Hearing XuanRong's order, YuShang could not help but wonder.
"WangFei, do you want to help the Li family? But… he's that sick bastard in the rumor, right?"
Hearing YuShang's innocent question, XuanRong could not help but laugh lightly.
'Help them? Ha! More like 'use them'! Why would I help the man who tortured me in my previous life? But… feed a starving dog and it will be loyal to you.'
Indeed.
What XuanRong wanted was to use Li family and Marquis Li's gratitude and make them their 'ally' in destroying the royal family.
"Do not ask anymore. Go back and retire. I will now sleep."
"Will WangFei wait for His Highness? Ever since His Highness got sick last time, His Highness had been bed redden in his own room."
XuanRong shook her head.
"His Highness was not allowed to leave his courtyard in order to have ample of rest. I will visit him tomorrow early in the morning."
YuShang curtsied and left, leaving XuanRong who was already lying on the bed. Few days after the full moon, Xu Fei Yi left QinWang Fu. Although he did not say the reason why, XuanRong was sure that it was very important to him. It must have been related to the seventh prince of Jing country, Long Hao Chen and that man named Chu Ji Qing. They had been living in Qian Zou as Jing country's envoy but things were not simple as it seems. Although there was no movement coming from them on the surface, XuanRong was sure that they were planning something grand. After what had happened at the Jing envoy's residence, XuanRong had decided to put the matter at rest in order to avoid any suspicion.
Based on her observation, XuanRong could entirely guess that their aim was not the royal family and Xu Ji Mo but the foolish prince Xu Fei Yi. Xu Fei Yi's departure must have been connected to his illness and her master's Gu art. Using his 'illness' as a camouflage, the entire capital only thought that the foolish prince Xu Fei Yi was terminally ill.
XuanRong did not know why but her heart seemed empty looking at the space beside her. Closing her eyes, XuanRong did not realize that what she felt was this so called 'longing'.
In the next few days, XuanRong's guess was correct. Xu Ji Mo, who had fallen 'sick' in the past few days had finally sent an imperial decree without meeting anyone. XuanRong could tell that after weighing things and considering all the consequences, Xu Ji Mo would decide to abandon the Li family and Marquis Li. As an Emperor, Xu Ji Mo's words were golden and should not be revoked. What kind of Emperor would take back his own words just because he did not want to kill the criminal? Thus, the moment he said those words, condemning the criminal in front of Rui JunWang and the palace ministers, no matter who the criminal was, he would have to die an ugly death in order to appease the citizens, and protect the Emperor's face. Regardless if what Baili family reported was true or false, Xu Ji Mo had to decide for the sake of peace.
On the twelfth day of the month, Li Jung Li was carried out of the prison and was tortured in front of the citizen.
"Ptui! Serves you right, you sick bastard!!"
"Ah!! Kill that criminal who killed my son!!"
"Kill him!!"
"Cut him to pieces!!"
"Let his body be devoured by beast!!"
"Kill him!!"
"Murderer!!"
"Pervert!!"
XuanRong stood within the crowd. She was wearing a simple white dress while her head was covered by a coat, looking towards the prison wagon moving towards the execution ground.
There, she saw a man wearing dirty clothes. His hair was unkept and his pants were filled with different filth. No one could no longer see the traces of a dazzling young man who were envied and desired by many, only a perverted criminal who looked worst that a beggar was there.
XuanRong's eyes were empty with emotions as she stared at the pitiful looking Li Jung Li. When people threw rotten things towards him, YuShen pulled XuanRong away, fearing that she would get caught in the commotion.
Before turning away, XuanRong and Li Jung Li's eyes met.
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Li Jung Li was sitting in a prison wagon. His eyes were already dead. He remained motionless as if he did not hear or see anything, like a dead fish. No matter how nasty the people's curses were, Li Jung Li remained still. No matter how smelly those things they threw at him, he did not even bother covering his nose. Rotten eggs and other rotten vegetables, urine, cow dung and human feces, Li Jung Li accepted all of it as if he did not care.
Why would he retaliate back?
It was already too late.
He would die.
Li Jung Li felt a deep penetrating gaze somewhere in the crowd and could not help but raise his head to search for it.
Raising his head, Li Jung Li saw a very beautiful maiden clad in a white dress. She had a cloak covering her head and body but Li Jung Li could see her face clearly.
Among those angry glares coming from the crowd, only the young maiden's eyes were clear. No traces of hatred, happiness or sadness could be seen. As if the things happening in front of her were nothing and irrelevant.
'Who was she?'
Li Jung Li could not help but ask himself.
Too bad, he could no longer know the answer.
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XuanRong returned to QinWang Fu and acted normal. looking at her reflection in front of the bronze mirror, XuanRong did not feel any ounce of happiness. When Rui Fang Li died personally in her hands, it was the same.
'Why? Why do I feel empty?'
XuanRong's eyes were filled with nothing but confusion.
She ought to be happy. She had already achieved almost half of her revenge. Two of those perverted bastards had died and one was almost on the verge of destruction. But… Why? Why was she not happy?
XuanRong hugged herself. She could not help but miss Xu Fei Yi's broad shoulders. The feeling of being hugged by him gave her comfort.
"Fei Yi…"
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"Ahgrh… L-luuh-shhe-sheeep. K-Kuuhhee-nnn Z-zzzhh.." The woman mumbled but no matter how much Shu Er tried to understand her, he could not.
"Why are you very impatient ah? Do not worry, my brother and I will definitely try our best to cure you and if we failed, I will make sure to ask our master to help you."
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[Unedited Chapter]