"Respected Grand Elders, why go through these hassles, when you can just ask Zhao Ping directly and get done with this trial."
Zhao Yao faced the Grand Elders and tried once more to get Zhao Ping subjected to truth ceremony even though he didn't expect any 'truth' from it.
"We told you already, as the son of the Clan Leader, Zhao Ping cannot be trialed unnecessarily. Only with proper evidence pointing towards his involvement can he be allowed to be trialed. We also cannot risk the truth ceremony to leave shackles in his future cultivation." One of the Grand Elder scolded.
"Your decision made my wagering of descendant status completely useless." Zhao Yao said as he shook his head.
"Isn't this a waste trial from the beginning?" Elder Zhao Yang insulted from the sides.
"I wasn't talking to you, and how dare you interrupt a conversation with Grand Elders." Zhao Yao yelled back even though he himself knew this was just a fake trial he made for his plan.
"You..."
Zhao Yao ignored him and continued his conversation with the elders. "Respected Grand Elders. Since you won't allow my wager request to subject Zhao Ping to truth ceremony, you should compensate me by allowing 3 truth ceremony requests."
"Three truth ceremony requests is a bit too much." It was Master Elder Zhao Huamin, who interrupted, this time.
"It's not. Are you saying Zhao Ping is not even worth three common people?" Zhao Yao questioned back before continuing. "It's actually lower than what I should get. I made the wager for Young Master Zhao Ping. Since you ruled him out, how can I get justice?"
Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao tapped his fingers while thinking. Then he nodded and replied.
"I think it's a reasonable request. You can request three truth ceremonies to prove Zhao Ping's involvement in this crime, or find the real culprit."
Zhao Yao bowed happily. Elders can subject anyone they decide to truth ceremony, but Zhao Yao couldn't do that. With three requests, he can ask the Elders for truth ceremony as long as he proved that they are linked to the crime.
"Hmmph."
With a humph, Master Elder Zhao Huamin turned to the witnesses.
"Who can explain where you got the Merp for the feast?" Elder Huamin asked the servants of the North Mansion.
The servants appeared visibly scared by the angry question, and many replied that they didn't know the answer.
"You all know that I will find out the truth. I will subject you to the truth ceremony, so you should admit the facts before that." Elder Zhao Huamin threatened.
Zhao Yao had an idea of what was coming up next, a scapegoat.
One of the servants, through threat or enticement, will take the bullet for his Master.
This way, uncle Zhao Guang can disprove Zhao Ping's involvement and save him.
"I won't ask again." Zhao Huamin continued his questioning. "Don't force me."
"I...I am sorry." This time, there was a reply. An old servant came forward and apologized. "It was me."
"You are? Explain." Elder Zhao Huamin ordered.
"I am North Manison's chef called Tishen. I found the Merp near the mansion. I thought it's one of the missing Merp that belonged to the Mansion, and I only had a short time to cook for the feast.
So, I decided to use that Merp in a hurry. I didn't realize it didn't belong to the Mansion. I am sorry." Chef Tishen's voice cracked due to fear as he talked.
Zhao Yao smirked inside. He knew very well this old servant, but it was someone he didn't expect to become the scapegoat for Zhao Ping.
Grandpa Tishen. That what he used to call him. He was a nice old man who cooks really delicious food in the Mansion and Zhao Yao grew up eating the food prepared by this man.
His uncle had many cronies who can perfectly lie and take the bullet.
But why this old man?
Zhao Yao soon realized that it was because he had a good relationship with this grandpa chef.
This was bait made for him.
His uncle, Zhao Guang, was asking him whether he wanted to continue this game. If he pushed forward to frame Zhao Ping, it will be this innocent old man who will become the scapegoat and get punished.
'Oh my bad uncle, when will you realize that I am not the Zhao Yao who cares about these small emotional blackmails. You made a mistake by throwing in this old man.'
Even though Zhao Yao didn't want innocents harmed in his pursuit of revenge, scapegoats like this grandpa Tishen cannot hold him back. In fact, this will only aid him.
He was a plot master who wants to see his plot succeed.
"Since we got a confession, is that enough for you, Zhao Yao?" Elder Zhao Jiang asked the typical question Zhao Yao expected.
"A confession? Haha. It just looks like a servant taking the blow for his Master." Zhao mocked.
"If you are not convinced, I will subject him to truth ceremony." Elder Zhao Huamin said with confidence.
"Do what you want, but don't count this truth ceremony on my tab. I don't need a truth ceremony to get the truth from this Grandpa." Zhao Yao wanted to make sure they don't waste his three chances with this.
"You can get the truth without the ceremony. Haha. You indeed are nuts, kid." Elder Huamin laughed as if he heard a joke.
"You will see."
"I really want to see." Elder Zhao Huamin accepted the challenge.
He then formally requested the Grand Elders and proceeded to subject Chef Tishen to the truth ceremony.
Grabbing the old chef's hands, Elder Zhao Huamin's soul sense visibly enveloped both of them.
The direct descendants and the talented cultivators of the Ancient Zhao clan practiced the Ancient Mystic Soul cultivation technique, which focused on Soul cultivation. This cultivation technique enabled the clan to follow the Soul cultivating path of Founder Ancestor Zhao Zhen.
The truth ceremony was one of the specialties of this cultivation technique. One of the powerful Clan Elders examines the subject's soul, and any lies they tell under examination will be revealed to the Elder.
The elders can force their soul sense to read the memories, but that will result in the destruction of the subject's mind. So the clan prohibited the soul search unless they are dealing with enemies or traitors.
According to the clan rules, when requested, the clan subject must willingly allow the Elder to examine the soul without resistance. Any form of resistance will be considered proof of guilt, and Elders can choose to conduct soul search, depending on the severity of the charge.
"Relax and answer my questions 'truthfully.'" Master Elder started the truth ceremony.
"Is it true that the Demon Beasts disappeared from the Mansion."
"Yes." Chef Tishen replied.
"He is telling the truth." Confirmed Elder Zhao Huamin. "Is it true that the Demon Beasts reappeared on its own?"
"Yes."
"He is telling the truth. Are you the one who killed Zhao Yao's Merp?"
"Yes."
"He is telling the truth. Did Young Master Zhao Ping order you to do it?"
"No."
"He is telling the truth. Explain in detail."
"Since the Mansion's Demon Beast disappeared, I killed the Merp found near the Mansion mistaking it as Mansion owned Merp." Chef Tishen explained, but the fear in his voice was evident.
"He is telling the truth." Elder Zhao Huamin said as he withdrew his Soul sense.
"Grand Elders, I believe the trial can end now. This truth ceremony and confession makes everything clear. It proves that Young Master Zhao Ping isn't involved and this was an accidental 'theft.'" Elder Zhao Huamin asserted his point to the Grand Elders.
Zhao Yao tried his best to hold his laughter.
'People, this is how one should make a sham.' What the Elder asked his questions very cleverly. He asked questions that will circumvent the actual event and convince Tishen as the guilty. Zhao Yao believes what Granpa Tishen answered in the truth ceremony was the truth but it was structured as a sham. A false made of incomplete truth.
"This wasn't as serious as what Zhao Yao claimed it to be. This was just an accidental mistake made by this servant of the North Mansion.
The Demon Beasts disappearing sounds abnormal, but it's not impossible. Young Master's mount Beasts are fierce and there is a chance that they scared away the beasts. The trained Demon Beasts must have returned back after calming down." Elder Zhao Huamin passionately explained his thoughts.
"That sounds reasonable." Some random elder commented.
'Freaking NPCs...Just keep quiet.' Zhao Yao cursed in his mind.
The crowd was also swayed by the truth ceremony results. The clan members heavily trusted the truth ceremony results.
"Hahaha," Zhao Yao loudly laughed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Are you an idiot or you pretend to be one?" Zhao Yao teased.
"How dare you?" It wasn't just Elder Zhao Huamin, almost all elders responded in anger to the disrespect.
Zhao Yao didn't care and continued.
"No wonder your subordinate Elder Zhao Jiang made a hasty idiotic decision. He must have learned it from you."
"Zhao Yao, stop insulting the Elders. You will have to explain your statement, or you will be punished." Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao warned.
"I will explain." Zhao Yao bowed to the Grand Elder and started explaining.
"Master Elder Zhao Huamin is making the same mistake knowingly or unknowingly his subordinate Elder Zhao Jiang made during my issue.
He is making a hasty decision."
"Why is that?" The Grand Elder asked.
"There are many loopholes he didn't consider before coming to this decision."
"Which are?"
"If the 'fierce' mounts scared away the Demon Beasts, the shed will be in ruins and the servants must have noticed or heard the ruckus.
Also as the counter attendant Zhao Hua testified, my Merp ate Subduing powder. As an experienced Chef, the fact that he didn't notice it is suspicious.
I kindly request Grand Elders to allow me to question Chef Tishen.
There are more reasons for my doubts, I will explain those with my questionings.
Even if I am wrong and Elder Zhao Huamin's assumptions are correct, there should be nothing wrong with me asking a couple of questions."
Zhao Yao explained some of the inconsistencies but left out the most important parts because it won't be fun to give everything out. He chose not to talk about the truth ceremony sham.
All he wanted now was to question Grandpa Tishen himself.
"We allow you to question Chef Tishen. If you can't prove anything, we will make a decision based on the confession." The Grand Elders allowed his request.
"Thank You Grand Elders." Zhao Yao bowed.
"What truth are you going to find without using the truth ceremony?" Elder Zhao Huamin mocked.
"I told you, I don't need truth ceremony to get the truth from people like him."
With a smile, Zhao Yao walked to the front of Granpa Tishen.
"Young Master Zhao Yao."
"Hi, Granpa Tishen, how are you doing?"
Chef Tishen just smiled at Zhao Yao's question.
"Let's play a game. Shall we?" Zhao Yao asked.
"A game? What do you think this is for you to play around?" Elder Zhao Huamin said angrily.
"Chill. Elder. Chill. Remember what you said. This will be my last day as a direct descendant, right? So I can have some fun, right?" Zhao Yao replied trying to calm the Elder.
"You..."
"Granpa Tishen, let's play.
I will ask you questions, and you have to say the answers fast."
Chef Tishen nodded.
'Master, this trick has a great chance of working. If you can slightly put him in a trance to let him lower his guard, then it will be great.' Zhao Yao requested to his Master in his mind.
Even though he didn't hear a reply, Zhao Yao started believing that his Master heard him.
"What's your name?" Zhao Yao asked.
"My name?... People call me..."
"Answer fast in one or two words." Zhao Yao corrected. "Again, what's your name."
"Zhao Tishen."
"What do you do?"
"I cook."
"Good, now faster. Where do you work?" Zhao Yao urged as he started asking questions much faster.
"North Mansion."
"What's your father's name?"
"Zhao Chuan."
"Do you have a grandson or granddaughter?"
"Granddaughter."
"Now let's go even faster. What's your favorite food to cook?"
"Rice with stew."
"What's your favorite spice?"
"Fennel."
"Who is the current leader of the Zhao clan?"
"Clan Leader Zhao Guang."
"Who is the current master of the North Mansion?"
"Young Master Zhao Ping."
"Who brought my Merp to you for the feast?"
"Zhao Bo."
"Haha. Gotcha." With a loud laugh, Zhao Yao turned to the Grand Elders and bowed. This was a simple technique to make someone subconsciously answer the truth and it somehow worked.
"Respected Elders, I believe you just heard what he said.
I request Zhao Bo to be subjected to truth ceremony in regards to his involvement with the theft and murder of Merp."
Master Elder Zhao Huamin stared at him with his eyes wide open while Granpa Tishen mumbled..'no..no.'
"This doesn't mean..."
Zhao Yao didn't let Elder Zhao Huamin finish his objection, and stated his points without hiding his mockery.
"I believe you Elder. I really do believe that Grandpa Tishen killed my Merp.
Because he is a CHEF.
He must kill the Demon Beasts and cook them as ordered by his master. He just admitted that it was Zhao Bo who brought the Merp to him to kill. What he said about getting the Merp himself is a lie to protect his Master.
This old man is just a knife used to kill my Merp. The one who controlled and ordered the kill still needed to be found.
Hehe...And Elder Zhao Huamin, I don't need the truth ceremony to get the truth."