It Has to Be Pulled Out

"Looks like you still haven't had enough." Sean Shaw grabbed her and pulled her further inside.

"Hey! Hey! I was just kidding!"

...

The next day, the two Dragon Lords really did get a confession.

One of the Celestial Empress Liz Li's personal maids claimed that the Demon Emperor and Baxa poisoned her, threatening her into hiding the Thunder-Heaven Void-Breaking Chain there.

The two Dragon Lords brought in a Spiritual Alchemist, who confirmed she'd been poisoned.

It was a brutal toxin that could only be cured with a unique antidote.

After all that, it circled right back to the beginning.

This time, Sean Shaw got dragged right into it.

"You black-hearted fiend!" Liz Li pointed at Sean and cursed, "You staged this whole scene just to prove I framed you? Too bad, no matter how you try to clear your name, it doesn't change the fact you tried to assassinate me! You're a criminal!"

Liz Li turned to First Prince Brandon Xiao and the Dragon Lords: "You've been hunting the Demon Emperor for a hundred years, and now he's right here. What are you waiting for? Arrest him!"

"Hey! Wait, wait, wait!" Lily Bai popped up again. "First Prince, I've got something to say!"

"No one wants to hear from you!" Liz Li snapped. "Guards, arrest Lily Bai, the accomplice!"

Two Divine Guards rushed forward, but Sean Shaw swept his sleeve and sent them flying.

"First Prince!" Lily Bai seized the chance to call out, "There's a talisman on Her Majesty Liz Li! Why not let me remove it before you arrest me?"

Brandon Xiao's eyes narrowed. "Stand down, all of you."

The Divine Guards backed off.

Lily Bai walked up to Liz Li. "Your Majesty, there's a talisman inside you. It needs to be removed, or it'll be bad for your health!"

Liz Li was startled. "What talisman?"

Lily Bai raised her Rune Staff, muttered an incantation, and with a sharp flick, a previously invisible talisman flew out of Liz Li's body into her hand, revealing itself.

"This is the same Clarity Charm as the one found in Adrian's body!" Lily Bai announced, and without waiting for their reaction, she activated the Clarity Charm.

Inside, the very same palace maid—Greenbud—was kneeling, her face full of resolve. "Just give the order, Your Majesty. Greenbud is willing to go through fire and water for you, no matter what."

Liz Li's voice echoed from the Clarity Charm: "Hide the Thunder-Heaven Void-Breaking Chain in the rear courtyard. When the time comes, say that Sean Shaw and Baxa forced you!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Greenbud stretched out both hands and devoutly accepted a box—the very same one found in the hidden array on the ancient well.

"You’ll have to suffer a bit." A slender jade hand clad in blue armor appeared in the Clarity Charm, holding a black pill. "This is poison. Say they forced you to take it. After tomorrow, I’ll give you the antidote myself."

Liz Li hurriedly tucked her hand into her sleeve.

But everyone had already seen her hand—it was clearly the same one from the Clarity Charm.

Greenbud took the poison and swallowed it, her face turning pale on the spot.

"Go!"

Greenbud nodded and left with the box.

...

All the Gods turned to look at Liz Li, their expressions unreadable.

Liz Li's face was deathly pale. Suddenly, she pointed at Lily Bai. "You—"

"Wow! Fourth Highness's dedication to pursuing the truth is truly moving!" Lily Bai pretended not to notice Liz Li pointing at her, and instead gave Henry Xiao a big thumbs-up. "Not only did you put a talisman on Young Lord Adrian, you even planted one on your own mother! Impressive! Truly impressive!"

Everyone turned to look at Henry Xiao, completely confused.

Henry Xiao was just as lost. "I didn't! I never put a talisman on my mother..."