In the dark and damp prison, Master Sun was lying on the cold ground.
He tried to open his eyes dazedly, but the scabby blood blocked his vision. He could still hear the shouting and laughter of the jailers.
Several cockroaches crawled across his cheeks, and he didn't even have the strength to raise his hand to drive them away.
"Well, since you gave me a tip before, I'll let you in to take a look. But be quick, or else the money you gave me won't be enough to support me for the rest of my life."
The jailer opened the cell door, turned around, spat, and left.
Sun Jinyao stood at the door of the cell, looking at the father whom he once admired now in such a miserable state, an indescribable sadness spread in his heart.
It felt like a huge rock was stuck in his throat, and the pain was so severe that he almost suffocated.
Sun Jinyao stood there blankly, neither moving forward nor speaking.
Tutor Sun saw his son's tall and slender figure through his blurred vision. The corners of his mouth slightly raised and he tried hard to smile.
"I'm glad you're okay..."
Five words came out of his dry throat, and Sun Jinyao could only take a deep breath to hold back the tears in his eyes.
"In your heart, do you still care whether I am okay or not?"
Sun Jinyao always felt resentful about the fact that his father watched him being exiled thousands of miles away without asking for mercy during a hunting expedition.
"Since I was little, you have always compared me to the Second Prince. You asked me to learn from him and tolerate him. You spent all your energy and time on him. Sometimes I even think that he is more like your son than I am."
Sun Jinyao's tone was very calm. After so many years, all the edges of his resentment had been smoothed out.
"Until..." Sun Jinyao's eyes flashed with a sharp light, "The emperor ordered the confiscation of the family property, and then I learned about your relationship with Concubine Liu from my mother. It would be fine if the blood test showed that he was your son, but he is not."
Sun Jinyao's emotions became suppressed and forbearing, with tears faintly flashing in his eyes.
"But my son. For so many years, you made me please him and accommodate him like a dog. Even at the most critical moment, you would rather sacrifice me to save him. Why?"
Master Sun didn't say anything, but just groaned in pain. He closed his eyes and sighed helplessly.
"Is it because he is the child of the woman you love?" Sun Jinyao's voice was choked with sobs.
He looked at his father with final expectation.
Tutor Sun remained silent, his mouth slightly opened but he just moaned silently.
Sun Jinyao waited for a long time, and then he asked quietly, "Dad, Mom has been married to you for more than 20 years, taking care of the household chores for you, and bearing children for you. Have you ever truly loved her? Even if it was just for a day... an hour... or even a moment?"
Many precious and warm images emerged in Master Sun’s mind.
But in every picture, there is no wife. He just can't forget the woman who lived in his heart when he was young and full of vigor.
Sun Jinyao's heart grew colder little by little.
He took a step back and snorted coldly. The tears in his eyes faded away, replaced by a biting coldness.
"You don't have to answer, I already have the answer."
Sun Jinyao did not step into the cell, but knelt down outside the cell and kowtowed three times to his father.
"You gave me my life, but the one who raised me was my mother. The only thing I can do for you now is to collect your body. You are not worthy of being my mother, and you are not worthy of me calling you father."
After Sun Jinyao finished speaking, he stood up and resolutely turned away.
Tutor Sun's heart suddenly ached. He raised his hand with all his strength and tried to grab his son, but he didn't even have the strength to do so.
He watched Sun Jinyao disappear from his sight.
This time, the relationship between father and son has come to an end.
On the day when Tutor Sun was beheaded, Caishikou was crowded with onlookers.
The crime announced by the Ministry of Justice was corruption and abuse of power, but many people did not understand how such an important position as the Grand Tutor could suddenly fall.
Sun Jinyao squeezed in the crowd and watched indifferently as the executioner chopped his father's neck with a knife.
Blood gushed out and the head and body were separated.
This scene was deeply engraved in his mind.
After the crowd dispersed, Sun Jinyao slowly walked to his father's body.
Looking at the executioner sitting aside with a big knife dripping with blood, drinking wine in big gulps, he looked at Sun Jinyao with contempt.
"Are you here to collect the bodies? Do you know the rules?"
Sun Jinyao took out three taels of silver and threw it over with an expressionless face.
"That's all?" The executioner was obviously dissatisfied. He walked towards Sun Jinyao, pushed him, and said mockingly, "A lean camel is bigger than a horse. Wasn't your Sun family very powerful in the past? What's wrong? You come to me and cry poor?"
"That's all I have. Love it or not." Sun Jinyao looked at his father, his heart as calm as water.
"It's already this late and you're still acting like a big shot." The executioner stuck his sword into the ground and swung his fist to hit Sun Jinyao.
Sun Jinyao's face darkened and he grabbed the executioner's wrist.
He pinched the opponent's pulse tightly, and the executioner screamed in pain.
The guards at the execution ground who were standing not far away all rushed over and stared at Sun Jinyao with murderous eyes.
"You little brat, do you still think you are the majestic Grand Master? Either you hand over the silver today, or... get through my door. Otherwise, don't even think about taking your father's body away."
When had Sun Jinyao ever been insulted like this?
He clenched his fists and glanced at everyone present.
"stop."
When the scolding sounded, the executioner saw a man dressed as a servant walking towards him.
He took out ten taels of silver and handed it over, saying, "Take it. Don't go too far. If you make money from a dead person, be careful of retribution."
The executioner glared at the servant, but he didn't know who the other person was, so he didn't dare to be rude. He snorted heavily and left.
The servant turned around and saluted Sun Jinyao, then took out thirty taels of silver and three hundred taels of silver notes from his sleeve.
"Mr. Sun, this is a little gift from my master, please accept it."
"Who is your master?" Sun Jinyao was very surprised that at this time, there were still people who dared to help him.
The servant smiled and said, "Please forgive me, Master Sun. I am just following orders. My master did not ask me to reveal my name. In short, my master did not harm anyone. Please take care of yourself."
The servant bowed and left.
Sun Jinyao looked at the silver and silver bills in his hand for a long time. Faintly, he smelled a familiar fragrance from the bag of silver.
He was startled and took out the handkerchief hidden in his arms.
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