In the end, Huo Chengyi and Zhao did not ask to take the person away. Instead, they both stayed and bought a house next to Jiangying Garden, where they never left.

Soon, the day of execution arrived.

It has been believed since ancient times that women rarely supervise executions. Zhao Shu, dressed in court attire, led a large entourage to the execution platform at Caishikou. On both sides sat court officials. Originally, this was a serious matter of execution, and the people were already discussing it.

But this time, no one spoke, because it was the first time in their lives they had seen a woman sitting upright on the execution platform.

The teahouse behind us was now full of people who were supposed to come.

She sat down, her gaze falling on the decree tube. The word "execution" was circled in vermilion on the fire decree. To someone not involved, it would seem insignificant, but to Zhao Shu at this moment, it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.

She took out a fire token and examined it closely. There was nothing fancy about it, but she just wanted to look at it a little longer.

"Princess, the time has come," Liu Huan reminded her in a low voice.

Zhao Shu withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "Bring the criminals."

Immediately afterward, Xiao Guozi shouted, and the constables brought the prisoners up. Zhao Shu originally thought there would only be a few people, but unexpectedly, dozens were brought up.

She turned her gaze back, and Liu Huan immediately explained, "Princess, they were all accomplices."

There has always been a practice of eliminating dissidents in the court, but she didn't want to get involved. "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish; if a person is too discerning, he will have no followers."

Nodding, Liu Huan breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "Bring up Zhao Bi, the commoner."

Even if there were dozens of people, it would be impossible to kill them all at once. He understood that Zhao Shu did not want to oversee the execution of so many people; she only wanted to kill a few.

Therefore, it was very wise of him to execute Zhao Bi first.

Zhao Bi was brought up. He glanced at the tea behind Zhao Shu and said coldly, "Zhao Shu, I have lost to you."

Zhao Yi was sitting with the Empress Dowager by the window when he heard this and said softly to the Empress Dowager, "Even on his deathbed, Fourth Brother still tries to sow discord."

The Empress Dowager moved her prayer beads and responded, "It's good that you know."

"You have no reason to lose to me." Zhao Shu did not refuse. If she couldn't even see through Zhao Yi's tricks, then it would be better to give up the throne.

However, she trusted Zhao Yi.

Zhao Bi refused to kneel, gritting his teeth and standing still. Even when beaten, he did not yield. He was a real man.

"Forget it, let him lie down; prostrating himself shows more sincerity," Zhao Shu said.

Zhao Bi glared venomously at Zhao Shu, "You'll get your comeuppance! You wicked woman!"

In the end, he still knelt down, but the hatred in his eyes was a hundred times colder than the icy wind blowing in.

Liu Huan felt a chill run down his spine when he saw this. He wanted Zhao Shu to throw out the fire token quickly, but he saw Zhao Shu smiling at Zhao Bi.

"You can't see it anymore, you're already dead." The fire token in Zhao Shu's hand flew out.

The imperial edict was issued: Execute!

Killing someone is as simple as beheading them. The executioner waved his gleaming sword, and Zhao Bi's head fell to the ground, his ashen face still glaring resentfully at Zhao Shu.

I thought he was very magnanimous, but I didn't expect him to be such a sore loser.

But thinking about it, it's too domineering to not allow someone to hold a grudge after you've already killed them.

After killing Zhao Bi, Zhao Shu suddenly felt utterly bored. Zhao Bi was dead; she had changed history and her own destiny. So, she didn't even want to give the remaining people a chance to speak.

The fire tokens kept flying out, and the execution ground was soon filled with a strong smell of blood.

Assassination or using someone else to kill is not as good as dragging them to the execution ground in a fair and square manner. Zhao Shu achieved her goal, killed the person who deserved to die, and then left.

She ignored everyone, returned to the Prince Yong's mansion, took a nice petal bath, and slept soundly for days. The next day, Xing'er prepared a lot of delicious food.

She ate a hearty meal, then went to see Huo Baichuan, chatted for a while, and then went to the palace to pay her respects, while also sharing some tips on pregnancy care with Qiu Tong.

Life went on leisurely like this. Ever since she oversaw the execution, the young ladies of the capital dared not play tricks on her anymore. They were all very polite and well-behaved when they met.

The days seemed rather dull. Wei Tingsi was fighting in Chu and hadn't written back to the capital for a long time. However, news of victories kept arriving, and whenever it reached the court, the emperor would send someone to deliver it to Prince Yong's residence.

Zhao Shu's daily life has changed from being overly worried to being overly leisurely.

“Princess, please dress more festively. You always dress so plainly, with only a hairpin in your hair. People who don’t know better might think our manor is starving.” Shengxia combed her hair and then started rambling on.

Zhao Shu squinted at her reflection in the bronze mirror, wondering if glass had been invented, because people really looked ugly in bronze mirrors.

I washed her face in early spring, and the washcloth was so stiff. When will I get a sponge to use...?

You see, people are never satisfied!

“Sister Shengxia, the princess is going to see Ninth Sister. Why is she dressed so festively? Ninth Sister is still sick,” said Green Ivy. She was young and didn’t have to do any dirty or hard work, so she was good at talking.

Shengxia glared at her, "Even if we're going to see Ninth Sister, we can't dress so plainly. Dress something more festive, Ninth Sister will like it. Princess, how about we wear two hairpins?"

"Two hairpins are so strange. I made some pearl flowers yesterday, which are perfect for the princess's complexion. I'll go get them." Green Ivy skipped away. Zhao Shu watched her disappearing figure and chuckled. She was already so old, how come she still hadn't grown up?

After tidying herself up, she finally went out, wearing a light purple long dress, her hair simply tied up with a jeweled hairpin, looking very simple. Green Ivy stomped her feet in a huff, annoyed that the princess wouldn't wear the butterfly beaded flower she had made!

Zhao Shu ignored her. She wasn't a child; why was she wearing a butterfly? It wasn't even the right season.

When I saw Jiu Niang, she looked much better. I don't know what Huo Baichuan said to her that day, but she seemed to have come to terms with it. She made a memorial tablet for the blind masseuse at home and even asked a Taoist priest to perform a ritual.

Zhao Shu didn't ask any more questions, but Jiu Niang herself felt extremely guilty. She didn't talk about the past, but instead chatted about some popular topics in the capital.

Perhaps because things had changed, Jiu Niang was willing to confide in Zhao Shu, saying, "I always feel that he is not dead."

Zhao Shu nodded, unsure how to comfort her. "Since we haven't found a body, perhaps she really is still alive. Don't be too sad. If she is alive, she will definitely come looking for you."

"Sigh, never mind, I'm preparing to leave the capital and return to my hometown," she said calmly.

Zhao Shu wasn't surprised; it seemed to be something she expected. "Are there any relatives at home?"

"I have an older brother and sister-in-law, but we haven't been in touch for many years." There was a hint of sadness in her voice.

Zhao Shu understood that if her brother and sister-in-law were good, they wouldn't have let her stay by Xiao Xingyuan's side for so many years without any official status.

Sometimes, having brothers is worse than not having brothers at all.

"If you don't mind, stay in the capital and take good care of Bai Chuan for your master. If you go back to your hometown, won't your master be unable to find you when he returns?" Zhao Shu pitied the woman in front of her, who had devoted her whole life to a man and ended up with nothing.

"Don't worry, I have savings, I won't starve. He gave me everything before he left," she said, trying to suppress her emotions, but Zhao Shu could still feel the overwhelming sadness in her voice.

Xiao Xingyuan would rather give her money than give her the person, which must have been the most fatal blow to Jiu Niang.