The next day.

Gong Shilin was escorted from the prison to the execution ground.

Heavy snow fell on this winter day, yet it still couldn’t block the surging crowds at the vegetable market entrance.

He wore prisoner’s clothes, kneeling on the platform with his hands bound behind his back.

Tightly!

Unable to struggle!

The executioner stood beside him holding a large blade, just waiting for the supervising official sitting not far away to give the order.

Natuo, serving as the supervising official, sat there with both hands gripping his knees.

Sitting upright and solemn!

His face was dark, his sharp eyes piercing through the falling snow to fix on Gong Shilin.

Thinking of how his best friend had betrayed him, the killing intent in his eyes grew even thicker.

But—

Even now, he still hadn’t picked up the command arrow before him to give the order.

In the end, he still couldn’t bear to!

At this moment, almost everyone was waiting for him.

Including Nayan, who sat in a carriage not far away.

Nayan looked in this direction, his gaze gradually tightening.

The guard beside him spoke: “Who would have thought that for the throne, and to completely dissociate himself from this matter, the Third Prince would personally request to supervise Gong Shilin’s execution. How truly resolute.”

Nayan narrowed his eyes, staring at Natuo in the distance, and said: “Before the throne, what does loyalty and righteousness matter?”

It’s all bullshit!

The guard asked again: “But it’s been so long, why hasn’t the Third Prince given the order yet? The appointed time has already passed.”

How urgent!

At this question, Nayan’s expression immediately darkened.

“Having reached this point, he must kill even if he doesn’t want to. Natuo cannot be allowed to change his mind!”

The guard then fell silent.

Watching the situation over there.

Seeing that the Third Prince had delayed giving the order, the common people began to discuss.

“Why isn’t he giving the order yet?”

“Could there be some change of plans?”

“Hard to say. After all, the one waiting to be beheaded on that platform is the Prime Minister’s son. How could he die so easily?”

“But this time it was the Third Prince who personally requested it, and even the King agreed.”

“Let’s wait a bit longer.”

…

Seeing that the time was getting late, and with the common people beginning to stir restlessly, the guard beside Natuo bowed and reminded him: “Your Highness, the appointed time has arrived.”

He seemed to come back to his senses, his eyes turned, and he suddenly stood up and stepped into the snow.

“Your Highness…” the guard called to him.

Natuo didn’t listen and was already walking toward Gong Shilin.

Everyone’s gaze followed him.

All confused.

What was the Prince going to do?

Gong Shilin knelt there, watching as Natuo walked toward him step by step.

Until he stood before him.

Natuo crouched down expressionlessly, raised his hand, and brushed away the snowflakes that had fallen on his head and shoulders one by one.

Then he gripped his shoulder.

The two men’s eyes met.

Natuo asked him: “Do you hate me?”

He had personally requested this!

By rights, Gong Shilin should hate him.

But—

Gong Shilin said: “What you’re doing is not wrong!”

Heh heh!

Natuo laughed coldly: “With these words from you, I can be at ease. But you can also rest assured, I will properly… take care of the Princess Consort for you.”

As he spoke, he patted Gong Shilin’s shoulder twice.

Hearing these words, Gong Shilin’s eyes widened.

In an instant he understood something.

Unbelieving.

Natuo said with a twisted expression: “Didn’t you say that even if you died, you would wear that jade pendant on your person? But now… I’m afraid you’ll have to die with regrets.”

“…Uh!”

“Do you know how much she cares about it? She knelt before me, pleading with me, begging me to return the jade pendant to her. I had never heard her beg anyone before. That was the first time. The first time she opened her mouth to beg someone, it was for that jade pendant! But… I still smashed that jade pendant to pieces right in front of her.”

“Atuo…” Gong Shilin became anxious, his eyes turning bloodshot as he looked at him.

His body lunged forward.

But his shoulders were held firmly by Natuo.

Natuo continued: “Before yesterday, I was still thinking that even if I had to give up the throne, I would definitely save you. But… why did you betray me? Shilin, oh Shilin, have you lost your mind? Even though I detest that woman, she is still my Princess Consort, the dignified Third Princess Consort! Anyone else would be fine, but not her!”

He was desperately controlling his voice.

Gong Shilin’s eyes filled with tears as he pleaded with him: “Spare her, Atuo, I’m begging you.”

“How truly laughable!”

“I’m begging you.”

Natuo laughed coldly, stood up, and turned to leave.

Gong Shilin struggled to shout at his retreating back: “Atuo!”

Natuo’s steps halted, stopping in place. After a long while, he turned to look at that man kneeling on the ground with pleading eyes.

He opened his mouth.

And said one word: “Fine!”

The voice was very soft, but through the dense snowflakes, Gong Shilin could still make out the shape of his lips.

He finally felt at ease.

Because he knew that what Natuo promised him, he would not go back on his word.

Natuo returned to his position and took out the command arrow from the bamboo tube.

He threw it forward.

“Execute!”

The executioner received the command, lifted the wine beside him and poured it into his mouth, then sprayed it all over that sharp blade.

Then he raised the blade…

Gong Shilin looked at the falling snow before him, as if returning to a year ago.

Outside the Third Prince’s manor, drums and gongs resounded loudly!

Huyi’s wedding procession had arrived.

He stood there, watching a large red sedan chair being carried to the entrance.

The wedding attendant helped the bride emerge from the sedan and enter the manor.

When passing before him, a strong gust of wind came and blew off the red veil from the bride’s head.

At that moment, Gong Shilin saw the bride’s face clearly.

The bride had no time to catch that wedding cloth, watching helplessly as a flash of red fell to the ground.

Their gazes thus intertwined.

Gong Shilin looked at the woman before him, a smile overflowing from the corners of his mouth.

“This humble scholar is called Gong Shilin.”

The woman’s face flushed red as she smiled slightly at him: “Jing Xuan. My name is Jing Xuan.”

…

After that, the snow stopped!

The people at the vegetable market entrance also gradually dispersed.

At the same time, news came from the Drunken Moon Pavilion.

Du Xing’er was dead!

She had taken poison and committed suicide!

It was said that she was dressed beautifully, wearing elegant and simple makeup, lying peacefully on the bed with a relieved smile overflowing from the corners of her mouth.

And in her hands, she held that book Gong Shilin had given her all those years ago.

Everything that happened had its cause and effect!

Also on that day, Li Wenshu sat silently in her room, then instructed a maid to fetch her a pair of scissors.

The maid was confused: “Miss, what do you need scissors for?”

“Just fetch them.”

“Oh.” The maid then followed her instructions and ran to bring her the scissors.

Little did anyone know, Li Wenshu removed the vermillion hairpins from her head one by one.

Her black hair cascaded over her shoulders!

She raised the scissors.

And cut downward.

The maid was so frightened her face turned pale, and she immediately collapsed to the ground.

“Miss… why are you doing this?”

Li Wenshu had cut her hair!

When Marquis Pingyang learned of this, his face turned livid with anger, and he immediately smashed a glazed vase at hand.

In the end, helpless, he agreed to Li Wenshu’s request and allowed her to retreat to the mountains and forests.

When she left, Li Cheng escorted her all the way out of Gaoding City, only stopping when they reached the end of the official road.

“Elder sister, take care on your journey.”