Lin Chong's Women's Cuju Team

Upon hearing Ning Weizhi's words, everyone below the steps paused in surprise. Emperor Huizong of Song quickly pressed on, "Lord Ning, how do you know this record is fake? Do you have any evidence?"

“I have no evidence, but I have a witness. This man once worked at the Imperial Observatory and was a disciple of Lord Mo. His name is Zhang Liang. Two years ago, he injured someone at the Mingfu Cave and was arrested and sentenced by Ning Zhanyan. Before entering the palace, I reviewed the personnel records of the Imperial Observatory and found that this man was the one who was responsible for calculating Consort Luo’s fate back then.” Ning Weizhi explained to Emperor Huizong in detail.

“Back then, Ning Zhanyan of the Ministry of Justice tortured Zhang Liang. Zhang Liang said that he had a powerful backer in the palace and was not afraid of Ning Zhanyan. So Ning Zhanyan interrogated him again, and Zhang Liang promised to change the fates of three of the most beautiful young ladies at the time after receiving money from a young lady. One of them was Consort Luo.”

Upon hearing Zhang Liang's name, Mo Miaoming recalled that this man had indeed been responsible for calculating Consort Luo's fate back then, but he had disappeared two years ago, apparently having committed a crime and been sentenced. Mo Miaoming felt that Ning Weizhi was not one to speak carelessly, so he said to him, "Lord Ning, may I summon Zhang Liang? He is indeed my apprentice and the one responsible for calculating Consort Luo's fate back then. I would like to inquire about his situation personally."

Upon hearing this, Ning Weizhi glanced at Emperor Huizong and Chen Jinhuan. Chen Jinhuan then said in a sweet voice, "Your Majesty, Zhang Liang has ruined me! If I had been able to enter the palace to accompany Your Majesty three years ago, perhaps even the prince would be walking by now."

Emperor Huizong gently stroked Chen Jinhuan's hair and said to her softly, "My goddess has suffered so much. I will definitely seek justice for you."

"Guards! Quickly summon the witness Zhang Liang to the palace!" Liu Guangyu shouted loudly towards the outside of the palace.

Wearing a prison uniform, Zhang Liang's hair was disheveled and his eyes were lifeless. Under repeated interrogation by Mo Miaoming and Ning Weizhi, he admitted to accepting bribes to change Consort Luo's fate back then.

However, just as Ning Weizhi was about to ask which noble person in the palace had bribed him, a voice cut him off, echoing in the hall: "Lord Ning, no matter who the real mastermind was who changed Consort Luo's fate back then, it cannot change Consort Luo's true fate. Master Mingfang also said that the Consort's first half of life was full of hardships, and now that the Consort is only nineteen years old, isn't she still destined to face the hardships of the first half of her life?"

Ning Weizhi turned and looked directly at the man who had just stopped her from interrogating Zhang Liang. It was Xiao Minghao. He knew this man was the Left Prime Minister's son-in-law, and the Consort Xian was now an important pawn in the Left Prime Minister's court, so Xiao Minghao would definitely try his best to protect her. Just now, the man surnamed Xiao had shifted the focus to Chen Jinhuan's early life, but he didn't seem to have any evidence to suggest that Chen Jinhuan's early life had no adverse impact on Emperor Huizong.

Ning Weizhi could only look to Master Mingfang and Shen Daoyuan for help. He knew Shen Daoyuan was full of tricks, quick-witted, and unpredictable. Sure enough, Shen Daoyuan also sensed the doubt in Xiao Minghao's words about Chen Jinhuan's early life, so he approached Emperor Huizong and boldly offered his suggestion:

"Your Majesty, I once discussed with Master Mingfang that a person's destiny can be changed after birth, and there have been many examples of people defying fate and changing their destiny."

Seeing Shen Daoyuan step forward to support Ning Weizhi, Xiao Minghao said sarcastically, "Defying fate? You're kidding! Do you think everyone has that kind of ability?"

Emperor Huizong felt that Xiao Minghao's words made sense, but he also wanted to help Chen Jinhuan change her fate. Even if it was just for show, he had to support Shen Daoyuan. So Emperor Huizong said meaningfully to Xiao Minghao and Shen Daoyuan, "I think that as the Son of Heaven, it shouldn't be a big deal for me to change the fate of my favorite concubines. I just wonder, between Master Mingfang and Director Mo of the Imperial Observatory, who has more ability to do this?"

Master Mingfang and Mo Miaoming looked at each other, thinking that this emperor was really willful. Did he think that just because he was the Son of Heaven, he could change other people's fates at will? "The Way follows nature" is the fundamental principle that Taoism has always adhered to, not to mention the Buddhist Heart Sutra's "form is emptiness, emptiness is form."

Seeing Master Mingfang looking troubled, and Mo Miaoming stroking his three-inch-long white beard, Emperor Huizong couldn't help but ask angrily, "Don't either of you know how to help my Consort Luo change her fate?"

Master Mingfang was about to explain that he did not have the method to change fate as Shen Daoyuan had mentioned, but Shen Daoyuan pulled him down by his clothes and stopped him with a look. Mo Miaoming coughed lightly, glanced at Master Mingfang, gave him a disdainful look, and then leisurely said to Emperor Huizong of Song, "I have a way to help Consort Luo change her fate, which is to find the long-lost 'Nine Heavens Star Picking Chart'."

"Oh? Minister Mo, you really have a solution? Then quickly order your disciple to present the drawing to me for my review." Emperor Huizong glanced at Mo Miaoming with an appreciative look and urged him anxiously.

Mo Miaoming looked embarrassed and bowed to Emperor Huizong, saying, "Your Majesty, I saw this diagram when I was browsing through books on destiny at the Imperial Observatory. It is said to be a constellation chart hand-drawn by a master astrologer during the Warring States period based on the alignment of the nine stars. It is said that one can change the destiny of mortals by arranging the stars according to this chart. However, I do not have the original diagram. I am afraid I will have to advertise throughout the world and offer a reward to any extraordinary person who possesses it."

"What? The 'Nine Heavens Star-Picking Map' that Minister Mo spoke of is just a legend? And you have to advertise it to the whole world and offer a reward for finding this treasure? This is outrageous! Are you just trying to deceive me out of greed? Do you believe I will punish you for deceiving the emperor?" Emperor Huizong of Song angrily scolded Mo Miaoming.

Master Mingfang remained silent, fearing that speaking out would implicate Mo Miaoming. After scolding Mo Miaoming, Emperor Huizong felt a headache coming on. Chen Jinhuan quickly stepped forward and handed him a cup of hot tea, saying gently, "Your Majesty, please don't be angry! This matter was all caused by me. I shouldn't have entered the palace. Please, Your Majesty, expel me from the palace. I don't want to cause trouble for Lord Mo and Master Mingfang."

"My beloved concubine is truly kind-hearted! How could I bear to abandon you? It's just a matter of spreading the word throughout the land and raising the search for this 'Nine Heavens Star-Picking Map' again. I refuse to believe that there won't be brave men under such a generous reward!" Emperor Huizong held Chen Jinhuan's soft hand with heartache, looking at her affectionately as he patiently comforted her.

Just as Emperor Huizong was about to ask Ning Weizhi to help draft the reward edict, Ning Weizhi remembered Zhang Liang, the witness he had brought with him. Ning Zhanyan had entrusted him with the task of having the witness identify Consort Xian, which was still unfinished. Therefore, Ning Weizhi stood in front of Mo Miaoming and the others, cupped his hands, and reported to Emperor Huizong:

“Your Majesty, I have not yet finished interrogating Zhang Liang, the criminal who altered Consort Luo’s fate. Please allow me to continue questioning him about who was behind it. This mere disciple of the Imperial Observatory could not possibly have the audacity to change the fate of a young lady. He must have been instructed by someone in the inner palace.”

Chen Jinhuan, of course, had to cooperate with Ning Weizhi's act. She quickly chimed in, "It seems that among all these officials here, Lord Ning is the most astute, knowing how to find the real culprit who wronged me back then. I hereby order you to have Lord Ning continue interrogating Zhang Liang."

"Very well! I will certainly stand up for you, my beloved concubine, and find out the real culprit behind this." Emperor Huizong said to Chen Jinhuan in a coaxing tone.

Soon, everyone in the hall turned their attention back to Zhang Liang, who was kneeling before the main hall. Zhang Liang felt the numerous gazes cutting into his face like sharp blades, and he trembled with fear. He unconsciously stole a glance at the senior advisor who had been standing silently in the corner of the hall, casting a pleading look at him.

Gao Can was summoned to the main hall today. He saw Xiao Minghao trying to use the past to suppress Chen Jinhuan, and he also saw Shen Daoyuan, Ning Weizhi and others speaking up for Chen Jinhuan. He originally wanted to be a bystander, after all, Chen Jinhuan was now nominally his sworn sister, and he had to avoid suspicion and could not speak well of Chen Jinhuan.

However, Gao Can never have imagined that Ning Weizhi would trace his investigation back to Zhang Liang. He was one of the officials in charge of selecting the imperial concubines back then, and he had turned a blind eye to Consort Xian bribing Zhang Liang. Later, Consort Xian pledged her allegiance to him, and he used her as a pawn in the palace, placing her beside Emperor Huizong. Therefore, he didn't want Consort Xian to be implicated in the past; he feared she would drag him down with her, leaving him unable to defend himself.