novelraw Chapter 383: I’ve Made Something of Myself
Chapter 383: I’ve Made Something of Myself
Yu Shikui was almost in tears with anxiety.
This Huangfu Jinxuan must be doing it on purpose, he just wants to kill me.
No, I absolutely cannot let him succeed.
He continued urgently, "Life is at stake, Second Young Master, although you have the authority to execute first and report later, that’s only for officials below the Sixth Rank. I am of the Fourth Rank, a Fourth Rank County Magistrate, you don’t have that power. Besides, haven’t the commoners suggested that a public humiliation parade can be done instead?"
Under normal circumstances, he would never agree to a public humiliation parade, as it would be like rubbing their faces into the dirt. But compared to being beheaded, a disgraceful life is better than death.
Huangfu Jinxuan still shook his head, looking at him with a somewhat strange gaze, saying, "It’s not that I don’t agree, but that you can’t do it!"
"I can, I can!"
Huangfu Jinxuan said, "The public humiliation parade isn’t to be held in Wangshan Town. It needs to be held in Yanglu County, and at the County Government in Yanglu County, you would be convicted of causing a public scandal and receive ten lashes. Wouldn’t it be simpler to just behead you and be done with it, saving all the trouble? Don’t you think so?"
A parade to Yanglu County?
That’s absolutely impossible!
Yu Shikui was about to curse in rage, but seeing Huangfu Jinxuan’s meaningful gaze and the eager anticipation in his eyes, he instantly understood that Huangfu Jinxuan was just waiting for him to say he couldn’t do it, then he could rightfully use the voice of the commoners as a reason to behead him.
How could he die? And die in such a humiliating way?
So, he immediately said, "Ten lashes it is! I’ll parade, I’ll parade!"
Huangfu Jinxuan looked disappointed and said, "Lord Yu, think again, killing someone is just a head hitting the ground. Parading like this, many people will watch, are you not planning to save face?"
In his heart, Yu Shikui cursed all eight generations of Huangfu Jinxuan’s ancestors, though many of them were emperors, he cursed them silently, who could know?
But on his face, he had to make a submissive appearance, saying, "Mistakes have consequences, although it wasn’t voluntary, it indeed caused a public scandal, and these ten lashes, I should bear!"
Huangfu Jinxuan sighed, uninterested, and impatiently instructed Wei Jun and Xiong Wu, "Prepare the prisoner transport vehicle and parade. Arrive at the Yanglu County Government by evening!"
Wei Jun responded, "Yes!"
Yu Shikui breathed a sigh of relief, his life was saved, and his body went limp.
Kong Tixin had already fainted, almost collapsed against him, but he couldn’t care. The relief of escaping death and the humiliation of having to seek disgrace both surged from his heart.
He had to live!
He would get back at them!
Wei Jun stepped to the front of the stage and announced to the villagers, "The parade route is from Wangshan Town to Yanglu County. All villagers need to line up for inspection when leaving the town, and only after clearance can they leave!"
After all, it was still during an epidemic, even though there was medicine to treat the epidemic now, and even though the epidemic management was nearing its end with Xia Wenjin’s prescriptions and an Imperial Physician in charge. In at most half a month, the place would recover to its pre-epidemic state.
But it hadn’t been eradicated yet, and people carrying the disease can’t leave the town.
Originally, people from the town were not allowed to come or go, but such a big event as a public humiliation parade, it was understandable that some villagers would want to watch the fun!
As long as they were checked and had no epidemic, and after drinking a bowl of preventive medicinal soup, they could follow the prisoner vehicle to watch.
Xiong Wu already had people bring a cart base over, lifted the prisoner cage onto it, and it became a prisoner transport vehicle. Preparations were being made here while the villagers were already rushing to line up for inspection.
Some bold and quick-thinking individuals, instead of going for inspection right away, went to find rotten vegetable leaves and stinky eggs, and mud.
Everyone went down, and the area beneath the stage was empty, and Xia Wenjin amusingly asked, "Are you planning to escort personally?"
Huangfu Jinxuan boastfully said, "Of course, watching someone parade with their bare y behind, especially when it’s someone who cleans the toilets, what fun would that be? If I don’t go, I’d be failing the reputation of a playboy!"
Xia Wenjin: "..."
He said ’playboy’ so righteously and proudly, if you didn’t know, you’d think those four words were a source of ancestral pride!
Huangfu Jinxuan mischievously winked and smiled at her, "Thank you, and Brother Zheng... If it weren’t for you two helping, how could I have vented such a huge frustration? Oh, when this is over, I must quickly write to my father and mother, telling them that their son has made something of himself!"
Xia Wenjin: "..."
Indeed, she had calculated everything against Yu Shikui and Kong Tixin, as they had malicious intent first, she simply returned the favor, so she felt no psychological burden. Besides, Yu Shikui had done such cruel things in his previous life, using the lives of all the people in Wangshan Town to pave his way to promotion and wealth. In this life, he still wanted to repeat his tricks; she felt no guilt for being harsh on such a person.
And Kong Tixin was someone just like Yu Shikui.
Upon learning Yu Shikui had bad intentions towards her, he immediately assisted his evil deeds, and fell to this state as he deserved!
Moreover, with Yu Shikui and Kong Tixin causing trouble in Wangshan Town, one couldn’t know what additional harm might come. Being able to take care of them before leaving was the last thing she could do for the people of Wangshan Town.
After she and Huangfu Jingchen planned everything, and told Huangfu Jinxuan about it, Huangfu Jinxuan was almost thrilled to the point of overexcitement. He had long been displeased with Yu Shikui; had Yu Shikui been an official in the Capital City, he would have found trouble with him eight times a day.
Now he was an imperial envoy, he had to pay attention to his status and couldn’t act like the disruptive figure he was in the Capital. Actually, he had been eager to act, otherwise he wouldn’t have gone with Wei Jun to secretly explore Yu Shikui’s residence, thus learning about Bai Yi’s affair.
Now with such a legitimate opportunity to deal with Yu Shikui, he certainly couldn’t miss it.
However, the idea of parading to Yanglu County was Xia Wenjin’s suggestion.
As long as Yu Shikui remained in the position of prefectural governor, one didn’t know what harm he might cause. In his previous life, he led to the deaths of all the people in Wangshan Town, wiping out thousands of lives without consequence, even getting promoted and wealthy. As long as he’s here, the people of Wangshan Town wouldn’t be completely safe.
Except for the doctors and epidemic patients in the quarantine zone, almost all the town’s people saw his naked appearance and knew of his disgraceful acts. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t go crazy. But if the entire Yanglu County knew, even if he wanted to silence people, he wouldn’t be able to.
Additionally, this would humiliate him greatly, making the incident big enough that the Capital City would know. By then, the issue with Bai Yi could be exposed, allowing the wronged scholars of humble origins to receive justice, and making it impossible for the culprits of examination bribery to hide or escape!
Huangfu Jinxuan enthusiastically said, "Aren’t you leaving today? I’m busy with official duties, so I won’t see you off. I need to go escort the carriage. If you ever have the chance, you must visit the Capital City and find me, I’ll treat you to the best roast meat from the most famous chef in the world!"