"Respected Grand Elders, I would like to use one of my truth ceremony requests to subject Zhao Bo to the truth ceremony. It is clear from Chef Tishen's reply that he is involved in this." Zhao Yao requested again.
"I object. The Chef must have made an error. There is no other evidence linking Zhao Bo to the theft." Elder Zhao Huamin recovered from his stupor and tried to hinder his request as expected.
"Why not? Whether it's a mistake or not, Chef Tishen admitted Zhao Bo's direct involvement, and I want to make use of my privileged Truth ceremony request on him.
What's there to fear, it's just a truth ceremony."
Zhao Yao persisted.
"Granted." Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao looked at Master Elder Zhao Huamin dubiously. "Subject Zhao Bo to truth ceremony."
"Guards, summon Zhao Bo for the truth ceremony." Elder Zhao Yang sent his guards to get Zhao Bo.
'What? Zhao Bo isn't here.' Zhao Yao found it weird. Even though Zhao Bo wasn't part of the North Mansion, due to his great asslicking relationship with Zhao Ping, he lived in the mansion and acted like a big shot.
"I can't believe the Grand Elders allowed that. What truth, you used trickery." Elder Zhao Huamin stood close to Zhao Yao and whispered.
"What trickery? It wasn't me who said Zhao Bo's name. During the truth ceremony, you asked Granpa Tishen who killed the beast, but you didn't ask who brought the Merp to him. Did you forgot that or you chose to ignore it?" Zhao Yao questioned back.
"Chef Tishen just answered wrongly when you asked questions that fast. Or he just misheard." Elder Zhao Huamin didn't lower his voice anymore and said aloud.
"Or, he didn't get a chance to lie, since I asked so fast."
Zhao Yao was a head shorter in height, and realms behind in cultivation, when compared to Master Elder Zhao Huamin, but he stood head to head in this play. He had no intention to lose.
"Other than that slip-up, you can't prove anything." Elder Zhao Huamin challenged.
"Haha. Elder why don't you learn. You lost whenever you challenged me." Zhao Yao smiled at the Elder like he was watching a child. Even though this man in front of him was older in age and stronger in cultivation, he was weaker to Zhao Yao in terms of wits and scheming.
"Don't assume I only have this trick up my sleeves. Since you asked for it, I will show you." After saying that, Zhao Yao turned to the North Mansion with a cruel smile.
"Ahh...Grandpa Tishen, where did we stop?"
Chef Tishen was still shivering in fear.
"The game is over, but since we have more time till Zhao Bo arrives, we can have some chitchat." Zhao Yao said.
"No, you can't." Elder Zhao Huamin objected as usual.
"What are you afraid of? Why are you objecting to everything I do?" Zhao Yao shook his head. This Elder was worried that he will make Chef Tishen reveal something else. "This is a trial, so I can ask some questions to get the truth."
"So Granpa Tishen, what did they offer you to take the blame?" Zhao Yao asked while staring at the old man's eyes.
"Nothing." Chef Tishen replied in fear.
"Since you admitted that you lied not because of an enticement, let me guess that they threatened with your granddaughter?"
"You..." Grandpa Tishen pointed at him with shivering fingers. "It was me. I did it. Zhao Bo had nothi..."
"Wait." Zhao Yao stopped him. "Think greatly before you lie anymore because lying in a trial will result in a punishment much, much worse.
Think. If you lie, I can find it, and I will prove it.
Since you killed my Merp and you didn't tell the truth, maybe your punishment can result in you losing your hands, and you may never cook again."
Grandpa Tishen looked at him, stunned.
"If you get punished and placed in prison, what will happen to your family, especially to your granddaughter?" Zhao Yao asked.
"I believe your grandaughter is not that bad looking.
Just imagine that Zhao Ping is in my place and didn't have the concern I have for you, and you chose to stand in his way of getting justice as you did now.
What do you think he will do? Do you think he will continue to stay not angry with you like me?
Since you admitted to killing his wife, he will make you compensate it from your own family?"
Since you will be locked up in prison, he will take good care of your granddaughter to compensate for his dead wife.
He will ravage her so hard that she wishes to die."
"No. Stop." Grandpa Tishen pleaded.
"Maybe he will sell her to a cheap brothel to get back all his expenses and losses."
"Young Master Zhao Yao, please stop."
"He won't show any Mercy to whoever stands his way. You are lucky that it was me.
You already ruined their plans by revealing Zhao Bo. They hate you now, look at that guard, he was ordered to kill you after this trial." Zhao Yao whispered while pointing toward a random guard with a fierce appearance.
Chef Tishen was covered in sweat, and he was breathing heavily.
"You already failed them. They won't consider you anymore regardless of whatever you do. But if you still want to lie and protect your Young Master, I will forget our past. I will act just like Zhao Ping. Your granddaughter...hehe." Zhao Yao whispered menacingly like a devil.
"Stop, I didn't do anything. I only cooked. I know nothing else. I know nothing. I just did what I was ordered."
Grandpa Tishen kneeled down and broke down with tears.
'Fufu...You could have said this in the beginning and avoided this trouble. Why do you have to be a scapegoat for someone else?'
Zhao Yao wanted to push onward, but the old man's genuine tears made him stop. He didn't want to hurt him anymore.
Zhao Yao got the answer he wanted, and also through menacing words, he dismantled Grandpa Tishen's courage to be the scapegoat.
'Master, can you do me a favor and see Grandpa Tishen's family is safe.' Zhao Yao requested in his mind. He knew that he had put this nice old man in trouble, but it was something he couldn't avoid. If his Master can save them, he was happy to see it.
In this game between him and the clan, there are bound to be pawns who will get destroyed.
Zhao Yao didn't hear any response, but he knew his Master was observing everything.
'I didn't plan for this. But since you all are so loyal and take the bullet, I will adapt my plans and give you what you asked.' Zhao Yao then turned to the other servants and shouted.
"You servants of the North Mansion, let me ask you something?
Your superiors and Young Master Zhao Ping knew nothing about the absurd Demon Beast disappearance?"
"No..." Some servants shook their heads.
"Wonderful, you INCOMPETENT TRAITORS, you all failed in your duties.
When something unusual happened in the Mansion, you all failing to notify your superior meant that you are all part of that unusual activity or you all are the reason for that unusual activity."
Zhao Yao pushed on.
The servants trembled from his words.
'I would make a darn good lawyer.' Zhao thought surprised by how well he talked in this trial so far. He knew the actual court proceedings are boring than what's seen in films, but it was a profession that made a ton of money. Zhao Yao didn't have the tuition to get into a college. Here in this cultivation world, he doesn't need a debt-ridden college degree to be a lawyer.
"You all are either traitors, or you are all liars.
Not only you failed your duties to protect the Demon Beasts, but you also hid this unusual thing from your higher-ups, which proves your insubordination to clan authority."
"No...no...it's not like that." One of the servants cried.
"It's not like that? Then that meant there was no unusual event, you all just lied about the event.
You are all part of a conspiracy to harm Young Master Zhao Ping because you hate him. You made this ingenious plan to make me and Zhao Ping fight each other by kidnapping my Merp and making Zhao Ping eat it."
"What nonsense are you speaking?" Elder Zhao Huamin couldn't tolerate what he was hearing.
Zhao Yao ignored the elder and continued.
"Reveal, who are the conspirators. Zhao Bo was your leader, right? Or, it was Zhao Wei?
You traitors led the North Mansion's Demon Beasts away and made a situation to use my Merp for the feast.
You traitors deserve death.
Reveal yourself."
"We didn't. We never betray."
"If you didn't betray, then why don't you tell the truth. Did any of you went looking for the missing beasts?"
"We did."
"Along with Zhao Bo?"
"Yes." Someone accidentally answered.
"How did Zhao Bo found my Merp while you all failed?
"We are not sure. Zhao Bo brought that Merp saying it's one of the missing Merp. We didn't know it was yours." A scared young servant blundered and said.
"So it was Zhao Bo. Then, how come Zhao Ping isn't aware of this? How did you make Zhao Ping eat the meat with subduing meat?" Zhao Yao diverted the questions he prepared for Zhao Ping to the servants. Since the Grand Elders won't let him touch Zhao Ping, he will adapt and ruin his loyal dogs.
"That's enough." A middle-aged man came forward along with a teenager. "They informed us, but we weren't in the Mansion at the time."
Zhao Yao recognized them, it was the Head Stewart of the North Mansion, Zhao Weishui, and his son Zhao Wei. He was waiting to see them talk, and his interrogation barrage had forced them to talk.
Zhao Yao's accusation had made the Elders as well as crowd stupefied. They started whispering among themselves.
Watching the loyal dogs of the Zhao Ping, who were ready to protect their Master, trembling in fear now, Zhao Yao felt great satisfaction.
'Who do you think you are playing with?' Zhao Yao smirked inside. He was a master plotter who can make weird accusations reasonable.
Since these servants want to cover for their Young Master, Zhao Yao decided to trap them with charges that will even result in their deaths.
'If you all want to take a bullet for your Master, then I will shower you with a Machine Gun and put a grenade on top.'