Chapter 532: Apologizing
On the third day after Zhou Xiangrong was arrested, Xiao Jin asked the Ministry of Justice to complete the trial of the entire case as quickly as possible and follow the fastest procedures, and to determine the charges against Zhou Xiangrong and Xiao Shihang.
Three days later, the city gate was beheaded.
He also intended to have people spread the news among the people and explain the whole story of the academy.
The incident at the academy caused a lot of controversy, and people in the streets and alleys were almost all talking about it.
Although Xiao Jin has asked someone to explain what happened in the academy, there are still many people who believe that this incident was caused by Su Ying.
"If you ask me, if the Queen hadn't insisted on setting up a girls' academy, would this have happened?"
"That's right. Good girls from decent families have been harmed like this. How are those girls going to live in the future?"
"Hey, why can't I survive? If I can't survive by the right way, then I can take a detour. Isn't going to the building to receive customers also a way to survive?"
Everyone present was an ordinary citizen. If there was a stutterer in a family, who would be willing to let their daughter do such a menial job? So everyone automatically ignored this discordant voice and stopped talking.
After hearing the people's discussions, the people sent by Xiao Jin recorded them one by one and reported them back to the palace.
The Imperial Palace, inside the Imperial Study.
Xiao Jin frowned as he looked at the feedback from the spy.
Even though Su Ying didn't do it, the voices scolding her were still loud.
These people seemed to have forgotten how they praised and thanked Su Ying when they first learned that she was blocking the dam herself.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty is the mother of a country and her reputation is of vital importance. If this matter cannot be reversed, it may be detrimental to Your Majesty in the future." For this matter, Duke Jingguo, who was still recuperating at home, ran into the palace specially, just to hear what countermeasures Xiao Jin had thought of.
"Don't worry, my dear minister. I have made plans for the Queen. No one is allowed to slander her!"
Duke Jingguo felt relieved when he heard Xiao Jin say that. He did not ask Xiao Jin about his specific plans. He should have known long ago that the emperor was not a fool. He was just getting old and liked to worry more and more about things.
"Then I will take my leave first."
"Duke Jingguo looks much better now."
Hearing this, Duke Jingguo felt that his legs and feet were stronger. A few days ago, Su Ying even went to the Duke's Mansion and said that she wanted to teach him a method to regulate his breath.
He was skeptical and learned some simple techniques from Su Ying. The younger generations in his house would watch him and ask him to practice when they had nothing to do. At the beginning, he was still a little confused, but after a while, he found that his shortness of breath problem had improved significantly.
I have to admit, there is something about the Queen.
"This is all thanks to your majesty. If you hadn't been worried about my health, I wouldn't have recovered so quickly."
Xiao Jin nodded, "The Queen is very talented. It is a blessing for the Chu State to know about this."
Duke Jingguo quickly raised his head and glanced at Xiao Jin. He had never seen anyone praise his wife like this.
"Your Majesty is right."
…
On the day Zhou Xiangrong and others were beheaded, the streets and alleys of the capital were filled with people before dawn.
The Ministry of Justice charged Xiao Shihang with the crime of being an accomplice of Zhou Xiangrong.
Zhou Xiangrong sat in the prison van, looking at the onlookers whose eyes had changed from initial madness to numbness.
Xiao Shihang was indeed filled with resentment. If only he had known earlier that he was a prince... if only earlier!
"Kill them, kill them, kill these two beasts."
"That's it, kill them!"
The people took out rotten vegetable leaves and threw them at them.
The students' parents glared at Zhou Xiangrong angrily. She looked so weak, but they didn't expect her to be so vicious.
Zhou Xiangrong looked at the angry people expressionlessly and slowly closed his eyes.
The official at the execution ground looked at the sun, took out his command arrow and threw it on the ground, "The time has come, execute the sentence."
The executioner took a sip of liquor and sprayed it on the long sword. He raised his hand and swung the sword. A dark light flashed in the sky, and two hot heads rolled to the ground.
The officials came forward, collected the bodies of the two men in torn sacks, and threw them into the mass grave.
Many of the onlookers were frightened.
At this time, Su Ying, dressed in a wind robe, walked out from the crowd. She stepped on the blood-stained execution ground and swept her eyes across the faces of the people one by one.
"It's the Queen, it's Her Majesty the Queen. The Queen is here too."
Someone shouted, and everyone knelt down towards Su Ying.
"Greetings to the Queen, greetings to Her Majesty the Queen."
The people knelt down.
Su Ying stood up slowly, lifted her skirt and knelt on one knee towards the people.
Everyone present was amazed by this scene.
"Bring the bramble here." Su Ying opened her mouth, and Zhou Qing, with a tense face, handed a long bramble to Su Ying.
Everyone was surprised when they saw the whip in Su Ying's hand, and they didn't understand what she wanted to do.
"When I founded the Women's Academy, I hoped that more daughters from poor families could earn a good future for themselves. However, due to my poor supervision, some irreparable tragedies have occurred. This is my dereliction of duty."
Su Ying paused and continued, "Today, I will apologize to those women who were victimized in front of everyone."
The powerful words shocked everyone present and made them unable to react.
How could a queen of a country ask for forgiveness for a poor man? Throughout the history of the Chu State, this had never happened before.
"I can make mistakes too. What I did today is to tell everyone that even if the emperor makes a mistake, he is guilty just as much as the common people. If you have any grievances in the future, feel free to go to the Jingzhao Yin Mansion. If no one takes the case, I and the emperor will be the first to not forgive him!"
These words left those who were in the crowd and wanted to take the opportunity to humiliate Su Ying speechless.
Su Ying's actions made it impossible for them to make a big fuss about this matter.
The relatives of the murdered women couldn't help but tear up when they saw Su Ying's straight back.
The capital city is big, but the space that can accommodate them is small. Even though their children have experienced such terrible things, they have prepared themselves for the possibility of being suppressed. They could never imagine that the mother of a country would let them vent their hatred with whips.
"Your Majesty, this is not your fault. You should get up quickly." Some people couldn't help but speak, their voices choked with sobs.
"Yes, madam, it's not your fault."
Xiao Jin, who was standing in the dark, retreated towards the officers and soldiers who were blocking the people.
A little girl boldly stepped forward and held Su Ying's hand.
Su Ying slowly raised her eyes and met the little girl's clear eyes. "Madam, I like going to the academy. I like listening to the teachers tell stories. I also like the food in the academy. It's so delicious. In the future, can I go there again?"
Su Yinghui held her hand and said, "Yes, as long as you want to go, the Women's College will always be open to you!"
(End of this chapter)
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