A piece of news quickly traveled from outside the city to Marquis Nanguo’s manor.
In the hall.
Someone reported to Marquis Nanguo: “The prime minister has already died on his way back to the capital.”
Upon hearing this, Marquis Nanguo remained very calm. After thinking for a moment, he instructed: “Have someone transport his body and his son’s ashes back to his hometown for burial.”
“Yes.” The person hurriedly withdrew.
Third Master was beside him and said: “Actually, we didn’t need to be so ruthless.”
Marquis Nanguo said: “I also wanted to spare him. After all, this plan went so smoothly largely thanks to his help from within. But if it weren’t for him leading the great army to storm the palace back then, the late king wouldn’t have died, and my younger sister, A Jin, and Yunshu—they wouldn’t have suffered so much! No matter how merciful I am, I find it difficult to forget everything from back then.”
“But…”
“A Tang, you need not say more. Now that the person is already dead, what I can do is have his body transported back to his hometown for burial—at least giving him an intact corpse!”
Perhaps in others’ eyes, Marquis Nanguo was too cruel.
But the events of those years were still vivid, and the pain of being separated for over twenty years couldn’t be made up for in a moment.
When people commit wrongs, they must ultimately pay!
Without exception!
Third Master no longer debated this matter and asked: “Then what do you plan to do next with Marquis Pingyang and Duke Wang?”
On the list of those who besieged the palace, both Marquis Pingyang and Duke Wang were included.
Since the night of the palace siege, both had been thrown into the great prison!
Awaiting punishment.
Who would have thought that after more than twenty years, retribution would finally descend upon them!
Marquis Nanguo deliberated for a moment. With a final show of mercy toward the Li and Zhao families, he said: “The sins committed by Li Wenshi and Zhao Huai must be borne by themselves. The calamity doesn’t extend to the innocent, much less to their wives and children. I only need the lives of those two.”
“Have you already…”
“That’s right! Counting the time, it should be about now.”
About now? About what?
…
At the same time.
In Huyi’s heavenly prison, Marquis Pingyang and Duke Wang were separately detained in the innermost cells on the east and west sides.
From the moment they were locked up, both already knew what they would face.
The debts in their hands—it was time to repay them.
Two jailers carried wine and delivered it to their respective cells.
Placing it before them.
Duke Wang looked at the iron window overhead that let in light and gave a cold laugh.
This day had finally come!
The jailer said: “Duke, the time has arrived.”
He looked at the wine before him. After a long while, he raised his head and asked: “What’s the situation outside now?”
“The great king has passed away. It’s currently the national mourning period.”
“How is the palace?”
“The palace suffered a great fire. Many halls were burned and are being rebuilt.”
“Then… when will the new king ascend the throne?”
“Soon!”
To Duke Wang’s questions, the jailer answered with great patience.
When a person was about to die, it didn’t matter if he answered a sentence or two!
From beginning to end, he never asked a single question about the situation of his own Zhao family.
He raised his head and laughed loudly several times…
Then picked up the wine before him and drank it all in one gulp.
Then he closed his eyes, quietly waiting for death.
He seemed to hear what the fortune teller had told him all those years ago…
He had gained a daughter who should have secured his lifetime’s success, but in the end, it was merely a dream of self-deception!
On the other side.
Marquis Pingyang had already learned of Li Qiao’s death.
He was grief-stricken, his hair turning white overnight.
These past few days, he neither ate nor drank, just sat in the prison.
The person had become quite haggard.
His final hour was approaching!
As the saying goes, success comes in a moment, failure comes in a moment.
He, Li Wenshi, had lost completely and utterly!
No longer had any chance to turn things around!
The jailer placed the wine on the table before him and said: “Marquis, this is bestowed upon you by Marquis Nanguo. Drink it quickly.”
Marquis Pingyang laughed once.
He knew what this meant!
Marquis Nanguo ultimately still couldn’t let him live.
The jailer stood to one side without leaving. He had to watch him drink it personally.
At this moment, a guard entered and said something in the jailer’s ear.
“Mm.” The jailer nodded.
The guard then left. Shortly after, Li Cheng arrived!
These past few days, it was as if he had dreamed a very, very long dream. When the dream ended, everything had undergone earth-shattering changes.
The once-glorious Li family had overnight become traitorous rebels, and he, this little tyrant, had also become an object of everyone’s scorn.
Marquis Nanguo had shown mercy and didn’t extend the calamity to innocent people!
Today, he had come to see his father for the last time!
The jailer was a clever person. This time, Marquis Nanguo hadn’t condemned Li Cheng, which showed he hadn’t judged him equally guilty. Since that was the case, he naturally had to treat him well.
He respectfully addressed him: “Young Master Cheng, please hurry.”
Li Cheng nodded and walked before his father.
Marquis Pingyang looked at his usually disappointing son with moistened eyes.
Reluctant in his heart!
Li Cheng suppressed the pain in his heart and told him: “I’ve already brought elder brother’s body back to the manor. He’ll be buried in the next couple of days.”
Marquis Pingyang’s body trembled as he looked at Li Cheng, yet he didn’t know what to say.
After a long while, he finally managed to say: “Leave Gaoding.”
The Li family had fallen and carried a criminal name. If they continued to stay in Gaoding, they would only endure endless abuse!
Right now, his only wish was for Li Cheng to leave this place.
Li Cheng nodded with reddened eyes.
Then he lifted his robe and knelt.
He kowtowed three times loudly!
“Father, your son cannot see you off. May you rest in peace.” His voice choked with emotion.
Marquis Pingyang was overcome with grief.
In the end, he couldn’t say a word.
Li Cheng rose, turned, and left, unwilling to see the moment when his father collapsed and died.
Finally, Marquis Pingyang drank that cup of poisoned wine…
Li Cheng left the prison and unexpectedly saw Zhao’er in the distance.
Zhao’er looked at the great prison with tears streaming down her face, continuously wiping her tears.
But she didn’t dare take a single step forward.
Li Cheng walked over and called to her: “Zhao’er.”
Zhao’er quickly lifted her sleeve to wipe away her tears and was about to turn and leave…
But Li Cheng caught her in time, saying: “I’ll take you in to see your father.”
“No! I won’t go!” Zhao’er cried as she struggled free from his hand, retreating several steps and shaking her head desperately, saying: “I don’t want to see my father die before me, I don’t want to…”
Li Cheng felt heartache. Just like himself, she didn’t want to watch her father die before her. He asked her: “Then what do you plan to do now?”
Zhao’er said with reddened eyes: “Elder sister told me to go find her, but I don’t want to. I plan to take my mother and leave here.”
“You can’t even take care of yourself—how will you have the ability to take care of your mother?”
Jiang Shi was dragging along a body full of illness. How could Zhao’er, who had never lifted a finger to do household chores since childhood, possibly take good care of her?
“Now that Father is gone, I must hold on.” Zhao’er said.
Right now, the Li and Zhao families were like rats crossing the street—everyone wanted to beat them!
The Zhao family had fallen, and Zhao’er could only become strong.
Now, besides her already-married elder sister, she only had her mother left.
But Li Cheng didn’t know how to help her.
Zhao’er wiped her tears dry and suddenly grabbed his sleeve, saying: “Brother Cheng, can you take me to see someone?”
“Who?”
“Young Master Ji!”