Chapter 58 [58]
【58】/First release
Word of mouth spread quickly, and the news of Prince Yuzhang's beheading spread throughout the country.
In a small mountain village not far from the capital, even the peasant women have stopped talking about widows from the east and girls from the west, and instead are talking about the emperor's uncle who is about to be beheaded.
"I really don't understand what this Prince of Yuzhang is thinking. Even though he's not as powerful as the emperor, he's still a prince after all! Isn't it good to live a peaceful life in Yuzhang with fine clothes and delicious food? Why does he have to rebel?"
"That's right. He must have had enough of his leisurely life, so he just wanted to die. Now, instead of becoming emperor, he's been thrown into prison and beheaded in public... Tsk tsk, I heard that anyone beheaded is paraded through the streets in a prison van."
"A parade? If we weren't so far away, I'd also like to join in the fun. I've never seen such a prominent figure in my life!"
"Not only that, I also heard that His Majesty personally supervised the execution this time!"
"Oh my, that would be incredible! Caishikou would be packed with people!"
The peasant women washing clothes by the river were still chatting casually, when a slender figure walked away dimly on the shore.
The autumn wind was bleak, and the ground was covered with dead leaves. Xiao Ningning looked at the vast world and felt a boundless loneliness and fear.
Yuzhang was occupied by the royal army, the mansion was burned to ashes, and her father and mother would be executed soon. From then on, she would no longer have any relatives or home in this world.
The world is so big, where should she go...
"Ning'er, why did you run out?"
A familiar voice called from not far away. Xiao Ningning raised her eyes, and when she saw the man in a coarse robe whose handsome appearance could not be concealed, her heart felt warm for a moment - she was not alone, at least she still had Zhao Lang.
Even at the critical moment of life and death, he did not forget to take her with him to escape, which shows how deeply he loves her!
But the warmth that was just beginning to emerge was quickly extinguished by the woman following behind Zhao Wenshao.
That woman was Zhong Ling'er, the daughter of the village chief of Zhongjia Village.
They fled all the way from Yuzhang, and finally Zhong Ling'er took them in.
Xiao Ningning was originally wondering why Zhao Wenshao knew a peasant girl. After repeated questioning, Zhao Wenshao told her the truth about what happened on the way to Beijing last year.
It turns out that last year his confidante included not only the village head Gui Ruoxi, but also the charming and pure peasant girl Zhong Ling'er.
He kept saying that he loved her the most, but the women around him kept coming one after another, Gui Ruoxi, Qin Mingyue, Zhong Ling'er...and it's only been a year!
"Young Master, please slow down." Zhong Ling'er followed closely behind Zhao Wenshao. When she saw Xiao Ningning, her black eyes, as pure as a little deer, blinked and she timidly called out, "Sister Xiao."
On normal days, Xiao Ningning would have replied with a smile, "Sister Ling'er," but now her mind was full of the sad news that her parents were about to be beheaded. She was in no mood to deal with it and just nodded lightly.
Zhong Ling'er could tell that she was in a bad mood, so she didn't dare to provoke her. She just looked at Zhao Wenshao cautiously.
Zhao Wenshao gave her a soothing look and said, "Ling'er, go back first."
Zhong Ling'er hesitated for a while, then nodded: "Then Sir, Sister Xiao, Ling'er will withdraw first."
She was as timid and cute as a fawn, and her steps as she left were as light and graceful as a fawn.
Xiao Ningning stared at her back and couldn't help thinking, no wonder Zhao Wenshao liked her. If she were a man, it would be hard for her not to feel pity for such an obedient and timid little thing.
"Ningning, what's wrong with you?"
Zhao Wenshao took a step forward and raised his hand to hold hers.
Xiao Ningning avoided it.
She looked at the hand frozen in the air, and couldn't help thinking that this hand that had held her and hugged her had also held and hugged other women.
Since he had provoked those women, why did he say he loved her?
An indescribable feeling of nausea surged in her heart, and she suddenly remembered the words that Concubine Zhao had said to her earnestly last year.
"You are a princess, what kind of man can you want?"
"People like Zhao Wenshao, who can hide Gui Ruoxi from you, will definitely have a second and a third in the future..."
"If he hurts you once, he will definitely hurt you a second and third time... Are you really sure you want to place your precious feelings on a man like this?"
A man who is addicted can still escape from it, but a woman who is addicted cannot escape from it.
"Ningning, I know you're here for the prince and princess..."
"Shut up! Shut up!"
Like the last straw that broke the camel's back, or a cat whose tail was stepped on, Xiao Ningning's emotions suddenly collapsed. With red eyes, she looked at the man in front of her: "It's all your fault. It was you who instigated my father to rebel. Otherwise, my father would have stayed in Yuzhang and been his prince. How could he have ended up like this?"
Zhao Wenshao's face turned pale as he looked at his beloved, who had always been gentle as water but was now as irritable as a mad woman, in disbelief: "Ningning, you actually think of me like this?"
"If I don't think of you this way, how should I think of you? I was wrong. I was wrong from the beginning..."
Blinking her eyelashes, two crystal tears rolled down her cheeks. Xiao Ningning covered her face with regret, "I should have listened to Concubine Zhao and completely forgotten you. Now that a disaster has occurred, it's too late to regret... It's all my fault. I was blinded by greed and brought you back to the palace..."
"Ningning, you..."
Zhao Wenshao's eyes were filled with hurt and brokenness, and his voice was hoarse: "Since you blame me, I have nothing to explain. I admit it. I am willing to bear it if you want to hit me or scold me."
He took a deep breath and reached out to her again, trying to wipe away her tears: "I just beg you to stop crying. Seeing you cry, my heart is broken."
Xiao Ningning tried to hide again, but this time Zhao Wenshao domineeringly pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly: "Ningning, it doesn't matter if others misunderstand me, but you can't."
"I have nothing but you." His lips touched her left ear, and he spoke tenderly and affectionately, "Ningning, I love you, I really love you."
If it were in the past, Xiao Ningning's heart would have softened to pieces when she heard this.
But at this moment, her heart seemed as dry as her tears, and she only felt that the man hugging her was so strange.
The only thing echoing in my mind was Concubine Zhao's question: "What is it about him that you like?"
Yes, what exactly is the reason for her obsession with him?
Xiao Ningning was confused. She frowned and pushed Zhao Wenshao away.
Zhao Wenshao was startled and looked down at her: "Ningning?"
Xiao Ningning raised her head and said, "I'm going to the capital."
Zhao Wenshao's expression changed drastically: "You are crazy."
As soon as he said this, perhaps realizing it was too harsh, he immediately changed his tone: "What I mean is, people are searching for us everywhere outside. If you run to the capital at this time, aren't you walking into a trap?"
Xiao Ningning: "In a few days, my father and mother will be executed."
Zhao Wenshao was silent for two breaths, then spoke more slowly. "I know you're sad, but in this situation, even if you go to the capital, it won't help. Maybe the court deliberately leaked the news, waiting for us to fall into their trap."
"Then what do you want me to do?" Xiao Ningning looked at him hysterically. "Those are my biological parents. They're about to be executed. Am I supposed to hide in this little village and ignore them?"
Zhao Wenshao's face was serious: "Ningning, calm down."
The calmer he was, the more Xiao Ningning broke down. She knew that she was like an unreasonable mad woman, but she really didn't know what to do.
She has lost all her relatives and friends, and the only person she can rely on, Zhao Wenshao, cannot understand her feelings at the moment.
"People always have to pay the price for their mistakes." Xiao Ningning clenched her fingers, and a glimmer of clarity flashed through her numb eyes: "It's my fault. I didn't know people well and brought trouble to my family. Now my family is broken up and my father and mother are about to be beheaded. How can I stay here safely..."
She would rather die with her family than live the rest of her life in hiding, burdened with unrelieved guilt and pain.
"Zhao Wenshao, leave me alone."
Xiao Ningning said this calmly and ran out without looking back.
Zhao Wenshao was shocked: "Ningning——"
He went forward to chase her, but Xiao Ningning ran exceptionally fast, no one knew where she got the strength from.
When he ran to the main road, Zhao Wenshao saw two patrolling yamen runners with swords not far away. His eyes flickered, but he did not dare to chase them rashly for fear of attracting attention.
Looking at the petite figure in the sunlight that seemed to be running away and liberated, he frowned.
Why is she suddenly so disobedient?
Yes, she mentioned Concubine Zhao.
It must be that ridiculous and shameless concubine who corrupted his Ningning!
***
In the blink of an eye, it was the eve of the beheading of Prince Yuzhang and his wife.
In the dead of night, Lu Zhiwan tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
Xiao Jingting had fallen asleep, but was awakened by her noise. He raised his hand to rub his sleepy eyes, his voice hoarse with sleepiness: "Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
"I'm wondering if Xiao Ningning will show up tomorrow?"
"Just for this?"
"Well..." This matter is very important to her.
"There's nothing to worry about."
Xiao Jingting hooked his arm around her waist and hugged her tighter: "Whether she will come or not, it's useless to think too much. You will know after a good night's sleep tomorrow."
"That being said, but..."
"Nothing to worry about." Xiao Jingting slept a little, his head buried in her chest, as if he had found a warm nest. He closed his eyes and relaxed, "Even if she doesn't come, it's no big deal. The whole world belongs to the king. Keep searching, and sooner or later we'll catch them."
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
Her serious thoughts were disrupted by the heat he sprayed on her chest, turning into a helpless embarrassment.
In the past, Xiao Jingting preferred to rest in her neck, but now this guy especially liked to bury his chest——
Before, he buried it secretly while she was asleep. After they got to know each other, he didn't care whether she was asleep or not, he would bury it in her arms whenever she came to him.
Fortunately, he was still a child at heart. He simply felt that it was very comfortable to be buried in her soft place, and he didn't have any other thoughts.
Even so, Lu Zhiwan still felt embarrassed - after all, he did look like a mature and handsome man.
However, after being interrupted by Xiao Jingting, she stopped thinking about Xiao Ningning and soon fell asleep in a daze.
The next morning, she changed into the eunuch's clothes as usual, and went to court with Xiao Jingting with two dark circles under her eyes due to lack of sleep.
There was not much content in today's court meeting, and the court officials' minds, like those of their superiors, were all focused on the execution ground outside the palace.
After the court meeting was over, the emperor and his empress returned to the Yangxin Palace, changed into their daily clothes, and rode together in the imperial carriage to the execution ground to supervise the execution.
It was sunny in the morning, but by noon, the autumn wind suddenly blew, dark clouds covered the sky, and an atmosphere of solemn autumn was everywhere.
For some reason, the closer Lu Zhiwan got to the execution ground, the more violently his eyelids twitched, and his heart seemed to be hanging high on a silk thread, swinging from side to side in anxiety.
This feeling made her extremely uneasy, just like before the assassination attempt half a year ago.
It seems like something big is about to happen.
Suddenly, a broad and strong palm rested on the back of her slender hand, and warmth came over her.
Lu Zhiwan's eyelashes trembled, and when she looked up, she met the concerned gaze of the man beside her: "Why are your hands so cold?"
“Is there…is there?”
"Yes." He tightened his grip and asked, "Are you afraid of the beheading? Then when the execution is carried out, go sit in the back and don't watch."
Thinking about the bloody scene of the head falling to the ground, Lu Zhiwan felt a chill. So he nodded in agreement with Xiao Jingting's words: "Well, I won't watch it."
After a pause, she said to him, "Don't look at it either."
Xiao Jingting: "I'm not afraid."
Lu Zhiwan: "Don't look even if you're not afraid."
Xiao Jingting: "Why?"
Lu Zhiwan thought for a moment and said seriously, "The scene is bloody and not suitable for children."
Xiao Jingting: “…”
He curled his lips slightly and said, "I'm not a child."
Lu Zhiwan didn't argue with him about this.
Not long after, the sedan chair stopped behind the execution platform, and the entire execution ground was surrounded by heavy troops.
The onlookers were isolated on the periphery, stretching their necks and standing on tiptoe, looking at this extremely significant and grand beheading execution scene with great anticipation.
Today's prisoner has a great background. He is a true nobleman with royal blood!
And today's executioner is even more extraordinary. The emperor has come to supervise the execution personally!
If you can encounter such a scene once, it will be enough to brag about for the rest of your life.
"Ouch, don't push, don't push!"
"Who the hell stepped on my foot? How can you be so blind?"
"Look, that's His Majesty's carriage, right? Wow, how majestic!"
"Why hasn't the traitor come yet during the parade? I've been waiting for ages."
"You don't know this, do you? The road from the Ministry of Justice to Caishikou was packed with people early in the morning. The prison van was littered with rotten vegetable leaves after a while, and the road had to be cleared before it could move forward."
"That's what the traitor deserves! You chose to be a prince instead of rebelling, wasting the people's money and resources. What a sin!"
The people were talking at once, discussing the matter heatedly. In the crowd, Xiao Ningning, who was dressed in disguise and wearing a veil, clenched her fists with tears in her eyes.
She wanted to retort, but she didn't know how - after all, they were telling the truth.
But the traitors they were cursing were her biological parents.
When the prison cart covered with rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs was pushed to the execution ground, Xiao Ningning looked at the emaciated Prince Yuzhang and Princess Yuzhang wearing heavy shackles in the prison cart, and her tears could no longer be restrained and rolled down her cheeks.
"Father...Mother..." Her red lips moved, she wanted to shout but didn't dare to make a sound, so she could only bite her lips tightly.
On the execution ground, the escorting officer opened the door of the prison van and angrily drove Prince Yuzhang and his wife away: "Hurry up, stop dawdling!"
Prince Yuzhang was wearing dirty prison clothes, his hair was messy, a yoke was hung around his neck, and his hands and feet were also shackled. Every time he took a step onto the stage, the chains collided with each other, making a dull clicking sound.
His face was ashen, and his eyes were as motionless as the eyes of a frozen fish.
Princess Yuzhang's situation was not much better than his. Her delicate skin, which had been pampered for a long time, was rubbed red, swollen and black by the shackles. She was disheveled, hunched over, and seemed to have aged by ten years.
The couple staggered towards the execution platform. When the princess saw the sharp knife in the executioner's hand, her body trembled violently, her legs became weak, and she collapsed to the ground.
Seeing this, Xiao Ningning's eyes trembled with tears. She subconsciously took a step forward and almost blurted out the word "Mother".
When the people in the front row saw her suddenly pushing forward, they frowned and scolded her, "Why are you pushing? Can't you see there are people standing there?"
Xiao Ningning was startled: "No...I'm sorry."
She stepped back silently, and suddenly, the people around her became as excited as boiling water.
"Look, Your Majesty, it's Your Majesty!"
"Oh my God, I'm so lucky to see His Majesty's true face in this lifetime. I have no regrets in this life!"
"Don't push, don't push, let me see too——"
"As expected of the True Dragon Emperor, Your Majesty is truly handsome!"
Xiao Ningning was so restrained that she couldn't squeeze past these common people. After a while, she was pushed further and further back, and even when she stood on tiptoe, she could only see the backs of the heads of the people in the front row.
Just when she was frustrated and confused, not knowing what to do, a team of Jinyiwei seemed to descend from the sky and surrounded her with solemn expressions.
She felt that the leader looked familiar and recognized him as Xing Zhou, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
At this moment, he held the Embroidered Spring Knife, his hands folded across his chest, and glared at her coldly: "Princess Yuzhang, come with us."
***
Behind the execution platform, Lu Zhiwan looked at Xiao Ningning who had been captured and felt very complicated.
At the beginning of spring, she and Xiao Ningning were still sitting in Lifeng Palace, drinking tea and chatting like friends. Who could have imagined that more than half a year later, she would still be the high and mighty imperial concubine, while Xiao Ningning had become a fugitive wanted by everyone, being unceremoniously taken to the ground by the Jinyiwei, and knelt on her knees in panic.
In response to this, Lu Zhiwan couldn't help but sigh: "I told you long ago that feeling sorry for a man will make you unhappy."
If Xiao Ningning had put away her sympathy for Zhao Wenshao half a year ago and not brought him into Prince Yuzhang's Palace, this situation wouldn't have happened today.
Xiao Ningning knelt on the ground with her head hung dejectedly, not saying a word.
Instead, Xiao Jingting, who was sitting next to him, frowned and glanced at Lu Zhiwan.
"Am I not a man?"
Lu Zhiwan: “…”
Why does this guy always take responsibility for everything?
After calming down a bit, she looked at Xiao Ningning again: "Where is Zhao Wenshao now?"
Xiao Ningning swayed a little, still keeping her head down and refusing to speak.
Seeing this, Lu Zhiwan couldn't help but feel a headache: "At this point, are you still hiding it for him? The princess risked her life to come to the execution ground today. She should know that you are most likely walking into a trap, but you still came..."
She pretended to be calm and picked up the teacup on the table, looking at Xiao Ningning slowly: "I thought the princess had thought it through, and wanted to give you a chance to redeem yourself because of our past friendship..."
Before she could finish her words, Xiao Ningning heard the words "make amends" and immediately raised her head, looking at her eagerly with eyes flashing with expectation: "Zhao Fei, can you let my father and mother go?"
Lu Zhiwan looked at the haggard yet still beautiful face in front of him, and felt sorry. How could such a good girl be obsessed with a scumbag?
Sliding her slender jade fingers along the side of the cup, she shook her head and said, "I'm afraid it's impossible to let them go. Princess, you are a wise person and you should know that rebellion is an unforgivable sin."
Xiao Ningning's eyes darkened, and Lu Zhiwan continued, "However, if you are willing to reveal Zhao Wenshao's whereabouts, His Majesty and I can grant you a favor—spare your life and allow you to collect your parents' remains and take them home for burial, so they won't be thrown into a mass grave, where wild dogs will devour them and destroy their remains. Princess, what do you think?"
Xiao Ningning hesitated.
She knew in her heart that the grace given by Concubine Zhao was tolerant enough and tempting enough.
But ask her to reveal Zhao Wenshao's whereabouts...
She bit her lower lip tightly, her heart wavering violently. Although she had decided to leave him and never love him again, if she turned around and betrayed him, wouldn't she become a despicable villain? "Princess, you have to think clearly. If you don't tell us his whereabouts, then according to the law, you should also be guillotined."
Lu Zhiwan didn't know what the hesitation was about. "I heard that during the time Zhao Wenshao was with you, he also made friends with Qin Mingyue, the owner of Zixiao Villa?"
When Qin Mingyue was mentioned, Xiao Ningning's eyelashes fluttered. Looking at Lu Zhiwan's eyes that were as clear as a fire, she felt even more frustrated - Concubine Zhao knew.
Concubine Zhao knew that Qin Mingyue was also a woman.
The helpless gazes from her same sex were like a sharp blade that tore through her disguise, making her even more embarrassed.
A voice told her: You should listen to Concubine Zhao and accept her conditions. Zhao Wenshao has betrayed you many times. He doesn't love you at all, and it's not worth you hiding it for him. Are you going to sacrifice your life for such a person?
Her heart gave an affirmative answer. She didn't want to do that. She wanted to live, to collect her parents' remains, to spend the rest of her life in seclusion, to atone for the sins of killing that she and her loved ones had committed.
But when she tried to open her mouth and utter a hoarse voice, another voice rang in her ears: "How could you betray Zhao Wenshao? Just because he has other women? Foolish! It's normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines. Besides, he said that you are the love of his life and the only wife he wants to marry. You have been bewitched by this treacherous concubine. She simply wants to harm you and turn you into a treacherous, cold-blooded, jealous woman!"
Xiao Ningning frowned and her lips moved.
Seeing her indecisiveness and silence, Lu Zhiwan felt increasingly disappointed. It was really hard to save someone who was in love...
Xiao Jingting had already lost his patience, especially when he saw Lu Zhiwan looking exhausted. He immediately looked up at Xing Zhou and ordered in a cold voice, "Drag Xiao Ningning away and execute her together!"
Xing Zhou's face turned stern, and he bowed and agreed, "Yes."
After saying that, he stepped forward to take the person away.
Xiao Ningning shuddered with fear, then looked at the emperor's gloomy and decisive face without any hesitation, and finally spoke in panic: "I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"
Xing Zhou paused and looked at the emperor, waiting for instructions.
Xiao Jingting felt that this woman was being too nagging. If it were him, he wouldn't want to hear another word. But seeing that Wanwan seemed to care, and that she probably didn't like him killing people, he finally suppressed his impatience and said coldly, "Hurry up and tell me."
Xiao Ningning said: "Zhao Wenshao is at the Zhong family..."
Before the word "village" was uttered, a feather arrow shot into the slightly simple back hall.
Fortunately, Xing Zhou was quick-witted and swift-handed, waving his sword to catch the feather arrow that was shooting straight upwards.
However, the next moment, countless arrows were shot from all directions, and chaos broke out in front of the execution ground and in the back hall.
"Someone come, someone is robbing the execution ground!"
"Protect the emperor, protect him quickly!"
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