Chapter 2688: Chapter 2689: Caught Red-Handed

Heluo continued, "Not speaking out loud was to give her some face, but who knew she’d even use you. When she said there was a problem with the Fertility Tree, provoking Wen Xuan to cause trouble for the guests, do you really think it was an unintentional mistake?"

Xuan You looked at her brother in shock. She had always thought Tian Ning was gentle and easy to get along with, and she genuinely liked Tian Ning. Although Tian Ning was two years younger than her, she sincerely hoped Tian Ning would become her sister-in-law.

Could it be that she really was a poor judge of character?

"And at the banquet, when she toasted a child as an apology, you thought she didn’t have ulterior motives? And you foolishly stood up for her." Heluo became more and more angry as he spoke, truly hating iron for not becoming steel.

This time, Xuan You not only widened her eyes but also opened her mouth wide.

"Just because Tian Ning is scheming doesn’t mean Madam Bai is trustworthy." She retorted defiantly.

Heluo sighed again, "Go back and rest. Don’t get involved in this matter anymore. Go back and think carefully about how many times you’ve been used."

"Brother, are you hiding something from me? And what about the Golden Feather? Can’t you tell me?" Xuan You, pushed to the door by Heluo, still refused to give up.

"Go back and rest. These are not things you should be asking about." Heluo completely lost his temper.

Xuan You slunk back to her own room, sat down alone, and began to think deeply. It seemed that what her brother said might be true.

While she was thinking, there was a knock at the door.

"Xuan You, are you asleep?" It was Tian Ning’s voice.

Xuan You pursed her lips. Was she here to fish for information since she knew Xuan You went to find her brother?

Recalling her brother saying she was stupid, she gritted her teeth. She had to prove she wasn’t stupid, just unwilling to expend extra effort.

"Tian Ning, why aren’t you asleep yet?" She went and opened the door.

"I’m worried about the great elder’s condition and can’t sleep." Tian Ning sighed.

Xuan You invited her inside the room, "Don’t worry. The great elder will definitely wake up tomorrow. My brother just said so."

Tian Ning’s eyes flickered slightly, "That’s great. As long as the great elder is okay, didn’t they say there was no way to wake him up before?"

"The Jiuli people used some miraculous elixir. I don’t trust them, but my brother does. It’s said that the great elder even twitched his fingers after taking it." Xuan You started to make things up.

"Is it really reliable?" Tian Ning showed a concerned expression. In the past, Xuan You would have been swayed by her concern.

Xuan You thought for a moment and deliberately said with irritation, "I also think it’s unreliable. No, I still have to talk to my brother and have him keep an eye on those outsiders."

Tian Ning didn’t try to dissuade her, "Make sure you speak to the clan leader properly. Don’t let outsiders affect your relationship with your brother."

Xuan You frowned. If it were before, when her brother scolded her, she would have blamed the outsiders. But now, having been awakened by her brother, she realized that Tian Ning’s words contained hints of incitement.

"We should just expel them." With that, Xuan You stormed off, and Tian Ning followed, her expression unreadable.

Heluo didn’t expect Xuan You to come back again and was quite displeased until Xuan You recounted her conversation with Tian Ning, which made Heluo feel somewhat comforted.

"Tian Ning is the saintess of the clan and has never left the tribe. In theory, she has no reason to harm the great elder." Heluo was puzzled.

"Or perhaps she’s helping someone else cover up?" Xuan You suggested.

Heluo glanced at Xuan You, "Not so dumb after all."

"People are quite clever. They just don’t bother thinking too much." She suddenly lowered her head, "Brother, I’ll be more careful in the future and won’t let myself be used anymore."

Heluo felt quite comforted, "Xuan You, you’ve grown up. Father and mother would be pleased to see it."

Xuan You’s eyes turned red, "I’ve been grown up for a long time; I’m already twenty."

"It’s also time to marry. Ye Luo is not bad. You might want to consider him." Heluo said.

Xuan You blushed, "He’s pursuing Tian Ning and even gave her a Golden Feather. Brother, don’t bring this up again."

"Did Tian Ning tell you this?" Heluo raised an eyebrow.

Xuan You was startled for a moment and suddenly understood that things might not be as she previously thought.

After Xuan You left, Heluo immediately arranged some matters, and as dawn broke, they indeed caught a suspicious person.

This person had drugged the other two elders guarding the great elder with Sleeping Powder, and the two elders were fast asleep. Just as she was about to make her move, Heluo rushed in with his people and caught her red-handed.

Bai Ruozhu and the others received the news the next morning. She heard the bird people’s discussions outside and some of Tian Ning’s fans thinking it was all a misunderstanding, even claiming Tian Ning was trying to save the great elder.

She walked out of the room and said loudly, "If you’re saving someone, why can’t it be done publicly? Doing good deeds without leaving a name? Then was there a need to knock out the guards?"

The Golden Wings Clan discussing in the distance froze, surprised that Bai Ruozhu could hear them from so far away.

"You’re eavesdropping on us. How rude." A member of the Golden Wings Clan said.

Bai Ruozhu dug an ear, "If you’re afraid of being overheard, go somewhere far away. Chirping near me so early in the morning, I haven’t even complained about you disturbing my rest yet."

"You..." He wanted to say more but was pulled away by the others.

Fo Lanying came out with a self-satisfied expression, "I never liked that Bai Lianhe. Didn’t expect Heluo to be quite efficient; he really has some capability."

"Let’s go and watch the excitement," Bai Ruozhu said.

Gao Zhou and the Astrologer also left their rooms. Luan Xin said he was going to recite scriptures in the room and wouldn’t go.

The four of them quickly arrived at the place where the Golden Wings Clan held their meetings. Tian Ning was being held in the center, while Heluo and several elders were interrogating her with stern faces.

"It really wasn’t me. I noticed an anomaly in the Barrier and worried someone was trying to harm the great elder, so I rushed over. By the time I got there, Elder Five and the others were already unconscious. I just wanted to see if the great elder was okay," Tian Ning said, aggrieved. "Besides, I don’t know pharmacology. How could I have drugged Elder Five and the others?"

One of Tian Ning’s admirers spoke up, "Clan leader, you need to investigate clearly. Someone must be trying to harm the great elder, and Tian Ning sensed the danger and went over. Maybe she even saved the great elder."

Heluo said unceremoniously, "I’ve been guarding there with people the whole time. If someone had come earlier and drugged Elder Five and the others, we wouldn’t have seen it? Besides, we clearly saw Tian Ning use the Sleeping Powder, causing Elder Five and the others to faint."

Tian Ning’s face turned a shade paler. Seizing the moment, Heluo continued, "Tian Ning, you’re the saintess of the Golden Wings Clan. I don’t believe you’re a traitor. Now that it has come to this, just explain everything clearly."

"I..." Tian Ning bit her lip tightly, her expression extremely conflicted, "It really wasn’t me. I just sprinkled some mosquito repellent powder. If you don’t believe me, check carefully."