The eve of the imperial examinations saw a criminal case erupt in the capital. A destitute scholar, overwhelmed by pre-exam pressure, suffered a mental breakdown and bludgeoned his mother, who had accompanied him to the capital for the exams. He was apprehended while attempting to kill his wife.
With testimony from neighbors and classmates, and irrefutable evidence, he was swiftly sentenced to death. He initially protested his innocence, but his wife’s testimony led him to accept his fate.
As this was the first imperial examination since the new emperor’s ascension, it was of utmost importance. This incident, being extremely egregious, had a profoundly negative psychological impact on all scholars. Emperor Mingde, enraged, ordered the immediate execution of the condemned man to restore order.
“From Donglin County? Hmph, uncivilized folk from a backwater, as expected, not a good place.”
Emperor Mingde tossed the case file aside, not glancing at it again.
Lingxi left the palace again, strolling through the streets with Ling'er, licking newly bought sugar figurines.
“Miss, you’re becoming more and more unruly, running out every few days,” Ling'er said, happily licking her sugar figurine.
“I think you’re enjoying it more than I am.”
Indeed, life was so good now. It was fortunate that among the palace maids who bullied the princess, only she had pitied her and offered occasional comfort.
And now, the good karma had arrived, hadn't it?
“Imperial Sister permits it, no one can interfere!”
Imperial Sister said it was good to get out more and see the world, not to be a frog in a well. She had even arranged for a grand guard for her. She was leaving the palace on imperial decree!
“Yes, yes!” Ling'er nodded vigorously. The words of the divine maiden must always be wise. Going out more was beneficial. Look at the princess, her temperament had become so wild.
No, her courage had grown.
She hadn’t dared to speak to Commander Song before, but now she found excuses to linger by his side.
A guard behind them reminded her, “Miss Ling'er, you have sugar silk on your mouth.”
Ling'er blushed and quickly covered her mouth. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
“What are they doing?” Lingxi asked curiously, looking ahead.
Why were a group of people throwing vegetable leaves and cursing?
The guard quickly stepped forward, “Miss, please step back. Those are condemned criminals being taken for execution. Don’t get caught in the crowd.”
Indeed, a prisoner cart slowly approached, carrying a disheveled figure, covered in filth from the thrown debris. The white prisoner’s robe was stained with disgusting green liquid.
Even worse, some were throwing stones, and the escorting constables did nothing.
“What kind of scholar is this! Killing his mother and wife, how vile!”
“Fortunately, such a person didn’t become an official. If he had, he would be a corrupt official who disregarded human lives!”
“So frightening. I heard his father was a murderer; it’s in his blood!”
“Don’t be fooled by his refined appearance. I heard people in the alley say his eyes turned as red as a man-eating wolf cub when he went mad!”
…
“Ling'er, do you think he looks familiar?”
“Miss! Step back!” Ling'er helplessly pulled back Lingxi, who was moving closer.
The princess’s courage was a bit too much now.
“It’s him?” Lingxi finally recognized him from his profile.
This scholar was refined and very young. On the Lantern Festival, hadn’t he won a rabbit lantern? When she returned to the palace, she had forced the rabbit lantern into Brother Wen Tang’s hand.
How had he become a condemned criminal?
“Stop!”
The prisoner cart moved slowly, deliberately parading through the city to warn the public.
Thus, Lingxi spread her arms and blocked the horse. The horse stopped.
A constable drew his saber and pointed it at her, “Who dares to block the prisoner cart! Seize them!”
“Who dares!”
The guard held up his waist token.
A sixth-rank imperial guard with a sword from the palace.
The constable quickly sheathed his saber. “My apologies, may I ask if you have any business, sir?” He looked at Lingxi, guessing her identity.
“None!” The guard whispered to Lingxi, “Miss, you cannot be reckless. This is a death row inmate sentenced by His Majesty. No one can change it.”
No! Imperial Sister can!
This thought flashed through Lingxi’s mind.
“How could he be a murderer? He’s so thin.”
And on the Lantern Festival, he had bought many things and was rushing home. He clearly loved his family. How could he have killed his mother?
“Miss! This is a matter for the Dali Temple. Please don’t get involved!” The guard was a little anxious, signaling Ling'er. Blocking the prisoner cart in the middle of the road, all the citizens were watching.
Ling'er came to pull Lingxi, but Lingxi was very stubborn at this moment. It had to be said that the late emperor’s children all had similar personalities.
Stubborn in certain aspects.
She approached the carriage, asking disbelievingly, “Did you really kill your mother?”
The person who had been looking down all along looked up at Lingxi.
Her gaze was sincere, slightly childish, and most importantly, very pure.
Liu Donghuai was slightly stunned. He remembered another pair of eyes.
Clear and transparent like lake water, looking at people with simple innocence, yet seeming to penetrate the heart.
So beautiful.
Beyond the description of ink, beyond the expression of words.
“It’s impossible, you didn’t kill her, did you?”
Imperial Sister said that one could see many things from a person’s eyes. This young man had not shown any trace of malice until now, just like on the Lantern Festival. He might have been annoyed by her, but he had always been polite, clearly a gentleman!
Otherwise, why would she have followed him for so long? If his character was poor, even if he won the rabbit lantern, she would have found it dirty!
Liu Donghuai did not expect that someone he had met only once would show him, a condemned criminal, such kindness.
He didn’t know how to respond, only tugging slightly at his cracked lips.
The prisoner cart continued to move.
“He didn’t kill anyone!” Lingxi seemed convinced!
His smile just now seemed to hold a hint of relief.
What was the point of pretending for someone who was about to die?
“Miss, we cannot interfere with this matter.”
“No, I am a princess of Jing. I have a responsibility to protect Jing’s interests. If this is a wrongful case, then it is a mockery of Jing’s laws. Imperial Sister and Imperial Brother would never agree!”
Ling'er was speechless.
She felt the princess was very majestic and domineering at this moment.
Lingxi ordered the guard, “Tulang! You go and stop them from executing him. I will return to the palace to find Imperial Sister!”
“Your subordinate cannot stop them. It would be considered defying an imperial decree and result in beheading!”
He, a mere sixth-rank guard, how could he stop the Dali Temple from handling a case? The princess’s thoughts were too idealistic.
“Then what should we do? There’s no time!” Lingxi was extremely anxious.
“Go find the King of Jiangbei. Perhaps there is still hope.”
It was only perhaps. Whether the King of Jiangbei was at his residence was unknown, and whether he would be willing to help was even less certain, as this would be going against the Emperor.
Lingxi was out of options. “Then hurry! What are you waiting for?”
As they were about to leave, they heard the sound of horses galloping.
In the capital, only a few people could ride so freely.
Tulang recognized the sound and the person, his expression relaxing. “There is hope!”
The person galloping was Xiao Shan and his subordinate Chen Kui. An unidentified group had appeared thirty miles outside the city. Several brothers from the Western Camp had gone missing, and even General Hao had not returned all night. He was going to investigate personally.
“Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law! Stop—”