The Grand Tutor was even secretly planning how to assist Feng Ninghe.
Upon seeing the Grand Tutor, Feng Ninghe said with a hint of apology, "I did not mention the Soul Summoning Candle to you for fear of eavesdroppers, lest any part of the plan go awry."
The Grand Tutor nodded profusely, understanding, "Your Majesty, no matter what you do, your humble servant can understand. It is only right for the ruler of a nation to be cautious and prudent."
"Eavesdroppers?"
Lin Yuran's brows furrowed. As if realizing something, she quickly turned her gaze to Ji Binyu, her expression visibly darkening. "Could it be that she already knows Xiao Ya has a problem?"
Ji Binyu shook his head, a hint of coldness appearing on his face. "Xiao Ya would never betray us and expose this matter."
Feng Ninghe turned her gaze to Lin Yuran, her eyes holding a trace of cold indifference.
Such a look made one's heart pound fiercely.
Lin Yuran bit her lip fiercely and, at this moment, had an epiphany. "Feng Ninghe already knows Xiao Ya has defected. She has been guarding against us from the very beginning."
"How could this be?"
Ji Binyu looked at everything before him in disbelief. "How could she know Xiao Ya has defected?"
Lin Yuran's eyes were heavy, her handsome face contorted in a ferocious expression. "If that were not the case, we would have known about the Soul Summoning Candle at the first opportunity."
Ji Binyu changed the subject. "The souls have been summoned. These commoners must now trust Feng Ninghe immensely. The situation is unfavorable to us, and it will not be easy for us to make a move."
Lin Yuran remained silent, her fierce eyes seeming capable of flaying a person alive.
The ministers in the court already trusted Feng Ninghe. Now that she had saved these young women, the ministers would support her even more.
The common people would also submit to her.
This matter had earned Feng Ninghe the hearts of the people.
"Long live Your Majesty!"
The Grand Tutor deliberately raised his voice, his gaze filled with admiration as he looked at Feng Ninghe. "I knew only Your Majesty was worthy of the position of Empress, capable of resolving these difficulties! The Imperial Seal only recognizes Your Majesty; she is the chosen Empress!"
With the Grand Tutor's cry, the other ministers quickly echoed, "It is our good fortune to have Your Majesty in Lin Country! Long live Your Majesty, forever and ever!"
The surrounding cheers rose, one after another.
The common people cheered.
After learning the full story, the young women quickly turned their gazes to Feng Ninghe. "Thank you, Empress, for saving me! Otherwise, I would be dead by now!"
"Yes, we never imagined such a thing would happen to us."
The relatives of the young women repeatedly expressed their thanks, looking at Feng Ninghe with deep gratitude.
Initially, these people had spoken ill of Feng Ninghe, and now they were deeply grateful to her.
The change in the common people's attitude did not alter Feng Ninghe's expression. She chuckled softly. "It is enough that you are safe."
She glanced around, her expression cool, and her clear female voice slowly declared, "I am the one chosen by the Imperial Seal, and the dragon throne recognizes me as its master. Who else does not recognize me as the Empress of Lin Country?"
Her voice echoed throughout the vast yamen.
By saving the young women, she had, in essence, shattered the rumors.
"We recognize you! Of course, we recognize you!"
A woman was the first to step forward, her face showing a hint of gratitude. "Empress saved my daughter. Only she is worthy of the position of Empress! I naturally recognize her!"
"I recognize her too!"
"Thank you, Empress, for saving my daughter. Otherwise, we would likely have lost our homes and families!"
The common people chattered amongst themselves, quickly voicing their agreement.
In their eyes, Feng Ninghe was a benefactor for saving lives, deserving of their gratitude.
Watching the excited crowd, Feng Ninghe spoke, "Souls do not leave the body without reason. Someone deliberately absorbed their souls, which is why these young women had no trace of a soul within them."
Before saving the young women, her words had not carried much credibility.
After waking the young women, these common people trusted her immensely, believing whatever she said.
Immediately, a woman asked, "Empress, how wicked it is to absorb souls! If the souls cannot be recovered, will my daughter remain in a coma forever? The mastermind must be brought to justice!"
"Yes, if they are not brought to justice, who can guarantee this person will not continue to do more outrageous things!"
Seeing the angry and excited crowd, Feng Ninghe spoke again, "Young ladies, do you remember what happened before you fell unconscious?"
This question made the young women fall into thought.
The young women quickly recounted what they had experienced before falling unconscious. "Before I fainted, I saw a dark shadow in my home, and then I fell unconscious and lost consciousness."
"I saw it too! I remember very clearly that a man knocked me out!"
"I even remember the man's face. If I see that man again, I will definitely recognize him!"
Having narrowly escaped death, the young women felt indignant.
Ji Binyu's eyes were dark as he glanced at the young women, his heart becoming restless. "They actually remember."
In the past, those whose souls were absorbed were certain to die.
It was only with Feng Ninghe's appearance that the stalemate was broken...
It was an accident that these young women had lived for so long. If he had known about the existence of the Soul Summoning Candle, he would have silenced them immediately.
Only if the young women died would the matter escalate further. Even if Feng Ninghe could save them, what then?
Lin Yuran stared at everything before her with a hint of apprehension.
Feng Ninghe opened her lips, her cool female voice slowly falling, "A Xing, bring the person here."
Receiving the order, Feng Xing dared not delay and quickly stepped forward.
"Bring someone?"
A hint of urgency appeared on Lin Yuran's alluring face. She instinctively looked up at Ji Binyu beside her. "Binyu, do we have any leverage in her hands?"
Ji Binyu fell into thought.
After thinking for a while, he found nothing and frankly shook his head. "We'll play it by ear. Let's see how things unfold first."
In just a moment, Feng Xing arrived, dragging a bound and gagged person.
The man wore a hood, obscuring his face.
Feng Ninghe glanced at the young women and her clear female voice slowly said, "See if the person you saw before falling unconscious is him."
She casually removed the hood.
Beneath the hood, a man's eyes widened in terror as he looked around, desperately shaking his head.
"Wu Dezheng?"
Upon seeing the man's face, Ji Binyu's brows furrowed instantly. "It's him! What's going on!"
Wu Dezheng was his subordinate. If he were exposed...
Thinking of this, Ji Binyu could not suppress his urgency and shot a cold glare at Wu Dezheng, his expression full of warning.
At this moment, Lin Yuran could no longer remain calm. Her body stumbled, and she involuntarily took a step back.
Fortunately, Ji Binyu was by her side and subtly supported her.
"What should we do?"
Lin Yuran was anxious, speaking in a volume only they could hear. "Binyu, if the truth is exposed, I won't be able to become Empress, and I won't even have a chance at the princess title!"
Wu Dezheng knew too much. Once the truth was revealed, neither Lin Yuran nor Ji Binyu would fare well.