Chapter 26: Whose Judgment

Snap!

When the lights came on again, only the area beneath the throne was illuminated,

and the majority of the "lights" were focused on the "Queen," Dong Xiaoyu, who was just about to speak!

Everyone, including Dong Xiaoyu, was stunned.

But she quickly reacted and understood—

The Second Act performance had begun!

……

Dong Xiaoyu came to her senses, her crystal shoes and the Queen's noble jewelry sparkling under the spotlight.

She knew it was her turn to speak; the lights were gathering like "gazes," staring fixedly at her!

"Stop spouting nonsense here!" Dong Xiaoyu gathered her courage and retorted:

"The Majesty was killed in his room, so then...

"How were you able to see? See who did it?!"

Click-clack! As the words fell, the sound of machinery operating rang out—

The lights shooting from the darkness, like sharks that had smelled blood, rapidly gathered on Leng Rourou!

As if questioning her:

That's right, how did you know? About what happened in the former King's bedchamber?

Leng Rourou's expression changed slightly, because her "Threshold" was dropping!

The invisible Audience likewise did not accept her accusation!

So that's how it is, this is going to be a debate... Ding Mo stood silently to the side, in the corner of the lights, losing his sense of presence.

And the "Audience" were the jury, the judges, and the recorders. And if his guess was correct, he, Ding Mo,

was the "Executioner"!

Ding Mo placed his hand on the sword at his waist.

As a Guard, he naturally had the duty to kill and punish the murderer.

And while he pondered, the debate on stage continued... no, it should be called a "defense" now, defending oneself.

"..." Leng Rourou had been silent for a few seconds, and only then said:

"Be-because... there was only you in the Majesty's room!

"That's right, before the Majesty returned to his bedchamber, he specifically had you, Mother, serve him; who else could the murderer be but you!?"

The word "Mother" popping out of Leng Rourou's mouth made Dong Xiaoyu freeze for a moment, only then remembering their identities were "Stepmother and Princess."

Seeing the lights beside Leng Rourou show signs of moving, Dong Xiaoyu hurriedly said:

"I, I was on my way back to the 'bedchamber' at the time and did not run into any assassin!"

This was true... Ding Mo affirmed in his heart.

"Fu-furthermore, just based on this, you want to slander me?" Dong Xiaoyu seemed to have entered the zone now, speaking more and more fluently:

"I have loved the Majesty for so many years; how could a few words from you destroy the feelings between us? Could it be that the marriage witnessed by the gods for so many years is fake?!"

Although the claim of having "loved Zhu Jie for so many years" made her feel nauseated inside, she had no choice but to say it at this moment.

And this powerful string of rhetoric left Leng Rourou dumbfounded.

This little bitch was much more eloquent than she had imagined!

But... the next second, click-clack-click-clack!

The lights actually shifted back to Dong Xiaoyu!

It seemed to be because the "Audience" did not approve!

This... this!? While Dong Xiaoyu was extremely puzzled, she couldn't help but panic inside.

She subconsciously turned her head to look at Ding Mo.

What should she do?

………………

At the same time, outside the hall.

Lu Zhenhao and the others had also put on Masks, and he was peering through a crack in the open door at this "Judgment."

"Boss," someone next to him asked at this moment:

"Aren't they done yet? We've been standing here for nearly an hour.

"How about we go in..."

"Shut up!" Lu Zhenhao barked in a low voice,

"Are you an idiot? Participate in the performance lightly, and you'll lose your life!

"We are already in an invincible position by waiting for the rabbit here! What are you rushing for!?"

"Yes, yes..." The person seemed to mumble something and then retreated to the side.

What a bunch of idiots... Lu Zhenhao cursed in his heart.

This group of people were all newcomers who had only completed one Task, or hadn't even completed a single Task.

According to the unwritten convention of the "Typewriter," when newcomers perform a Task for the first time, they need guidance from veterans who have survived at least two Tasks.

That was why there were as many as 7 people in the room he was in.

Of course, even including him now, there were only 4 people left...

However, just as the few were communicating,

some kind of change seemed to occur on the "stage" of the hall.

"I didn't, I didn't kill him! I have no reason to kill the Majesty!" Under the spotlight, Dong Xiaoyu became increasingly flustered.

Because she discovered that the "Audience" seemed to be increasingly leaning toward the other side, rather than toward her, the "Queen."

Ding Mo stood to the side, not knowing why he did not make a sound.

Over there, Leng Rourou sneered:

"You have no reason, of course you have no reason, you are just a vicious person! Killing people doesn't need a reason!"

"Perhaps it was because His Majesty didn't suit your wishes that day, and the Poison Apple was your doing! That is the evidence!"

"I..." Dong Xiaoyu began to argue her case.

However, her words could no longer make the lights move.

At this point, she understood that what the "Audience" believed had fundamentally nothing to do with her.

Leng Rourou's accusations relied entirely on her mouth, completely lacking any evidence, and the logic was not so airtight that it could not be refuted.

But the "Audience" was only willing to believe what they believed, regardless of anything else.

Another while passed, and Dong Xiaoyu moved her lips, no longer knowing how to refute. The light on her body had not moved a fraction, as if it were watching to see what other lies she had to tell.

It was like a silent accusation: You! You are the murderer!

After a long while,

seemingly realizing she had nothing left to say, a significant portion of the lights shifted onto Ding Mo.

At the same time, Ding Mo also discovered that his "Threshold" had begun to change.

Does this mean it is time for me to act?

The next second,

Ding Mo pressed his hand against the hilt of his sword and walked calmly toward Dong Xiaoyu, toward the "Queen."

According to the prompts in the Script, since the murderer had been found, the King's Guard should naturally behead her to avenge the King.

Dong Xiaoyu watched him approach, terror appearing in the eyes visible through the holes of her Mask. She took a step back, but tripped over the stairs behind her and sat down on them with a thud.

Her skirt hem was stained with some dust, making her look even more disheveled.

Before she could get up, she saw Ding Mo walk up in front of her.

Ding Mo looked at her; at close range, he could see her slightly trembling shoulders, and in her eyes, there was a trace of fear, and... a trace of relief!

Let it be this way then... Dong Xiaoyu closed her eyes.

Seeing this, Ding Mo did not draw his sword as Leng Rourou had expected. Instead, he bent his waist and lowered his body.

He brought his face close to her head.

Warm breath landed on the shoulder exposed by her dress, tickling her—this made Dong Xiaoyu completely stunned.

She opened her eyes and saw this scene.

What is he doing?

Why was it not a bloodthirsty steel sword that greeted her, but warm, soothing breath?

And Ding Mo, his ear was almost pressed against her, as if he were listening to something.

He heard the sound of gasping turn from trembling to a halt, followed by a faint exclamation, all of which reached his ears.

In the distance, Leng Rourou also seemed to be stunned, not understanding what he was doing.

After a long time, Ding Mo suddenly raised his eyelids, a flash of determination in his eyes!

As if he had finished hearing something, he suddenly dropped to one knee before the stunned Dong Xiaoyu!

"As you command! My Queen!"

"In accordance with your decree, I shall immediately capture Snow White!"

"To seek justice for His Majesty!"

Everyone present heard only his resolute and decisive response, like a soldier who had accepted an order!