Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Executed immediately?
You are going to execute me, Yun AoTian, in this jail cell?
At that moment, Yu AoTian raised his arms high in a hurry and said, “Benefactor, I am willing to atone for my sins with my contributions. I am willing to betray Jing Zhongyue. I am willing to confess everything in front of Lady Ning Qing. I’ll pin all the blame on Jing Zhongyue. That way, the Valley of Torn Gust would be doomed. After all, I am the third official registrar of the Embroidered Uniform Guards in the City of Torn Gust. My words are more convincing.”
The warrior let out a cold smile as she said, “You really are a smart man.”
Yun Zhonghe said, “I would be able to live if I betray Jing Zhongyue and plant the blame onto her, right?”
The warrior said, “That’s right. Not only would you be able to live, but you would also get a sum of sycees. An alarming sum of sycees.”
Yun Zhonghe said, “Can you give me a position as an official?”
The warrior’s gaze turned cold. He then smiled and said, “That’s not out of the question, but you have to make a huge contribution. I’ll take you to see Lady Ning Qing now, as well as the other lords of the Baronage Alliance. Do you know what you are supposed to say?”
Yun Zhonghe said, “I do, I do.”
The warrior said, “You have to remember something. There’s always an arrow aimed at your head. You will die instantly if you say the wrong thing. There would not be a chance for you to catch your breath, understand?”
Yun Zhonghe said, “I understand, I understand! Furthermore, I am powerless. You can easily kill me if I say anything wrong.”
Then, the warrior escorted Yun Zhonghe out of the jail cell.
At that moment, the entire castle was heavily guarded. There were warriors everywhere. It was clear that the situation had changed. It had become even more urgent.
***
Yun Zhonghe arrived at Ning Qing’s study again. However, this time, it had been thoroughly cleaned up. There was even the fragrance of lavender.
A few officials sat outside of the screen. They must be the other members of the Baronage Alliance.
There were four elite warriors at the door. They stood ramrod straight like nails.
Two women knelt in the study. They were covered in wounds. Were they the spies that had been captured?
Ning Qing silently sat on her bed.
Yun Zhonghe was escorted into the study.
Ning Que tossed a book in front of Yun Zhonghe. The book was written in a unique letter code.
“Yun AoTian, the two women kneeling before you are the spies who have infiltrated the side of Lady Ning Qing. One is a helper in the kitchen, while the other is a maid who sweeps the floors. This is the information they recorded with a special code,” Ning Que said in a chilling voice. “We fully suspect that it was these two spies that poisoned the mistress.”
Yun Zhonghe was silent.
Ning Que continued, saying, “You are the third official registrar of the Embroidered Uniform Guards in the City of Torn Gust. You should be able to read the special code in this book. Tell me, what this is?”
Yun Zhonghe said, “This, this is indeed the code of the City of Torn Gust’s Black Blood Hall. What’s recorded in this book are the details of Lady Ning Qing’s life. For example, her complexion, the falling of her hair, her unending menstrual flow, etc.”
Ning Que said, “That means to say that these two people who poisoned Lady Ning Qing are indeed spies from the City of Torn Gust who have snuck into the mistress’s trust?”
Yun Zhonghe replied, “That’s right; they are spies from the City of Torn Gust’s Black Blood Hall.”
Ning Que’s expression changed drastically. She said with an icy tone, “So that’s the case. Yun AoTian, if you wish to live, you can only atone for your crimes with your contributions. Tell us the whole truth.”
Yun Zhonghe said, “Yes! We first sent someone to poison Lady Ning Qing. Then they sent me to come to treat Lady Ning Qing. That way, Lady Ning Qing would owe us a huge favor. She would have to be biased toward us in the report. Furthermore, we would be able to plant the blame of poisoning Lady Ning Qing onto the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade.”
Ning Que said with a sinister gaze, “What a devious scheme. It is truly despicable to the extreme.”
Then, Ning Que looked toward Yun Zhonghe and said, “Also, you have long prepared the poem ‘Mister Taia.’ It is not a composition in the spur of the moment. In fact, it is not even you who created that poem. Correct?”
Yun Zhonghe froze. Not only do I have to betray Jing Zhongyue and plant the blame on the City of Torn Gust, but I have to destroy my reputation as a genius?
“Yun AoTian, yes or no?” Ning Que said, “Tell the truth if you wish to live, don’t hide anything.”
Yun Zhonghe said, “That’s right, that poem was not composed by me. In fact, the doggerel that mocked Lady Ning Qing’s menstrual pains and shedding hair had also been designed long ago. ‘Mister Taia’ was also not composed by me. It was written by a talented individual by Jing Zhongyue’s side long before this. It was custom-made for Lady Ning Qing. I am just an illiterate, ignorant, and incompetent beggar.”
Yun Zhonghe had downplayed his achievements. That poem had been composed by Yun Zhonghe. Furthermore, it had been composed by his quick wit in less than a minute.
Ning Que said, “All of this is to make the mistress stand in awe of your talent and take a fancy to you as a person, is that right?”
Yun Zhonghe replied, “Yes!”
Ning Que bowed and said, “Mistress, the truth is now out in the open. The castellan of the City of Torn Gust, Jing Zhongyue, is despicable and shameless. She has tried to harm you. Furthermore, she has taken advantage of your habit of cherishing talent and used a unique form of seduction to destroy your reputation.”
At that moment, one could see Ning Qing’s graceful figure through the mosquito net around her bed.
Ning Qing remained silent for a long while. However, her breathing became more rapid. It was clear that she was incredibly angry.
Ning Que bowed as she said, “Mistress, how should we deal with this?”
Ning Qing spoke a few seconds later, saying, “Everyone, get out. Yun AoTian and Ning Que, both of you stay.”
At that moment, everyone exited the study.
Ning Qing said weakly, “Yun AoTian, are you sure? The poem you composed just now was all designed beforehand. It was not made on the spot by you?”
At that moment, tens of meters behind Yun Zhonghe, an archer placed his finger on the trigger.
Yun AoTian said, “That’s right; it was all planned beforehand. It is all part of the Valley of Torn Gust’s scheme.”
“Despicable, shameless,” the widow of unparalleled beauty, Ning Qing, trembled as she said.
Ning Que said, “Mistress, don’t harm your liver for despicable and shameless people like that. How should we deal with this Yun AoTian?”
Ning Qing said, “Let him eat his fill, then bring him to the firewood room at the northwestern corner of the castle and execute him. Do this personally. Don’t let anyone know. After all, he is an official registrar of the City of Torn Gust’s Embroidered Uniform Guards. He is an official of a decent status.”
Ning Qing spoke, emphasizing her words once again. “Remember to kill him in the firewood room. Don’t be seen by anyone.”
“Yes!” Ning Que said.
Yun Zhonghe immediately shouted, “I’ve been wronged, I’ve been wronged, Lady Ning Qing. Didn’t you say that I would be spared if I confess…?”
However, his mouth was immediately covered.
“I’ll do it now!” Ning Que bowed as she spoke. She then dragged Yun Zhonghe away.
***
Following that, Yun Zhonghe was once again locked in a small room within the castle.
In front of him was a spread of chicken, duck, and fish. There was even a flask of wine.
This was his last meal.
“Eat well. Go along on your journey after you have eaten. If you have to blame someone, blame it on the fact that you followed the wrong master.”
Then, Yun Zhonghe was left alone in the small room.
He picked up a glass of wine. His tears fell into the wine before he emptied the cup.
This wine was spicy with a bitter aftertaste.
Just like that, Yun Zhonghe emptied cup after cup.
The wine entered his stomach. His tears fell like a fountain.
He became incredibly drunk not long after. He howled as he cried.
“I’ve been wronged, I’ve been wronged!”
“I wish to see Lady Ning Qing, I’ve been wronged.”
“Ning Que, get out here, get out here. Didn’t you say that you would spare my life if I confessed?”
***
A few warriors walked in an hour later. They searched Yun Zhonghe thoroughly, not leaving anything behind.
They then brought him out of the room.
Yun Zhonghe stumbled as he said, “You, are you guys going to send me on my way?”
No one answered him.
When they arrived at an area outside the yard, the female leader of the warriors, Ning Que, was already waiting there.
“Hand him over to me,” Ning Que ordered.
“Yes!” the two warriors replied.
Ning Que grabbed Yun Zhonghe’s neck and dragged him away as if he was a little chick.
They arrived at the western corner of the castle after walking tens of meters. There was a firewood room there. Within the room was a huge wok. It was heating water.
As Ning Qing was fanatical about being clear, there had to be a constant supply of hot water. Thus, there was an unending stream of hot water in the castle.
The stove was massive. The flames with the stove looked explosive.
“Do you know why the mistress chose to kill you here?” Ning Que asked with a cold laugh.
Yun Zhonghe shook his head in his stupor.
Ning Que said, “That’s because it’s convenient. I can toss your corpse into the flames after I kill you and burn you to ashes. You would evaporate from this world.”
Yun Zhonghe wept as he said, “You guys have promised me. You would let me off as long as I betrayed Jing Zhongyue, as long as I accused her. You guys would spare my life.”
Ning Que said, “Are you a child? You are so naive. You would believe someone else’s promise?”
Yun Zhonghe said, “You guys are shameless. You go against your morals.”
Ning Que let out a cold smile and said, “We’ve already done all we could by letting you eat your fill before you go. Kneel, I will make this quick. I’ll sever your head from your body with one stroke of my blade.”
“Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, I am still useful, I am still useful. I can step forward and testify. I can point out Jing Zhongyue in front of the Baronage Alliance. I am willing to cooperate with you completely. As long as you do not kill me, I am willing to do anything,” Yun Zhonghe pleaded bitterly.
Ning Que said coldly, “That would achieve a better effect, indeed. But my mistress has ordered me to kill you. I naturally have to follow her orders. Furthermore, it is enough as long as we make the mistress feel as though this is Jing Zhongyue’s scheme. There’s no need to invite any more trouble.”
Yun Zhonghe suddenly reached an epiphany, saying, “I… I know now. The person who poisoned Lady Ning Qing must not be the spies from the Valley of Torn Gust. It was you, wasn’t it? It is you who poisoned Lady Ning Qing. It is most convenient for you to do it as you are the person Lady Ning Qing trusts the most.”
Ning Que was shocked. She then whispered, “You are not dumb. However, unfortunately for you, you will not have the chance to tell the mistress anymore. There is no one within a hundred-meter radius from here. Not a single soul would have heard what you just said.”
Ning Que immediately placed her blade horizontally across Yun Zhonghe’s neck after she finished speaking. She was going to sever his head the moment he shouted.
Yun Zhonghe trembled as he whispered, “Why? Why? You are the person Lady Ning Qing trusts the most. You are her closest aide. Why would you betray her?”
Ning Que said, “Why? Perhaps… It is for love?”
Yun Zhonghe said, “People from the City of Autumn Waters? You are working for the people from the City of Autumn Waters?”
“Them? Are they worthy of that?” Ning Que asked.
Yun Zhonghe continued, saying, “Then is it for the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade?”
Ning Que said, “Why do you wish to know so much before you die?”
Yun Zhonghe said, “That’s not right; you did not know that Lady Ning Qing would receive me. That was just a coincidence. Thus, you poisoned Lady Ning Qing for another reason. It is also true that you intended to pin the blame of poisoning Lady Ning Qing on the City of Torn Gust. One more thing. You wished to create a specific scenario. Lady Ning Qing was already severely poisoned and was about to die. No one would have been able to save her. When that time came, the Mo Clan from the City of Washed Jade would send over a talented man and save Lady Ning Qing. That way, she would owe the City of Washed Jade a huge favor. However, after a series of unexpected events, I became the one who saved Lady Ning Qing’s life. So, you took advantage of the situation and set up this massive scheme to pin the blame on the heads of Lady Jing Zhongyue and me. This makes it so that the Valley of Torn Gust has completely offended Lady Ning Qing.”
“Impressive, impressive,” Ning Que said. “Your guess is 80 percent correct. That’s very intelligent. Are you really a beggar? However, I am very sorry. It is all too late. You can tell this to Yama when you arrive in Hell.”
Then, Ning Que raised her blade high in the air and said coldly, “Peacefully go on your way. Don’t blame me.”
She then cleaved her blade fiercely downward.
Yun Zhonghe shouted, “Lady Ning Qing, are you still not going to take action.”
The next second!
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…”
Tempest Pear Blossom Needles shot out with explosive force.
In an instant, most of the poisonous needles hit Ning Que head-on. A small portion of them even landed on Yun Zhonghe.
Following that, a machine seemed to have sprung up from the ground. It threw Yun Zhonghe out of the firewood room.
In the few seconds that they were hit by the poisonous needles, the two targets immediately became paralyzed. They fell straight to the ground.
Then, a secret door opened in the corner of the firewood room. A few figures walked out slowly from the secret compartment, with the first being the widow, Ning Qing.
Even though she had completely slumped to the ground, Ning Que was still overcome with shock. She could not believe the scene before her.
Am… Am I dreaming?
Was this a nightmare?
I have to wake up quickly, I have to wake up quickly.
Yun Zhonghe said, “Lady Ning Qing, I’ve accomplished my mission. The truth has been revealed. You heard it clearly with your own ears.”
***