Chapter 65
Who do you want to believe in?
"Explain what happened a year and a half ago?"
"Isn't what happened a year and a half ago already very clear? What else needs to be clarified?"
"Seventh Master, what do you mean by this?"
Everyone present raised questions and looked at the white-haired old man in the main seat.
The white-haired old man was named Ning Qi. He was already a hundred years old, making him the oldest person in the sect, and he also had enough prestige.
It happened a year and a half ago. He was in seclusion and didn't participate, which led to their mistaken breakup. Now that he's come out of seclusion and heard about it, he naturally wants to settle old scores.
Ning Shu stood beside Ning Qi, while the Third Elder, Yu Shui, sat at the same level as Ning Qi, his expression very serious.
Yu Shui has a rather delicate appearance and looks rather thin. He is an outsider who married into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and is also Ning Li's husband.
Although Ning Li's surname is Ning, she belongs to a collateral branch, not the main branch.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing did not go into the main hall to sit. This matter had nothing to do with them, and it would not be appropriate for them to appear in the main hall. Ning Qi arranged for them to listen in behind the screen.
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, each speaking with absolute certainty, their hatred for Ning Shu undiminished.
"What happened a year and a half ago is already very clear. What else needs to be clarified? Do you expect Ning Shu to explain in detail how she murdered my grandson?!"
"Exactly! She's been expelled from the sect and forbidden from entering here again, so why was she let in!"
"Seventh Master, please give us an explanation!"
"Exactly! Give us an explanation!"
"..."
Ning Li sat below, and seeing that everyone was still the same as before, she felt relieved.
Although it's unclear why everyone was gathered together this time, as long as she's there, Ning Shu won't be able to easily return to the sect through others.
Ning Shu can only ever walk this one path!
"Shut up, all of you! What's all this noise about!" Ning Qi frowned and stopped them. "What do you know? It happened a year and a half ago. You say Shu'er killed your grandchildren, then show me some real evidence. You can't even produce a single piece of evidence. How dare you say that?"
"Evidence? Evidence is simply eyewitness testimony, that's real, eyewitness testimony!"
Someone spoke up confidently.
"Oh? Someone saw it with their own eyes? Who saw it with their own eyes?" Ning Qi asked back.
He hadn't seen any so-called witnesses. This matter was already full of doubts, and the fact that Ning Fengzhi hadn't killed Ning Shu clearly meant he was innocent. These people were all blind; they couldn't even see this simple thing.
"Witnesses, witnesses..."
Everyone exchanged glances, but finally their gazes fell on Ning Li.
Ning Li, seeing everyone staring at her, was also confused. "Why are you looking at me? I'm not a witness!"
One of them said, "Yes, aren't you a witness? But weren't the witnesses you found in the first place? You betrayed your own family for the greater good, and we all remember that very clearly!"
"Exactly! You're the one who found the witness. If it weren't for you, how could we be so sure? It was that witness who personally identified Ning Shu that we confirmed it was her. Now where's the witness? Call that witness out!"
Witnesses...
Ning Li frowned. "That person has already left the sect. I don't know where she went. It's no use asking me about this."
I wonder where they went?
The group looked at each other in bewilderment. The only witness was gone?
The old story was brought up again, but the only witness was gone?
Are you kidding me!
Even so, they persisted, "Regardless of whether there are witnesses or not, this matter is already settled. Seventh Master, besides you, the elders and the sect leader were all present, and the Third Elder was also there. Just ask him directly."
Yu Shui is Ning Shu's father. Ning Qi doesn't believe what others say, but she should believe what he says, right?
Ning Qi looked at Yu Shui, who nodded and said, "There was indeed a witness at the time, but I don't think that witness is very credible."
Unreliable?
Ning Li frowned. "How can it not be believed? They are witnesses."
"Evidence can be bought, can't it?" Yu Shui retorted.
He mentioned this possibility at the time, but none of them believed him. He was a nobody and his words carried no weight, so he could only let them talk and let them drive Ning Shu out.
Now that everyone has calmed down, it's time to have a proper discussion.
Ning Qi glanced at Yu Shui, then turned to the others seated below. "It's not my intention to bring up this old matter again, but the decision was made too hastily back then. Only a year and a half has passed, and the so-called witnesses are gone. Haven't you considered the possibility Yu Shui mentioned?"
"This, this..."
Some people had already wavered, but a few remained defiant, saying, "This is a matter of life and death; how could we possibly talk nonsense?"
"Exactly, how could I possibly be talking nonsense?"
"How could it not be nonsense?" Yu Shui retorted.
"In just a year and a half, such an important witness has disappeared. Isn't that suspicious?"
When Yu Shui's gaze fell on Ning Li, Ning Li felt a little uncomfortable. She subconsciously avoided Yu Shui's eyes, and her heart began to race with nervousness.
Yu Shui, what exactly do you want to do?
Not only Yu Shui, but Ning Qi and the others also looked at Ning Li.
One of them said, "Yu Shui, that witness was found by Ning Li. Are you trying to slap yourself in the face?"
Yu Shui looked at him and said calmly, "It wasn't something I said, nor did I admit to, so how can it be considered that I'm contradicting myself?"
"..."
Everyone was gagged.
Indeed, Ning Li and Yu Shui didn't have much affection for each other to begin with. In addition, a year and a half ago, Ning Li betrayed her own family and expelled Ning Shu from the sect, which made their relationship increasingly strained.
Now that Ning Qi has suddenly brought up the old matter again, and Yu Shui is on Ning Shu's side, what she says now is naturally in Ning Shu's favor.
Feeling resentful at being humiliated in front of so many people, Ning Li asked, "Yu Shui, are you implying that I wronged your good daughter?"
"I didn't say that," Yu Shui said. "Whether Shu'er has been wronged or not, you know in your heart. Do I really need to say more?"
The implication was that Ning Li knew exactly what had happened.
After Yu Shui finished speaking, Ning Qi pressed her advantage, questioning, "Ning Li, do you dare say that witness wasn't someone you hired to deliberately frame Shu'er?"
"Of course not!" Ning Li quickly stood up. "How could I possibly deliberately hire someone to slander Shu'er!"
"How is it impossible?" Ning Qi retorted. "Everyone knows the rift between you and Shu'er. What's impossible about you doing this? If you say it's impossible, who will believe you? You found the witnesses, didn't you? You were the one who said this was inextricably linked to Shu'er, the only living person in the story, weren't you? Now you say you couldn't have deliberately slandered Shu'er. Who do you expect to believe you? Do you expect the disciples who have already died to believe you?"