The next day.
The time for Chang Lin's execution had been set. The door of the imperial prison was forcefully opened. Liu Zhen entered with his guards and "unloaded" the dying Chang Lin from the chains.
Chang Lin half - opened his eyes. He had already lost all feeling in his lower body. The blood - soaked clothes on him were hardly recognizable in their original color.
Seeing that he couldn't walk, two guards were told to carry him step by step towards the execution ground.
It was mid - morning, and the sun was shining brightly.
It should have been a fine day, but because of Chang Lin's execution, the whole capital was filled with a depressing atmosphere. There was no such thing as a leak - proof wall. The matter of the eunuch in the palace poisoning the favored imperial concubine had spread like wildfire in the capital. Meanwhile, the fact that Concubine Shu had had contact with Chang Lin had also been passed from mouth to mouth. It had turned into a rumor that Concubine Shu had had an affair with him. Some even spread the rumor that Concubine Shu was pregnant with Chang Lin's child...
In short, like Chang Lin, Concubine Shu had become a target of public scorn. Liu Cheng, the Minister of Rites, naturally got wind of the news. He came to the Taihe Hall early and knelt down to beg an audience with the emperor. But Sikuo Ting was lingering in the Kunning Palace. The old official finally fainted from exhaustion after kneeling for a long time. Sikuo Ting ordered someone to arrange for him to rest in the palace.
For a moment, the political parties in the court were in turmoil. The faction led by Liu Cheng also began to secretly draw a clear line from him.
The place for Chang Lin's execution was chosen to be the Discipline Platform. The Discipline Platform was outside the palace, a place where all the common people could see.
Sikuo Ting was determined. He wanted the whole world to know the consequences of hurting Qin Huaiqiu.
Sikuo Ting licked Qin Huaiqiu's ear and said, "Don't go to watch Chang Lin's execution today. Your body hasn't fully recovered yet."
Qin Huaiqiu was lying in bed. Although it was already daytime, he was still weak from the poisoning and refused to get out of bed no matter what.
"Yeah, I won't go and watch." Qin Huaiqiu's voice was muffled as he covered his head with the quilt.
"It's stuffy." Sikuo Ting sighed with a smile and pulled the quilt off. "You've agreed to let Concubine Shu go and watch?"
Qin Huaiqiu nodded, turning his face away. "It's their last chance to see each other. She begged me, so I agreed."
Sikuo Ting looked at Qin Huaiqiu, sighed softly, and then pulled him into his arms. "Since you're not going, I won't go either."
Qin Huaiqiu let out a soft laugh. "Okay. I'm still sleepy. Let me sleep a bit more."
Sikuo Ting slipped his hands into Qin Huaiqiu's clothes and pinched his waist. "You're such a lazy pig. Still sleepy?"
Qin Huaiqiu slapped away Sikuo Ting's hand and said crossly, "I was just poisoned! Stop fooling around. Let me sleep."
Meanwhile, Qin Lan stood in front of the Ningfu Palace and said to Ying'er, "I'm here on the order of the Noble Consort De to take Concubine Shu to the Discipline Platform."
Ying'er gave Qin Lan a silent look without saying a word. Then she turned around and walked into the room. She helped Concubine Shu out.
Concubine Shu was dressed in white. She didn't even put on any makeup. Her hair was simply pulled up into a bun, and her long black hair was messily draped over her shoulders. She looked extremely desolate and weak.
Even Qin Lan was shocked when she saw her. She slowly bowed and said, "Concubine Shu, please get into the sedan chair."
Concubine Shu nodded weakly and got into the sedan chair with Ying'er's help.
The sedan - chair bearers lifted the sedan chair and headed towards the Meridian Gate.
The sun was gradually rising to the top of the sky. In a short while, it would be the time for the execution. There was a huge crowd in front of the Discipline Platform. Everyone wanted to see the end of this traitor.
Chang Lin was carried and forced to kneel on the ground. He was wearing prison clothes, with shackles on his hands. His hair was in a mess, and his face was covered in blood.
He was now too weak to speak because of excessive blood loss. He could hardly see clearly, and there was a buzzing sound in his ears, probably the scolding voices of the common people below the stage.
"Smack!"
Someone threw a rotten egg onto the stage. The egg broke in front of Chang Lin, releasing a disgusting smell.
Immediately, the crowd became noisy. Rotten vegetables, worn - out straw sandals, fruit peels, etc., were all thrown onto the stage. Chang Lin just knelt there numbly. His eyes were unfocused, and he seemed like a soulless shell.
The filthy things landed on his head and slowly ran down his cheeks. He didn't move, allowing the common people below the stage to hurl extremely vicious and filthy remarks at him.
The time was approaching. On the other side, the executioner began to sharpen his knife.
The harsh and shrill sound of the knife being sharpened was like the howls from hell, bloody and decisive. But this sound excited the onlookers. They laughed mockingly, scolded, and waited for the moment when his head would fall to the ground, looking forward to the thrill and pleasure.
Suddenly, a shadow fell in front of him. A figure in white blocked in front of him.
Chang Lin was stunned. The familiar fragrance lingered around his nose, suddenly gathering his almost dissipated consciousness.
He slowly widened his eyes.
"Disgusting couple! How dare you come here and disgrace yourselves!"
"Adulterer and adulteress!!!"
"Shameless!!!"
Concubine Shu blocked in front of Chang Lin. The angry common people threw all the filthy things at Concubine Shu.
The fourth - rank imperial concubine of the dynasty was now just a person despised by the common people. All the elegance and nobility that belonged to a concubine were completely gone. She shed tears and pleaded desperately, "Stop hitting... please stop hitting!"
Chang Lin's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. He slowly raised his head and looked at the white figure with his blood - smeared face.
"Yan'er...?"
Chang Lin's voice was hoarse and weak. He looked at her in disbelief and whispered, "Is that you?"
Concubine Shu turned around and looked at him with tearful eyes. She had never seen Chang Lin in such a state.
In her impression, Chang Zixuan was always a gentle and elegant young gentleman. Even after he entered the palace as an eunuch, he was still different from ordinary eunuchs. The unique scholarly and elegant aura of Chang Zixuan had attracted her from the very beginning. The moment they first met, her eyes had been firmly fixed on him. But now -
She looked at Chang Lin's blood - smeared face. There was a whip mark as long as a palm on his face. The whip mark was clearly made with great force, causing his skin to turn outward and be in a bloody mess.
She felt as if a knife was stabbing into her heart.
She knelt down and tremblingly touched his cheeks with both hands. Her tears fell like an unbroken string of beads onto the ground and shattered into pieces.
She cried loudly and unrestrainedly, as if this could vent out all the pain and regret in her heart.
Chang Lin looked weakly at his lover in front of him. He wanted to rub against her hand, but he was almost too weak to move his body.
"Why did you come..." Chang Lin's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. His eyes were moist, and his look was affectionate and determined. "You shouldn't have come..."
Wouldn't this just confirm the charges against her and him?
If she came, she couldn't become the queen.
Chang Lin shed tears, and his lips trembled. He wanted to persuade Concubine Shu to leave quickly, but seeing her crying, he choked up and couldn't say a word.
It was noon.
The executioner slowly walked onto the stage with his knife.
Seeing this, Concubine Shu hugged Chang Lin's head and stared at the executioner desperately, letting out a heart - rending scream.
"Take Concubine Shu away!" Liu Yun stood aside and said resolutely. "How could she be allowed to come here? What a disgrace!"
Several guards walked up and tried to pry Concubine Shu's hands off.
But Concubine Shu used all her strength and clung tightly to Chang Lin. The guards couldn't separate them. After all, Concubine Shu was the first among the four concubines. The guards didn't dare to go too far. Seeing that they couldn't separate the two, they just stood on the stage looking at each other, not knowing what to do next.
After Liu Yun roared angrily, the guards finally made up their minds. Two of them grabbed Concubine Shu's arms and dragged her straight back.
Concubine Shu had long lost her usual appearance. She screamed, cried, and struggled. Finally, she was forced to let go of Chang Lin. At that moment, Chang Lin, who was already very weak, collapsed. Then the executioner grabbed his hair and pulled him up.
The wound on his face split open, and the hot blood flowed out, as if red spider lilies were blooming all over the Discipline Platform.
"Zixuan——!!!"
She opened her mouth and roared out the name that she had murmured thousands of times in the depths of her memory.
Chang Lin trembled all over. The muscles on his face, covered in blood and tears, twitched. Finally, he used his last bit of strength to look at Concubine Shu.
He shed tears and slowly showed a smile to Concubine Shu.
Just like that day in the past.
In the flying peach blossoms, Chang Zixuan handed over that note and recited that poem:
A fair maid of the Liu clan has just come of age,
I caught a glimpse of you in the lane and was smitten.
Sweet maiden, do you know your lover's heart?
I dream of your graceful figure and long for your return.
He was also smiling at that time. In the floating peach petals, his smile was the most beautiful scenery at that time.
Concubine Shu was stunned.
Chang Lin's lips moved, and silently he said the same four words as before:
I like you.
Liu Yun looked cold - faced and stretched out his hand. "Execute the sentence!"