NFBE Chapter 236 King Xiang's Wrath
Chapter 236 King Xiang's Wrath
The bailiffs looked at Yun Shang lying on the torture bench.
Yun Shang wasn't wearing official robes, so none of the yamen runners recognized him.
But Su Mu recognized him.
Yun Shang raised his head and urged, "Lord Su, proceed with the execution."
Su Mu met his gaze, her eyes swirling with a mix of emotions: admiration, worry, and helplessness.
After a while, he looked at the bailiff holding the board and nodded slightly.
The bailiffs obeyed the order, raised the board high with both hands, and then swung it down violently.
With a loud "smack," the board landed heavily on Yun Shang.
Yun Shang's body trembled slightly, but his expression remained calm, showing no sign of anything amiss.
Witnessing this scene, Yu Wan felt as if her heart had been struck hard by the falling board, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.
"Cloud Cup..."
She tried her best to control her emotions and prevent tears from welling up in her eyes, but her hands involuntarily clenched tightly together, her knuckles turning white from the force.
With each rhythmic strike of the clapper, each sound seemed to resonate deeply within Yu Wan's heart.
Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Yun Shang's forehead. His hands gripped the edge of the torture bench tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, but he did not utter a single cry of pain throughout.
Yu Wan's gaze was fixed on Yun Shang, her shock and heartache growing stronger.
The surrounding crowd's initial clamor gradually subsided, as they were deeply moved by Yun Shang's resilience.
A heavy silence filled the air, with only the sound of the board falling echoing in everyone's ears.
Finally, the twenty strokes of the cane were completed.
Yun Shang slowly stood up. His back was soaked with sweat, and his once snow-white robes were now stained with blood, mottled and discolored.
However, he still stood tall and straight, though his face was slightly pale.
Like the first snow in the dead of winter, it exudes a sense of weakness and coldness.
Yu Wan staggered forward, quickly supporting Yun Shang with both hands.
She subconsciously bit her lower lip: "Are you alright?"
The voice was crying.
Yun Shang looked at Yu Wan, his usually cold eyes now showing a hint of tenderness and a smile. He shook his head, his voice very soft.
"Don't cry, I'm fine."
At this moment, Su Mu stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute to Yun Shang, and said in a low voice, "Lord Yun, I admire such kindness."
Yun Shang nodded slightly in return.
The strong smell of blood filled Yu Wan's nostrils. She couldn't think of anything at the moment, only concerned about bringing Yun Shang back to the manor as soon as possible so that Old Man Feng could apply medicine to him.
"Let's go back to the manor and have Old Man Feng apply the medicine for you."
She helped Yun Shang up and prepared to leave.
Grandma Sheng was already sobbing uncontrollably. She staggered to the two of them and made as if to kneel down.
When Yu Wan saw Granny Sheng, she quickly reached out to help her up.
“Grandmother, there’s no need for that. This is what we should do.”
"Miaohong!" Yu Wan called Miaohong over and instructed her, "Stay here with Grandma and report back immediately if anything happens."
Miao Hong was also moved to tears by Yun Shang's actions. Upon hearing this, she nodded readily, "Don't worry, Madam, I will definitely take care of Grandma."
Yu Wan helped Yun Shang leave.
As the two walked further and further away, their figures disappearing from everyone's sight, the onlookers finally turned their attention away.
Su Mu also withdrew his gaze, glanced at Granny Sheng, and said in a deep voice, "Take stock of the men, and come with me to the Prince of Xiang's residence to invite the Prince of Xiang!"
Before long, Su Mu arrived at the Prince Xiang’s residence with the yamen runners from the Dali Temple.
The gates of the Prince's Palace used to be wide open, but now they are tightly closed. The meaning of this is obvious.
The bailiffs from the Dali Temple couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Lord Su, this..."
The Prince of Xiang was clearly turning them away. Although they were officials from the Court of Judicial Review and were there to investigate a case, they didn't dare to barge into the Prince's residence.
Su Mu's face was cold and stern as he stared at the tightly closed gate. He frowned and said to the constable, "Go knock on the door first."
The bailiffs stepped forward, knocked loudly on the door knocker, and announced, "The Court of Judicial Review is handling a case and requests Your Highness's cooperation!"
After a long while, the door slowly opened, and the steward of the Prince's mansion poked his head out.
Upon seeing that it was someone from the Dali Temple, his expression did not change at all, clearly indicating that he had known all along that someone from the Dali Temple would come.
He said in a cold tone, "Lord Su, may I ask what brings you here? My lord is resting and is not available to receive guests."
Su Mu's face was ashen as he coldly stared into the steward's eyes: "I presume Your Highness is already aware of what happened at the Dali Temple this morning. A commoner has accused Prince Xiang of defiling a woman, and I have come to request Your Highness to go to the Dali Temple to cooperate with the investigation."
The steward looked at Su Mu and said with a forced smile, "Lord Su is joking. What kind of status does a prince have? How can he go to the Dali Temple so casually?"
"Lord Su, given your status, you cannot persuade our Prince to come."
"His Highness is unwell today, so please return, Lord Su."
After saying this, the steward of the Prince's mansion slammed the door shut with a loud bang.
The sound was deafening, as if proclaiming to the crowd the majesty and inviolability of King Xiang.
The constables looked at each other, all glancing at Su Mu.
"Lord Su, this..."
Su Mu had long anticipated this outcome and was not surprised.
He turned around, not intending to linger there any longer. "It's nothing, let's go back to Dali Temple first."
King Xiang could only avoid this for a short time.
Meanwhile, inside the main hall of the Prince Xiang's residence.
King Xiang kicked out and overturned the chair in front of him.
The chair crashed to the ground with a loud thud, its sound particularly jarring in the quiet hall.
"Well done, Su Mu! You dare to abuse your power and act like a prince!"
The entire main hall was filled with the chilling aura of King Xiang's fury. The servants all kept their distance, afraid of incurring the wrath of the enraged prince.
King Xiang was panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.
"Who does Su Mu think he is, daring to come to my residence and question me?!"
"And that old slut, so what if I killed her granddaughter? It's just a worthless life! What, she's going to go to the Dali Temple to sue me, and she wants me to pay for that slut's life?!"
"What a joke!"
The advisors nearby exchanged cautious glances, all seeing fear and unease in each other's eyes, and none dared to speak while King Xiang was in a fit of rage.
Only after King Xiang had smashed everything he could find, accompanied by a series of crashing sounds, did he finally sit down in the armchair beside him.
His chest heaved violently, his eyes filled with ruthlessness, but he had calmed down somewhat.
He gulped down a cup of tea and said in a deep voice, "Su Mu is nothing to fear, but my father already knows about this matter. Gentlemen, what do you think I should do?"
Only then did the staff dare to speak.
A young man dressed in a blue robe stepped forward first. His name was Zhou Ting. He was a student who had not passed the imperial examination, but he had caught the eye of the Prince of Xiang and entered the Prince's court as a staff member.
Zhou Ting bowed respectfully and said, "Your Highness, the key to this matter lies with that old woman."
"She went to the Dali Temple to beat the grievance drum, so she must have obtained some evidence that is detrimental to the prince. However, no matter what evidence she has, as long as the victim is gone..."
As he spoke, Zhou Ting paused, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.
Like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, flicking its cold tongue.
The King of Xiang met his gaze, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes as well.
He did not object to Zhou Ting's suggestion.
That old hag loves to tattle, doesn't she? Then let her go tattle to the King of Hell!