Chapter 339: Sparing His Life

The emperor looked at Huo Yanran with dark eyes, as if he wanted to see through what his daughter was thinking.

The wind and rain were raging outside the window, and the candlelight in the imperial study was flickering.

The emperor's face was obscure and unclear.

Huo Yanran's palms began to sweat unconsciously.

She was never the emperor's favorite daughter, and she had always been well-behaved and pretty in front of him.

This was the first time Huo Yanran mustered up the courage to stand in front of the emperor and speak so many words. All her clever plans and plots became empty talk at this moment.

Her future and Liu Yan's life and death now all depend on the emperor's decision.

After a long while, the emperor's brows finally relaxed and he smiled faintly, "Then it will be as you say. Come on..."

"Your Majesty is wise." Huo Yanran took advantage of the fact that her father had resolved a major issue and was in a good mood. Before he could order the eunuchs to pass on his decree, she proposed again, "I, your son, would like to borrow your Majesty's golden decree to personally invite Liu Tanhua to be the escort."

If the emperor sent a eunuch to convey the order, publicly asking Liu Yan to be the envoy to escort the princess to Beili for marriage, Liu Yan would probably refuse directly because of his straightforward nature. Huo Yanran could save him once, but not a second time.

The emperor looked at Huo Yanran with a look that said "You are a smart person". Since she asked to marry to Beili, he agreed to her request and ordered Eunuch Xu to give the golden order to Huo Yanran.

Eunuch Xu was ordered to take out the golden order that was as if he were meeting an emperor, and presented it to the Thirteenth Princess with both hands, "Princess, please."

Huo Yanran took it with both hands, bowed to the emperor and said, "Thank you, father."

She was afraid that something might happen to Liu Yan, so she rushed to save him. After seeing the emperor nod, she left in a hurry.

Huo Yanran didn't even take an umbrella. She ran through the palace gates and headed straight for the Meridian Gate. It was raining heavily, and she ran so fast that the rain splashed on her dress. The golden hairpin in her hair scattered on the ground, but she didn't care at all.

At this time, outside the Meridian Gate.

Liu Yan was forced to kneel on the execution platform by the imperial guards. The execution was scheduled to take place at three quarters past noon on a sunny day. Generally, criminals were thrown into prison first, and after the punishment was determined, they would be executed on a suitable day and weather.

In the past ten years, Liu Tanhua was the only one who had offended the emperor so much that he was ordered to be dragged outside the Meridian Gate and executed.

It is not appropriate to carry out beheading in rainy weather.

Therefore, the official in charge of supervising the execution did not immediately order the executioner to carry out the sentence. Without the emperor's order, it was not easy to put Liu Tanhua in prison.

It was the hottest time of July and the weather was changeable. It was sunny in the morning, but suddenly it started to rain heavily. After the rain, when the sun came out, the execution could continue.

The official supervising the execution ordered his men to tie Liu Yan to the rack first and wait for the rain to stop.

When the Minister of Rites Zhang Hewen heard that Liu Yan had offended the emperor and was punished, he hurried over.

Minister Zhang was so anxious that he didn't even open an umbrella. He rushed over in the rain, tried to make friends with Lord Feng, who was supervising the execution, and said that he wanted to say a few words to Liu Yan.

The rain kept falling and the execution could not be carried out for a while.

Seeing that Minister Zhang had condescended to talk about friendship, the supervising officer nodded and said, "Then Minister Zhang, please be brief. As soon as the rain stops, I will carry out the execution immediately."

"well."

Minister Zhang immediately agreed and quickly walked up to the execution platform.

He looked at Liu Yan with a look of pity, "You are still so young, how come you don't know how to adapt?"

Zhang Shangshu is Liu Yan's mentor. She watched Liu Yan win the third place in the imperial examination and rise step by step as an official in the court. The top scorer in the same exam, Lu Jingyun, was demoted to a remote place as a county magistrate because of family unrest. The second place scorer was honest and straightforward and entered the Hanlin Academy as an editor. It was unknown when he would be able to make a name for himself.

Only Liu Yan had outstanding talents and was able to mix in official circles. In just over a year, he was promoted again and again and was able to participate in government affairs.

Minister Zhang was very fond of this student and was very pleased when his colleagues mentioned Liu Tanhua.

Who would have thought that he would actually clash with his father over the issue of marrying the princess to Beili. Even though other ministers remained silent, he still firmly opposed it.

This even angered the emperor and he was about to be beheaded.

Minister Zhang was also opposed to the princess's marriage at the beginning, but the emperor had made up his mind and it was useless for the ministers to persuade or oppose him. These old guys had been in the officialdom for many years and knew that if they wanted to live long, they could not go against the emperor.

No matter whether what the emperor wanted to do was right or wrong, they could only advise him and not oppose him.

The last scholar who angered the emperor had his property confiscated and was exiled. His family went to the northern border to suffer for nearly twenty years. It was only because of his daughter's help that he got a son-in-law like the Prince of Chang'an that he had the opportunity to be reinstated.

Zhang Shangshu said sadly, "With the precedent of Mu Qingshan in mind, how dare you, how dare you?"

Liu Yan lowered his head and said, "Teacher, I feel so ashamed of your cultivation..."

"You haven't let me down. You're letting your parents down." Zhang Shangshu said angrily, "How many times have I advised you not to oppose this matter? You just won't listen..."

As the old man spoke, he felt that it was completely useless to say these words at this time, so he quickly stopped talking and said to Liu Yan: "Now bow your head and admit your mistake to the emperor, and your master will go to the emperor to plead for you!"

Minister Zhang said, "You are still so young and have a bright future. You can do a lot for the people. You can't risk your life for a princess!"

"Teacher." Liu Yan looked up at Zhang Shangshu and said seriously, "This is not just a matter of one princess."

He said, "It's a helpless move for a country at war to send its princess to the victorious nation for marriage. Daxing is a powerful nation, so why do we have to use our princess for marriage? Beili wants our food, cloth, and books. The court can easily send officials to Beili to educate the people..."

"Don't you understand what's going on?" Minister Zhang interrupted Liu Yan. "The Emperor wants obedience and submission, not you telling him what to do."

Is it possible that no one among so many officials in the court understands what Liu Yan said?

In fact, they all understood it very well, but they knew that if they wanted to serve as an official for a long time and live a long life, they had to be willing to bow their heads and bend their waists.

But before Minister Zhang had the chance to teach Liu Yan these principles, Liu Yan was taken to the guillotine.

Minister Zhang advised Liu Yan not to act on his anger. It is not difficult to lower your head. Only by saving your life can you do what you want to do.

Liu Yan said, "Master, there is no need to persuade me any further. I am destined to die for admonishing the king."

Minister Zhang opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment.

At this time, the wind gradually died down, and slowly, the rain stopped.

At this time, the supervising officer stepped forward and said, "Minister Zhang, you have stayed here long enough. If the emperor finds out, you will be implicated. You'd better leave quickly."

Liu Yan looked up at his mentor in the rain, his face calm, and said, "Master, I have never been able to repay your kindness in this lifetime. I beg for your forgiveness."

"Liu Yan... Liu Yan!"

Zhang Shangshu was still unwilling to leave, so he was pulled away by the supervising officer.

The rain has stopped, the wind has blown away the clouds, the sun has shone again, and a rainbow has appeared on the horizon.

The supervising officer ordered the imperial guards to lower Liu Yan from the rack and place him on the guillotine. He said in a deep voice, "Execute immediately."

Minister Zhang cried out in grief, "Liu Yan!"

Liu Yan closed his eyes, not wanting to look at his mentor's extremely heartbroken face.

The executioner sprayed a mouthful of liquor on the blade, raised the knife high, and was about to strike down -

At this moment, Huo Yanran came running over and shouted, "Spare his life!"