Chapter 143: Execution at Caishikou
Jiang Lin noticed the prefect's unusual look and turned to stare at him. The prefect hurriedly looked away and ran towards Qin Xiangnuan with a forced smile on his face, "Where does Young Master Qin live? If you don't mind, you can stay with me in the mansion temporarily, which will make it convenient for me to take care of you and the prince." It was obvious that he wanted to flatter the prefect and he didn't hide it at all. It seemed that the prefect's job was not easy.
Qin Xiangnuan saw through it but didn't say anything. She just said a few perfunctory words and winked at Jiang Lin.
Now that everything was settled, they should return to reunite with the people at the General's Mansion. The common people outside the government office witnessed Zhao Liang and the governor being escorted out, and excitedly shared the good news with one another, "Did you see that? Finally, the judge came and arrested them! We won't be bullied anymore! We don't know who did this, but we should be grateful to them!"
Jiang Lin and Qin Xiangnuan mingled in the crowd, feeling mixed emotions when they heard their praise and the grievances they had suffered over the years.
"Even before we even reach the border, the towns and villages on the outskirts are already in such a state. I imagine the situation in the bitter cold borderlands will be even more severe." Jiang Lin raised his hand slightly to protect Qin Xiangnuan's body, preventing her from being knocked down by the crowd. Qin Xiangnuan heard his sigh and sneered, "How can the high and mighty know the suffering of the common people? When Dad was fighting in the past, he saw too many disaster victims. They all hoped that the nobles from the capital would help, but what was the result? All in vain. If Gu Mingqi really were to take the throne, I'm afraid the situation would be even worse than it is now."
Qin Xiangnuan mercilessly complained about the emperor and Gu Mingqi. Jiang Lin looked at her in surprise, "Discussing state affairs in private is a serious crime. Aren't you afraid?"
"What am I afraid of? Are you going to write a letter to Gu Mingqi? There's something fishy going on between you and him. We're friends in every sense of the word, so why should I avoid you?" Qin Xiangnuan's eyes were clear. Suddenly, the people around them began to commotion, and a crowd surged toward Caishikou. Qin Xiangnuan and Jiang Lin were among them. Although they didn't want to follow them, they couldn't squeeze through and were pushed to the front row at Caishikou.
The prefect was efficient in his work, but he probably felt that there would be endless troubles, so he dragged Zhao Liang and the prefecture out and was about to execute him.
Zhou Fu was dressed in prison clothes and kneeling on the ground, a token of execution stuck behind his neck. Zhao Liang cursed beside him, "God damn it! Didn't you tell me that I'd have no worries about food and clothing in this life? Even if I die, I won't let you go! Just wait!" He was talking hysterically, but Zhou Fu didn't react at all. The cowardly Zhou Fu's eyes were blank, his limbs were weak, and he was still incontinent due to fear. His whole body exuded a foul odor.
The executioner raised the knife high and brought it down in an instant.
"Ouch!" Cries of surprise echoed from all around. As blood splattered, Qin Xiangnuan felt a pair of warm hands covering her eyes, blocking out the bloody scene. The warmth of those hands carried Jiang Lin's unique sandalwood scent. She blinked nervously, her eyelashes fluttering against his palms. Jiang Lin's Adam's apple rolled twice, and he looked down at the woman in his arms, his expression changing slightly.
In fact, he didn't have to do this. He could just be beheaded.
Qin Xiangnuan muttered to herself, remembering how she'd encountered far more horrific situations than the one before her during her previous missions, all caused by her own hands. But since Jiang Lin was so kind, she reluctantly agreed. With this thought in mind, she deliberately tilted her body, her hand resting lightly on Jiang Lin's elbow. "Thank you." She raised her eyes, calculating the angle carefully, and gazed at Jiang Lin with just the right amount of frailty and panic.
Almost instantly, Jiang Lin's ears and cheeks turned red.
"That's pretty cute," Qin Xiangnuan thought, raising an eyebrow. She patted the hem of her skirt and turned without looking back, walking in the opposite direction. Surrounding them were civilians clutching rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs. They vented their anger at the provincial government and Zhao Liang's corpse, as if this could completely dissipate years of pent-up resentment. It was hard to tell whether it was pity or luck that they could express their feelings so openly and simply. Qin Xiangnuan knew she couldn't do it. Her eyes grew cold as she continued walking forward.
There are several stalls selling sweet cakes on the roadside. The vendors are shouting loudly. When you open the steamer, the aroma of osmanthus cakes almost wafts straight into your nose.
Qin Xiangnuan stopped and took a closer look. Jiang Lin followed her gaze, took out two copper coins and some silver, and handed them over. "Give me two."
"Okay! Sir, be careful with the heat." The vendor wrapped the osmanthus cake in oil paper and handed it over.
Jiang Lin tore off a small piece of wax paper and pushed it in front of Qin Xiangnuan. Qin Xiangnuan looked up in surprise. She didn't like sweets, and usually gave her marshmallows and chocolate to Beibei. Sweet things always had a bitter taste to them, perhaps because of her past experiences.
"Your Highness is so considerate? Then on my way back, are you going to buy everything I see?"
Qin Xiangnuan asked jokingly, deliberately standing on tiptoe and staring at the vendor selling candied haws in front of her, saying lightly, "Why do they all look good? I really don't know what to eat?" Jiang Lin knew she was doing it on purpose, but he still walked over, took out some small change, and stuffed it into the vendor's pocket. He whispered a few words, and the vendor seemed surprised. Qin Xiangnuan stood in the distance and couldn't hear anything. She could only frown and stare at Jiang Lin's back, wondering what he was going to do.
After a while, when Qin Xiangnuan was about to take a step forward to chase after him, Jiang Lin suddenly took the pile of candied haws from the vendor, carried it in his hand and walked in front of Qin Xiangnuan.
“Now you can enjoy whatever you want.”
Jiang Lin's expression showed no emotion, except for his eyes, which seemed to be smiling, as if he deliberately wanted to see Qin Xiangnuan's panic expression. "If you were looking at a jade jewelry shop, I would be a little hesitant, but my Xiaoyao Marquis Mansion can still afford sweet things to coax children. Just look, I'll follow you... "Is this the money power of a domineering president?
Qin Xiangnuan raised her hand stiffly, took out a string of candied haws from the pile, and put it in her mouth.
The moment her teeth lightly bit, a sweet and sour feeling came over her at the same time. She lowered her eyes, gently tugged at the edge of her skirt with her fingers, and sniffed, "Anliu also said that you don't know how to please girls. On weekdays, you don't even see a maid or female relatives in the mansion. It seems that he is deliberately framing me. The prince understands girls' minds so well, how could he lack a confidante?"
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