In that moment, Grace Wan's face turned pale and she stammered, "Your Majesty, my defensive power really comes from the Spirit Talisman that was just burned. After I was attacked last night, I activated it, and its power stayed in my body," Grace Wan explained. "Grace attacked me before the Spirit Talisman was activated."
Colin Gu frowned, "So you claim that if the Spirit Talisman was burned, Grace would emit talisman light, but that didn't happen. How do you explain that?"
"This..." Grace Wan honestly had no idea what was going on!
Colin Gu shook his head and said, "The General is right. Since this is a family matter, it should be handled at the Prime Minister's Residence. The Empress and I are technically your relatives, but we're busy with national affairs and don't have time for baseless accusations like this."
Colin Gu had always been known for his gentle demeanor before the court.
But today, his words were anything but gentle.
Grace Wan's face was extremely ugly as she said, "It was reckless of me!"
Wendy Zhu bit her lip, not daring to make a sound.
"That's the end of it. Lady Blue Moon, you may leave now!" Colin Gu said.
"I take my leave!" Grace Wan looked miserable as she turned to go.
"Wait!" After watching her jump around for so long, Grace couldn't possibly let her leave that easily.
Grace Wan turned back to look at her, her expression dark and stormy.
"Your Majesty, Your Highness," Grace said. "According to the laws of the Blue Moon Kingdom, the crime of false accusation is punishable by forty strikes and a sentence of one to ten years in prison!"
"Sister." Wendy Zhu stepped down from the Empress's throne and came over to hold Grace's hand. "I was just anxious and lost my temper. Please don't take it to heart."
Grace pulled her hand back. "What does Her Majesty wish to say?"
"I believe my mother would never falsely accuse you. There must be some misunderstanding! For the sake of our years as sisters, please don't pursue this any further! Once we're home, we'll investigate what really happened, okay?"
"But Your Majesty, my mother is bedridden and her life is hanging by a thread. Instead of helping, Auntie kicked us while we were down and accused me. How could I not take it personally?" Grace said.
"So what do you want?" Wendy Zhu asked, frowning.
"Hmm..." Grace thought for a moment. "I'll let it go, but only if Auntie goes home and kneels in the Lawrence Ancestral Hall for two hours every day, praying for my mother's recovery until she wakes up!"
"What!" Grace Wan blurted out. "No way!"
"Fine! Then I ask Your Majesty to decide and clear my name!" Grace looked at Colin Gu.
"Your Majesty!" Wendy Zhu cried, eyes wide. "How could you—"
"Your Majesty!" Wendy Zhu cried, eyes wide. "How could you—"
"No need to say more, Your Majesty," Colin Gu interrupted forcefully. "The law of the land is as immovable as a mountain—no room for games."
Law of the Land, huh!
He’s obviously siding with Grace!
Wendy Zhu bit her lip, her glare almost piercing right through Grace.
"Alright." Grace Wan took a deep breath. "I'll go to the ancestral hall and pray for Lady Blue Moon's recovery."
Colin Gu nodded and looked at Grace. "Grace, does this work for you?"
Grace bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty, for standing up for justice! I take my leave!"
"Wait!" Colin Gu called out.
Grace stopped.
Colin Gu walked up to her and asked gently, "I heard from the Imperial Advisor that your mother was poisoned? Not just ill?"