Chapter 639 Be a good person in your next life

"Your thinking is thorough, sir; it is I who am narrow-minded."

"No, no, I understand that Your Excellency also hopes for more honest officials in the world, but sometimes we have to consider the bigger picture."

After Yun Yichen finished speaking and saw that Prefect Yang nodded in agreement, he looked at the little boy who had just come in and beckoned him, saying, "Xiao Lei, come over here and thank your Uncle Yang. Your uncle helped a lot in clearing your father's name."

"Uncle!"

Upon seeing his father's former close friend, Zhou Xiaolei rushed to Prefect Yang's side without a second thought and burst into tears.

Even though he's just a child, no matter how naughty he is, it's still heartbreaking when he cries.

When Prefect Yang saw Zhou Xiaolei, who had become much darker, his heart ached, and he almost shed tears. "Good boy, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

Zhong Lin stood to the side, looking at the tiny Zhou Xiaolei, and almost thought he was seeing a ghost.

You should know that for the past few months, in order to prevent He Biyou and the others from discovering Zhou Xiaolei, Zhong Lin has kept him by his side.

Normally, this kid is stubborn as an ox, except when he helps out with small things. This is the first time Zhong Lin has ever seen him cry like this.

After the two had finished crying, Yun Yichen finally spoke up: "Actually, the reason I called you here, sir, is to talk about Xiao Lei's matter."

"Your Excellency, please rest assured, Xiao Lei is Brother Zhou's only remaining child, and I will certainly take care of him as if he were my own son."

Prefect Yang thought Yun Yichen wanted to talk to him about adoption, but Yun Yichen just shook his head and smiled.

"Seeing how close Xiao Lei is to you, sir, I have no concern that you will mistreat him. However, I have spent several months with this child and would like to take him as my apprentice. What do you think, sir?"

Yun Yichen originally intended for Prefect Yang to adopt Zhou Xiaolei, but Zhong Lin made this request after hearing his plan.

Zhong Lin has been with him for so many years, and he hasn't found her anyone who cares for her. He feels he should do his best to fulfill this small request.

Upon hearing this, Prefect Yang looked up at Zhong Lin and, seeing that he was in good physical condition and was one of Yun Yichen's men, naturally agreed.

But the thought that Yun Yichen would take the other person back to the capital made her a little uneasy.

"Uncle, he is very skilled in martial arts. I am willing to be his disciple."

Zhou Xiaolei thought that Prefect Yang was going to refuse, so he quickly spoke up for Zhong Lin.

Zhong Lin was somewhat surprised to see this. This kid used to always disagree with him, but now he was actually speaking up for him.

With Zhou Xiaolei's statement, Prefect Yang naturally couldn't say anything more. However, he still hesitated and said, "Xiaolei is still young. I wonder if he could stay in Suzhou for another two years?"

"Of course, sir. You can send him to the capital to find me in two years."

Before Yun Yichen could speak, Zhong Lin hurriedly said, as if Prefect Yang would go back on his word if he agreed too late.

Seeing his pathetic state, Yun Yichen glared at him in annoyance. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Yun Yichen's guards were all idiots!

With the matter settled, Prefect Yang took Zhou Xiaolei back. Gu Shuyan, seeing that the matter was over, then led Yufei over.

After listening to Yun Yichen recount the events of the day, Gu Shuyan said somewhat resentfully, "Why did he have to do so many bad things over the years? It's too lenient to just send him to the frontier."

"Does Shushu also think this is too easy on him? Should we give him a big gift before he leaves?"

Yun Yichen also felt that the emperor's punishment was too mild. A treacherous official who had embezzled millions of taels of silver and caused the deaths of loyal families should have been sentenced to death, but the emperor only gave him this punishment.

Yun Yichen knew that the emperor was warning him to stay within his bounds. After all, as the imperial envoy responsible for disaster relief, he had been involved in matters for far too long.

Most importantly, he kept quiet and directly used the money that He Biyou had embezzled as disaster relief funds.

This year, the Great Zhou Dynasty suffered natural disasters, and grain and silver were allocated to various regions, leaving the national treasury mostly empty.

Instead of sending the silver back to the capital, Yun Yichen took it upon himself to give it to the people for building houses.

In the emperor's view, ordinary people could build houses with just a few straws, so why bother building such sturdy houses? Yun Yichen's lack of consideration for him meant he needed to be reprimanded.

Looking at Yun Yichen's cunning gaze, Gu Shuyan immediately guessed that Yun Yichen had a plan.

"What does Brother Yun want to do?" Gu Shuyan blinked.

Seeing this, Yun Yichen leaned close to her ear and whispered something. After that, the couple couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

The next day at noon, Gu Shuyan took a decent meal to the yamen's jail to visit Meng Shi.

Upon seeing Gu Shuyan, Meng Shi did not react much, but simply said calmly, "I never expected that it would be you who saw me off in the end."

Seeing that Gu Shuyan had placed two side dishes in front of her, Meng Shi didn't stand on ceremony and picked up her bowl to eat.

"You don't hate me?" Gu Shuyan felt that this person had become someone she didn't even recognize.

If it were the old her, wouldn't she have started cursing the moment she walked in? But she remained calm, as if nothing around her affected her.

"Hate you? What good will it do me to hate you? I'm a dying man now, what good will it do me to hate you!"

After saying this, Meng smiled, picked up the food in front of him with his chopsticks, and put it in his mouth.

Seeing her wolfing down her food, Gu Shuyan was momentarily speechless! She had wanted to ask on behalf of the girls whether she had ever regretted doing such a vicious thing to others, but at this moment she felt there was no need.

Whether you regret it or not, what's done is done. Those girls who were harmed because of her are beyond redemption, so what's the point of asking for an answer?

Evil has its retribution, and she has received the punishment she deserved, so this chapter should be turned over.

"Remember to be a good person in your next life."

Gu Shuyan slowly got up and walked out. Just before stepping out of the cell door, she turned back and reminded him.

Upon hearing this, Madam Meng paused slightly, but did not respond to Gu Shuyan's words.

At the execution ground, girls who had been hurt or nearly hurt gathered in front of it.

As they watched Meng and the others being led to the execution platform, they all seemed very excited, some even shouting, "Kill her! Kill her!"

The old woman and the burly man trembled and wept as they watched the executioner's broadsword, as if this could dispel their fear. Meanwhile, Meng, the person directly involved, remained calm throughout.

As she was pinned to the rack and looked up at the sun, which was almost at noon, she squinted uncomfortably.

Meanwhile, the executioner was also looking at the sun. Seeing that the time had come, he issued a token and shouted, "Execute!"