Now that the good show was over, Shi Muyuan suddenly remembered the next event.
"I heard that there's a family rule in the Wu family about bone - piercing. Is Wu Lin going to go through it today?"
Seeing his little sister looking so eager, Shi An suddenly felt that he couldn't quite figure her out.
However, since they had just witnessed an execution, it didn't seem like a big deal to go and watch the bone - piercing.
With this thought in mind, he didn't resist as much as before.
The group then headed towards the destination in a grand manner.
When they arrived, Wu Lin was still dawdling below and seemed very reluctant to get on the stage.
Shi Muyuan pouted in boredom. It seemed that she needed to give him a push.
"Wu Lin, have you forgotten your deal with the national teacher? Or are you planning to go back on your word now? If so, we just came from the execution ground. Xu Qun's head hasn't been cleaned up yet. If you don't mind, you can go and accompany him."
With an innocent smile and a peerless beauty, but such cruel words, it just seemed so strange.
Wu Lin shivered violently. "I... I'll go up right away. Don't be impatient, Empress Dowager. I definitely won't go back on my word."
"Since that's the case, then hurry up. Don't keep so many of us waiting for you."
There was nothing Wu Lin could do. Even if he didn't want to go up today, he had to. He walked onto the high platform shakily, looking at the executioner with cold sweat running down his back.
Finally, after hesitating for a long time, he chickened out. "Empress Dowager, actually I can go against the family rule. After all, I'm the only one left in the Wu family. I don't have to suffer the pain of bone - piercing. I'll still do as I promised the national teacher."
Shi Muyuan knew that this matter wouldn't be that easy. She raised an eyebrow. "If you're not willing, then you haven't fulfilled your promise. Wu Lin, do you think you can fool us so easily?"
At this, Wu Lin was speechless.
Now there were only two paths in front of him: either be half - dead or die.
After thinking for a while, he finally chose the former. It seemed better to live on, as he might still have a chance to turn things around.
So, he quickly walked up to the executioner. "Give me a quick one."
The executioner didn't hesitate. The moment Wu Lin lay down, he thrust a dagger hard into his bone.
The bone - deep pain came. Even a rough man like Wu Lin, who was used to getting injured, couldn't help but cry out.
The wailing sound came from above. Cui Qizhou frowned slightly with impatience in his eyes.
"Are you even using any strength? If you can't do it, then let me do it."
His words were not a negotiation at all.
As soon as he finished speaking, he had already leaped onto the high platform.
Wu Lin wanted to get up and run away, but it was too late.
Cui Qizhou pulled out the dagger and then stabbed it into the other leg.
This time, the whole leg was pierced through with his inner strength.
Even Shi Muyuan, watching from below, felt the pain.
However, it seemed a bit relieving? She was horrified by her own thought. Was it because she had been idle for too long?
Cui Qizhou wiped his hands with a handkerchief in disgust and then jumped down.
"Alright, things here are almost settled. We can pack up and head back to Changjing City."
Wu Lin fainted on the platform and was dragged down.
Shi Muyuan suddenly understood why the man had done this. Wu Lin was seriously injured now. It would take him not just half a year, but maybe even a year to recover.
Unless there was modern medical technology, but that was impossible. As far as she knew, she was the only one who had traveled through time.
She had briefly looked through the farming knowledge passed down in the Wu family before, and it wasn't much different from modern knowledge. She suddenly sighed. The wisdom of the ancients was really amazing.
However, it didn't matter much to her.
She could go back and pack up to go home. It had been a long time since she had returned to that comfortable place. The beds in the inn were really uncomfortable. Also, she hadn't eaten well recently and had lost weight. She wanted to go back and eat delicious food.
With this thought in mind, Shi Muyuan packed up her things much faster, which made Xiao Xiao beside her a bit helpless.
"Your Majesty, the common people in Jiangnan City want to bid you a proper farewell. I wonder if it's okay?"
Hearing this, Shi Muyuan pursed her lips. "Tell them to go back. There's no need for a farewell. I hate farewells the most."
"But they're already waiting downstairs."
She couldn't just let the common people wait downstairs forever. Helpless, Shi Muyuan could only change her clothes and go downstairs.
However, as soon as she saw the common people, they all knelt down in unison.
Surprise flashed in her eyes. "What are you doing? Get up quickly!"
"Empress Dowager, if it weren't for you during this period, I'm afraid our whole Jiangnan City would have been doomed."
As soon as these words were said, the common people below burst into tears, and even her own eyes were a bit moist.
Actually, it wasn't all her doing during this period. Everyone had been working hard, and it wasn't just her merit.
But as soon as she said this, everyone immediately denied it.
"Empress Dowager, it's really your merit. You could have just stayed in the harem and ignored us, but you still accompanied us through the most difficult times. Moreover, you've helped us a lot during this period. You came to check on our injuries in person and sometimes even changed our dressings. We've all remembered it in our hearts."
"Empress Dowager, to show our gratitude, all of us have raised some food and sent it to you. This is the last thing we can do for you."
Looking at the several carts of food outside, Shi Muyuan knew that this might be the last food of all the people in the city.
Her eyes slowly turned red. "You don't have to do this. I came here voluntarily, and helping you was also my own will. You're the people of the Great Liang. The royal family will remember you in times of crisis."
Even so, all the common people still stubbornly asked her to accept the things.
"Empress Dowager, please accept it. We've passed the most difficult times. Our Jiangnan City will get better and better and return to its former glory. We hope that you'll come again in the future."
"Then I won't decline anymore. Don't worry. I'll definitely come to visit you when the time comes."
As soon as these words were said, everyone hugged each other and cried.
However, before their emotions could fully rise, Cui Qizhou rushed out. "Protect the Empress Dowager!"
Suddenly, Shi Muyuan was stunned, and so were the common people.
"They're just being emotional here. Why is the national teacher so insensitive? They don't mean any harm to the Empress Dowager."