The entire prison cart reeked of foul odors. Most of the crowd were just there for the spectacle, uttering only a few curses. The ministers, however, remained remarkably calm. They were there to oversee the execution; only with Consort Li's death could their mission be considered complete. Each of them eagerly awaited Consort Li's demise.
As Consort Li was released from the prison cart and placed on the guillotine, a deep terror flashed in her eyes. She suddenly screamed hysterically, "Don't kill me! I am the Prince's most beloved woman! I am the Prince's most cherished woman! You can't kill me! If you kill me, the Prince will never let you off! Mu Yunhe, I want to see Mu Yunhe! I want to see Luo Zhiheng! They can't kill me! If they kill me, they won't get away with it! Prince Mu will kill them."
"What arrogance! Do you think either your own son or a concubine is more important? By saying this, are you portraying Prince Mu of the Mu Dynasty as a foolish, tyrannical, and lustful man?" A light, rhythmic voice echoed from the market, carrying a hint of mockery and a deep sense of contempt. 19.
As everyone looked on, Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng walked hand in hand, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, dressed in magnificent attire, their bearing elegant and graceful. They ascended the execution platform, looking down at the crowd, specifically at Consort Li. At that moment, all the beauty in the world paled in comparison to the radiance of their faces on the platform. A dazzling light shone upon them; they were like messengers of the gods, descended to earth to uphold justice!
When Consort Li saw Luo Zhiheng, she felt an urge to vomit blood and drown her. She said viciously, "Luo Zhiheng, you will die a horrible death! It must have been you who instructed Mu Yunhe! Otherwise, how could Mu Yunhe dare to treat me like this? You are slandering me, you will get your retribution."
With a light sweep of her fingertips across her delicate brows, her languid demeanor exuded a confidence and disdain that utterly disregarded Consort Li. Luo Zhiheng smiled faintly, "If you hadn't brought this upon yourself, why would you have met such an end? They say that even divine punishment can be forgiven, but self-inflicted punishment is unforgivable! You harbored malicious intentions, meticulously plotting to harm others; even Heaven cannot tolerate your wicked thoughts! What face do you have left to argue with me here? You accuse and insult me, yet you still choose to die! Let Heaven bear witness and see who truly deserves the most wicked punishment!"
Consort Li trembled with rage, still shouting that they couldn't kill her, that she was the woman Prince Mu deeply loved, and that she was Mu Yunjin's mother.
"Just because you keep slandering the Prince's character and conduct, and implicating Mu Yunjin, we can petition the Emperor to add two more charges to your list: disrespecting your husband and bringing disaster upon your offspring! You should just quietly wait to die instead of wasting your energy like this." Luo Zhiheng sneered, then sat down with Mu Yunhe behind the execution platform, waiting for noon.
There were less than a quarter of an hour left. It was Luo Zhiheng's first time acting as an executioner, and she was somewhat excited. This was a perfectly legitimate execution, but she was also a little apprehensive. What if Mu Yunjin arrived later? She wanted the right to personally oversee the execution precisely because she was afraid Mu Yunhe would soften his heart, that Mu Yunjin would cause trouble, and that others would be afraid and let Consort Li go.
But if Mu Yunjin really comes and causes a ruckus, can she really be so ruthless as to kill without mercy?
Under the scorching sun, the late summer heat was even more unbearable. People stood under the blazing sun, the officials were solemn, and Mu Yunhe closed his eyes to rest. Only Consort Li was being led to the execution platform, looking around blankly and fearfully.
Someone brought in four strong and powerful horses. When Consort Li saw them, her eyelids twitched violently, and she began to neigh and roar even more fiercely.
The Li family members were like frightened birds at this moment. Every word Consort Li uttered could potentially lead to their demise. At this moment, they desperately wished for Consort Li to die quickly.
Soon, the time was approaching. Luo Zhiheng stood up and announced loudly, "Li Fangfei's crimes have been posted on the imperial edict. Those who wish to see them may do so. The time is almost here. Take Consort Li forward and prepare for execution!"
They took her away, naturally by pressing her neck down to the execution platform.
The cold guillotine chilled Consort Li to the bone. Even now, she couldn't understand how she had fallen to this point. How could she possibly die? Yet, she could see the large sword hanging high above her in the corner of her eye, and her soul almost flew away.
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me! Save me! Someone save me!" Consort Li cried out. Suddenly, she remembered Mu Yunjin, who had always been obedient and respectful to her. After misjudging the Li family and being abandoned, she thought of her own son, whom she had abandoned just last night. She began to roar, "Yunjin! Where are you? Mother is dying! Please save Mother!"
Mu Yunjin stood outside the execution ground. Whether by the emperor's decree or as a son, he felt he should be there. He even believed he had come to stop and save Consort Li. But the blow of last night was so great, the abandonment so utter, how could he easily accept Consort Li as his mother?
But with his mother on the execution platform, he, as her son, couldn't bear to just watch. Mu Yunjin clenched his fists, his eyes reddening. He still had injuries on his face and body, standing discreetly in the crowd, wearing a bamboo hat, but it couldn't hide the gloom and gloom that surrounded him.
Luo Zhiheng glanced around but didn't see Mu Yunjin. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and then said loudly, "Li Fangfei, do you have any last words? You can say them now, otherwise you won't have the chance when you get to the underworld."
A routine question was uttered, but unexpectedly, Consort Li screamed hoarsely, "I don't want to die! I love the Prince so much! Everything I did was for the Prince! I did so much for the Li family! Without me, could Li Fangran have entered the palace as a Noble Consort? The Li family is ungrateful! I hate you all! I curse you all to die a horrible death! All those who have wronged me, may you go to hell to accompany me! Yun Jin, my son, where are you? Everything I did was for you! You are my only son! How can you abandon me? How can you be so heartless? Your Highness, Your Highness, please come and save me..."
These words truly pleased Luo Zhiheng. She hoped that Consort Li would engage in a final, dog-eat-dog battle, tearing the Li family out of the picture. But time was of the essence, and she wasn't willing to wait. Grabbing a token from the table before her, she looked up at Consort Li's crazed and disheveled face, and with a cold smile, raised her hand.
"Wait!" At that critical moment, a hoarse voice pierced the entire execution ground. Mu Yunjin abruptly removed his bamboo hat and rushed out, limping to the execution platform. With tears in his eyes, he asked Consort Li, "I only have one question for you: why were you silent last night?"
The concubine, who had forgotten to reply, said it was all for his sake, yet fell silent when he was able to escape this calamity. Her words were extremely important; she couldn't possibly be unaware of them, yet she disregarded his life and death. Why then did she say it was all for his sake today?
When Consort Li saw Mu Yunhe, her eyes lit up. She struggled violently and did not answer Mu Yunjin's words. Instead, she screamed desperately, "Hurry and save me! Hurry! Yunjin, hurry and save your mother!"
Mu Yunjin saw no trace of guilt or care in Consort Li's eyes, only a will to survive. It turned out that living was more important than him, her son. Mu Yunjin gave a self-deprecating laugh, but after the laugh, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Luo Zhiheng.
He knew he should pray to Mu Yunhe; perhaps it would be helpful. But praying to Luo Zhiheng would be even more effective. Mu Yunhe might not listen to others, but he wouldn't ignore Luo Zhiheng's words. Because Mu Yunhe couldn't bear to see Luo Zhiheng unhappy.
Upon seeing that radiant and elegant woman, Mu Yunjin suddenly felt a sense of desolation welling up inside her, a sense of despondency spreading and setbacks creeping in.
How could he have looked down on this woman before? He personally greeted her, took her hand, and led her into the gates of the Mu Prince's Mansion. Back then, he was still high and mighty, but now he seemed like a thorn in the dust. The more he wanted to be powerful enough for her to see, the more insignificant and lowly he appeared.
At this moment, his plea was like carving deep, piercing wounds into his own pride. He shattered his dignity before Luo Zhiheng, rendering it utterly worthless. His words, tinged with unseen blood and sorrow, were slowly uttered: "Luo Zhiheng, please, let her go..."
His mother may be unkind and cruel, but she is still the mother who gave him birth and raised him. He must ask for her love and care!
366 Strike, immediate execution! (Next)
Updated: 2013-10-03 13:42:00 Word Count: 6591
Under the scorching sun, Mu Yunjin's once upright figure was now slightly hunched. His spine showed not just physical weakness, but the weakness of his soul. His dignity was shattered, his pride gone, and his life had been shrouded in a pitiful gloom overnight because of this mother.
Perhaps it was his voice that was too low, or perhaps it was his expression that was too sorrowful, constantly reminding Luo Zhiheng that this man was someone she and Mu Yunhe had personally pushed to this point. The person who shattered Mu Yunjin's pride was his mother, but they were also culprits who had fueled the flames.
Luo Zhiheng's hand holding the token gradually tightened, a hint of struggle flashing in her cold, hard gaze. She sighed softly and looked at Mu Yunhe.
They wouldn't let Consort Li go; that was a done deal. But they couldn't refuse Mu Yunjin's request. How could they do it in a way that left Mu Yunjin speechless while simultaneously eliminating Consort Li completely?
Mu Yunjin followed Luo Zhiheng's gaze to Mu Yunhe. At this moment, Mu Yunjin had to admit that Mu Yunhe was truly different. The self-deceiving voice that had been nagging at him finally vanished. He gave a self-deprecating laugh; his younger brother, whom he had once completely disregarded, was now high and mighty, and he had to beg and plead for him.
The two brothers' eyes met. For the first time, they placed each other on an equal footing, without contempt, disdain, or neglect. They were both young heroes, full of vigor and extraordinary talent.
Mu Yunhe's gaze was cold and sharp, radiating brilliance. He suddenly spoke, directly confronting Consort Li: "If your son pleads for you again, what do you have to say?" 19.
Even in her madness, Consort Li knew that if Mu Yunhe spoke up and withdrew his accusation, she could regain her freedom and escape death. Consort Li shouted excitedly, "Release me! I can tell you everything I know. There are many things you don't know—mine, the Li family's, the Prince's—everything. Just don't let me die, and I can tell you everything."
Consort Li's words were a desperate gamble, but they also showed her willingness to use any means necessary for her own benefit.
She's a walking encyclopedia of secrets; over the years, she must know many secrets, secrets that could very well allow Mu Yunhe to wipe out the entire Li family in one fell swoop. Undoubtedly, the opportunity Li Consort gained to plead for help also meant giving Mu Yunhe a promise. But this promise was to abandon any act of betrayal related to her, using it to curry favor with Mu Yunhe in exchange for a chance to live.
This is despicable and utterly shameless!
The Li family members were instantly enraged. Their expressions changed drastically as they glared fiercely at Consort Li, fearing she might say something she shouldn't.
Mr. Li immediately knelt down and respectfully said to Mu Yunhe, “Your Highness, please forgive me, Li Fangfei has gone mad. Nothing she says can be believed. She deserves to die. The Emperor has ordered her immediate execution; she cannot be allowed to live! This is the Emperor's order! Although I am her biological father, I will never protect such a selfish and wicked woman who plots against the royal family! I beg Your Highness to have the Princess Consort immediately order Li Fangfei's execution as a warning to others!”
His words, uttered with profound righteousness, sounded like those of a loyal person. However, Mr. Li's eagerness to execute Consort Li was far too obvious, drawing contempt and anger from everyone. But the Li family didn't care about such things now; they only cared about surviving.
Even a tiger won't eat its cubs!
The Li family is utterly despicable! In order to protect themselves, they actually took the initiative, even eagerly, to sacrifice the life of their own daughter.
Mu Yunjin stared at his always-respected maternal grandfather in shock and fury, his face filled with disbelief and surging anger: "Grandfather! Mother is your daughter! All along, Mother taught me to respect and love my grandfather, to be close to my grandfather, because my grandfather is a good man, the most loving person in the world. But why? After Mother's death, not only did you not help her, not even a word of excuse or protection, but you were the first to demand that she be killed quickly?"
"Is this how you show kindness and gentleness? Is this how you act as a good person? You don't even have the loving heart a father should have, and you dare to say you're loyal?" 17130099
Mu Yunjin's furious question reflected the same question on everyone's mind. Even if the Li family managed to save themselves today, from this day forward, they would be avoided and shunned by everyone. The Li family would be deserted by all, without a single reliable friend.
Mr. Li's face showed embarrassment, but not a trace of pity or sadness. Instead, it was filled with intense disgust. He declared firmly, "Li Fangfei has done many unforgivable things. She's only alive now because of the young prince's mercy and favor. The Li family cannot continue to tolerate her. The Li family, a Manchu clan loyal to the emperor and patriotic, only hopes for a large imperial lineage and national peace. But how can we govern the country and bring peace to the world if even the most basic family is not at peace?"
"Consort Li's crimes are unforgivable. If I were to plead for her again, where would that leave the Emperor and the young prince's dignity? Where would that leave the dignity and laws of the Tang Dynasty? My personal life is insignificant, but when it involves the royal family, it is a serious matter that cannot be handled carelessly. I would rather be seen as a villain and bear the stigma of being an unkind and heartless father than tolerate a sinner living in this world and harming others!"
"My heart belongs to the Li family. We all hope for peace and prosperity for the nation and the flourishing of the royal family. We ask for nothing more. I beg Your Highness to obey the Emperor's decree and immediately execute Li Fangfei!" After saying this fearlessly, Mr. Li kowtowed to the ground and remained motionless for a long time. His resolute posture instantly blurred the doubts in everyone's eyes and hearts.
Was this Mr. Li truly loyal to his country, or was he abandoning his own daughter to protect himself?
Mu Yunjin staggered, his hair, disheveled and blowing wildly across his face, unable to dispel the desolate, mocking smile on his lips. Gradually, the smile widened, the mockery turning into self-mockery, into despair. He threw his head back and laughed, his deep laughter filled with an indescribable panic and sorrow.
Even a powerful matriarchal family like the Li family can turn against their master in the blink of an eye. It turns out that there really are no people or relationships in this world that can be relied upon forever.
Mu Yunjin seemed to have aged many years in an instant. His clear and bright eyes were suddenly obscured by the darkness and ugliness that had struck him before he could dodge. He probably would never have the chance to regain his bright and clear eyes in this lifetime.
Amidst the sighs of dismay, Consort Li also fell silent. She too stared blankly at her righteous, fearless, and loyal father, as if she didn't recognize him. In that unfamiliar gaze, so much filial piety and respect had finally, utterly, crumbled in that instant!
Family ties were nothing but an illusion to her all along; she had always been an object of manipulation by her father and family.
In that instant, Consort Li finally saw the light, waking up from the false affection built upon that luxurious nest. All the tenderness, the pampering, the indulgence, and the spoiling were simply because, when she returned to her family, the person by her side was a prince of the Mu Dynasty!
It turns out that all the honor and glory she had in her life was never because she had a powerful and noble maternal clan, but simply because she had a prince who truly loved her.
She was wrong. She had been wrong all along – seeing wrong, hearing wrong, thinking wrong, and believing wrong!
"Ha, ha ha ha ha ha, God, I was wrong, I've been wrong all along, it was all my fault, I can't blame anyone else, I really can't blame anyone else!" Consort Li suddenly laughed loudly, tears streaming down her face, laughing until she was hoarse and her laughter was full of sorrow and grief.
Through her teary eyes, she looked at Luo Zhiheng. Her delicate face showed no contempt or schadenfreude, not even a trace of the joy she could imagine. Luo Zhiheng was looking at Mu Yunjin just like Mu Yunhe, her gaze perhaps filled with pity.
The two men who wanted her dead were willing to look at her son with pity. But her loyal family, whom she considered her relatives and believed would never betray her, gave her a push at the critical moment, successfully sending her to her death.
Why is the human heart so unpredictable? Enemies, relatives, adversaries, lovers—it's all so complex that in the end, it's impossible to tell who is good and who is evil.
Perhaps Luo Zhiheng is right. She was foolish, so foolish that she used the sincerity of the man who had always trusted and doted on her to pave the way for the wolfish ambitions of the Li family!
Your Highness, you always said Fangfei was too naive, but in the end I realized that those rare words of yours about naivety were actually pointing out my foolishness. You knew all along, and you've been indulging me all along. In the end, it's Fangfei who has let you down, it's Fangfei who has betrayed your sincere heart...
Consort Li's dry eyes seemed to be overflowing with something, but her gaze was too intense. She tried to widen her eyes to see everyone's face clearly. She looked deeply at Mu Yunjin, her only son. Suddenly, a resolute smile appeared on her unpredictable face. Perhaps for her son, she could be clever one last time in this life.
From utter despair to desperately using her last chance in this life to fight for a future for her son, Consort Li seemed to have grown up in an instant. She looked at Mu Yunhe Luo Zhiheng and suddenly shouted: "Fourteen years ago, two children from the Prince's mansion fell into the water. It was me. I went along with it after I learned of the Princess's thoughts. I also pushed Mu Qingya's child into the lake with my own hands!"
Upon hearing this, the entire market instantly fell into a deathly silence.
Mu Yunhe abruptly stood up, his tall body swaying slightly before he steadied himself against the desk. His narrow eyes widened, revealing bloodshot veins, and his voice boomed like thunder under the blazing sun: "What did you say?!"
"Back then, I played hard to get. I hated your mother to death. She wasn't favored by the prince, but just because she was his legal wife, bestowed by the emperor, she was able to maintain her position as the princess consort. I was unwilling to accept this. There were countless open and covert struggles between your mother and me, and the most tragic one was when I almost killed you. I personally killed Mu Qingya's son and my own child, which I had been carrying for several months!"
Consort Li's tone suddenly softened, making the scorching sun feel icy cold and chilling!
She then began to recount her story: "I was just using this as an opportunity to get rid of you, but I didn't expect Mu Qingya's child, though young, to be so clever. He turned around and saw me about to push you, so he was about to shout. In my haste, I quickly dodged, and you didn't see me. But I wasn't satisfied, so while you were playing, in a fit of anger, I picked up Mu Qingya's child and threw him into the pond!"
Mu Yunhe's eyes were bloodshot, and a chilling aura was gathering around him. Everyone was horrified by Consort Li's seemingly calm words.
“When you turned around, you didn’t understand anything. You only saw the child fall into the water and concluded that I was the one who did it. You hit me like a madman, but you were small, and I had a maid with me. How could you possibly hit me? But that day, I deliberately let you hit me. I didn’t dodge or evade, nor did I try to save the child who was getting further and further away. I deliberately let you hit me because I wanted to end the pregnancy. I deliberately let you push me down, and I fell heavily to the ground. I knew that my child was leaving me, that he was slowly draining away from my body. I used your hand to kill my own child, and I also knew that this time, I would get rid of you too! Because you killed the child your father was hoping for.”
"But I didn't expect you to go crazy. After hitting me, you turned around and jumped into the lake. You were just a child then, how could you swim? But you struggled desperately. You were trying to save your little nephew. Unfortunately, you went further and further away. Your little nephew was too young and had swallowed too much water, so he started to sink."
"When your mother and sister arrived, I thought both of you were doomed, but you survived. Your mother wouldn't let anyone save the young prince because she knew he was probably beyond saving at that point. You, on the other hand, were still struggling violently. Saving one would guarantee survival, while saving the other would likely be fatal. If I had to choose, I would definitely choose to save the one who could survive. At that time, it was a critical moment, life and death hanging by a thread. Your mother was calm enough, and ruthless enough, but her decision was correct. If she had saved the one who was already half-dead and beyond saving first, he would have certainly died anyway. If she had gone back to save you, you might not have survived either. It's better to save one than to lose two."
This is yet another completely different secret, more tragic, more terrifying, and more shocking than the previous version.
But is Consort Li's statement credible?
"Is everything you said true?" Mu Yunhe's clenched hands bulged on the table, veins popping out, his voice like the wind in the dead of winter, cutting like a knife to the face.
Consort Li smiled and said self-deprecatingly, "A dying man's words are good. I'm about to die, so what's there to hide or lie about? I just want to tell you that the Southern Dynasty's young prince wasn't pushed down by you, Mu Yunhe, but by me. You didn't kill him; you saved him, but you also sacrificed many years of your own health. You don't owe that child anything!"
Consort Li knelt on the execution platform, her pale face filled with resolute madness. She knew that Mu Yunhe had a knot in his heart that he had returned with, a knot that even the Princess and Luo Zhiheng could not untie. Just as Luo Ningshuang had planted spies around Luo Zhiheng, she also had spies around the Imperial Noble Consort of the Southern Dynasty. However, her spies could not reach Mu Qingya, but they could tell her about these sensational scandals that everyone knew about.
She knew that Mu Yunhe had pushed Luo Zhiheng away when she revealed the secret that day, and she also knew that Mu Yunhe had ignored the Princess until now. This was because Mu Yunhe harbored resentment, because he felt guilty and remorseful. And today, she would give Mu Yunhe a swift end, clear his name, and reveal the truth that would free him from guilt.
Given Mu Yunhe's intelligence and Luo Zhiheng's meticulousness, they would surely understand, and they would surely be able to extend this blessing of peace to her son. Even though she disliked the two children, at this moment, Consort Li had to admit that she trusted their character.
How ridiculous, how ironic! She couldn't even trust her own family, yet in the end, she was handing her son over to someone she had always considered an enemy and wanted to get rid of.
The common people were already terrified, and which of those ministers didn't have wives, concubines, and children? Many of their children had died. At this moment, their expressions changed drastically. If even princes had such restless and terrifying wives and concubines, what about their own wives and concubines? What despicable things had they done behind their backs?
Mu Yunjin stared at his mother in astonishment. His moral bottom line was broken and turbulent once again. He felt as if his internal organs were being torn apart. He just stared at his mother, a complete stranger, unable to utter a single word.
"How could you be so cruel? That child was only four years old back then! He didn't understand anything, how could you be so heartless? You are also a mother, just how vicious are you? A person like you deserves to die to appease public anger!" Luo Zhiheng slammed her hand on the table and shouted angrily.
The sky had changed. Thick, dense clouds blocked out the sunlight, and the gloomy atmosphere permeated the long street of the market, creating a chillingly desolate scene.
Consort Li remained silent.