Zhao Xu’s cry was unbearably tragic, his voice hoarse and filled with resentment: “This humble servant had no intention of regicide, no intention at all! The traitors wrongly accuse me, the traitors wrong me!”
Feng Yue smiled, feeling immensely satisfied as the bitterness in her heart eased slightly.
How eloquent Zhao Xu had been back then, misleading the emperor with his persuasions, seeking personal glory and wealth, leading to the execution of the entire Guan family! Now dying unjustly on the same execution platform – this was truly karma. Why should he die by law? She wanted him to die for the sins he had committed!
If only she could speak, she truly wanted to ask him one question –
“Have you now tasted what it felt like when the Guan family knelt here?”
A white dragon robe with three claws swept past Zhao Xu’s face, and a voice cold as autumn frost rang out on the execution platform.
For a moment, Feng Yue truly thought she had spoken those words, but why did the voice sound different?
Looking up, she saw Yin Gezhi standing before Zhao Xu, his silhouette solitary.
A strange light flashed in her eyes as Feng Yue pursed her lips, glancing at the execution overseer’s position nearby.
Guan Zhi stood beside the empty seat, gripping his sword sheath with a serious expression.
The execution overseer was Yin Gezhi.
There was an odd feeling in her heart, unclear whether it was resentment or contemplation. Feng Yue sighed, listening to Zhao Xu’s wailing while watching Yin Gezhi return to the execution platform.
As noon arrived, the order to “execute” was given. The executioner’s blade rose high in the blazing sun, gleaming brightly.
Feng Yue didn’t watch the final bloody scene. She turned away, listening to the crowd’s gasps as she slowly made her way out through the throng.
“To think a Grand Commandant would be executed just like that.”
“Pah, he did nothing good. If not him, who should be executed? I heard he poisoned His Majesty half a month ago. They’ve uncovered many other crimes in these past two weeks – deserves death.”
“He deserves to die, but still… it feels like our Li Capital is about to see great changes.”
Amid the rustling discussions, Feng Yue stood at the execution ground’s exit. The dispersing commoners passed before her, followed by the guards withdrawing and collecting the corpse. Finally, Prince Xiaojin emerged in his sedan chair.
“Guan Zhi.” Sporting a full beard, Feng Yue approached sneakily and grabbed his sleeve.
Startled by her disguise, Guan Zhi nearly shouted “Assassin!” However, seeing her eyes, he calmed down and tentatively asked, “Lady Feng Yue?”
The sedan chair beside them stopped, but Feng Yue just grinned, noticing the person inside showed no intention of emerging.
Scratching her head, she said, “Nothing much, just wanted to thank your master. Without him, Zhao Xu wouldn’t have faced justice so quickly.”
Gratitude is important – even if you didn’t ask for help when someone helps, you should thank them. Otherwise, who would help you in the future?
Guan Zhi brightened immediately and turned to call out, “Master?”
There was no response from the sedan chair. The air grew still for a moment. Then, Yin Gezhi’s voice rang out emotionlessly: “What’s there to thank for something that doesn’t concern me? Guan Zhi, let’s go.”
What? Guan Zhi looked bewildered, glancing between the sedan chair and Feng Yue before signaling the bearers to move ahead. Then he stayed behind and quietly asked Feng Yue, “Did you and Master argue?”
An argument? Stroking her chin, Feng Yue replied, “Not really an argument, he’s probably just angry with me.”
The reason for his anger was peculiar – just because in his eyes she wasn’t a pure virgin for him. Tch, Lord Yin with his countless women dared to be angry about such a thing?
Well, let him be angry then – serves him right! Her views on chastity were already lenient, something that would probably invite criticism from Confucian scholars. If he truly cared about it, he could go find someone pure instead – why fixate on her?
Rolling her eyes, Feng Yue turned to leave, her fake beard bobbing up and down rather adorably. Unfortunately, no one saw this and she quickly disappeared into the crowd.
Yin Gezhi lifted the sedan curtain, his eyes half-lowered as he looked outside, calling out in displeasure: “Guan Zhi.”
“Master.” Hurrying to catch up, Guan Zhi lowered his head, “Your servant is here.”
Letting out a light snort, Yin Gezhi remained silent, his chin slightly raised as if wanting to ask something.
Guan Zhi immediately understood: “Lady Feng Yue has already left. She didn’t say much, only that Master was angry with her.”
She knew he was angry but didn’t say more. Yin Gezhi sneered, dropping the curtain and coldly thinking that he must have treated her too well, making her take him for granted. Just wait – there would come a time when she would need his help!
With Zhao Xu’s death, although the court openly praised the decision, people privately feared Emperor Wei’s unpredictable temper and became more cautious.
As the first person to submit a memorial about Zhao Xu’s case, Feng Ming was summoned to the Imperial Study for a conversation. Afterward, he was relieved of his palace guard duties, retaining his general’s salary while waiting at home for deployment to battle.
This incident made the court even more fearful. Visitors flocked to Marshal Feng’s residence seeking information, but Feng Ming received none of them. Instead, he went alone to the tenement and shook his head at Feng Yue.
“Our Emperor is truly unpredictable.”
Handing him a cup of tea, Feng Yue frowned: “I’ve caused you trouble.”
“It’s not trouble. Guarding the palace wasn’t a good position anyway. When we returned to Li Capital, the Emperor gave me this post just to legitimately take back my military authority.” Feng Ming waved dismissively, saying carelessly: “But it did let me experience what they mean by ‘the palace gates are deeper than the sea.'”
Nearly spitting out her tea, Feng Yue squinted: “General, if I remember correctly, that’s something palace concubines say. What do you mean by it?”
“Ah well, it’s just that the Emperor’s thoughts are too complex to guess!” Feng Ming shook his head and sighed: “I originally thought I could fulfill my ambitions by fighting battles and serving the country loyally, but after returning from one campaign and hearing the Emperor’s roundabout words, I realized being a Wei general is truly meaningless – you fight enemies abroad only to face the Emperor’s attacks at home.”
No wonder Yin Gezhi preferred being a hostage in Wu – thinking about it now, not being a general was most comfortable.
Feng Yue smiled without speaking, taking a mung bean cake to chew while watching Feng Ming continue.
Unlike Yin Gezhi’s silence, Feng Ming was much more lively. Even if she didn’t speak, he could talk for ages: “In today’s court, official conduct isn’t upright. Speaking of those with integrity, perhaps only Scholar Hong and Chancellor Shi remain. During the Guan family’s case, while the entire court followed Zhao Xu in submitting memorials, only they claimed illness to avoid discussion. Now as storms gather, they’re the ones advising His Majesty not to listen to biased counsel.”
Hong Hanyi and Shi Hongwei? Feng Yue shrugged. She didn’t know much about these two, after all, except for brief holidays, she had always been campaigning with Old Man Guan.
However… thinking of someone, Feng Yue narrowed her eyes and turned to check the compiled intelligence gathered by General Yin and his men. She quickly found a name.
Shi Youxin.
This man was Wei’s Minister of Justice, the chief judge in the Guan family’s case. In two days’ time, without questioning or investigating, he directly passed the sentence.
While Zhao Xu was the one who incited the Emperor, Shi Youxin was the one who truly wrongly executed Guan Canghai.
Narrowing her eyes, Feng Yue closed the book and turned to ask Feng Ming: “Do you know Shi Youxin?”
Shi Youxin? Feng Ming nodded: “The current Minister of Justice. According to my father, he’s Chancellor Shi’s distant nephew, but they’re not close. They don’t even speak during court sessions – their integrity quite different.”
So they’re really from the same family? Feng Yue marveled at how people from the same family could be so distinctly different.
“Are you asking about him to learn more about the Guan family’s case?” Feng Ming said: “He’s not easy to meet. Besides being always busy, even when free, he’s unwilling to receive visitors.”
Feng Yue smiled: “Never leaves his house?”
“Not exactly. I heard he often visits a school on Wenlin Street. I don’t know the school’s name – just heard it mentioned in passing.”
Wenlin Street? Feng Yue nodded, just considering whether to check it out when Ling Shu bounced in saying: “Master, Madam Qiu is here.”
Handing her a mung bean cake to go play with, Feng Yue looked up to see Madam Qiu standing at the door with an odd expression.
“What’s happened?”
Clutching a letter, Madam Qiu glanced warily at Feng Ming.
Usually, people who could read the atmosphere would step aside, however, General Feng didn’t like reading people’s expressions. He frowned and said: “You’re guarding against even me? My life belongs to her, what are you afraid of?”
Feng Yue’s face darkened: “General, since when did your life become mine?”
Turning back in surprise, Feng Ming looked at her shocked: “You forgot?”
“What?”
“When you were fifteen, didn’t I say if we fought and you won, I’d be your person?”
Looking up at the heavens, Feng Yue seemed to recall this matter. Back then, young master Feng had said this and was promptly beaten by her. Half-lying on the ground, he had mumbled unclearly: “I lost, I’m yours.”
At the time, Guan Qingyu hadn’t paid attention to what he said, just coldly snorted and left him with a graceful exit.
Thinking back now, Feng Yue wiped her face and laughed dryly: “The General has such a good memory.”
Feng Ming looked serious: “I always remember things clearly when they involve you.”
Madam Qiu shuddered and no longer cared about propriety, directly pushing the letter into Feng Yue’s hands before turning to leave, muttering: “Taking advantage of my years as a widow. Young people these days speak so improperly…”
The improper young man stared intensely at Feng Yue, who collected herself and opened the letter.
It was actually from Lian Heng – somehow he had contacted Madam Qiu. The letter had just one meaning: he wanted to atone and requested to meet her at the foot of Zhaoying Mountain east of Li Capital, saying he had important matters about the General to discuss.
Important matters about the General? Feng Yue thought coldly for a moment before her eyes suddenly blazed. Without another word, she immediately ran out calling: “Madam Qiu!”
“Yes?” Madam Qiu stopped and turned around.
Her chest heaving slightly, Feng Yue said with a trembling voice: “Please tell the letter writer to go to Zhaoying Mountain immediately. I’ll wait for him there!”