The myth begins with the Lotus Lantern

Chapter 188 Passing
It is knowing that you are wrong, not knowing that you are guilty.

“Since there is a mistake, it must be punished. Let’s make a note of it for now, and deal with it all at once when things have settled down,” said the Ziwei Emperor.

"Then Jing'er said they were ambushed, how do you explain that!"

Jing'er is the Fifth Fairy.

The eldest princess's eyes fell on Taurus Star Lord, wishing she could tear him to pieces. She glanced at the cloud platform, but there was no sound. She could only feel helpless and unwilling.

“I do know a little about this matter. That mountain was originally occupied by one of my bloodline descendants, who acted recklessly in my name. He found a Bewitching Heart Grass from somewhere and planted it there. My granddaughters’ feelings were indeed correct, but it was just a coincidence. My bloodline descendant also died just now, with only a trace of his true spirit returning to the underworld,” said Taurus Star Lord.

Memories reside within the soul; if only a trace of true spirit remains, then the dead have no way to verify them.

"You've managed to clean yourself up so easily!" the eldest princess said angrily.

"That's just the way it is." Taurus Star Lord said without changing his expression.

"Xiao Wu, continue," the Queen Mother interrupted the argument.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The Fifth Fairy continued, “A day in heaven is a year on earth. We waited in heaven for several days. Before descending to earth this time, we realized something was wrong. I wanted to find Xiao Qi as soon as possible, but I descended to earth secretly without anyone to guide me. I thought the landing point should be near the last time, but who would have thought it would be completely opposite.”

"I had no choice but to search for her in the mortal realm. My magical powers were weak, and I couldn't travel very fast. By the time I finally found Seventh Sister, she had already... had already..."

The five fairies glared fiercely at the Cowherd, who remained silent as a chicken, his head bowed, his face displaying a complex expression of bewilderment and guilt, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

"Xiao Qi has given birth to twins!"

The Fifth Fairy said through gritted teeth, then turned her head to look at the Golden Bull Star Lord with hatred.

"You said all the previous events were coincidences, but when I was about to bring Xiao Qi back, did you descend to the mortal realm to stop me? You not only took away my magic weapon, but also destroyed my feather robe, severely injured me, and prevented me from returning to heaven. If it wasn't premeditated, how could it be such a coincidence? As for Seventh Sister, how much suffering has she endured over the years!"

"The Cowherd was my benefactor in a past life. As for him and... I only learned about it afterward. Although my granddaughter doesn't believe it, it is indeed the truth. As for what my granddaughter said about harming the bloodline of the Heavenly Family, I have already accepted it. As for the claim of premeditation, that is out of the question," said the Golden Bull Star Lord, his expression unchanged. "As for the love between immortals and mortals, the Heavenly Court has always been able to suppress it. What my granddaughter said earlier makes some sense, but the parties involved did not speak, and my granddaughter witnessed it herself. I'm afraid there is much speculation involved."

"You... how vicious! You want my seventh sister to say it herself?" the Fifth Fairy said through gritted teeth.

"Reason cannot be clarified without debate. The facts can only be better explained by confrontation in court," said Taurus Star Lord.

“The Cowherd confesses. He was momentarily infatuated and had inappropriate thoughts, blaspheming the goddess. He is willing to accept punishment. My wife… how can she say such things? If you want to resolve this matter satisfactorily, just punish the Cowherd. I have already died once, and I can accept whatever the outcome. Don't reopen my wife's wounds.” The Cowherd suddenly spoke, his expression of deep affection nauseating. But it must be said that such words and actions would easily lead to prejudice if seen by someone unaware of the truth. “Who is your wife!” the eldest princess shouted angrily, glancing at the Weaver Girl. The latter's expression remained calm, but her face involuntarily paled. Her heart ached, and she swallowed the words that were already on the tip of her tongue. She said to the Queen Mother, “Your Majesty, this scoundrel has already confessed to blaspheming the goddess and defiling the bloodline of the Heavenly Family. He deserves to be annihilated, body and soul. He also said that he can accept any punishment, so there is no need to ask Xiao Qi anymore.”

"..."

He stood on the platform for a moment in silence.

“What a fine argument! The truth will only become clear through debate,” the Weaver Girl suddenly spoke up. She looked at the Cowherd and said, “Those things you did are wounds that I can never get over.” The color drained from the Weaver Girl’s face. “You were the one who committed the violence, and I, the one who was hurt, am the one who has to keep quiet. What kind of logic is that? You have the malice to commit violence, and I have the courage to expose you.”

"Little Seven, it doesn't have to be this way," the Fifth Fairy advised.

"Fifth Sister, it's nothing. My life is already ruined anyway," the Weaver Girl simply nodded to the Fifth Fairy, her eyes unwavering. Suddenly, she lowered her head deeply and kowtowed, not for any other reason than to prevent others from seeing the expression on her face.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Fifth Sister mentioned earlier that we scattered and returned to Heaven, which is indeed true. Only I was not, because my feather robe was stolen. I searched everywhere along the riverbank but couldn't find it. Just as I was anxiously wondering what to do, a demonic wind suddenly swept by, disintegrating the magic power within me inch by inch. I was bathing earlier, and the clothes I wore were magical illusions. Without the magic power, naturally..."

"That demonic wind not only dissipated my magic power, but it was also like a bewitching incense. My physical body was subdued in an instant. Although I couldn't move or speak, I could still feel it. And in the last moment before I closed my eyes, I saw a mortal emerge from behind a tree..."

"Thus, I was trapped in the mortal world. He placed me in a village and told everyone that I was a noblewoman who had escaped from the city and that he had taken me in as his wife. Not long after that, I found out that I was pregnant. He began to pretend to be a respectful and courteous person, but after that day, how could I still believe him? Not long after, my first child was born, a boy."

"He continued to pretend, but one day, when the child was two years old, he seemed to be provoked by something and... I lost all my magical powers and became powerless, just like an ordinary woman in the mortal world. So, not long after, I gave birth to another daughter..."

The Weaver Girl's voice was completely flat, as if she were telling someone else's story. But to the eldest princess and the fifth fairy, every word she uttered was like a cuckoo crying blood, as if they were being skinned alive with a knife.

These things, these experiences, of course cannot be reflected in the Mirror of Time; just hearing about them is enough to send chills down one's spine.

Compared to live broadcasts, verbal explanations, while also uncomfortable, offer some degree of veiled embellishment and prevent the situation from becoming too unsightly.

"All right."

Emperor Ziwei interrupted. He had only made a slight deduction and clarified the cause and effect, but had not delved into it. The details of the experience were often more moving than the event itself. If he had not heard it with his own ears, this matter would have been just a tool for testing him.

On the ground, the Cowherd felt a chill in his heart, as if he were losing something of utmost importance.

(End of this chapter)