The White Tiger Clan’s Baby Cotton Ball - Chapter 143

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 143

Soya appeared in perfectly healthy condition.

‘How is this possible?’

Lili bit down hard on her lower lip and stared at Soya with anxious eyes.

That child shouldn’t have appeared looking so healthy.

[I’ve obtained what you requested, Miss Lili. If this poisonous herb powder is inhaled, it will drain strength from the limbs, making it impossible to rise from bed, and then gradually lead to death over a long period as if suffering from a serious illness. The moment it’s absorbed into the body, it will leave no trace, so don’t worry.]

Because she had fed that child the poisonous herb powder she had obtained by bribing one of the servants.

But at that moment, Soya also looked in this direction.

The two children’s gazes met in midair.

At that direct stare, Lili involuntarily flinched and quickly averted her gaze.

‘Why is she looking at me like that? She couldn’t possibly know something and be staring at me like that, could she?’

She somehow felt anxious.

‘No, it’s fine. What could that little thing possibly know or do about it? Besides, they definitely said so. That it was a poisonous herb that would leave absolutely no trace.’

The head of the White Tiger Family, who had entered holding Soya’s hand, didn’t take his seat and instead proceeded directly toward the altar.

Saeon passed the two Imperial Dragon statues facing each other with the child and climbed onto the altar, reaching the Emperor’s presence where he knelt and prostrated himself.

“Your Majesty.”

“What is the matter, Saeon.”

Irim asked in a curious voice.

“Saeon, master of the Baek family that governs the Western Region, dares to make a report before the almighty Imperial Dragon.”

“Speak.”

“A young lady of the Vermillion Bird Family attempted to harm my daughter.”

Lili’s body froze solid at being suddenly pointed out.

“What are you talking about, Baek Saeon!”

Jeok Ayun, who had been beside her, shot up and shouted.

However, Saeon didn’t spare Ayun a single glance and spoke while looking only at the Emperor.

“I present evidence of this, so please judge that crime with perfect clarity.”

At Saeon’s signal, Jeok Yeong came forward carrying a jar.

‘What is that…?’

Lili squinted as she stared at it, when suddenly Jeok Ayun stepped forward with veins bulging in his neck.

“Your Majesty, how can you listen to such foolish nonsense that seeks to humiliate my daughter before so many people! Please… reconsider.”

However, contrary to his loud shouting, his voice was trembling as if he had intuited something.

“I swear upon the name of the White Tiger Mountain Lord, guardian of the Western Region, Your Majesty. If there is even the slightest falsehood in what I have reported, I will return my position as Family Head and accept punishment on this very spot.”

“Saeon, show the evidence.”

Irim nodded lightly and commanded.

What Jeok Yeong brought out was an illusion jar used to control phantom beasts during the annual summer Mountain Lord Festival at Horim Mountain.

The phantom beasts had two purposes.

One was to serve as safe prey for young beastmen.

Thus, phantom beasts scatter into pure white light the moment their vital points are struck.

And the other purpose was to record what they witnessed and reproduce it exactly as illusions to show people.

This was originally meant to determine the winner of the Mountain Lord Festival.

Soya thought this phantom beast’s recording could show her how Lili treated people.

She told Saeon her idea, and Saeon commanded Jeok Yeong at White Tiger Palace to bring the jar.

Then he created a phantom beast modeled after Soya.

As long as its vital points weren’t struck, there would be no risk of discovery.

They laid the phantom beast imitating Soya on the bed, deliberately darkened the room, then welcomed Lili.

But she never expected Lili, left alone in the room, to so blatantly try to harm her.

She had known of Lili’s hostility toward her since that day when she pushed her back toward the pond, but she thought she would at least pretend to provide treatment…

The illusion faithfully reproduced Lili’s evil act of feeding poisonous herb powder to the sick baby bird before everyone’s eyes.

“The young lady of the Vermillion Bird Family attempted to poison my daughter. This is a clear crime and an unforgivable grave sin.”

“Th-there’s no proof that was poison…”

“The evidence is here as well.”

At that moment, Sanyu, who had been silent the entire time, stepped forward before the Emperor and produced something.

“This is poisonous herb powder found in Lili’s room.”

“Elder Brother!”

“Sanyu!”

“Brother!”

The Vermillion Bird Family members each turned pale and called out to Sanyu.

However, he continued his accusation while looking at the Emperor with a calm expression.

“Investigation of the components has already been completed. The route by which the poisonous herb powder was brought in has also been confirmed.”

Sighs echoed from here and there.

“I-I’m innocent!”

Even though her crimes had already been completely exposed, Lili stubbornly insisted she was innocent.

“The illusion shown by the White Tiger Family could have been fabricated!”

“That jar was a gift from the founding Emperor to the White Tiger Family.”

Irim quietly interrupted her words and murmured.

“There is no fabrication. The illusion’s record is truth.”

Silence fell for a moment.

Since Imperial Dragons cannot speak falsehoods, the words that come from an Imperial Dragon’s mouth are always absolute.

That’s why another name for Imperial Dragons is ‘Judge of the Earth.’

“I apologize, Your Majesty…!”

Jeok Ayun, grasping the situation, banged his head on the floor and apologized.

“My daughter is still young and foolish, and has committed a grave sin.”

“Father!”

Lili, who had been trying to deny everything until the end, screamed when her father apologized on her behalf.

“I-I really don’t know! I don’t know anything about this! I didn’t do it! Th-that wasn’t me, it was…”

As Lili desperately shook her eyes while protesting, Hwayu suddenly came into her view.

Her second elder brother who would do anything for her, who would even pretend to die at her request.

“That’s right, Hwayu! Hwayu gave it to me. I didn’t even know that powder was poison!”

At Lili’s desperate cry, Hwayu hesitated for a moment, then readily agreed.

“…That’s correct. Actually, it was me, I planned it all.”

Even though all the blame was suddenly shifted onto him, Hwayu answered without panic.

“I hated that girl from the White Tiger Family so terribly that I wanted to kill her. Since Lili happened to be going to see that girl, I told Lili to feed her that powder.”

His expression when referring to Soya also showed not a moment’s hesitation.

“Lili used it without even knowing it was poison. So please forgive my sister Lili. Punish me instead.”

Hwayu appealed to the Emperor in a desperate voice.

Just as Lili was about to feel relieved by those words.

“Are you now insulting the Imperial Dragon with such base lies?”

A voice tinged with slight anger flew toward them.

Flinch.

It was a voice so chilling that not only Hwayu and Lili, but everyone gathered here trembled for a moment.

“…Your Majesty. I would like to use the immunity privilege that the previous Emperor granted to the heads of the four great families long ago. Please show mercy to Lili, to my daughter, just this once.”

Jeok Ayun defended Lili and begged for leniency.

“What remarkable paternal love indeed.”

The corners of Irim’s mouth curved up crookedly.

“But the victim of this incident is the daughter of the Baek family, so it wouldn’t make sense for me to forgive you all on that child’s behalf.”

Flinch.

Jeok Ayun raised his trembling gaze to look at Soya.

His eyes met with Soya, who had been standing silently beside Saeon until then.

“What do you think, Soya?”

Irim asked for Soya’s opinion.

“Soya…”

Jeok Ayun closed his eyes tightly and pleaded with Soya.

“I know it’s shameless, but I beg you. Please forgive my daughter just this once.”

“How dare you…”

Saeon, enraged by this, couldn’t contain his anger and ground his teeth.

He looked ready to rush at the man who was making such a shameless request to his daughter.

However, Soya firmly grasped Saeon’s sleeve and stopped him.

Then she looked at Jeok Ayun with a calm expression and asked.

“Do you understand what you’re asking of me right now?”

“Lili…”

Jeok Ayun felt his throat tighten painfully with each syllable he uttered.

“Please, please forgive Lili.”

He too knew what an absurd request he was making to Soya.

Lili had tried to kill Soya.

It was the truth testified by the White Tiger Family’s illusion and confirmed by the Imperial Dragon.

His daughter, Lili, had committed such a terrible act.

And here he was, asking Soya—the child who had nearly died at Lili’s hands—to forgive his daughter.

How shameless a request this was.

“Lili tried to kill me. If what had been there wasn’t an illusion beast but really me, I would have truly died.”

“…”

“And yet you’re protecting Lili in front of me?”

“I’m sorry…”

“Are you confident you won’t regret making this request?”

“Lili is… my everything.”

She was everything his wife had left behind in exchange for her life.

She was the child he had to protect even if it meant risking everything he had left.

After meeting Soya, he had been momentarily confused and lost his center, wavering and making Lili anxious.

He had even gone so far as to suspect the child because she didn’t resemble him and his wife.

The child was already anxious due to childhood events, so how much must his attitude have tormented her to drive her to commit such a terrible act?

So this was all his fault.

“In the end, you consistently choose Lili in all those countless moments.”

“…”

“Not even for a single moment was I among your choices.”

“I’m truly… sorry…”

Jeok Ayun couldn’t bring himself to lift his head and look at Soya.

To him, who answered in a subdued voice while only staring at the floor, Soya spoke in a cold voice.

“Fine. I’ll forgive her.”

“…!”

Jeok Ayun’s face instantly brightened.

“However, you must bring that child and come apologize to me in person.”

“Why should I…!”

Lili protested with a humiliated expression.

“Lili. It’s alright. Let’s go together with Father.”

However, Jeok Ayun gently clasped Lili’s hand and spoke in a tender voice.

Lili really didn’t want to apologize.

But to resolve this situation, apologizing to Soya was the only way.

Jeok Ayun firmly held Lili’s hand and headed toward Soya, who stood on the altar.

Just as they passed between the two facing Imperial Dragon statues and took a step up onto the altar.

Suddenly, the air around them wavered strangely.

The murmuring sounds of people could be heard.

Jeok Ayun casually turned his head, then froze in place with shock.

“Father? What’s wrong?”

“…”

Lili looked at him with a puzzled expression, not understanding, but Jeok Ayun couldn’t give any answer.

Lili’s red hair and eyes…

“Why…”

…had transformed into a murky gray.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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