The Qin Family had been sent to the Heavenly Prison. The eldest daughter of the Qin Family, who had once been Rui Wang Fei, had been ordered to be beheaded. Many people in Jing guessed that the Qin Family had fallen to such a state. Other than Qin Bai Lu assassinating the Empress, it could also be related to the rumors in Jing.
No matter what the truth was, the Qin family had gradually lost the style of a scholarly family in recent years. There were even scholars who said that the current head of the Qin family had let down the ancestors of the Qin family.
Some people sighed with emotion at the demeanor of the Qin Clan in the past. In the future, they would use the Qin Clan's matter to educate their descendants. They would learn from the Qin Clan and not walk the same path as the Qin Clan.
When Dai Rong heard that Qin Bai Lu was about to be beheaded in public, she was so scared that she did not dare to go out again. She was clearer than anyone else what was going on. In the beginning, it had been Qin Bai Lu who had discussed with her how to ruin the Empress' reputation. Qin Bai Lu had even told her many things about the hougong of Da Long. She hadn't thought that this matter would be exposed so quickly. Qin Bai Lu, the mastermind, didn't even manage to keep her life.
On the day that Qin Bai Lu was beheaded in public, the autumn air was crisp and clear. There were many people who came to watch the fun, but until the moment before the execution, no one came to see her off.
She looked around blankly and suddenly saw a man riding on a white horse behind the crowd. She was slightly startled and tears suddenly rolled down her lifeless eyes. She had fallen in love with this man when she was thirteen years old. She married him when she was fifteen and was divorced by him when she was seventeen. Even at the moment of her death, she still saw him.
The black sackcloth covered her eyes. She tried to turn her head to look at him, but in vain allowed the executioner to cover her eyes. She heard curses and jeers in her ears. Although she held her breath, she did not hear his voice.
It would have been great if she had not met him at the palace banquet that year.
She could only blame herself for being too young at that time. She could only blame the youth at that time for stunning her youth.
Maybe, the one she hated wasn't Qu Qing Ju, the one she hated wasn't Qu Yue Su. All of her hatred stemmed from her unwillingness and dissatisfaction towards him. If she could start over, she would rather be an ordinary woman and marry an ordinary man. Whether it was prosperous or plain, he would always have a feeling that belonged to him.
Just like Qu Qing Ju, she had a man to protect her and a lifetime to look forward to.
"The time has come. Begin the execution!"
The golden midday sun shone on the executioner's raised knife, reflecting a little silver light. The burly executioner drank a mouthful of hot knife and sprayed it on the big knife. Then, he slowly raised his hand and chopped down with force.
The corners of Qin Bai Lu's mouth curled up into a smile. It was as if she was looking at the dazzling youth from the palace banquet all those years ago. Then, the world fell into darkness.
He Yuan's hand that was holding the reins suddenly froze and then slowly loosened. He pulled on the reins and turned the horse around, not looking at the execution platform behind him. After a sigh, he said, "He Fu Er, have someone give her a proper burial."
Those who were beheaded would be sent to a mass grave if they had no family to collect their corpses. Although he didn't have any feelings for her and even hated her, he, He Yuan, wouldn't go so far as to see his former woman die without a coffin.
He Fu Er saw that his master's expression wasn't good and hurriedly motioned for the people behind him to collect Qin Bai Lu's corpse, "Wangye, the sun is scorching hot right now, why don't we return to the fu?"
He Yuan raised his eyebrows and glanced at him. "Let's go back."
He Fu Er hurriedly went forward to take the reins of the horse and lead the horse towards Jun Wang.
The direction of the fu was led. When they were about to turn the corner, he couldn't resist turning back to look at the execution platform where the crowd had dispersed. The person who was beheaded at noon, after being exposed to such a strong sun, wouldn't even have a soul left.
But to assassinate the Empress, she was really daring. No wonder the Emperor would give such a decree. She really deserved it. Luckily, wang ye had divorced her early on. Otherwise, even Jun Wang Fu would have been affected by her.
Dai Rong didn't dare to go see the scene of Qin Bai Lu's execution. Hearing that Qin Bai Lu's corpse had been taken away by the people of Rui Jun Wang Fu, she had been restlessly sitting in the room. If someone walked in the yard, she would tremble in fear.
The Emperor had even ordered the execution of a noble daughter like Qin Bai Lu. If they found evidence that she was related to the previous rumors, what would her fate be? And would the country of Jing be affected by her?
Right now, she regretted cooperating with Qin Bai Lu. Why had she been so stupid to believe the words of a woman who had been divorced by the Imperial House?!
Taking a sip of cold tea to suppress the terror in her heart, just as the teacup left her mouth, Dai Rong saw her servant girl push open the door and rush in, her face full of panic: "Princess, His Majesty the Emperor of Da Long summons you and the Crown Prince."
The teacup in her hand dropped to the ground. Dai Rong stood in fright. Through the door, she saw the taijian of Da Long standing in the yard. Her feet stumbled and she forced out a smile: "Wait for me to change … …"
"Princess, please don't waste time. The Emperor and the Empress are very busy. Princess should quickly enter the palace." Qian Chang Xin walked into the room, expressionlessly flicking the horsetail whisk in his hand. "Princess, please."
Dai Rong recognized this was the taijian of the Emperor of Da Long. She didn't dare to be negligent and forced out a smile before following Qian Chang Xin out of the room. When they reached the yard, she saw Tu Er was also dressed in casual clothing, his expression not very good.
"Crown Prince, Princess, please," Qian Chang Xin raised an eyebrow, "Don't make the Emperor wait too long."
Seeing Qian Chang Xin's attitude, the unease in Dai Rong's heart increased. She almost couldn't breathe.
Entering the palace, following Qian Chang Xin and the others into Tian Qi Palace, Dai Rong heard the voice of the Emperor and Empress coming from inside the door. After Qian Chang Xin sent the report, the voice stopped. Under the cold gazes of the palace maids and taijian, she walked in.
Qu Qing Ju was playing with a kaleidoscope. Seeing Dai Rong and Tu Er come in, she handed the kaleidoscope to a palace maid at the side and sat upright. After the two bowed, she only held the teacup and didn't speak, allowing He Heng to converse with the two.
"Zhen heard that Hu Guo Princess had once been very close to Qin shi. Does Princess have an explanation?" He Heng looked coldly at Tu Er and Dai Rong. Just one sentence was enough to frighten the two into kneeling on the ground. He looked at the two people kneeling in front of him, his expression still ugly, "In the early years, the country of Jing had always been a subordinate country that Da Long valued. But your conduct today disappoints zhen."
Once Tu Er heard this, his face paled in fright. He hurriedly gave a full bow, saying: "The honored Emperor, the Heavens can see the loyalty of my country of Jing to you. Please, Your Majesty, don't easily believe the rumors!"
"Whether it's a rumor or not, both of you should know very well," He Heng thought about the rumors that had been circulating in Jing, and the things that Qin Bai Lu had done. His brow furrowed, "Zhen only wants the country of Jing to give my Da Long an explanation."
Tu Er's forehead was dripping with sweat. He gritted his teeth and gave a kowtow: "Your Majesty, we are willing to increase the annual tribute by two-tenths to show our loyalty to Da Long."
"My Da Long doesn't lack for such things," He Heng snorted coldly, "If zhen's Empress and the court officials were harmed because of the rumors, even if we flatten the country of Jing, it wouldn't be able to appease zhen's anger!"
"Please, Your Majesty, forgive!" The sweat on Tu Er's face flowed down his chin to the ground but he didn't dare to reach out to wipe it away. He knelt forward two steps, begging, "Chen mei is ignorant, please, Your Majesty, forgive! Please, Your Majesty, forgive! "
Qu Qing Ju looked at the disheveled Tu Er. Even Tu Er was calling himself a subject in front of them. It could be seen that Tu Er was at his wits' end. She hadn't wanted to join in on the excitement, but He Heng had called her over. Reality proved that she didn't like seeing people kowtow to her.
"Your Majesty, all the wrongs are the fault of chen's daughter. It was chen's daughter who was infatuated with the prosperity of Da Long, and had nothing to do with the people of Jing. Please, Your Majesty, forgive the people of Jing. Dai Rong is willing to accept all the punishment," Dai Rong thought of the bitter and cold country of Jing. How could she bear the pressure of increasing the annual tribute by two-tenths? Even if she didn't want to admit it, but she knew she had done wrong, "Please, Emperor, forgive the country of Jing. The country of Jing is a bitter and cold place. Our people can no longer endure war and more annual tribute."
Hearing this, Qu Qing Ju looked at Dai Rong a few more times. At the crucial moment, this Hu Guo Princess wasn't completely muddle-headed and knew to protect her people.
In reality, how many people in the world could resist the temptation of prosperity?
He Heng looked coldly at the pair of brother and sister, completely unmoved. The relationship between countries was like this. He first had to protect the interests of his people before he had the leisure to spare some sympathy to other people. He was the Emperor of Da Long, not the Emperor of Jing.
Their positions were different, where would the sympathy come from?
"Princess, since you know that the country of Jing can't endure zhen's anger, why did you still do such a daring thing?" He Heng threw the things he had investigated in front of the brother and sister, "If zhen sends troops to Jing, it will be your, Hu Guo Princess's, crime."
Dai Rong didn't dare to look at those things. She fearfully begged: "Chen's daughter was possessed, chen's daughter is willing to accept punishment. Please, Emperor, forgive the people of Jing." She didn't dare to believe it. If Da Long really sent out an army, what kind of eyes would her mother and the people of Jing look at her with? Disappointment? Anger? Or hate?
"Emperor, chen's daughter is willing to die as an apology. Please, Emperor, spare the innocent people!" Dai Rong straightened her body. Looking at the outstanding yet emotionless Emperor in front of her, the seductiveness of the past disappeared from her face. She looked at Qu Qing Ju who had been silently drinking tea. She took a few steps towards her and then gave a heavy kowtow, "Chen's daughter has been rude and offended the Empress. Please, Empress, punish."
Qu Qing Ju looked down on Dai Rong for sacrificing her country's dignity for prosperity, and minded that she and Qin Bai Lu had spread rumors to slander her. But right now, Dai Rong seemed to have taken off everything and became the Hu Guo Princess of Jing. She would rather die to make up for her mistakes than drag down her own people.
A person who knew her mistakes and could change was more pleasing to the eye than a person who didn't repent even at death's door. Most importantly, Dai Rong was the princess of Jing and not someone from Da Long. One Jing was easy to deal with. If the other subordinate countries rebelled because of this, even if Da Long didn't have a problem dealing with those countries, it wouldn't be a good thing.
An unnecessary war was a disaster for the common people.
"Emperor, why don't you write a letter to the Queen of Jing and have her give an explanation to our Da Long," Qu Qing Ju put down the teacup and spoke, "The matter has passed. I don't want the war to start because of me."
He Heng sighed. "But if the rumors back then really caused bad consequences, what then?"
"I know Emperor's intentions," Qu Qing Ju smiled, "I'm a lazy person, and don't like to pay attention to the matters of the previous court. But I know one thing, it is the common people who suffer in war."
A beat later, He Heng nodded: "Zhen understands your meaning. This matter will be given to the Queen of Jing to give an explanation to Da Long."
The historian at the side recorded the actions of the Emperor and Empress, "In the tenth month of the first year of Jia You, the princess of Jing offended the Empress. The Emperor was furious and wanted to send troops to Jing. The Empress urged, saying that the people suffer in war. When the Emperor heard this, his anger dissipated. "
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