novelraw Chapter 367
Chapter 367
On both sides of the main street, many common people had gathered at some point.
They stood with solemn expressions, silently watching the entrance of the Dali Temple. Even when soldiers armed with long spears cleared the way, they did not move aside.
"Duke of Chu, please."
The Chief Minister of the Dali Temple made a gesture of invitation. Chu Huaishan laughed heartily and stepped into the prisoner's cart.
He had sent many people to their doom in his lifetime, never imagining he would face this fate himself.
In contrast to his carefree demeanor, the faces of the commoners were grave. Halfway through the procession, someone even ran out to block the cart.
"How dare you! Do you value your life so little?"
The Chief Minister of the Dali Temple shouted sternly. The man knelt in the middle of the road, kowtowing repeatedly: "Your Honor! Lord Chu is innocent! During the Yellow River flood, he saved my mother, he saved our entire village! He is a good official!"
Inside the cart, Chu Huaishan was stunned. The Chief Minister hastily ordered his men to pull the man away.
They hadn't gone more than a few steps when another person jumped out, saying he too had received great kindness from Chu Huaishan and was willing to die in his place.
Chu Huaishan himself was dumbfounded. He had some recollection of the Yellow River flood, but who was this person? He couldn't remember at all.
But whether he remembered or not was irrelevant; discussions were already spreading among the crowd.
"What's going on? Are they executing a good official?"
"He must be a good official. Why else would people keep pleading his innocence?"
"I know about that Yellow River flood. It submerged over a dozen nearby prefectures and counties. I heard the local River Governor fled, and it was a high official from the capital who remained calm in the crisis and managed the relief. Could it have been him?"
"No wonder! I heard he was later transferred to the Ministry of Personnel. After that, there were no more cases of imperial examination fraud or buying and selling of official posts!"
"So this is a truly just and upright lord! Why execute him then..."
Amidst sighs and lamentations, one or two discordant voices occasionally emerged.
"Could he be the Duke of Chu? But I remember it was his daughter who harmed Prince Qin?"
"What nonsense are you talking! His second daughter and Prince Qin were deeply in love, haven't you heard? Before his death, Prince Qin left his entire estate to her!"
"Yes, it must be a rumor!"
That discordant voice vanished completely, replaced by indignant discussions.
Cao Yang looked at the few faces shouting the loudest in the crowd and suddenly found them somewhat familiar.
But before he could recall where he'd seen them, the Chief Minister of the Dali Temple had already urged the procession forward at a gallop, escorting the prisoner's cart to the execution ground.
West Street, Vegetable Market Crossing.
The execution platform was already set up. Prince Yu sat in the presiding judge's seat. To his left was Duke of Zou. To his right were three empty seats; two were likely for Cao Yang and the Chief Minister of the Dali Temple, while the last one's occupant was unknown.
The Chief Minister of the Dali Temple dismounted and stepped forward: "Reporting to Prince Yu, the prisoner has been brought!"
Prince Yu nodded, deliberately scanning the surroundings.
Within the dense, dark mass of people, he saw no one suspicious.
Duke of Zou whispered: "Your Highness, rest assured. All arrangements are in place. Yue Qianchong himself is leading men lying in ambush nearby. Nothing will go wrong!"
Prince Yu gave a slight nod, then ordered the prisoner brought onto the platform. "Chu Huaishan, Chu Huaishan, never thought you'd see this day, did you?"
Chu Huaishan's expression remained unchanged. "If you wish to kill me, then do so. There's no need for words."
Prince Yu was left speechless. If he really killed him now, what bait would he have to lure the Yun siblings?
His eyes shifted craftily, and he waved his hand. "You wish for death? It won't be that easy. Bring the person up!"
Guards immediately brought forward another person. Chu Huaishan's face paled dramatically. "Roumin?!"
A blind young girl felt her way and sat down in the last empty seat. Then she said, "Prince Yu, you may proceed with the execution."
Chu Huaishan instantly turned ashen. "Roumin... you..."
Roumin stared vacantly ahead. "Duke of Chu, do not blame me. This is the decree of His Majesty and the Empress Dowager. As long as I sever all ties with your Chu family, I will regain my freedom and may continue as Lady Roumin..."
Her tone was icy, devoid of any emotion. Chu Huaishan was utterly stunned. After a long moment, he gave a bitter laugh. "Fine, fine. In my whole life, I never fulfilled my duty as a father for a single day. Now, let this life of mine repay you with a future of wealth and honor..."
He closed his eyes, his heart like dead ashes. Roumin's hands trembled slightly, but she restrained herself.
Why should she feel guilt? Why should she soften?
It was all Chu Huaishan who had wronged her. Wasn't it only right that he now compensate with his life?
Cao Yang rose in fury. "Prince Yu! Our Great Xia rules the land with filial piety. You are now forcing a daughter to behead her own father! This violates all human morality!"
Prince Yu also sprang to his feet. "Cao Yang, don't think I don't know! Chu Huaishan is your brother-in-law! You are shielding him!"
Cao Yang let out a sharp "Ha!" and kicked over the table before him. He strode directly onto the execution platform and stood there. "Then I ask Prince Yu to request the Emperor's Sword and behead Cao Yang along with him!"
"You—" Prince Yu's eyes flashed with menace. "Minister Cao, have you forgotten your wife and children at home, your elderly parents, and your newborn baby?"
Cao Yang trembled violently. Chu Huaishan shouted, "Old Cao, get down from here! This is none of your business!"
Cao Yang clenched his fists. After a long pause, he let out a sorrowful laugh. "The sovereign is not sovereign, the minister is not minister; the father is not father, the child is not child. When the world is like this, what more is there to say!" He turned, flicked his sleeve, and left, his retreating figure indescribably desolate.
Prince Yu, however, seemed relieved to be rid of a major nuisance. He looked coldly at Chu Huaishan. "Duke of Chu, now, apart from your daughter—no, I should say your adopted daughter—no one will come to save you. Guess, will she come?"
With that, he grabbed the command tablet. "The noon hour has arrived! Carry out the execution—"
The entire scene fell silent as the tablet inscribed with the character "Execute" flew through the air.
Yet before it could hit the ground—Whoosh!
A sharp arrow pierced the air, actually shooting through the tablet!
Prince Yu's eyes gleamed with intense light. "They're here!"
Everyone turned their heads. At the very back of the crowd, a woman in plain white clothes walked forward. A simple white headband was tied around her forehead, as if in mourning. In her left hand, she carried a food box. With graceful steps, she advanced, and the commoners present parted to make a path for her.
"Yan'er!!"
Chu Huaishan cried out agitatedly. "Go! Leave quickly! Don't come any closer!"
Prince Yu narrowed his eyes, looking at the empty space behind her. "Why are you alone? Where is your brother?"
Chu Ruoyan did not answer. She simply raised the food box with both hands. "Chu Ruoyan, legitimate daughter of the Chu family, is here specifically to see my father off!"
Prince Yu and Duke of Zou exchanged a glance, both puzzled by her actions.
But the commoners below cried out: "It's the Chief Councilor's wife! I recognize her, it's the Chief Councilor's wife!"
"The Chief Councilor is away on campaign, and now they want to behead his wife's father? What kind of reasoning is this?"
"That's right, Your Honor! Let them meet one last time!"
The people's pleas made Prince Yu's expression turn very ugly.
He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to step back. Chu Ruoyan ascended the platform, her eyes stinging. "Father, I'm here."
Both of Chu Huaishan's daughters were now present.
Yet his biological daughter sat high on the viewing platform, demanding his life, while his adopted daughter risked death to come and try to save him...
An indescribable feeling churned in his heart. His eyes red, he shook his head. "You shouldn't have come. You shouldn't have come!"
Chu Ruoyan smiled slightly and opened the food box. Inside was simply a bowl of lotus seed soup.
"Auntie made it herself. Please taste it."
She scooped up a spoonful. Chu Huaishan swallowed it, then urgently said, "Yan'er, go quickly. Find the Chief Councilor. Don't ever come back!"
A faint smile curved at the corner of Chu Ruoyan's lips. "Please rest assured, nothing will go wrong."
Then, setting down the bowl of congee, she turned around with a cold demeanor and demanded, "I dare ask you, esteemed officials, under which law was my father, Chu Huaishan, convicted and executed?!"