After Emperor Murong Xuan finished the court session, his guards returned from a distant place overnight, bringing back a batch of precious medicinal herbs. Murong Xuan was overjoyed. In a hurry, he took the herbs and left the palace in his carriage to visit Su Mansion to check on the patient.
When the people in Su Mansion heard that the new emperor was coming, they rushed over in a flurry to pay their respects. Murong Xuan waved his hand repeatedly. He was only here to see Wei Dongling.
On the couch, Wei Dongling's face was as pale as paper. She was still unconscious.
Ruan Niang carefully examined the medicinal herbs bought at a high price. Her eyes lit up as she said to Murong Xuan, "Your Majesty, this batch of medicinal herbs is extremely rare! I believe they will be of some help to Miss Wei! On behalf of Miss Wei, I thank Your Majesty!"
Murong Xuan nodded and said, "Just ask for whatever you need! I don't ask for anything else, only that my imperial sister will recover soon."
On the couch, Wei Dongling's finger trembled unconsciously. Murong Xuan hurriedly called out, "Ruan Niang, come and have a look! Is Dongling about to wake up?"
Ruan Niang stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty! Miss Wei has been like this since last night. She hasn't regained consciousness yet. I'll try to use some more medicine."
"Alright." Murong Xuan looked at Wei Dongling's once delicate face, now emaciated and bloodless. He felt a twinge of pain in his heart. Suddenly, he saw her lips quiver slightly as if she was saying something. Murong Xuan was in a daze for a moment. He quickly leaned over to listen, but he couldn't make out anything clearly. Looking worried, he looked up at Ruan Niang and asked, "What is Dongling saying?"
Ruan Niang was silent for a moment and sighed, "She has been calling that person's name all night last night."
Murong Xuan's face turned slightly green. Suddenly, he remembered that a few days ago, Wei Dongling went to Taiji Hall in the middle of the night to look for him. She said some strange things and asked him what to do if that person kept avoiding her! His cousin was heart - sick!
"Dongling," Murong Xuan gently patted her emaciated arm and murmured, "Didn't you say you like the land of Yu Mansion? After the Yu family is exiled in a few days, I'll transfer that mansion to your name. If you like anywhere else, just tell me and I'll get it for you!"
On the bed, Wei Dongling couldn't hear his words. She just mumbled something to herself.
Murong Xuan chatted with her for a while, then got up and went to the main hall to have a private conversation with Luo Xunlong and Uncle Li.
Uncle Li sighed and said, "We searched everywhere these days but couldn't find him. Where can we look for him now?"
Luo Xunlong also sighed and said, "We all know that Miss Wei wants to see him, even just once. It might be helpful for her injury. But we're really powerless!"
Murong Xuan held the teacup in his hand and calmly scraped the foam off the tea with the lid. He said slowly, "What if we push the He family out for public beheading?"
Luo Xunlong's face changed. He quickly asked, "Your Majesty, do you mean... behead He Jingyao, Yu Zixi's master, in public to force him to show up and save the day?"
Uncle Li stroked his short beard and murmured, "And set up a net around. If he comes, he will surely be captured!"
Murong Xuan gritted his teeth with a dark face and said, "The daughter of the He family dared to hurt my cousin like this. I would make the whole He family pay with their lives, but it still wouldn't ease my hatred! If beheading He Jingyao in public can force Yu Zixi to show up, it can be regarded as a good deed on his part!"
Murong Xuan had made up his mind. If Yu Zixi really dared to show up, he would tie him up and drag him in front of Wei Dongling's couch, making him kneel and admit his mistakes!
Luo Xunlong frowned and asked, "What if he still refuses to show up?"
Murong Xuan said coldly, "The He family deserves to die whether he comes or not."
Luo Xunlong nodded in agreement.
So, the whole capital was talking about it. It was said that two days later, He Jingyao, a remnant of the previous dynasty, would be beheaded in public. This matter became the talk of the town.
Grandma Yu and her maid had been living in Su Mansion. It took them several days to come to terms with the fact that Yu Mansion had been raided. After much persuasion, they finally agreed to stay for the time being.
When Lady He learned that her younger brother, He Jingyao, would be beheaded in public, she lost her appetite and was in a daze. Since she entered the palace years ago, she hadn't seen He Jingyao alone. Now that she finally got out of the palace, she never thought that she would soon be separated from him forever.
Although Cui Huan comforted her in a soft voice for a while, Lady He still sobbed non - stop and couldn't calm down.
It was a fine day on the day of the execution. Early in the morning, a large crowd came to watch. They pointed at the criminals and hurled insults at them.
Cui Huan helped Lady He to the execution ground early. Anyway, He Jingyao had adopted and raised Lady He. He secretly trained Cui Huan and Tian Qi to be Yu Zixi's most capable subordinates. For both sentiment and reason, she should come to see her master for the last time.
Uncle Li, Luo Xunlong, Yu Hanfang and other leaders got together to plot. They arranged a large number of people to hide in all directions around the execution ground, secretly setting up a net.
He Jingyao was brought to the execution ground early in the morning. Kneeling beside him were all the male members of the He family, lined up neatly in the small execution ground.
Not long after, Murong Xuan arrived in his carriage. Everyone knelt down.
Two teams of imperial guards on duty stared menacingly at the crowd around the execution ground. If anyone dared to rush out to rescue the criminals, they would not hesitate to intercept and arrest them.
Lady He was below the execution ground, looking at her younger brother on the stage with tears streaming down her face. Cui Huan took out her handkerchief again and again to wipe her tears and whispered, "Madam, you mustn't do this!" If the excited crowd who were pointing at He Jingyao and scolding saw this, they might scold Lady He severely. She might even be dragged out and identified as an accomplice!
He Jingyao knelt on the execution ground. His face was ashen as he looked up coldly at the crowd scolding him. There was a sneer on his lips, and the hatred in his eyes deepened. He slowly turned his eyes and suddenly saw Lady He and Cui Huan in the crowd. His expression clearly froze. At this last moment of his life, he actually saw his elder sister who loved and cared for him! He Jingyao's eyes instantly turned red.
Lady He's eyes filled with tears instantly. She rushed forward urgently to take a good look at her younger brother. Fortunately, Cui Huan was quick - witted and grabbed her. The siblings could only look at each other from afar across the execution ground, both with hot tears in their eyes.
Since the current emperor was present at the execution ground, all the people from the Ministry of Justice were trembling with fear and didn't dare to be careless at all.
After waiting for about an hour, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty! It's already noon. What do you think...?" Should they wait any longer?
Murong Xuan waved his hand and said, "Behead them!"
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice immediately arranged for the executioners to carry out the sentence.
As the heads of the male members of the He family fell to the ground and blood spurted three feet into the air, the crowd clapped and cheered. Lady He cried her eyes out. Cui Huan's eyes were also moist. She knew she couldn't stay any longer. She gritted her teeth and dragged Lady He away.
After the execution was over, the large crowd was dispersed.
Murong Xuan sat on one side, observing the whole scene. He was a little surprised. From start to finish, no one came to stop the execution of the He family.
Yu Zixi didn't even show up!