Неr еуеlashes flutterеd. Fеng Yue wantеd to withdraw hеr hаnd, but hеr wrist wаs саught. Unable tо help herself, she turned hеr hеad аnd criеd оut, "Маdam Qiu, sаvе mе!"
Маdam Qiu, whо had been stаnding аt the dоor staring blanklу in the direсtion Yin Gezhi hаd lеft, snарреd bаck to hеr sеnses аnd hurriеd оver tо prу Fеng Ming's hand аwаy. "Тhe young mаster's health is аlrеаdy рoor. Why аrе уou using sо muсh fоrсе?"
Fеng Ming hаstilу relеasеd his grip, frowning аs he lооkеd at Fеng Yuе, whо shоwed no intentiоn of speaking. Aftеr a moment's thоught, he said, "Мadаm Qiu, сomе with me to pay respects to General Yin."
"Hmm?" Madam Qiu was taken aback, then remembered that Yin Yanzhong had once been Feng Ming's teacher. Finding it reasonable, she nodded, instructed Feng Yue to continue writing, and led him out.
As soon as they stepped outside, Feng Ming asked her, "How did her iron-like body end up like this?"
Madam Qiu was stunned. She pursed her lips and lowered her gaze. "None of us know exactly what happened. We only know that after the young master was released from prison, her tendons were severed. When asked, she never spoke of it."
Her tendons were severed?! Feng Ming gasped sharply, ignoring everything else. He turned and rushed back to Feng Yue, his eyes filled with shock. Wanting to reach out but afraid of hurting her, he stood beside her and asked, "Your hand?"
Rubbing her temples, Feng Yue sighed. "I'm fine. Please don't act as if you pity me. It's been so long already. Your reaction makes me uncomfortable, unable to find my place. Do you understand?"
Over a decade of martial arts training, gone just like that. How could she not feel heartache or resentment? But she had already buried this wound carefully with soil. Why dig it up with that look in your eyes, making her remember it all over again? Learn from Yin Gezhi—indifference has its benefits. He never brings up these matters, making everything so much simpler.
Swallowing a breath of air, his throat aching all the way to his heart, Feng Ming fell silent. He wiped his face, gritted his teeth, and said, "Fine, I won't mention it. Tell me who did it, and I'll kill them!"
Who did it? Feng Yue chuckled, glancing sideways at him with shimmering eyes. "There's more than one person, and they're not someone you can just kill unless you're willing to sacrifice the entire Marquis of State Pacification's Mansion to accompany you to the grave!"
A chill ran down Feng Ming's spine, and he calmed down. But seeing her like this, he truly felt miserable. After a moment's thought, he directly took the brush and ink from in front of her, pulled out a roll of blank paper, and began drafting a memorial.
Since he couldn't kill those who had harmed her, he would help her do what she wanted to do!
Thus, the first memorial Emperor received, kicking someone while they were down, came from Feng Ming. The memorial was filled with impassioned language, pointing out that Zhao Xu had been seizing young women from the common people under the pretense of presenting them to the Emperor, yet not a single one had been sent to the palace. His actions were truly despicable and tarnished the Emperor's reputation.
With such a beginning, memorials from other officials in the court followed one after another, uncovering many of Zhao Xu's misdeeds—deceiving superiors and subordinates, forming factions, and attempting to seize control of military power.
These officials knew how to write memorials, targeting the Emperor's sore spots and making it impossible for him to forgive Zhao Xu even if he wanted to.The case was tried by the three judicial offices. Zhao Xu, holding an official position, should not have been subjected to severe torture. Unfortunately, Prince Xiao had been in a foul mood lately. He visited the Ministry of Defense to see Zhao Xu, and afterward, the officials there showed no mercy in their interrogation. They employed every available torture device, even borrowing newly developed special instruments from the Dali Temple.
Zhao Xu, covered in wounds, seethed with indignation: "I am innocent, Your Majesty! I had no intention of regicide, none at all!"
"None?" Chief interrogator Lian Heng said sternly, "But the servants from your household have already confessed, claiming they acted under your orders to poison His Majesty."
"Absurd!" Zhao Xu roared. "I enjoyed His Majesty's deep favor. Why would I poison him and bring death upon myself? Doesn't that sound illogical?"
"It originally did seem illogical," Lian Heng said, reaching for a transcribed memorial and throwing it before him. "But after thorough investigation by the three offices, it was discovered that your ancestors were high-ranking officials of the previous dynasty."
Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment before shaking his head. "My ancestors are my ancestors, and I am me!"
"His Majesty does not believe that," Lian Heng replied, shaking his head. "With the precedents of Emperor Song Hui and Lei Yi, if you cannot provide evidence of your innocence or apprehend the true culprit, and with all the officials submitting memorials listing your faults, the charge of attempting to murder His Majesty will likely be confirmed soon."
"No... no..." Tears streamed down Zhao Xu's face. "They are framing me. I never intended to kill His Majesty, never!"
"Audacious! With His Majesty personally experiencing it and all officials bearing witness, how dare you claim innocence?!"
Shaking his head violently, the chains on his body clattering loudly, Zhao Xu cursed, "What kind of witnesses are the civil and military officials? They are nothing but spineless opportunists! Back then, wasn't General Guan also hastily convicted before all evidence was presented? How can their words be trusted?!"
Lian Heng was shaken, slamming his hand on the table as he stood up. "What nonsense are you spouting! The Guan family's treason was proven beyond doubt!"
"General Lian, you were once Guan Canghai's most trusted deputy," Zhao Xu laughed bitterly. "Don't you know what kind of character our emperor has? Don't you know the prevailing atmosphere among the officials? When a wall is about to collapse, everyone pushes it—just like me today, General Guan was also wrongfully executed back then!"
Lian Heng was astounded, his face instantly paling, nearly losing his balance.
He was the most impartial and incorruptible. That was why, when Guan Canghai was accused of treason, even though he was the person Lian Heng most admired, he never pleaded for mercy. At the time, the entire court was clamoring for condemnation, speaking with such certainty that he naturally assumed Guan Canghai had truly committed treason—even resenting him for it.
But to think he had been wrongfully accused?
"His Majesty wanted him dead, and the officials followed suit, demanding his death. I was the first to submit a memorial calling for the extermination of the Guan family, but whether they truly committed treason, even I do not know," Zhao Xu said, his voice trembling. "I never imagined that such a fate would one day befall me! General Lian, I am innocent!"
Taking a few steps back, Lian Heng turned to leave.
However, at the dimly lit doorway, Prince Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, blocking his path."Since a loyal minister has already been wrongfully executed, what harm is there in wrongfully executing a treacherous one?" A cold voice echoed through the prison, sending chills down the spines of those who heard it. Lian Heng frowned and looked up, saying to him:
"Your Highness, the state has its laws!"
"I have said the same to others before," Yin Gezhi sneered as he slowly stepped into the cell, fixing his gaze on Lian Heng. "Unfortunately, in His Majesty's eyes, the state has no laws—everything is done according to his personal whims. So, what does it matter if someone is wrongfully executed or not?"
Lian Heng was taken aback, unable to accept this reasoning. But then he saw Yin Gezhi reach out and pick up the stack of indictments on his desk. After glancing through them one by one, Yin Gezhi pulled out one sheet and placed the rest back in Lian Heng's hands.
"It's rare to find someone in the court who still upholds the law, so let's uphold the law, General Lian. These indictments are all solid and irrefutable—you need not worry about wrongfully accusing him. As for this one," Yin Gezhi waved the indictment for regicide in his hand and said calmly, "I will personally deliver it to His Majesty."
Lian Heng frowned, gripping the indictments tightly as he glanced through them. Turning angrily, he glared at Zhao Xu: "How dare you compare yourself to the Guan family case?!"
Zhao Xu was dumbfounded. He never expected Prince Xiao to come to such a place or to kick him while he was down.
"Your Highness!" he gritted his teeth. "What deep-seated grudge does this old minister have with Your Highness that you would harbor such hatred?!"
After a moment of thought, his eyes darting around, he added, "Could it be because of the Guan family case? Does Your Highness have personal ties with the Guan family and seek revenge on their behalf?"
Yin Gezhi glanced at him sideways, then slowly crouched down to meet his blood-stained face at eye level. He said calmly, "You're overthinking it."
"I'm just bored and have nothing better to do."
Enraged by these words, Zhao Xu spat out a mouthful of blood and cursed, "You insolent brat!"
"Hmm, I heard that," Yin Gezhi stood up and motioned to Lian Heng to write down the charge. "He insulted the royal family."
Lian Heng: "..."
That evening, Emperor Wen of Wei, who was still recuperating, received a thick stack of indictments against Zhao Xu.
With a long sigh, Emperor Wen turned to Princess Nan Ping, who was serving his medicine, and asked, "Do you also think Zhao Xu deserves to die?"
Nan Ping nodded emphatically and earnestly advised, "Father, how could your illustrious reputation be tarnished by such a villain? Even if he shares your love for calligraphy and painting, that doesn't necessarily make him a good official. Look at the things he has done—even I am horrified. To quell public outrage, Father, it would be best to issue an edict and have him executed."
With this convenient excuse, Emperor Wen felt much more at ease. He sorrowfully issued an edict to announce Zhao Xu's crimes to the world and sentenced him to immediate execution.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" Zhao Xu cried out from the prisoner cart as it moved through the streets. "I am innocent! The royal family is unjust, the officials are corrupt! The royal family is unjust, the officials are corrupt!"
Lian Heng led the escort at the front of the procession. Suddenly, he recalled the scene years ago when he escorted the second young master of the Guan family to the execution ground.
Guan Qingmu, inheriting his father's integrity, remained silent throughout the journey. His back was straight as a ramrod, and even in prisoner's garb, he looked as though he were wearing armor.
Surrounded by the curses of the common people, he paid no heed. His eyes were fixed ahead, yet they seemed empty, devoid of anything.Lian Heng's mood was heavy at the time, and he very much wanted to ask Guan Canghai why he had betrayed the country, but in the end, he never got the chance. Now, however, he understood—those who had truly suffered immense injustice might not even have the strength to cry out for justice. Their hearts were as cold as ashes, filled only with disappointment toward the royal family.
His hand gripping the reins tightened. Suddenly, he felt a strong urge to kowtow at General Guan’s grave—only he knew where it was.
Lost in thought, he unexpectedly caught a glimpse of Guan Qingyue’s eyes flashing through the crowd.
Startled, Lian Heng reined in his horse. When he looked again, it seemed as if he had imagined it—the surrounding people were all ordinary civilians. Where could Guan Qingyue have come from?
Remembering the letter he had once received but ignored, Lian Heng frowned and continued on his way, his mind heavy with worry.
Feng Yue, disguised, stood outside the execution ground.
This execution ground had appeared countless times in her dreams, the platform stained with the blood of the Guan family—old and young, their blood mingling as one.
Now, the execution platform echoed with cries and wails, yet she found the sound strangely soothing.
Finally, it was these old traitors’ turn!
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