Blood spattered out, drenching him from head to toe.
With an expressionless face, he sheathed his knife and turned to bow towards the carriage.
"Reporting to Your Highness, the traitor has been executed."
Li Sangruo, who had almost tumbled out of the carriage in anger just moments ago, relaxed after seeing the person dead, and slowly steadied herself to sit back down.
"Leave such traitors to the care of Director Wei," she said.
Wei Zheng acknowledged, then turned to look back.
The man was staring at him with eyes wide in terror, not quite dead yet.
But he couldnât speak any longer, nor would he let anyone know that the instigator was the very person who had taken his life.
Wei Zhengâs eyes narrowed slightly, signaling to his attendants.
"Take him away! Clean the ground, do not sully the Empress Dowagerâs sight."
Outside Cuiyu, there was an awkward silence.
To avoid offending the Empress Dowager with the sight of blood, Li Sangruoâs procession had entered through a side gate.
The officials followed in silence.
It was as if no one had seen what had just happened.
After such an ordeal, Li Sangruo was no longer in the mood for the welcoming feast.
Even though she wanted to speak with Pei Jue alone, under these circumstances, she too felt awkward and dared not face him.
She didnât know what Pei Jue would think of her when he heard those rumors, whether he would also see her as a wilted flower and spoiled beauty?
He certainly would.
Thatâs why he had been so cold to her.
Li Sangruo clenched her hands tightly, not daring to look at Pei Jue again.
She was afraid she couldnât control herself, that she would burst into tears in public, crying out her grievances, crying out the excruciating pain she had suffered ever since she learned she couldnât marry him, and the longing for him during the endless years...
Li Sangruo was extremely tired.
She simply told everyone to disperse.
Leaving only Wei Zheng with her.
"Who was that person today?"
Wei Zheng said calmly, "Song Shouâanâs trusted aide. That dog escaped the other day, unexpectedly hiding here, went to the Empress Dowager to complain."
Li Sangruo fell silent for a moment, then spoke in a lowered voice.
"Is Song Shouâan dead?"
Wei Zheng looked up, his expression unchanged, though his eyes were chilling.
"Your Highness, that traitor is still waiting to see you," he said.
-
Cuiyu was built on a small island in the water, damp and cold.
Inside the woodshed, the light was dim, making the coldness even more severe.
Song Shouâan was bound to a wooden post in the woodshed just like that.
The brazier not far away held burning flames that could not warm him in the slightest.
Li Sangruo stood outside the door for a moment, then walked in slowly.
Knowing that Song Shouâan had been burned by fire, she was mentally prepared, but still gasped in shock when she suddenly saw his face, which had become grotesquely distorted after the injury.
"Who is this?"
Wei Zheng bowed calmly.
"A traitorous minister, Song Shouâan."
Seeing his former rival in such a state was indeed very satisfying for Wei Zheng.
Especially the look of disgust on Li Sangruoâs face, which pleased him.
But he did not forget what he had to do.
"I feared detection and have imprisoned the traitor here, waiting only for Your Highness to come to conduct a personal interrogation. So that Fang Fucai will be convinced beyond a doubt."
Li Sangruo glanced at him.
In the glowing firelight, her eyes were a cool ice, taking the testimony with a seal from Wei Zhengâs hand, her eyebrows furrowed, she sneered.
"You certainly know how to honor me."
She was speaking to Song Shouâan.
But Song Shouâanâs head hung low, his body covered in blood, his messy hair hanging down, showing no reaction at all.
Li Sangruo: "Are you dead?"
She hoped he was dead.
But it seemed Wei Zheng did not share the sentiment.
He moved to one side, grabbed a bucket of water from the corner, and threw it on Song Shouâan right in front of Li Sangruo.
Song Shouâan moved.
A low moan, filled with pain and despair...
...Until he saw Li Sangruoâs face.
He then suddenly woke as if with a start, his eyes wide open.
"Your Highness... save me, Your Highness..."
He struggled in his final moments, calling out weakly.
But on Li Sangruoâs face, there was not a trace of pity.
The person before her was no longer the same face, his appearance now repulsive to her.
Such a rotten man, and yet she had once favored him for a long time, granting him high office and power, wealth and splendor, but he was not satisfied, and consorted with prostitutes.
Moreover, before he came to serve in her palace, he had already been tainted and had even killed his own wife with his hands...
Li Sangruo suddenly began to laugh.
It was unclear at whom she was laughing.
Under the dim firelight of the woodshed, her pale complexion took on a hint of cruel pleasure.
"You say Fang Fucai commanded you?"
Song Shouâanâs eyes were like dying embers, broken and lifeless.
At this moment, if someone would take him off the rack, let him lie down comfortably and grant him an easy death, he would not hesitate to accuse Fang Fucai as the instigator, even if it meant accusing the Empress Dowager...
"Yes," he said.
Fearing that Li Sangruo might not hear him, he nodded weakly again.