Sweat beads on Lin Yanqu’s forehead kept rolling down one after another.
“Your Highness… this commoner… this commoner is wronged!”
“Wronged?”
Feng Zexuan’s voice was calm, but it made Lin Yanqu feel a chill run through his entire body.
“I’ve heard that the former number one master craftsman of the capital, Lin Qingshan, had a son named Lin Mo.”
“At five he could carve birds, and at ten he became famous.”
She paused, her gaze landing on Lin Yanqu’s pale face.
“Eight years ago, he suffered an accident—he became mute and crippled.”
Lin Yanqu’s legs went weak, nearly collapsing to the ground.
Eunuch Laifu stood nearby, his eyes flickering.
So the Northern Prince is about to expose Lin Yanqu on the spot!
“Your Highness, this person is indeed my apprentice,” Lin Yanqu forced himself to explain.
“He used to be quite skilled, but as you can see, he is now just a useless cripple who cannot even take care of himself!”
“I took pity on him and have been supporting him all these years…”
“Useless?”
Feng Zexuan smiled.
But there was no warmth in that smile.
“One last time,” she said coldly.
“Who actually carved this screen wall?”
Lin Yanqu clenched his teeth.
Since Lin Mo was mute, there would be no evidence!
“It was me!”
He said decisively.
“Of course I carved it myself! If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, I can swear to the heavens!”
In the corner, Lin Mo desperately shook his head.
Only muffled “wu wu” sounds came from his throat.
Tears streamed down his dirty face.
Eight years.
A full eight years!
He wanted to cry out injustice, to tell everyone the truth.
But he couldn’t even speak…
【System, is there anything that can make him speak?】
【Yes! Throat Cleansing Pill, 50,000 points!】
【It can fully repair damaged vocal cords. Instant cure!】
【Buy it!】
【Ding! Exchange successful! Throat Cleansing Pill has been placed in your inventory!】
Feng Zexuan took out a golden pill from her space.
She crouched down and handed it to Lin Mo.
“Eat it.”
“And you’ll be able to speak.”
Her voice was soft, but unwavering.
Lin Mo trembled all over.
He looked up, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.
He had clearly heard the thoughts just now.
This Northern Prince… truly wanted to help him!
Shaking, he took the pill and placed it into his mouth.
It melted instantly.
A cool sensation flowed down his throat.
It felt as if a throat frozen for eight years had suddenly begun to thaw.
The damaged vocal cords were slowly repairing.
“Cough… cough cough…”
He coughed a few times.
Then—
“Yo… Your Highness…”
A hoarse voice sounded.
Lin Yanqu’s expression changed drastically as he stumbled backward.
It was over.
Everything was over!
Lin Mo’s tears fell uncontrollably.
He had thought he would never speak again.
He had thought the truth would rot with him forever.
“Th… thank you… thank you, Your Highness…”
He choked and tried to kneel.
Feng Zexuan supported him.
“Don’t kneel yet.”
“Tell me—did Lin Yanqu imprison you all these years?”
Lin Mo nodded.
“Yes… it was him…”
“Your Highness! Please listen to my explanation!”
Lin Yanqu panicked and crawled forward.
“This boy is not right in the head! He often speaks nonsense! Please don’t believe him…”
“Shut up.”
Feng Zexuan glanced at him coldly.
Lin Yanqu immediately fell silent.
“Continue,” she said to Lin Mo.
Lin Mo gritted his teeth and spoke word by word.
“The screen wall… was carved by me.”
“And all the wood carvings in the prince’s residence… were also my work.”
“In these eight years, I completed 137 pieces.”
“All of them were credited to him.”
Lin Yanqu’s face turned pale.
“You’re lying! You madman!”
“I kindly took you in, and now you frame me!”
【Host, Lin Mo has a habit since childhood—he leaves hidden marks on his works.】
【I’ve found them.】
“Let me ask you,”
Feng Zexuan interrupted coldly.
“The third feather of the phoenix’s tail—why does it have a tiny notch?”
Lin Yanqu froze.
“This… this was just a mistake while carving…”
“A mistake?”
She sneered.
“That notch is intentional—it conceals half of the character ‘Mo’.”
“If you truly carved it, how could you not know?”
Lin Mo looked up, eyes shining.
“You’re right, Your Highness!”
“I’ve always left hidden marks on my works since I was young.”
“Every single piece has one!”
Eunuch Laifu looked at Feng Zexuan with complete admiration.
Her observation skills were extraordinary!
He had looked for so long and noticed nothing!
“Lin Yanqu,” she stood up, looking down at him.
“Stealing fame, harming peers.”
“Killing Lin Qingshan, imprisoning Lin Mo for eight years.”
“Stealing others’ achievements and shamelessly boasting about them.”
She paused.
“Today, I will administer justice on behalf of heaven!”
Lin Yanqu collapsed in fear.
“Your Highness, spare me! I was wrong! I won’t dare again!”
“It was all a moment of confusion… please show mercy…”
Feng Zexuan didn’t bother listening.
She stepped on his right hand.
“This hand—how many works has it carved?”
Lin Yanqu’s face was pale.
“Your Highness…”
“None, right?”
She applied a little force.
Crack—
A sharp bone-breaking sound echoed.
“Aaaah—!”
Lin Yanqu screamed in agony.
“This hand would only continue deceiving others if kept.”
She withdrew her foot.
“I will abolish it on behalf of the world.”
She turned to Eunuch Laifu.
“Please report this to His Majesty.”
“Rest assured, Your Highness! I will report it immediately!”
“This Lin Yanqu is guilty of deceiving the emperor and deserves death!”
Lin Yanqu was dragged away by guards despite still begging for mercy.
Lin Mo sat on the ground, staring at her back as tears streamed down his face.
Eight years.
A full eight years of injustice had finally been cleared.
“Your Highness… I… I don’t know how to repay you…”
“No need to repay,”
Feng Zexuan waved her hand.
“Your craftsmanship should not be buried.”
She turned to Eunuch Laifu.
“Find Lin Mo a proper place to stay, clean and comfortable.”
“And call a physician to examine him properly.”
“Yes.”
Eunuch Laifu replied.
【Sigh, once I accumulate enough points, I’ll heal his legs too.】
【Such talent shouldn’t be wasted.】
【Ding! Congratulations, Host, on successfully consuming gossip energy!】
【Gossip Points +80,000!】
【Current Points: 135,000!】
Feng Zexuan’s eyes lit up.
【System, bring me more of these “good deed gossip” events!】
【Got it, Host!】
She turned and walked out.
Lin Mo looked at her back and silently swore—
He would never forget this kindness for the rest of his life.
After leaving the woodshed, Feng Zexuan dusted off her hands.
She opened the system interface and activated “Bond Telepathy,” calling her brother.
“Brother, are you done with work?”
Feng Zekai had already finished his tasks and was reading in his office.
Hearing his sister’s voice, he immediately put down the book.
“Yes, I’m done. What is it, Xuan’er?”
Her voice was bright with excitement.
“Nothing, just come over here!”
“Alright!”
Feng Zekai smiled.
“I’ll be right there.”
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