103: Chapter 103 Forced Compromise to Set the Truth Clear!

Chu Ningshuang's acting was superb.

If Lin Yi were here, he'd probably give her an award for best actress.

Unfortunately, Lin Yi wasn't here.

Chu Chengdao looked at Chu Ningshuang, who was kneeling before him, a flicker of imperceptible disgust in his eyes.

But that trace of disgust vanished in an instant.

He had no evidence.

Chu Ningshuang had handled everything flawlessly on the surface.

Every word she spoke, every action she took, was from the standpoint of 'protecting her Elder sister'.

If you said she had a problem, she would be more wronged than anyone.

Chu Chengdao remained silent for a long time.

So long that Chu Wanjun thought he was going to refuse.

But in the end,

Chu Chengdao closed his eyes.

He thought of the Chu Family's millions of years of foundation.

He thought of the Legacy of the Imperial Clan Bloodline.

He thought of the restless subordinate families and the covetous external forces.

If he forcibly rejected it, the split within the Elder Council would be irreversible.

Internal strife coupled with external threats.

The Chu Family couldn't bear it at this time.

Breaking the deadlock also required time.

Moreover, from another perspective,

If Wanqing's Bloodline truly had no issues,

Then what harm was there in testing it?

Once tested, the rumors would naturally be dispelled, and everyone would be happy.

He believed in his daughter.

The Innate Emperor Phoenix Holy Body, with an incomparably pure Bloodline—he knew this better than anyone.

The xuantian mirror wouldn't find any problems.

It couldn't possibly find any problems!

"Alright."

Chu Chengdao opened his eyes, his voice low.

"Three days from now, convene a full Family assembly."

"Publicly test the Imperial Daughter's Bloodline."

He stood up, his Peak Quasi-Emperor Aura fully unleashed, suppressing the entire hall.

"But I'll say this first—"

"If the xuantian mirror proves Wanqing's Bloodline to be fine, all those present today who proposed this shall be self-punished with a hundred years of secluded cultivation!"

"Those who spread rumors shall be expelled from the Family!"

"Does anyone have an objection?"

No one spoke.

Chu Wanjun lowered his head slightly.

"The Family Head is wise; this old man has no objections whatsoever."

Chu Canglan, Chu Yuanshan, and Chu Henian echoed in unison.

Chu Ningshuang knelt on the ground, shedding tears as she kowtowed.

"Thank you, Father! Elder Sister will definitely be fine!"

Her forehead rested on the cold floor tiles.

The corner of her mouth curved slightly.

It was quickly suppressed.

Chu Chengdao flicked his sleeves and left.

His heavy footsteps echoed in the corridor for a long time.

The moment he stepped out of the assembly hall's main entrance, his steps paused.

He looked back into the hall.

Several Elders were conversing in low voices, their expressions varied.

Chu Ningshuang had already stood up and was wiping away tears with a handkerchief.

Her tear-wiping motion was elegant and proper, every detail impeccable.

Chu Chengdao withdrew his gaze and continued forward.

"Wanqing."

He silently uttered his daughter's name in his heart.

"Father believes in you."

"Three days from now, Father will clear your name."

...

The news spread faster than the wind.

Three days later, a full Family assembly would be held to publicly examine the Imperial Daughter's Bloodline.

This news spread throughout the entire Chu Family within half a day.

The six main peaks erupted.

"Are they really going to test it?"

"The Family Head agreed, so it must be true."

"So, does the Imperial Daughter's Bloodline have a problem or not?"

"Who knows? If there's a problem, she's deposed; if not, she continues as Imperial Daughter."

"I bet fifty thousand Spirit Stones that there's a problem."

"Are you crazy? The Imperial Daughter is the Family Head's own daughter."

"So what if she's his own daughter? Who can the Third Elder's perception deceive?

A Quasi-Emperor's perception is tens of thousands of times stronger than ours, the younger generation!"

"That's true..."

Chu Wanqing didn't hear any of these words.

But she didn't need to hear them.

Because when that Family decree was delivered to her palace entrance,

She understood everything.

"Your Highness, the Imperial Daughter, three days from now, at Chen Shi, there will be a full Family assembly at the Ancestral Hall."

"At that time, the Imperial Daughter's Bloodline will be examined with the xuantian mirror to set the record straight."

"Please be present on time, Your Highness."

The Disciple delivering the message finished, bowed, and withdrew.

The palace door closed.

Chu Wanqing stood rooted to the spot, clutching the Family decree in her hand.

Her knuckles were white.

She looked down at the words on the decree.

She knew every single word.

But strung together, they were like a knife.

Cutting at her heart, slice by slice.

Test the Bloodline.

To set the record straight.

What did 'set the record straight' mean?

Did her Bloodline need to be 'straightened'?

What had she done wrong?

She had returned honorably with an Imperial Weapon.

She had honorably accepted everyone's congratulations.

Then, in turn, she was to be pressed into the Ancestral Hall, like a criminal, to face judgment?

Chu Wanqing's hands were trembling.

Not from fear.

But from grievance.

From anger.

It was a suffocating feeling of being betrayed by the whole world, with nowhere to vent.

She threw the Family decree onto the table.

It made a sharp, crisp sound.

Then she walked to the window and pushed it open.

Cold wind rushed in, stinging her eyes.

She looked out at the Chu Family's mountains.

The mountains where she had grown up.

The mountains she thought would protect her forever.

At this moment, they looked as strange as another world.

"Three days."

She bit her lip, her voice very soft.

Three days later, she would walk into the Ancestral Hall.

Facing everyone's gazes.

Accepting the judgment of that stone.

She wasn't afraid of judgment.

Her Bloodline had no issues; she knew that perfectly well.

But what she was afraid of was—

What if that stone had also been tampered with?

The moment this thought emerged, Chu Wanqing's heart sank sharply.

It wasn't that she hadn't considered this possibility.

The Third Elder's drunken words that day, Chu Ningshuang's overly enthusiastic face.

The Imperial Phoenix Pool's sudden protection, the Elders' collective indifference...

All these things strung together didn't look like a coincidence.

But she had no evidence.

She was alone, isolated and helpless, in this Imperial Clan Ancestral Land.

Her father was a Peak Quasi-Emperor, the Family Head, the strongest person in this Family.

But he also had his helplessness.

He had to consider the bigger picture.

He had to balance various forces.

He had to maintain the Family's stability.

So he chose to compromise.

Chu Wanqing understood him.

But understanding was understanding; her heart still ached.

She reached out and touched her chest.

It was beating very fast.

So fast that it made her a little breathless.

"Lin Yi Gege..."

The name slipped from her lips again.

She didn't even know how many times she had uttered his name today.

But each time she did, her heart would settle down just a little.

As if that person was standing right behind her.

Ready to reach out and embrace her shoulders, saying, 'Don't be afraid'.

But he wasn't here.

Truly not here.

Chu Wanqing leaned against the window frame, looking at the line of dark clouds on the horizon.

Three days.

She still had three days.

If Lin Yi Gege could come within these three days, that would be great.

But Heavenly Profound Holy Land was so far from here.

He didn't know what was happening here.

Even if he did, it would be too late to arrive.

She closed her eyes.

The wind blew through her hair, brushing against her cheek.

"It's alright."

She was cheering herself up again.

"Your Bloodline has no issues."

"Go if you must."

"Test if you must."

"What's there to fear?"

She opened her eyes, that stubbornness reappearing in her gaze.

Innate Emperor Phoenix Holy Body.

She refused to believe anyone could manipulate her Bloodline.

She turned and walked to the zither stand, reaching out to caress the surface of the world-suppressing imperial zither.

The moment her fingertips touched a string, the imperial zither let out an extremely faint hum.

As if responding to her.

As if comforting her.

Chu Wanqing's lips curved slightly.

"At least you're still here."

She plucked a string.

Ding—

A clear zither sound echoed in the palace.

Then it was dispersed by the cold wind.

Leaving nothing behind.

The sky outside the window grew darker.

The three-day countdown began at this moment.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away.

Aboard the imperial carriage.

A white-robed figure suddenly opened his eyes.

His gaze was like lightning.