gripped the jade pendant so tightly it left an indentation in his palm. “Alright. Also, take good care of Lu Hong for me. Just know that I’ll be fine.” Hua Lingqin turned and walked away. Yun Xiu watched her retreating figure, his eyes brimming with tears. Clutching the jade pendant tightly, he knew that since Hua Lingqin had told him to find the princess, she would surely ensure the boss’s safety. By the time Hua Lingqin returned to the courtyard, Lu Hong had been standing at the entrance for quite some time. Upon seeing Hua Lingqin, she hurried forward. She stumbled, nearly falling, and Hua Lingqin quickly caught her: “Look at you—you’re just like a child. Don’t worry, your Yun Xiu is fine.” The teasing tone in her voice finally brought a hint of color back to Lu Hong’s pale face. “Miss…” Lu Hong finally relaxed upon hearing that Yunxiu was safe, but when she heard Hua Lingqin’s teasing tone, she couldn’t help but pout. “Miss Hua, the Sect Master requests your presence at the Hall of Punishment,” a disciple said, having approached the two without their noticing. “I understand. You may go now.” Hua Lingqin’s voice was cold and flat, betraying no emotion. “But… Miss Hua, the Sect Master instructed me to ensure you return with him,” the disciple said, looking troubled. A mocking smile curled at the corners of Hua Lingqin’s lips. Was he afraid she’d run away? Even Lu Hong, for all her naivety, knew the Hall of Punishment was no place for the faint of heart. “Miss, what’s going on?” Lu Hong’s eyes began to well up with tears. Hua Lingqin stroked her head and gave her a hug, then whispered softly into her ear, “Don’t cry. It’s okay. Go find Yun Xiu and tell him not to forget what I said. Be a good girl.” She then released Lu Hong and said coldly to the disciple, “Let’s go.” The disciple watched Lu Hong as she was about to leave and hesitated, saying, “But…” Hua Lingqin’s eyes were filled with a mocking smile. She’d been worried the girl might go tip someone off. “What? Are you going to take my maid away too?” “We wouldn’t dare,” the disciple hurriedly replied. “Then hurry up and leave. I don’t have time to waste on you. Either leave now, or don’t leave at all,” Hua Lingqin said impatiently. “Yes, yes, yes,” the disciple replied, though a flash of contempt crossed his downcast eyes. This time, Miss Hua would surely meet her doom. Upon arriving at the Hall of Punishment, she found all the elders present. The Patriarch of the Yun Sect, the moment he saw Hua Lingqin, barked, “Kneel!” The atmosphere in the Hall of Punishment was oppressive, but Hua Lingqin seemed oblivious to it. She raised her head and looked straight at the Patriarch of the Yun Sect: “Patriarch, you order me to kneel. May I ask what crime Qin’er has committed?” A flash of coldness crossed the Sect Master’s eyes. “Hua Lingqin, you have harmed your fellow disciples, yet you ask what wrong I have committed? Though I am your own uncle, I am also the Sect Master of the entire Yun Sect. In this matter, I will show no leniency.” Hua Lingqin smiled faintly, though her eyes held no warmth: “The Sect Master says I harmed my fellow disciples, but have you asked what those two good-for-nothings I harmed had done?” The Patriarch of the Yun Sect knew a little about it, but this was a legitimate opportunity to eliminate Hua Lingqin, so naturally he would not let it pass: “Regardless of the circumstances, you have harmed your fellow disciples, and for that you must be punished. You killed the eldest grandson of the Third Elder. The Third Elder has contributed so much to the Yun Sect, yet now, because of you, he must bury his own child. Do you realize the gravity of your crime?” Hua Lingqin took a step back, sat down on a stool, rested her hands behind her head, and said lazily, “Qin’er doesn’t know. All I know is that I killed those who deserved to die. If they hadn’t killed first, I would never have laid a finger on them.” “You… you’re lying! Lei’er and Yi’er were so sensible and obedient—how could they possibly have killed anyone?” The Third Elder pointed at Hua Lingqin, her eyes filled with hatred. Hua Lingqin smiled faintly. “Third Elder, do you not believe me? I have a witness. Shall I call them forward to testify?” “Sect Master, no matter what, my two poor grandsons died at the hands of this venomous woman. I beg you to do justice. If she is not punished, it will truly break my heart.” The Third Elder, naturally unwilling to let Hua Lingqin call for a witness, hurriedly appealed to the Sect Master of the Yun Sect. The Disciplinary Elder rose from the stool beside him, gave Hua Lingqin an almost imperceptible nod, and then said to the Third Elder, “Third Elder, you are mistaken. Since there is a witness, why not summon them for questioning?” Hua Lingqin knew the Disciplinary Elder intended to help her, and it seemed he enjoyed her grandfather’s trust. “Elder of Punishment, there is no need to say more. Regardless of the circumstances, it is a fact that Qin’er harmed a fellow disciple. Though I am her uncle, I cannot show favoritism. Guards, take her to the dungeon to sober up. As for the specific punishment, it will be decided after deliberation.” Just as the Elder of Punishment was about to speak, Hua Lingqin gave him a gentle shake of her head. The Patriarch of the Yun Sect clearly had no intention of letting her off. If the Elder of Punishment said anything more, he would likely incur the Patriarch’s hostility. Several disciples entered from outside and were about to grab Hua Lingqin’s arms, but she suddenly rose from her stool and said lazily, “No need for you to grab me. I’ll walk on my own.” The disciples had clearly heard quite a bit about Hua Lingqin’s situation. They did not force her to come with them, but simply shook their heads at her, their eyes betraying a hint of helplessness and apology. Hua Lingqin naturally understood their meaning. She nodded and smiled at them, then took the lead and walked ahead. “Elders, do you have any suggestions regarding Hua Lingqin’s punishment?” asked the Patriarch of the Yun Sect, narrowing his eyes. The Elder in Charge of Punishments addressed the Sect Master of the Yun Sect: “Sect Master, right and wrong have not yet been clarified. It would be unwise to make a hasty decision.” The Third Elder wasn’t about to let this opportunity slip by: “What do you mean she can’t tell right from wrong? It’s perfectly clear,Hua Lingqin murdered her fellow disciples. I have only these two legitimate grandsons, and she killed them. Unless she is torn to pieces, I cannot ease the hatred in my heart. But I am not just a man; I am also an elder of the Yun Sect. Therefore, I cannot act on a whim. I shall simply destroy her dantian and cast her into the depths of the valley behind the mountain to fend for herself.” ” His words sounded righteous and noble, but everyone present was no fool. To have one’s cultivation destroyed and be cast into the back mountains—that is more agonizing than death. “Sect Master…” The Punishment Elder was about to speak, but his words were cut short. “Elder of Punishment, there is no need to say more. Qin’er’s punishment is decided. Given her luck, she might not necessarily survive in the back mountains. But Yun Lei and Yun Yi are both already dead. Though this method pains me deeply, I am the Sect Master of the Yun Sect—I cannot show favoritism.” The Sect Master’s face wore an expression of sorrow and disappointment, yet a flash of smugness flickered in his eyes. The Elder of Punishment said nothing more, but a thought flashed through his mind: If there was truly no other option tomorrow, he would have no choice but to seek help from the Ancestor. Given the Ancestor’s relationship with Elder Yun, he surely wouldn’t refuse to intervene.