Chapter 25

The news of Yuan Mao's imprisonment spread like wildfire, and it soon spread throughout Guangning. There were many criticisms in the city, and everyone was jittery.

Although they all wanted to hide from Yue Qingshuang, she still found out about it and fell ill on that same day. The Yuan family was in a state of melancholy.

After an extremely tortuous night, the three Yuan brothers hurriedly found Qian Anrong’s residence and wanted to know the news of the trial from him.

Qian Anrong’s expression was very unsightly. He said in a depressed voice: "Ge Zhong had compared the handwriting. It was really written by Lord Li personally."

"Impossible!" Yuan Shaoxu said anxiously, "That day when Lord Li presented his views vehemently, you and I and the generals of Guangning were present. How did he look like he was forced?"

"Shaoxu, I know, but it's useless for me to believe it. The imperial censor has to believe it."

Yuan Sikong gritted his teeth and asked, "It's not uncommon to find people who can forge handwriting. How can they judge this case just by the handwriting?"

"Lord Ge still wants to talk to Lord Li's relatives, but his relatives seem to be really coerced. They equivocated and don’t dare to speak."

"How is my father now?" Yuan Nanyu asked.

Qian Anrong sighed: "He was tortured... But he’s fine. The prison guard took good care of him."

"What shall we do now, Lord Qian?"

Qian Anrong shook his head: "You should know that the root of this matter is not in the confidential letter, nor is it in Lord Li. It's your father who has offended someone who shouldn't be offended. If he is determined to kill your father, I'm afraid..."

"What if I go and beg Han Zhaoxing?" Yuan Shaoxu said anxiously, "As long as he is willing to let our father go, our family will leave Guangning and never come back!"

"Absolutely not." Qian Anrong smiled bitterly and said, "Wouldn’t you be telling the world that he framed your father if you go and beg him? He's going to get even angrier from embarrassment. I have written to the Right Official of the Ministry of Punishments. This person is from the same hometown as me, so maybe he could help you a little. At the same time, I also sent a letter quickly to Datong prefecture. King of Jingyuan appreciates your father. If he’s willing to plead for your father, there could be a turning point in this case."

"Thank you very much, Lord Qian, thank you very much." A glimmer of hope kindled in Yuan Sikong’s heart. That person would definitely help his father.

Yuan Nanyu asked, "Lord Qian, can I go to the prison to see my father?"

"Lord Ge doesn't allow anyone to visit now."

Yuan Sikong frowned: "This is against the law of Dasheng. No matter what the crime is, all relatives can visit."

"Well, the heaven is high, and the emperor is far away*. Why would the imperial censor tell laws to a child? Since he doesn't allow it, you guys should not go."

Yuan Sikong clenched his fist. His heart was filled with the powerlessness of despair. He was too weak. His most important person was falsely accused of wrongdoing and was sent to prison, yet he could do nothing!

On the way back, Yuan Nanyu said indistinctly: "Could the Right Official of the Ministry of Punishments Lord Qian had mentioned help us? And King of Jingyuan. He seemed like a good person…”

Yuan Shaoxu said sadly: "Now we can only wait for the news."

Yuan Nanyu gritted his teeth and said, "If there’s no way, then we’ll go and break into the jail!"

"Stop indulging in fantasy." Yuan Shaoxu took out some money and threw it to him, "Go to the drugstore and bring our mother's medicine home." Then he left in a hurry.

Yuan Nanyu was holding onto the money. He was staring unblinkingly at Yuan Sikong with his unambiguous big eyes. "Second brother, you are the smartest. Do you have any ideas?"

Yuan Sikong muttered to himself for a moment: "I'm going to find Lord Li’s family."

"Okay, let's go together."

"You go and get the medicine for our mother."

"Second brother..."

"Be obedient." Yuan Sikong patted Yuan Nanyu's face and looked at him earnestly, "Take good care of our mother."

Yuan Nanyu pursed his lips and nodded.

After the two separated, Yuan Sikong ran straight to the Li residence.

The Li family was still in mourning and the mansion was lifeless.

After Yuan Sikong informed the gatekeeper, he then quietly waited outside the door. After a while, the gatekeeper came back and said expressionlessly, "Madame is extremely grieved and won’t be seeing any guests for the time being. Please go back, little master."

"Uncle, I have something important to ask."

"Please go back."

"Uncle." Yuan Sikong begged, "My father Yuan Mao was framed and thrown into jail, but he was the one who saved the whole of Guangning!"

The gatekeeper was showing signs of reluctance. In the end, he shook his head heartlessly: "Madame said she’s not seeing anyone. Please go back." Then he pushed Yuan Sikong out of the threshold and closed the door.

Yuan Sikong was so angry that he kicked the door hard and simply squatted outside.

But he had been guarding bitterly all day. His hands and feet were so cold that he couldn't feel them, and the person he wanted to find never came. When he thought of Qian Anrong’s words, probably Lord Li’s family members had been blackmailed by Han Zhaoxing to avoid talking about it.

He could only go back home anxiously.

Yue Qingshuang’s old illness broke out. She was coughing constantly and had a fever. Her face was abnormally flushed. Yuan Weiling and Yuan Nanyu were observing at one side, and their eyes were severely swollen.

"Second brother..." Yuan Nanyu wanted to say something but then hesitated. He wanted to ask if he had found the Li family. Yuan Sikong shook his head dejectedly.

He sat by the bed and held Yue Qingshuang’s boneless-like hand. He was looking at her thin face, and comforted her with much difficulty: "Mother, don’t worry. Take good care of yourself. Father will definitely come back."

Yue Qingshuang didn't speak. She just nodded her head with tears suspending in the rims of her eyes.

Yuan Sikong turned his face away and his heart was aching unbearably.

How could this happen? They were originally indulging in the joy of winning the war and looking forward to the reward from the imperial court. Furthermore, there were funds allocated to build a stronger city wall, but what they waited for was such a cold and cruel imperial edict, which put their family into hell in an instant.

He prayed to God that they would survive this calamity. As Yuan Shaoxu said, their family would rather leave Guangning and never serve as an official, as long as the whole family was safe…

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No matter how many years have passed, Yuan Sikong still clearly remembered everything that had happened on that day. From his sleeplessness to forcing himself to stay awake, and to be shaken awake by Yuan Nanyu, all the details, all the voices, and all the expressions were vivid in his mind.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that Yuan Nanyu had tears all over his face, and his spirit was in a state of extreme confusion. He was just holding him and shouting vaguely.

He panicked, and his foreboding invaded his mind: "Yu'er, what's wrong? Don't scare me, Yu'er, what's wrong!?"

Yuan Nanyu was crying so much that he was gasping for breath and couldn’t talk. He was just pointing outside.

Yuan Sikong stumbled out of bed. When he ran and staggered into the courtyard, he saw Yuan Shaoxu was kneeling on the ground, tugging at Qian Anrong's robe, crying and begging.

Yuan Weiling and Uncle Chen were also crying until their whole bodies were trembling.

Qian Anrong was weeping bitterly. He wanted to help Yuan Shaoxu up, but he couldn’t pull him up no matter what.

Yuan Sikong said with a trembling voice: "Lord Qian, what’s wrong......"

Qian Anrong shook his head. He was obviously having difficulty speaking.

Qian Anrong’s attendant said with much difficulty: "Lord Yuan...was convicted. The public execution will be held…this afternoon."

Yuan Sikong only felt a dull thunder exploding in his mind, which almost knocked him out of his wits. He was taking deep breaths, yet he felt like falling into deep water and was breathing with much difficulty. He was listening to himself speak, "Impossible. How can he be convicted in three days? Impossible. The emperor hasn't reconsidered yet. Even a robber with a very low status could only be sentenced to death with the approval of the emperor, not to mention the officials of the imperial court! IMPOSSIBLE!!!”

Qian Anrong rubbed away his tears: "Ge Zhong said he had an imperial edict, and…could carry out the execution on the spot."

"Impossible!" Yuan Sikong roared harshly, "No one can kill my father!" He dashed out and ran to the market.

Father... No, it's impossible. You can't die, father!

When Yuan Sikong ran to the market, the front of the execution platform was already fully surrounded by people. Ge Zhong, Han Zhaoxing, and other officials were sitting upright in their seats, and the one dressed in prison clothes with shackles on and was forced to kneel on the execution platform was Yuan Mao.

Yuan Mao’s clothes were stained with blood. He had disheveled hair, a dirty face, and his lips were pale, but he knelt with his back upright and his expression was strangely calm. That vigorous spirit of taking death calmly, he was really a man with an indomitable spirit.

Yuan Sikong burst into tears in an instant. He tried his best to squeeze into the crowd: "Father, father!"

Yuan Mao was stunned. When he saw Yuan Sikong, his expression finally got a little relaxed and his eyes became moist.

"Father, my father was wronged! My father was wronged! " Yuan Sikong hissed and shouted, "My father did not seize the commander’s seal. My father did not harm Lord Li. Why did you wrong him!? Why did you frame him!?"

Ge Zhong touched his beard and frowned. Han Zhaoxing also showed his displeasure.

"Yeah, Lord Yuan must have been wronged."

"We all relied on Lord Yuan to defend Guangning. Lord Yuan is a good man. He must have been framed by someone."

The people started to discuss all at once. The volume was getting louder and the whole execution platform began to boil with sentiments.

Ge Zhong smashed the teacup in his hand and shouted angrily: "SILENCE!!!"

The scene became silent immediately.

Yuan Sikong stared at Ge Zhong with red eyes and roared: "Ge Zhong, what rights do you have to condemn my father? Just based on a letter that could be forged? What’s the point of my father seizing the commander’s seal when the city was in danger? Lord Li sacrificed his life for righteousness and devoted himself to his country, but you said that he was coerced. You've not only wronged my father, but have also humiliated Lord Li after his death!"

Ge Zhong said angrily: "Where did this unbridled child come from? Get out of here!”

Yuan Mao said in a hoarse voice: "Kong'er, don’t say anymore, go back home quickly!"

Yet Yuan Sikong was fearless: "Ge Zhong, just because you are the imperial censor, you looked down upon the law of Dasheng. Forbidding relatives to visit is one of them. Obtaining confessions under torture and hastily convicting someone is the second. Interrogating and beheading the court officials without the emperor's reconsideration is the third. How dare you! Does the emperor know what you've done? Do people all over the world know what you've done!?"

Ge Zhong was trembling all over with anger: "Bastard. A-arrest him!"

The guards squeezed into the crowd to catch Yuan Sikong, but the people blocked them with their bodies. Those guards were the former subordinates of Yuan Mao, and they were not really submissive to Ge Zhong. They couldn't squeeze through for a long time.

"Han Zhaoxing!" Yuan Sikong had already gone out of his way. He glared at Han Zhaoxing with his grudging eyes. "You are a sinister and vicious villain. You lost Qingzhou and caused the imperial court to give up the seven states of Liaobei. You lost Huangshui and almost caused Guangning to be breached. If it weren’t for my father, Guangning would have been gone long ago. You would have died long ago. My father shouldn't have let you into the city that day! You returned kindness with ingratitude and framed my father. You are a beast who won’t die well. You will leave a stink for eternity! I CURSE YOU!!!”

Han Zhaoxing jumped up from his chair: "How dare you slander the official of the imperial court. I think you’re tired of living. Hurry up and arrest him.”

"Kong'er!" Yuan Mao roared, "Hurry up and go. Don't say any more."

"FATHER!!!" Yuan Sikong was choking with tears, "For what reason do they have to kill you!? It was you who saved Guangning. You are a meritorious official. For what reason do they have to kill you!? On that day, when the Jin army pressured the city, all the wood and stone were thrown, the cannons were fired from afar, and you stood on top of the city wall. With a stray arrow through your shoulder, you defended to the last and did not retreat, and where was Han Zhaoxing!? The emperor said he was meritorious. What was his merit? Ge Zhong said you’re guilty. What's your crime!?”

Yuan Mao shed tears like rain: "Kong'er, don’t say anymore. I beg you, please go…take good care of your mother…”

"Ge Zhong, Han Zhaoxing, if you kill my father unjustly today, it will be known all over the world tomorrow. My father was loyal, courageous, and saved 40,000 people in Guangning. He didn't die in the hands of Jin people, yet he had to die unjustly in the hands of our own people! There are witnesses everywhere, are you not afraid of retribution!? Is there justice in this world?!" Yuan Sikong cried, "My father only had merits and no sin. FOR WHAT REASON DO YOU HAVE TO KILL HIM!?"

Ge Zhong roared: "Arrest him, arrest him. Do you all want to defy the decree!?"

Yuan Sikong was protected in the middle. The guards and the people started to push and shove.

"Lord Yuan was wronged!" Someone yelled among the crowd.

This sentence was like a spark. It started a prairie fire in an instant, and the people followed and screamed: "Lord Yuan was wronged, Lord Yuan was wronged, LORD YUAN WAS WRONGED!!!”

For a moment, the yells were simultaneous. The sound shook the whole world.

The guards guarding the execution platform formed a circle. With spears across their chests, they were blocking the righteous indignant people.

Ge Zhong and Han Zhaoxing were anxious and angry. The scene was about to get out of control. Han Zhaoxing yelled, "It's noon. Execute him, execute him!"

"FATHER!!!" Yuan Sikong's voice was drowned in the roar.

Yuan Mao tears were running like a bubbling spring. He was staring at Yuan Sikong. Two people's eyes met in the chaotic crowd. That one gaze penetrated each other's heart.

Yuan Sikong stretched out his hand and wanted to catch Yuan Mao futilely. They were only a few feet away, yet it was like they were poles apart. Tears blurred his eyes, and he wiped them desperately. He wanted to see Yuan Mao clearly, even just a glance, one more glance.

The criminal officer yelled at the top of his voice: “It’s noon, execute him!”

"Lord Yuan was wronged!"

The executioner pressed Yuan Mao on the stone platform, and he said dully, "Lord Yuan, pardon me."

Seeing that the situation was irreversible, the people gradually quieted down and sobbed.

"Father..." Yuan Sikong’s whole body went weak, and he knelt to the ground. His voice was so hoarse that he could not make a sound, and his tears gushed wildly.

Yuan Mao smiled heroically: "Kong'er, live well and take good care of our family."

"Father...No..." Yuan Sikong only felt a sharp pain in his heart, and he was about to die almost immediately.

"Execute him!"

Yuan Mao chanted loudly:

The eyes are difficult to be blocked by miasma. Destiny has its fixed quantity.

With my bones buried in the snow for centuries, my loyal soul would still defend Liaodong!

When the executioner raised the broadsword and fell with a rustling sound, this scene became Yuan Sikong’s nightmare of a lifetime.

In that moment, something crumbled in his body. All his beliefs in the past 13 years have been turned into nothingness in an instant. In his eyes, there was only a cold blade, a column of blood shooting up to the sky, and that person who could no longer comfort, concern, and protect him.

He seemed to have died. That pain of skin peeling off inch by inch and soul being drained bit by bit must be death.

"AHHH!!!”

The people knelt. The sound of crying moved the sky, and the whole city was almost drowned in sadness.

Suddenly, Yuan Sikong felt that he was held up by others. He had no strength to struggle. He just screamed bitterly while facing the execution platform and that person who would never respond to him again. He hoped that his soul had not dispersed and he could hear his voice for the last time.

 

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PS: fuck, I’m out of here. Soaking my pillows with tears T___T BTW, first volume is almost done. 

PS from Emzie: *picks up pitchforks and torches*

 

the heaven is high, and the emperor is far away*[天高皇帝远]--- there is no help for it

 

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