However, they did not consider that what they had lost was not gold and silver jewelry, nor precious medicines, but cannons that could kill. If the person who stole the cannons had bad intentions, and the two cannons were aimed at the capital and bombarded it, the prosperous capital would be destroyed. The emperor would be furious and would definitely take his anger out on those who lost the cannons. Dongfang Xun's words were not an exaggeration.
“Beheading will indeed cost you your lives, but it is a matter of responsibility to your families and a mercy to them. If you were alive, your whole family would be implicated when the truth comes out. You are all upright men, you should be responsible and have the courage to bear seeing your parents and relatives beheaded because of your mistakes?”
The guards all lowered their heads. Of course, they couldn't let their families be implicated in their mistakes. But was there really no way to turn things around?
“Your Highness, the cannon was lost in Taiyuan, which isn’t far away. You can lead your men to find it and atone for your sins, instead of cowardly and incompetently committing suicide.” Wang Jing spoke eloquently, his words powerful and resounding, refuting Dongfang Xun’s words with righteous indignation.
Dongfang Xun looked up at Wang Jing: "The cannon has been lost for a day, and we don't even know which direction it was taken to. Where are you going to look for it?"
"This..." Wang Jing was speechless for a moment. The person who stole the cannon must have traveled at a great speed, covering at least nearly a thousand miles. They left no trace, let alone the cannon.
"Your Highness, after we die, will you take care of our families?" Wang Jing pondered for a moment, then lowered his head, his voice becoming low and resolute, as if he were gritting his teeth and preparing to go to the Yellow Springs.
Dongfang Xun smiled slightly and shook his head gently: "The greatest responsibility for the loss of the cannon lies with me. You go first. I will take your bodies to the palace to see the Emperor and ask him to spare your families and bury your bodies properly. Then, I will commit suicide in front of the Emperor to take the blame."
The guards were instantly in an uproar, their eyes filled with shock. The Holy King's Crown Prince was going to die with them? Was it true?
Wang Jing's face darkened. He thought that Dongfang Xun would say he would take care of their families in order to comfort them and make them willing to die. Then, he could take the opportunity to attack Dongfang Xun and accuse him of beheading them to shirk responsibility. But he never expected that Dongfang Xun would say he would die with them.
"Is what you say true, Your Highness?" They would be executed right now, while Dongfang Xun would only commit suicide in the palace. Whether he would live or die, they didn't know.
Dongfang Xun smiled and said, "Minister Ma and all the other officials can testify that I, the young master, keep my word."
The guards remained silent. Minister Ma of the Ministry of Justice was upright and incorruptible. With him as a witness, even if Dongfang Xun was afraid of death, he could force Dongfang Xun to commit suicide once he filed a complaint with the emperor.
"You have families, and so do I. When my grandfather heard that I was arrested, he must have fallen seriously ill again. My parents, who have been missing for five years, are returning to the capital in two months. It's a pity I won't be able to see them. If my death can bring them peace, then it's worth it." Dongfang Xun's voice was calm, without any sentimental words, but it made people's hearts ache.
The guards all fell silent. No one doubted Dongfang Xun's determination to die. However, they were still young, and a bright future awaited them. They didn't want to die.
"Your Highness's considerations are sound, and I admire them." Lord Ma looked at Dongfang Xun with admiration. His perspective on things was unique, comprehensive, and far-sighted. He was indeed worthy of being the heir of the Holy King's Mansion. When the emperor was furious, the consequences would be unimaginable. He sacrificed his own life to protect his family. His spirit was admirable and his courage commendable.
He picked up a token and threw it down in the hall, saying loudly, "Guards, drag these ten guards out and execute them."
If all those who failed in their duties were to commit suicide, the Emperor's anger would be greatly reduced. Even if the capital were to be bombarded by cannons in the future, the Emperor would not hold their families accountable. He too had a family and valued his relatives very much. If the guards wanted to sacrifice themselves to save their loved ones, he would of course grant their request.
"Yes!" The officers standing on both sides of the hall answered loudly, carrying long swords and with solemn faces, they slowly walked towards the shocked guards. Each step they took was resounding, as if the footsteps of death were gradually approaching.
The guards' expressions changed drastically. This was no joke; they were about to be executed. The thought of the terrifying word "death" made their bodies tremble slightly. Were they really going to be beheaded? They were unwilling, unwilling!
Two glimpses of clothing came into view. It was an official who had walked up to Wang Jing, grabbed his arm, and dragged him away forcefully: "Guard Wang, prepare to set off. The Emperor will send someone to take care of your family."
Executioners were already waiting outside the hall with large knives. The cold wind howled past, and Wang Jing gritted his teeth, a fine layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead. There were many officials in the hall, including the Holy King's heir, Dongfang Xun, and the Prince of An, Dongfang Heng. He had no way to escape, but he was still young and didn't want to die. He really didn't want to die!
The executioner's broadsword was sharp and sturdy, reflecting a faint, cold light in the sunlight. One strike would surely splatter blood. Looking at his nine guards, their faces ashen but their eyes filled with endless longing, Wang Jing gritted his teeth, hardened his heart, and said loudly, "Your Highness... on the night I was on night watch in Taiyuan, I discovered something unusual."
Shen Lixue sat in the audience chair, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, and a faint smile appeared in her clear, cold eyes. The guards dared to switch the cannons so brazenly because they thought that their dereliction of duty was a minor offense and they would not be beheaded.
Dongfang Xun was well aware of this, which is why he devised the plan to kill them. In order to save their lives, those who knew the inside story would definitely tell the truth. Although the heir of the Holy King's Mansion had not been involved in the court, his abilities were quite remarkable.
"What's wrong?" Dongfang Xun frowned, feigning surprise. Upon hearing that Wang Jing was to be executed, he had reacted very strongly, and he immediately suspected that Wang Jing was suspicious.
Lord Ma, the officials, and the guards all turned their attention to Wang Jing.
Wang Jing sighed and said in a deep voice, "When I was guarding the cannons late at night, I met a fellow villager who was passing through Taiyuan on business. He treated the five of us to a drink..."
"Guarding the cannons is a matter of great importance, and you dare to drink alcohol?" Dongfang Xun's expression darkened slightly, his gaze sharp as a sword.
The four guards lowered their heads and remained silent.
"It was just a cup of wine. We all have a good capacity for alcohol and didn't think we'd get drunk, so we all had a taste." Wang Jing's argument was barely audible. All along the way, Dongfang Xun had forbidden them from drinking, which was a painful ordeal for them who drank every day. But when they smelled the aroma of the wine from their friend's wine jug, they couldn't resist and, under their friend's earnest persuasion, they took a small sip.
"That glass of wine must have gotten you all drunk, right?" As clever as Dongfang Xun was, he had already guessed the gist of the matter.
"We were a little tired after drinking, but we just closed our eyes and didn't fall asleep." Closing and opening eyes is only a matter of a moment. How could the cannon be stolen? Wang Jing felt that this little episode was not important and did not mention it earlier.
"Someone may have put something in your wine. In the blink of an eye, a quarter of an hour, half an hour, or even longer has passed." A sharp glint flashed in Dongfang Xun's eyes. The guards hadn't been bribed; they'd been tricked. "Who is your fellow villager?"
"His name is Mu Zhengnan..."
Mu Zhengnan! Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened slightly. How could it be him?
Dongfang Heng's deep gaze also sharpened, but he remained silent. He decided to leave the matter of the missing cannon to Dongfang Xun.
Dongfang Xun had no contact with Mu Zhengnan and did not recognize him, so he asked indifferently, "Where is Mu Zhengnan now?"
"According to him, he does business all over Qingyan and has no specific place to stay. I don't know where to find him either." Wang Jing's eyes flashed with anger. Mu Zhengnan hadn't left him any useful information. It was as if he had appeared out of thin air and then disappeared into thin air. The cannon was very likely stolen by Mu Zhengnan. He treated him as a friend, but that person used him. How utterly despicable!
Dongfang Xun frowned slightly. In this vast sea of people, finding an unknown Mu Zhengnan was proving difficult...
“Two months ago, I met Mu Zhengnan at Princess Qin Ruoyan’s place in the Southern Frontier. Brother, Lord Ma, why don’t you send someone to the post station to look for him?” Shen Lixue suggested softly.
Qin Ruoyan once said that once someone is hers, they will be hers for life. Mu Zhengnan became her male concubine, but he has no ability and will never escape Qin Ruoyan's grasp. He drugged the guards and stole the cannon. Things are not simple.
"What is the relationship between Mu Zhengnan and Qin Ruoyan?" Dongfang Xun had met Qin Ruoyan a few times, and his impression of her was that she was frivolous and lustful. Since they were going to Qin Ruoyan's inn to find Mu Zhengnan, they first needed to figure out the relationship between the two of them.
"I saw Mu Zhengnan and Qin Ruoyan walking side by side through the window during a meal. As for their relationship, I'm not entirely sure." Shen Lixue's words were ambiguous, yet they left much to the imagination.
Lord Ma's eyes were deep and serious as he slammed his gavel: "Guards, go to the post station and arrest Mu Zhengnan."
Mu Zhengnan had few friends in the capital, and even fewer people knew that he had become Qin Ruoyan's male concubine. After Qin Ruoyan got tired of him, she demoted him to feed the horses, and he appeared in the capital even less often. That's why his guard friends didn't suspect his identity as a merchant.
As Shen Lixue's thoughts were in turmoil, the guards escorted Mu Zhengnan into the main hall: "Reporting to Your Excellency, Mu Zhengnan has been brought here."
Shen Lixue raised an eyebrow at the familiar figure. After not seeing him for several months, Mu Zhengnan hadn't changed much except for looking a bit haggard. How could he come to the main hall with the guards so easily? Did he really have nothing to hide?
"Mu Zhengnan, I'll kill you!" Wang Jing roared, breaking free of the guards' escort, his eyes blazing with fury as he charged straight at Mu Zhengnan.
"Wang Jing!" Mu Zhengnan exclaimed in surprise, grabbing a constable to shield himself and dodging Wang Jing's attacks. "Let's talk this out! What are you doing?"