"Feng Jue," Sima Bingxin was stunned. How would she know where Feng Jue was? She looked at the man, whose refined and otherworldly appearance was now clouded with an icy demeanor.
Though he was devastatingly handsome, he was also the Emperor, a cold and ruthless one. She had spoken too hastily moments ago, claiming he liked her, but now this "Feng Jue" was nowhere to be found.
If he discovered she had lied, she was certain she would meet a gruesome end. Sima Bingxin felt like crying but dared not show it. Composing herself, she said, "Feng Jue was lost by Bingxin."
"What?"
Shangguan Yin's face contorted, his dark, cold eyes instantly flashing with killing intent as he glared at Sima Bingxin.
The delicate and beautiful woman was immediately terrified into tears, sobbing so hard she nearly fainted. Shangguan Yin showed no trace of pity or tenderness, his voice chilling as he spoke.
"I order you to find Feng Jue as soon as possible, or do not blame me..."
He left his threat unspoken. Sima Bingxin was covered in a cold sweat, feeling on the verge of collapse. What was she to do? Where could she find this Feng Jue? It was all her fault for being greedy, for saying the Emperor had liked her. Wasn't this just inviting death?
Shangguan Yin sank back onto his throne, his expression grim. He waved his hand dismissively. "Fuhai, escort her out of the palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Fuhai entered and extended his hand to help Sima Bingxin up. He wondered why Miss Sima was so terrified by His Majesty. His Majesty was truly something; the harem was entirely empty, and Miss Sima was such a beautiful woman. It would be wonderful to bring her into the palace, yet he had frightened her to the point of paling, her limbs turning to jelly, unable to even walk.
Sima Bingxin was sent back to the Prime Minister's manor and immediately sent a messenger into the palace.
Only then did Murong Yingxue learn of Feng Jue. She knew little about Feng Jue and secretly left the palace to go to Prince Lin's manor to find out what this Feng Jue was.
Shangguan Lin was also aware of the matter. He frowned, pacing in his study, and finally spoke.
"I fear my brother's Feng Jue is with Yun Xiao."
"Yes, it seems so. What should we do now?"
"Didn't Sima Bingxin say she lost it? Then let her endure. We will make plans for this matter when Yun Xiao returns. I have already sent people to inquire about Yun Xiao's whereabouts. She is not within Dong Qin. Otherwise, she would have returned long ago after the Emperor's ascension. She might have been abducted by people from Xiliang or Beiyan. Whichever the case, she will be fine. The Emperor of Beiyan, Yan Yu, has some acquaintance with her and will not harm her. If she fell into the hands of the Xiliang people, there would be even less to worry about; by rights, she should be a princess of Xiliang."
Regarding Yun Mo's capture, Shangguan Lin understood the full details. He knew Yun Xiao's mother was still a princess of Xiliang, and the Emperor of Xiliang was still her uncle, so they would definitely not kill her.
"What can be done when she returns? If she tells my Murong brother, my Murong brother will die."
Upon hearing of Yun Xiao's return, Murong Yingxue felt resistant. At her core, she feared Yun Xiao and was intensely jealous of Yun Xiao receiving all of Murong brother's affection.
When Murong brother saw Yun Xiao, he would smile gently, cherish her, and dote on her. Whatever she asked for, he would give her. But these were things she desired but could not obtain, so she felt deeply resentful.
"Yun Xiao will have her own plans. She acts with great discretion."
Shangguan Lin shot Murong Yingxue a look, inwardly grumbling that she was just like her, Miss Murong, always vying for attention.
"You?"
Murong Yingxue glared at Shangguan Lin. Unfortunately, Shangguan Lin waved his hand. "Princess, you should return. If my brother finds out you left the palace, you will likely not fare well."
Murong Yingxue, full of resentment, led her maid Hua Zhi and the eunuch Qing Lin away from Prince Lin's manor.
However, before returning to the palace, she met Sima Bingxin outside. She advised Sima Bingxin to be patient and not to worry. Since she liked the Emperor, with her looks, the Emperor would surely favor her. These words of reassurance somewhat eased Sima Bingxin's anxiety.
Three days later, Ye Qingtian and Ye Jingyi were to be executed at Meridian Gate.
On this day, the entire city of Yanjing was in an uproar. For ten miles, the alleys were packed with people, a sea of heads as they surged towards Meridian Gate. The world was full of wonders, and they had heard and seen everything, but never had they heard of executing a false emperor.
This false emperor had reigned for four years, and the populace was naturally curious. Everyone wanted to witness this rare spectacle.
On the execution platform at Meridian Gate, Prince Yun Mo, the Minister of Justice, and dozens of court officials were seated on a high platform. A command was given.
"Bring forth the prisoners."
Dozens of people from the Ye manor, led by Ye Jingyi, followed by Ye Qingtian, and then the servants of the Ye manor in succession, were all shackled with iron chains, forming a line like grasshoppers on a string.
The chains clinked and clanked, manacling their hands and feet. Each step was incredibly difficult, and their wrists and ankles were covered in bloodstains.
On their white prison robes, the characters for "prisoner" were emblazoned in large print. A line of dozens of people, their hair disheveled, their faces obscured. Ye Jingyi seemed to have gone mad, muttering intermittently, "I don't want to die, I don't want to die."
Ye Qingtian, behind him, watched it all, his heart writhing in agony. If he had known this would happen, why had he done it? To watch his son be executed, he wished he could take his son's place.
As it struck three quarters past noon, the executioners, carrying gleaming broadswords, removed the "prisoner" signs from the backs of the condemned. Each person picked up the large bowls of wine brought by the jailers, took a deep gulp, and then sprayed some onto the blade. This was called "opening the blade." Then they raised their swords, awaiting the command to strike.
"Execute."
At the command, blades flashed. The onlookers screamed repeatedly. Many dared not watch such a bloody scene, and dozens on the platform cried out in anguish.
Ye Jingyi, who had seemed foolish and dazed, suddenly regained some clarity as the broadsword flashed, and he shouted.
"Don't kill me, don't kill me, I don't want to die!"
But it was too late for regrets. Many people sighed in their hearts, wishing they had done less evil in the next life.
However, a thunderous crack split the air. A corner of the high platform cracked and crumbled, sending shards of flying stone and earth like falling rain. Then the executioner's blade missed its target, and one person had mysteriously vanished from the platform.
From beneath the high platform, an object rapidly emerged, like a mole burrowing, and in an instant, it had shot out dozens of zhang. Wherever it went, the wind howled. The commoners blocking its path hastily moved aside. As an object bulged forth, it had already pulled far away.
All of this happened in a flash. Yun Mo, on the platform, came back to his senses first. He lunged forward, throwing his crescent saber, aiming directly at the bulging object.
But with a dull thud, the object was pierced with a hole, yet there was no one to be seen. Yun Mo and the Minister of Justice looked shocked. They quickly investigated, but there was no sign of anyone.
Prisoner Ye Jingyi had been rescued by someone right before everyone's eyes. This had never happened before. As for the other prisoners, all their heads fell, and blood splattered on the ground.
Among them, Ye Qingtian's eyes were the widest open, his death unfulfilled. He was probably worried about his son even in death, never expecting his son to be rescued.
Yun Mo dispatched soldiers to clear the execution ground and disperse the crowds. He and the Minister of Justice hurried to the palace to report to the Emperor.