Her eyelashes trembled as Feng Yue tried to withdraw her hand, but her wrist was caught. Unable to help herself, she turned and called out: “Madam Qiu, help!”
Madam Qiu, who had been staring absently in the direction Yin Gezhi had departed, came to her senses and hurriedly came over to pry away Feng Ming’s hand: “The Young Miss’s body is already weak, why are you using such force!”
Hastily releasing his grip, Feng Ming frowned. Seeing that Feng Yue had no intention of explaining, he thought for a moment and said: “Madam Qiu, come with me to pay respects to General Yin.”
“Hmm?” Madam Qiu was startled, then remembered that Yin Yanzhong had once been Feng Ming’s master. Finding it reasonable, she nodded, letting Feng Yue continue her writing while she led him out.
As soon as they were outside, Feng Ming asked her: “How did her iron-strong body become like this?”
Madam Qiu was taken aback. She pressed her lips together and lowered her eyes: “None of us know exactly what happened. We only know that after Young Miss came out of prison, someone had severed her hand tendons. When we ask her about it, she never speaks of it.”
Her hand tendons severed?! Drawing in a sharp breath, Feng Ming ignored everything else and rushed straight back to Feng Yue. His eyes were full of shock, he wanted to reach out but feared hurting her, so he stood beside her and asked: “Your hands?”
Rubbing her temples, Feng Yue sighed: “It’s nothing serious. Please don’t show much sympathy for me – it’s been so long. When you act like this, it makes me uncomfortable, unable to face myself. Do you understand?”
Martial arts skills cultivated for over ten years, were gone in an instant – how could she not feel heartbroken and resentful? But she had already carefully buried this wound. There was no need to use such eyes to dig up the soil and make her remember again. Learn from Yin Gezhi – his coldness had its benefits, never mentioning these things to her, how much easier that was.
Forcefully swallowing his words, the lump in his throat painful to his heart, Feng Ming shut his mouth, wiped his face, and said through gritted teeth: “Fine, I won’t mention it. Just tell me who did this, and I’ll kill them!”
Who did it? Feng Yue laughed bitterly, glancing at him sideways with rippling eyes: “It wasn’t just one person, and they’re not someone you could kill even if you wanted to – unless you’re willing to drag down the entire Marquis Zhenguo’s household to accompany you in death!”
Slightly startled, Feng Ming calmed down but seeing her like this made him uncomfortable. After some thought, he directly took the brush and ink from before her, pulled out a blank scroll, and began writing a memorial.
If he couldn’t kill those who hurt her, he could at least help her do what she wanted to do!
Thus, the first memorial kicking Zhao Xu while he was down came from Feng Ming. The memorial was written with intense indignation, pointing out that Zhao Xu had been collecting young women from among the common people, claiming they were to be presented to the emperor, when in fact none had ever entered the palace. His behavior was extremely vile and damaged the emperor’s reputation.
With such an opening, memorials from other court officials began pouring in, digging up numerous evil deeds of Zhao Xu – deceiving superiors and oppressing subordinates, forming partisan connections, and attempting to control military power.
These people knew how to write memorials, specifically targeting the emperor’s sensitive spots, making it impossible for him to forgive Zhao Xu even if he wanted to.
The Three Judicial Offices conducted the investigation. Although Zhao Xu held an official position and normally wouldn’t be subjected to severe torture, unfortunately, the Prince of Filial Piety had been in a bad mood lately. He had paid a visit to the Grand Marshal’s office to see Zhao Xu, and afterward, the officials there became completely merciless in their interrogation, using every torture device available and even borrowing special instruments from the Court of Judicial Review.
Covered in wounds, Zhao Xu was filled with bitter resentment: “This humble official is wrongly accused! Your Majesty! I had no intention of regicide, none!”
“None?” The chief investigator Lian Heng said seriously: “But your household servants have all confessed that under your orders, they intended to poison His Majesty.”
“Absurd!” Zhao Xu howled: “I was deeply favored by His Majesty, why would I poison him and bring death upon myself? Don’t you think this makes no sense?”
“Indeed, it didn’t make sense at first.” Lian Heng reached out and took a copied memorial, throwing it before him: “But the Three Offices’ thorough investigation revealed that your ancestors were important officials of the previous dynasty.”
Zhao Xu was stunned, then shook his head: “My ancestors were my ancestors, I am myself!”
“His Majesty doesn’t believe that,” Lian Heng shook his head: “With the precedent of Song Huidi and Lei Yi since you can neither provide evidence of your innocence nor catch the real culprit, and with all officials submitting memorials listing your crimes, your crime of attempting to harm His Majesty will surely be confirmed soon.”
“No… no…” Zhao Xu wept: “They wrong me, I never meant to commit regicide, never!”
“How dare you! His Majesty experienced it personally, and all officials have testified – you still dare claim innocence?!”
Shaking his head violently, his chains clanking loudly, Zhao Xu cursed angrily: “What kind of witnesses are these civil and military officials? They just follow wherever the wind blows, a bunch of spineless creatures! Wasn’t it the same when General Guan was accused – even before all the evidence was gathered, they were in a hurry to pass judgment! How can their words be trusted!”
Lian Heng shuddered, slapping the table as he stood up: “What nonsense are you speaking! The Guan family’s treason was proven with solid evidence!”
“General Lian, shame on you who was once Guan Canghai’s most trusted deputy.” Zhao Xu laughed bitterly: “Don’t you know our emperor’s nature? Don’t you know the officials’ attitudes? When a wall falls, everyone pushes it – just like me today, General Guan back then was also wrongly executed!”
Lian Heng was shocked, his face changing instantly, nearly losing his balance.
He had always been the most impartial. So when Guan Canghai was accused of treason, even though it was the person he most respected, he hadn’t pleaded for mercy. At the time, with the entire court condemning him with seemingly solid evidence, he had naturally believed Guan Canghai had truly committed treason, even hating him for it.
However, he had been wrongly accused.
“His Majesty wanted him dead, so all civil and military officials followed suit calling for his death. I was the first to submit a memorial calling for the execution of the entire Guan family, yet whether the Guan family truly committed treason, even I don’t know.” Zhao Xu said with a trembling voice: “I never imagined that one day such a fate would befall me! General Lian, I am being wrongly accused!”
Taking a few steps backward, Lian Heng turned to leave.
However, at the dimly lit doorway stood the Prince of Filial Piety, hands behind his back, blocking his path.
“Since one loyal official has already been wrongly executed, what harm is there in wrongly executing a treacherous one?” The cold voice echoed in the prison, sending chills down people’s spines. Lian Heng frowned and looked up at him:
“Your Highness, the nation has its laws!”
“This prince once said these same words to someone.” Slowly stepping into the cell, Yin Gezhi sneered, staring at Lian Heng: “But unfortunately, in His Majesty’s eyes, the nation has no laws – everything is done according to his whims. So, what does it matter if people are wrongly executed or not?”
Lian Heng was stunned, unable to accept this, but watched as Yin Gezhi picked up the list of crimes from his table. After looking through them one by one, he took one away and placed the rest in Lian Heng’s hands.
“It’s rare to have someone in court who still speaks of law, so let’s follow the law, General Lian. These crimes are all proven without a doubt – you need not worry about wronging him. As for this one…” Waving the charge of regicide in his hand, Yin Gezhi said indifferently: “Let this prince deliver it to His Majesty.”
Lian Heng frowned, clutching the papers and examining them, then turned to glare at Zhao Xu in great anger: “How dare you compare yourself to the Guan family case?!”
Zhao Xu was dumbfounded – he hadn’t expected the Prince of Filial Piety to come to such a place, let alone kick him while he was down.
“Your Highness!” He gritted his teeth: “What deep grudge exists between this old official and Your Highness that makes you hate me so?!”
After speaking, he thought for a moment and said, eyes darting: “Could it be because of the Guan family case? Does Your Highness have private connections with the Guan family and wish to avenge them?”
Glancing at him sideways, Yin Gezhi slowly crouched down, looking directly at his bloodied face, and said indifferently: “You’re overthinking it.”
“This prince is simply bored with nothing better to do.”
These words made Zhao Xu cough up blood in anger, and he cursed: “You impudent youth!”
“Mm, this prince heard that.” Standing up, Yin Gezhi turned to instruct Lian Heng to write up another charge: “He insulted the royal family.”
Lian Heng: “…”
That evening, Emperor Wei, who was still recovering, received a thick stack of charges against Zhao Xu.
Letting out a long sigh, Emperor Wei turned to ask Princess Nanping, who was attending to his medicine: “Do you also think Zhao Xu deserves death?”
Nanping nodded vigorously, earnestly advising: “Father Emperor, how can your illustrious name be tarnished by such a villain? Even if he shares your love for calligraphy and paintings, it doesn’t mean he’s a good official. Look at all these things he’s done – even your daughter finds them shocking. To appease public anger, Father Emperor should best order his execution!”
With such a way out provided, Emperor Wei felt more at ease. He sorrowfully issued an imperial edict announcing to the world, sentencing Zhao Xu to immediate execution.
“Your Majesty! Your Majesty!” Zhao Xu, being transported in a prisoner’s cart through the streets, called out continuously: “I am wrongly accused! The royal family is corrupt, the officials are impure! The royal family is corrupt, the officials are impure!”
Lian Heng led the guards escorting him, walking at the front. He suddenly remembered the scene years ago when he had escorted the Guan family’s second young master to the execution ground.
Guan Qingmu had inherited his father’s dignified bearing, not saying a word the entire way, his back straight as if wearing armor even in prisoner’s clothes.
Around them were the curses of common people, but he seemed deaf to them. His eyes fixed ahead, yet empty of everything.
Lian Heng’s heart had been very heavy then, and he had wanted to ask why Guan Canghai had committed treason, but never got the chance. Now, however, he understood that those who truly suffered great injustice might not even have the strength to cry out their grievances, their hearts turned to ashes, their eyes filled only with disappointment in the royal family.
His hand tightened on the reins as he suddenly felt a strong urge to kowtow at General Guan’s grave – only he knew where it was.
Just as he was thinking this, he unexpectedly caught a glimpse of Guan Qingyue’s eyes, flashing through the crowd.
Lian Heng was so startled he pulled back on his horse, but looking again carefully, it seemed like his eyes had deceived him – there were only ordinary commoners around, where was Guan Qingyue?
Remembering the letter he had received but ignored, Lian Heng frowned, continuing forward with a heavy heart.
Feng Yue, in disguise, stood outside the execution ground.
This execution ground had appeared countless times in her dreams, where the blood of the Guan family members flowed on the execution platform – old and young, their blood mixing.
Now, with crying voices shaking the heavens on the execution platform, she found it exceptionally satisfying to hear.
Finally, it was these old traitors’ turn!