Chapter 803: Eulogizing the Saint
The whole world knew that when the Prince of Zhongshan was expelled from the capital back then, he only survived the Holy Empress Dowager’s death sentence by eating feces and feigning madness. His temper was exceptionally violent, often killing people at the slightest disagreement. In the past, An Hua, no matter how serene her Dao heart, would inevitably feel some unease under the gaze of this mad prince, but now she did not.
Because she had felt, at the closest distance, the vastness of His Holiness the Pope’s heart, vast as a sea of stars, and his warmth, warm as sunlight.
His Holiness the Pope’s will was always with her, like holy light—how could she be afraid?
She looked calmly at the Prince of Zhongshan, clearly unwilling to change her statement.
“Since that person is still alive, why didn’t he come with you?” The Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review frowned slightly, looking at her. “The murder of a Divine General is a major case of the highest order. Not to mention that he is also a suspect, even if he is to testify, he should appear in court.”
When they had confirmed that the owner of the Cinnabar Pill was dead, what everyone wanted most was, of course, the pill’s formula.
But now that they had confirmed that person was not dead, then that person himself was naturally more important than the formula.
An Hua said, “Because of important matters, he could not come here. He specially wrote a letter describing the situation that night.”
Just as she was about to produce the letter, Divine General Cheng Tao’s extremely stern voice rang out from the hall: “How dare you! Trying to fool the esteemed officials with a mere letter! You must know this is a major case. His Highness the Prince is personally present as the imperial envoy. Who exactly is this person? Does he dare defy the imperial decree?”
An Hua’s expression did not change. She said calmly, “Even if His Highness the Prince actually produced an imperial decree right now, it would be meaningless.”
When she said this, her gaze fell upon the Prince of Zhongshan.
The entire hall erupted in uproar, followed by laughter.
Everyone took her words as a joke.
But the Prince of Zhongshan did not laugh, even though An Hua’s words were directed at him, even though he really did carry an imperial decree.
There was one other person who did not laugh: Tianhai Chengwen. The assassination plot on that snowy ridge that night was a scheme between the imperial palace in the capital and the Tang clan, targeting that young formation master. They were looking for and wanted to kill Chen Changsheng. This plot was extremely secret, unknown even to the Prince of Zhongshan and Tianhai Chengwen. But their status was extremely high, and they had vaguely sensed some information, only they had been unable to confirm it until today. Now, looking at An Hua’s calm expression, they couldn’t help but feel a strange stirring in their hearts, wondering if it could really be so.
The Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review looked at An Hua mockingly and said, “According to you, is that person His Holiness the Pope?”
“Correct.”
An Hua took out the letter and said to the important figures in the hall, “This is His Holiness the Pope’s personal letter. Which esteemed official would like to receive it?”
What? His Holiness the Pope’s personal letter?
That person is His Holiness the Pope?
The Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review thought he had misheard. It was a moment before he came to his senses, and then he nearly fainted.
The others were not much better. They sat in their chairs like statues, unable to move, unable to make a sound.
A moment ago, the hall was in an uproar; now, it was utterly silent. The space became extraordinarily quiet.
An immensely long silence was suffocating. People looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock.
No one knew how much time had passed before someone finally spoke.
Tianhai Chengwen’s voice was still as low as ever, but if one listened carefully, one could detect some subtle, elusive undertone.
“Are you saying that the Cinnabar Pill was refined by His Holiness the Pope?”
An Hua replied, “That is correct.”
Tianhai Chengwen asked no further questions, seemingly casually glancing at the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
These important figures were seasoned veterans of the treacherous seas of officialdom and the life-and-death struggles of the court, all of them cunning and calculating. They quickly recovered.
The Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review slapped the table, staring into An Hua’s eyes with a cold voice: “How absurd! His Holiness the Pope is the master of the Li Palace, bearing the hopes of countless believers of the state religion, benevolent and righteous beyond compare. If the Cinnabar Pill truly originated from His Holiness the Pope’s hands, His Holiness would have long ago handed the formula to the state religion or the court for mass production. How could he, as he has done, ignore the tragic deaths of so many soldiers on the front lines and only provide one bottle per month? This is nothing but a charlatan deceiving the world and stealing fame, a petty man holding a treasure to blackmail the court!”
Hearing these words, Divine General Cheng Tao, who had been alarmed by his earlier disrespectful remarks about His Holiness the Pope, felt much more at ease. The others felt the same.
The proceedings of the military court’s trial were continuously relayed to the crowd in the street. Upon hearing the news, the crowd immediately erupted in uproar, utterly shocked.
So the miraculous Cinnabar Pill was actually personally refined by His Holiness the Pope!
People surged towards the gate of the military court, clogging the street completely, shouting something.
But when the Chief Minister’s questioning was relayed from the court, the street suddenly fell silent.
The Chief Minister’s words were insidious.
If An Hua insisted that the Cinnabar Pill was personally refined by His Holiness the Pope, then how could she explain this problem? In the year or so since the Cinnabar Pill had appeared, many people—especially those who had no chance to obtain it and could only watch their comrades, companions, and loved ones die—had asked the same question.
Since the Cinnabar Pill could regenerate bones and revive the dead, why… why was that person unwilling to refine more of it?
Now, the long street was silent. Countless people looked towards the direction of the military court, also wanting an answer.
Benevolent His Holiness the Pope, how could you bear to watch so many people die?
“My thoughts were once the same as yours, esteemed official, and the people outside the court. I had many questions, even anger, about this issue.”
An Hua looked at the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and said, “But not anymore. Because I know that the Cinnabar Pill contains one medicinal ingredient that is extremely rare, which only His Holiness the Pope can provide. Therefore, whether the formula is given to the Li Palace or the court is meaningless. Moreover, this is the maximum amount that can be successfully refined each month.”
Hearing this, the Prince of Zhongshan’s eyes narrowed, a profound look in them. Tianhai Chengwen also remained silent.
But the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review didn’t think about it at all. He said with a sneer, “This official would really like to know what kind of medicinal ingredient in the world could be so rare. Is it not found in the Hundred Herbs Garden? Not in the Boiling Time Forest? So scarce, yet only His Holiness the Pope can find it?”
Logically, his words were flawless and could withstand any scrutiny.
However, he soon realized he had once again made an unforgivable mistake.
Because An Hua began her answer.
“Because that medicinal ingredient is His Holiness the Pope’s holy blood!”
A look of pride and glory appeared on her face. Her bright voice rang throughout the military court, inside and out, falling upon the ears of countless people.
“His Holiness, to save all living beings, does not hesitate to deplete his own lifespan, transforming his holy blood into medicine. This is the Cinnabar Pill!”
Whether inside the Songshan Military Court or on the street outside, countless gasps of shock and horrified whispers arose.
Then all sounds vanished.
On the street, in the military court, it was utterly silent.
For a long time, no one spoke.
An Hua’s gaze swept over the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the other important figures. She asked, “Now, esteemed officials, is there anything else you wish to ask?”
Still, no one spoke.
The Prince of Zhongshan and Tianhai Chengwen exchanged a glance, seeing the shock and wariness in each other’s eyes.