Prince Mu had always believed that the Princess's serious illness was a lie told by Mu Yunhe and his men. His secret guards had been reporting on the Princess for some time; he disliked her and always felt she was scheming, so he had people watching her. Therefore, he was very familiar with her actions, though he hadn't been paying attention lately. But the Princess's health had always been good, hadn't it? How could she suddenly become seriously ill?
Although it was said to be caused by falling into the water, Prince Mu still didn't believe it. Falling into water could be fatal? She's not a child. Besides, there's always someone around the Princess; how could she be allowed to fall into the water? Even if she did, she could be rescued immediately. Death is absolutely out of the question.
Why is Prince Mu so unmoved and unwilling to see the Princess? The reason lies here! 17652188
Because Prince Mu always believed that the Princess Consort was just being scheming and deceiving him; she only wanted to see him.
This idea was further solidified in Prince Mu's mind by the death of Consort Li. Why did the Princess Consort have to fall seriously ill on the very day Consort Li was murdered? Was this truly a coincidence? Prince Mu didn't think so. He believed it was nothing more than a scheme by the Princess Consort.
Is she trying to escape his wrath and punishment by becoming seriously ill? Or is she just trying to gain his sympathy and pity? Or is her constant pleading to see him just a plea for mercy for her son?
Hmph, she overestimates her place in his heart. She, Lady Tong, doesn't have the power to shake his heart!
Prince Mu felt that since it was deception, he couldn't condone the Princess's behavior; otherwise, wouldn't he lose even more face? He'd be completely manipulated by a woman. Therefore, he resolutely refused to come. While refusing, he did consider what if she really was dying. But then he thought, Fangfei had been killed by her son; if she died, it would be a perfect way to pay for Fangfei's death! It would be a blessing for her, as he wouldn't have to personally eliminate her.
But despite all his calculations, he miscalculated. He hadn't expected her to be truly dying. Seeing Mu Yunhe blindfold the princess, Prince Mu was at a loss for words, unable to describe the feelings he was experiencing.
I feel a pang of sadness, a sense of bewilderment, and a bit of disbelief.
The woman he loathed so much died, and right before his eyes, her death filled with such unease. Shouldn't he be overjoyed? He even felt happy imagining the princess's death. So why, when it actually happened, did he feel no joy at all? Could it be that he didn't actually despise the princess as much as he thought?
Prince Mu walked forward involuntarily, past the King and his servants, and came to stand behind Mu Yunhe.
Luo Zhiheng abruptly stood up, drawing her cane with lightning speed. Almost without hesitation, the cane flashed, revealing a blade. The sharp edge pointed directly at Prince Mu's face, as if warning him: if he dared to take another step forward, he would be killed!
Prince Mu stopped in his tracks, completely ignoring Luo Zhiheng. His gaze, which was meant to be ambiguous, fell on the princess's thin face, and his eyes gradually began to change.
"Get out. Just pretend I'm not your son, just pretend you never had a mother as your wife. Go and cherish your concubine Li, don't disturb my mother's soul here." Mu Yunhe didn't turn around, his cold words were filled with cruelty and rejection.
From the moment his mother closed her eyes, he had already decided to sever his father-son relationship with Prince Mu. There was no room for negotiation.
Prince Mu did not leave, his expression indescribably strange, as if sorrowful, yet also as if he were laughing. It was eerily bizarre.
"Your mother...is she really dead?" Even though he had seen it with his own eyes and already knew it, for some reason, Prince Mu asked again, as if to confirm it.
Mu Yunhe stood up and slowly turned around. He was a head taller than his father, and his sharp gaze, filled with hatred, was like a poisoned blade, ready to kill at the first sign of blood: "What? You need to confirm again? At least show some respect for your title, Prince Mu. Don't make me ask you to leave! You are no longer welcome here. You have no further use to me, so please leave!"
Prince Mu was speechless. He was furious that Mu Yunhe had so bluntly used the word "use." He had been forced to come only to use him, to ensure his mother's final peace. However, even Mu Yunhe, who had gone to such lengths, could not defy fate. Fate had caused him and the Princess to miss each other by a hair's breadth; who could he blame?
He should have turned and strode away without hesitation, but his feet seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move. His gaze was fixed on the princess, but Mu Yunhe suddenly blocked his view. The father and son's eyes clashed once more, neither willing to yield, evenly matched.
"Please leave. You are not welcome in the General's Mansion," Luo Zhiheng said in a deep voice as she slowly lowered her knife.
This expulsion was something Prince Mu had never experienced in his life—humiliating and illogical. He should have angrily rebuked these two disrespectful children, but at this moment he couldn't say a word.
Slowly turning around, Prince Mu found it strange that his steps had become so heavy. The woman behind him was truly getting further and further away. He couldn't explain the feeling in his heart; it was only a few steps, and he could completely escape her presence. The cage he could never let go of, the responsibility imposed upon him, fueled Prince Mu's anger and long-standing loathing for the Princess. But why couldn't he feel happy at this moment?
Upon reaching the door, before even taking a step out, Prince Mu's voice rang out: "She was my princess consort. After her death, she will be buried in the imperial mausoleum. I will send someone to take her away, and the mourning hall will be set up in..." He wanted to say it would be set up in the detached courtyard, but then he suddenly remembered that Li Fangfei's mourning hall was also set up there. For some reason, the words caught in his throat and became: "Let's set up the mourning hall in the small prince's residence."
The Little Prince's Mansion was an annex to the Mu Prince's Mansion and served as the residence of Prince Mu before he came of age.
Prince Mu's words did not cause any ripples in Mu Yunhe's mind. He coldly said, "My mother has nothing to do with you, and her funeral arrangements are none of your business. Please have some self-respect!"
"Mu Yunhe! Your mother is gone. How long will you continue to be willful? Do you want your mother to become a wandering ghost after death? Or do you want her to be ridiculed? A princess consort, it seems she doesn't even have the chance to be buried with her husband? What's the difference between that and being divorced? Are you going to smear your mother's reputation?" Prince Mu suddenly turned around, his voice surprisingly agitated.
A hint of surprise and doubt flashed in Luo Zhiheng's eyes. What was Prince Mu so excited about? Did he have another purpose?
"Don't worry about it! My mother will leave this world with dignity. She doesn't need to be associated with your glory. While she was alive, she depended on you; after she dies, she must rest in peace. Don't even think about controlling or hurting her!" Mu Yunhe hated Prince Mu to the core and naturally wouldn't think of him in a positive light. Like Luo Zhiheng, he believed that Prince Mu had ulterior motives for doing this.
The princess should be allowed to enter the royal mausoleum, but Mu Yunhe has already given up on Prince Mu. How can a person filled with hatred accept the words of their enemy?
Prince Mu was about to say something more, but Mu Yunhe was no longer willing to waste words with him and directly had him escorted out.
Watching Prince Mu being led away, Mu Yunhe said to the wet nurse, "Go there yourself, take this token to the execution ground, and tell them to dismember and shred Consort Li! Remember, make a big fuss with gongs and drums, and also send a message to the Li family, telling them that every single member of their family must be present, including any infants! If even one is missing, I will kill two!"
Chapter 1 complete. One more chapter to go today. Keep up the good work! Please vote, leave comments, and give monthly tickets! Group chat!
Chapter 383: Extreme Execution: Dismemberment and Hanging! (Bonus Chapter for 61,000 Recommendation Votes)
Updated: 2013-10-11 18:53:13 Word Count: 3371
If one is missing, kill two!
Mu Yunhe said these words with red eyes.
When he said this, everyone in the room was stunned. However, everyone remained silent. They all knew very well that when Mu Yunhe said this, he really meant he would not show any mercy. The revenge had begun, and no one and nothing related to Li Fangfei would escape.
The Li family was the first target Mu Yunhe aimed at!
The wet nurse accepted the order and left. The general's mansion immediately became busy. In no time, the entire mansion was covered in white.
The couple handled all the funeral arrangements personally. There was much they didn't know, but thankfully the Pharaohs and the King were there, and even Murong Qianxue's sister-in-law was invited to help. The General's Mansion couldn't function without a capable woman. Luo Zhiheng could manage, but it would take time, as she had no experience with funeral arrangements. Thankfully, the elders helped them; without their assistance, these two young people, who had never experienced anything like this before, would likely have been not only overwhelmed but also broken down.
Once the mourning hall was finally set up, the princess's body was dressed and placed in the coffin in front of the mourning hall, Mu Yunhe finally had some free time.
Luo Zhiheng handed Mu Yunhe a cup of ginseng tea, watching him drink it all, and slowly said, "You really..." She wanted to ask if he would do this, since although he had previously threatened Prince Mu with Consort Li's corpse, it was still a kind of agreement between them: if Prince Mu came, Consort Li's corpse would be preserved. Now, nothing could stop Mu Yunhe's actions. She wasn't worried about anything else, only that people would say Mu Yunhe had gone back on his word.
Mu Yunhe understood his thoughts, and touched her little face, saying, "He broke his promise too, and he broke it first. Besides, that slut ruined my mother's life, and that man is an accomplice, an executioner as well. One cold look from him could make my mother wish she were dead. How can I let them go? That slut will never have a peaceful death, and that man, doesn't he care about that slut? Then let him watch that slut be torn to pieces!"
"Yunhe, I don't care what others do, just tell me, are you sure you're alright? Are you still thinking clearly?" Luo Zhiheng's worry hadn't subsided. She held his hand tightly, her voice soft, almost weightless with worry. 1497.
Mu Yunhe pulled her back to the room, personally helping Luo Zhiheng change into the hastily made mourning clothes, and then changed himself. After a long silence, he finally said, "I'm sure, I'm fine. I've never felt so good. Relaxed, at ease, and unrestrained. With Mother gone, nothing and no one can restrain me anymore."
He cupped her small face in his hands and said, “Of course, Aheng is different. We practically share a soul. I can only feel at ease when you're here. You always think the same way I do. We're connected at heart. Support me. Those dark days of the past will be over. No one can point fingers at us anymore. Those who bullied you, those who hurt Mother, their good days are over. We'll just watch them suffer and struggle for their lives.”
Luo Zhiheng held him in silence. 17652213 One eye, two red eyes.
“Let’s go to the execution ground, watch this vile woman be destroyed with our own eyes, and see how terrified the Li family is.” A hint of cruelty flashed in Mu Yunhe’s eyes as he pulled Luo Zhiheng away from the General’s Mansion.
When two people dressed in mourning appeared at the entrance of the market, it was already packed with people once again.
The two of them stood together once again in the position of the executioner, looking at the headless female corpse that had been exposed to the scorching sun for a long time. Her body was almost rotting and stinking. The people pointed and whispered among themselves, while the Li family members had all arrived.
The Li family had one advantage over Prince Mu: they fully recognized the power of the diviner Mu Yunhe and dared not defy him. The Li family knew their own actions and were even more afraid of Mu Yunhe's retaliation. Therefore, they followed Mu Yunhe's instructions completely, and the whole family came. Even their two infants were brought along by adults.
Seeing the miserable state of Consort Li, who could not find peace even after death, the Li family members almost all turned pale. The children were crying, and the Li family members wished they could cover the babies' mouths, for fear that the annoying cries would anger the priest on the execution platform.
This time, Mu Yunhe didn't wait for Prince Mu to arrive, because whether he came or not, Li Fangfei's body would be torn to pieces anyway. He even had to thank Prince Mu for his ruthlessness, which gave him a reason not to hold back anymore.
It was noon, and Mu Yunhe looked up at the blazing sun, squinted, and ordered someone to read the emperor's edict aloud.
"His Majesty's decree has not been fully carried out. Didn't the Li family also say that imperial decrees cannot be disobeyed? Your Li family members are aware of this. How can I not grant your Li family's request to uphold justice and eliminate kinship?" Mu Yunhe referred to himself as "this official" rather than "this king." With just this one sentence, the Li family members' expressions changed drastically.
They knew that Mu Yunhe was referring to Li Xian'er. Li Fangfei had said the same thing when she was beheaded, and they never expected that Mu Yunhe would use it to shut them up today.
Li Xian'er, standing in the crowd, felt no guilt or fear upon hearing these words; instead, she felt proud and excited. How could Li Xian'er not be thrilled and happy that Mu Yunhe could remember her words? Looking at Mu Yunhe's handsome face, even in mourning clothes, his good looks remained undiminished. Li Xian'er's heart pounded wildly, preoccupied only with her own romantic feelings, completely oblivious to the sorrow she felt for her aunt who had loved her for so many years.
The Li family's ruthlessness was utterly appalling. Not a single member of the Li family showed any sadness or grief for Li Fangfei's impending execution; they were all solely concerned with saving their own lives.
When the wet nurse brought up the token, she knew that Mu Yunhe would come in person, so she did not order anyone to carry it out immediately.
Holding the command token, Mu Yunhe murmured, "Mother, that vile woman Li can't leave in as much glory as you. Watch from heaven, your son has avenged you."
He clenched his fist, threw the exquisite token away, and shouted, "Execute!"
The token was specially made, equivalent to the emperor's token, and was personally given to Mu Yunhe by the emperor. He could use this token to do anything, anywhere, and no one could stop him. This was his privilege.
As the token landed, four swift horses suddenly galloped off, their long ropes creaking as they were dragged. Li Fangfei's body, which had been still on the ground, was pulled up by four identical forces in the blink of an eye, becoming taut and straight.
In no time at all, as if in the blink of an eye, her body was torn to pieces with a bang.
Gasps of shock rippled through the crowd; it was the first time a corpse had been torn to pieces like that. The cruelty and extreme nature of it was indescribable.
The Li family members looked extremely grim. Even Li Xian'er, who had been keeping a close eye on Mu Yunhe, couldn't help but feel terrified upon seeing this scene.
But the matter wasn't over yet. Mu Yunhe continued, "This vile woman is immoral and has committed countless evils; she is truly unforgivable. Tear her to pieces!"
The dismemberment method used by the Mu Dynasty was particularly cruel. The human corpse was chopped into several pieces, placed in a vat, and then shredded using a rotating blade made of knives bound together. Essentially, it was a form of hanging. This punishment was extremely cruel and bloody; the sharp knives could even shatter the bones. In the end, only a pile of minced flesh remained.
Disgusting, bloody, cruel and horrific punishments.
This punishment is usually given to people who have committed heinous crimes.
People gasped in surprise again, their faces turning as pale as the sky. The Li family members' eyelids twitched wildly.
However, Mu Yunhe's words were now equivalent to an imperial edict, and no one dared to disobey them.
They saw Li Fangfei's body, torn into several pieces, being placed into a large vat. Someone wanted to put her head in as well, but Mu Yunhe said, "No need for the head. The head should be hung on the city gate for all to see. This is an imperial edict!"
Then a series of horrific tortures began, with bits of meat flying everywhere and the sizzling sound of mincing meat sending chills down your spine.
Mu Yunhe just stared coldly at Luo Zhiheng beside him. Neither of them had any expression on their faces.
There was the sound of rapid hoofbeats. They looked up and saw Mu Yunjin galloping towards them. He could hardly wait for the horse to come to a complete stop before he jumped off, rolled awkwardly on the ground, stood up, stared blankly at the guillotine, and then heard that strange thud. He turned his head and looked over, feeling as if he had been struck by lightning.
"Mu Yunhe, what have you done? What have you done?!" Mu Yunjin's voice gradually grew louder, eventually turning into a roar.
Mu Yunhe seemed numb and indifferent, showing no emotion whatsoever. Mu Yunjin rushed forward to hit Mu Yunhe, but the soldiers stopped him. They couldn't stop his cursing, which was hysterical and utterly unkind, with a sob in his voice.
Mu Yunhe coldly said, "This is what that vile woman owes to my mother, my two children, and Rui'er. She should be thankful that she was dead when she suffered, so she didn't feel anything or know the pain. Rui'er was so small, and she suffocated little by little in the cold water. At that time, your mother didn't show any mercy to me and Rui'er. Mu Yunjin, listen to your screams, I won't show you any more mercy. Your mother deserved to die!"
Mu Yunjin was as if his neck had been stepped on, stuck there, unable to say a word. His eyes were bloodshot. After a long while, he suddenly rushed towards Li Fangfei's pile of rotten flesh, but he was still blocked outside. No matter how high his martial arts skills were, how could he be a match for the imperial guards when he was injured?
Unsurprisingly, the person who had always been so protective of Consort Li finally appeared.
Prince Mu has arrived, and he's come at top speed. What a stark contrast! This kind of behavior is so... infuriating, it makes one want to kill him!
384. A flying knife severs all ties! No trace of the body remains!
Updated: 2013-10-12 20:45:58 Word Count: 5681
She was his legal wife, yet she never received the respect and dignity that a principal wife should have. From the moment her love was disregarded by Prince Mu, the title of Princess Consort was merely a formality.
Now, the stark contrast between the two is even more blatant: as the legal wife struggles for her life, Prince Mu is heartbroken, guarding Li Fangfei's corpse. While the legal wife dies with her eyes wide open in disbelief, Prince Mu hesitates at the door, unable to move forward. Before the legal wife's body is even cold, Prince Mu arrives at the execution ground at top speed.