We’re almost at the end of the first arc/ execution arc.
Chapter Nine
An Unutterable Secret."Your Excellency, it is time."
Lin Sizheng nodded. "Guards! Restrain the criminal!"
A few guards approached, only to see Jingying"s fingers tighten around her whip as she strode forward to stand protectively before Xuanji.
As Duan Yuhuan was the commander of the imperial guards, the few guards which had been approaching quickly faltered at the sight of Madam Duan.
A crease appeared between Lin Sizheng"s brows as he snarled, "Useless things! Which is more important - the Emperor"s decree or this woman before you?"
Dozens of imperial guards immediately rushed forward. One of them said hoa.r.s.ely, "Madam Duan, please forgive us!"
"Jingying, let go of me," Xuanji said, shaking her head. Her lips were ashen.
A stab of sadness filled Jingying. Engulfing Xuanji into a tight hug, she cried, "I will not allow them to touch you, unless I’m dead!"
Xuanji, whose stance was unsteady, could only borrow Jingying"s strength to regain her balance. Yet she only shook her head, her eyes remaining fixed at the entrance of the execution grounds.
At the sight of Xuanji"s demeanour, the ache in Jingying"s heart deepened.
The cries of the commoners surrounding the execution grounds swelled in a crescendo.
Furious, Lin Sizheng brandished a hand. Several imperial guards immediately surrounded the two women.
At this moment, Xuanji suddenly exclaimed, "Yuhuan is here?"
"No, he entered the palace -" Jingying said as she turned her head in the direction of Xuanji"s glance.
Clenching her jaw, Xuanji immediately used all her remaining strength to shove Jingying away from her. Startled, Jingying moved to resist, but Xuanji had already crossed the path to stand before execution table.
"No!" Jingying shouted, her voice hoa.r.s.e.
Dozens of imperial guards swarmed towards Xuanji, their bodies crisscrossing, forming a tight circle. Xuanji was surrounded within the impenetrable wall of imperial guards.
"Jingying, it isn"t that I am brave… I am scared… extremely scared," Xuanji said softly.
Trembling, she reached into her robes to retrieve a small item which she clasped tightly within her fingers. She had kept this item hidden on her all along. Even during her struggle with Long Fei-li, he had not discovered it.
Her shoulders were held within the tight restrains of two guards.
Without warning, a swift force speared through the air and the two guards fell to the ground in a muted thump.
Shocked, Lin Sizheng immediately turned towards the direction of the sudden force.
At the entrance to the execution grounds, the crystalline clear voice of a Eunuch reverberated. "The Emperor and the Empress have arrived."
The resplendent golden of his crown was reflected in the sunlight.
All the common folk fell to their knees as they greeted the Emperor.
Two horses entered, their hooves clattering against the grounds, paving way for the imperial palanquin. Immediately, two people leapt off their horses, one of whom quickly strode over.
At the sight of this newcomer, the guards uniformly saluted. That person gave them a short nod and directly made his way towards Xuanji, where he greeted her, "Your Highness."
Xuanji knew at once that this was the man who had struck out against the two guards moments before. She said, "Yuhuan, go take a look at Jingying."
But Jingying had already hurried over to stand before Xuanji. Duan Yuhuan sighed faintly as he extended his hand to pull his wife into his arms.
The Emperor"s insignia hung high in the air, carried by the guards. At the forefront of the imperial carriage stood Xu Xi.
A cold stare fell upon her. Xuanji smiled bitterly as she lowered her head, pretending to be oblivious of the presence of the other man currently standing by the other horse - Qingfeng.
Xuanji was not aware of what happened next. Her entire mind was preoccupied with only one thought: he was here.
He actually came!
The silence which enveloped the grounds suddenly became overboard.
Slowly, she lifted her head.
Everyone was kneeling.
The snow fell gently in the wind, blanketing the grounds.
That man stood before the execution stage with his hand clasped behind his back, his gaze austere. Beside him stood Empress Yu Mixiu, elegant and refined.
"Audacious criminal! How dare you remain standing before the Emperor!" Lin Sizheng"s furious voice sounded.
Quietly, Xuanji said, "What happens if I refuse to kneel?"
Lin Sizheng sneered, "The punishment for the great crime of disrespecting the King is death."
Xuanji smiled faintly, "Your Excellency may have forgotten, but I am about to die. No matter what I do, I will be dead in moments. Why should I kneel? Unless a person can die, twice? If it isn’t so, then you can crush my body and scatter my ashes after I am dead."
Lin Sizheng started.
Xuanji could not help the tremble of her voice at her last words. Her eyes flickered towards Long Fei-li and she said softly, "Can I not kneel?"
Long Fei-li"s gaze fell upon her. He did not say anything, his face blank.
With a tinge of regret, the Empress said, "Xuanji, were it not for your audacity to escape the palace and collude with the Xiongnu, you would not have landed in this state today."
Xuanji smiled, "Thank you for your kind words of wisdom. As for my audacity, I can only say I"ve been spoilt rotten by His Majesty."
Yu Mixiu flushed. "You -"
The Emperor, who had been silent all these while, smiled faintly and said, "You may all rise."
In a flurry of movements, everyone moved to stand. Lin Sizheng immediately moved forward and said, "Your Majesty, it is time. Will you be presiding over the execution?"
"You are the presiding official. There is no reason to consult me."
Having received the Emperor"s orders, Lin Sizheng waved his arm to signal the guards. Swiftly, two of them moved forward and seized Xuanji by her arms, shoving her towards the execution table.
Duan Yuhuan and Jingying exchanged a horrified glance. Jingying immediately knelt and cried, "Your Majesty, please be merciful! She cannot die!"
Long Fei-li did not look at her. His expression was even. When his gaze landed on the half-smile on Xuanji"s face, the corner of his eyes crinkled.
Xuanji glanced at Jingying, but she only said, "Ah Li."
"Yes," responded Long Fei-li.
Around and about the execution grounds, a shocked silence descended. Only the fluttering of the snowflakes interrupted the stillness of the morning.
All she did was to murmur the name of the person she loved - that was all. But why did this simple action shock so many? Xuanji suppressed the bitter laugh threatening to escape her.
Lin Sizheng was furious, but he swallowed his words after a brief glance at the Emperor"s expression.
"Speak." Long Fei-li said, his eyes unreadable. His posture made it appear as though he was listening attentively to her words.
At the sight of the Emperor, who would dare to protest?
"The jade from Xian Yantai has already been used. If I were to use the iron scroll now, will you spare my life?" Xuanji said quietly.
"The iron scroll can only save you once," Long Fei-li said tonelessly.
Xuanji nodded her head and turned towards Jingying. "Jingying, it is inevitable. Why do you protest?"
Only then did Jingying understand the meaning behind Xuanji"s words. Her body shook and she staggered into her husband"s arms.
Xuanji did not look at Long Fei-li again.
Two soldiers restrained her on the execution table.
Snowflakes fell on her, bringing with them an icy cold. Her body was aching to the point of numbness.
The pain caused her consciousness to dim, but in the face of death, the terror and fear which enveloped her senses caused her nerves to remain taut, her body singing with tension.
Tightly, she clenched her eyes shut, fingers trembling.
Yes; she was afraid, extremely afraid. Beyond the fear was the unbearable ache in her heart, a relentless, suffocating sorrow which left her longing for the serenity of death.
Her eyes were shut, her vision shrouded with oppressing darkness. A hollow silence had blanketed the grounds. The common people who had been clamouring for her death had fallen silent. Perhaps the sight of her tightly bound to the execution table caused an inexplicable fear to rise in their hearts.
In the hundreds of years since the dawn of this new dynasty, which imperial consort had been sentenced to such a cruel death?
He was her husband, but he was also King.
How could another man taint an Emperor"s woman? How could another man challenge an Emperor"s authority?
She remembered, he had once asked whether the child was Bai Zhanfeng"s. During those days of the past, she had spent nearly every waking moment with him. It was only because of the ambush at Yanxia were they finally forced apart, where she had been left alone with Bai Zhanfeng and an unconscious Jingying.
In his memory, he had not touched her then.
She told him that the child was not Bai Zhanfeng"s, and swore on her life.
Yet, apart from that, she had chosen to remain silent. Regarding this child, only she, Jingying, and the dead Bai Zhanfeng knew the truth.
Because this secret concerned his life and death.
Zhanfeng loved her; she knew, and he knew. Then, he had chosen to trust them, though a flicker of apprehension had always lingered in a corner of his heart.
And now, she was with child, and could not produce evidence to defend herself.
So, all his doubt and suppressed anger finally erupted.
In the battle of the Xuelan Mountains, he did not send reinforcements and Bai Zhanfeng was killed.
What she did when she escaped the palace - how could he not know?
Except, in his eyes, her actions were only a last desperate attempt to follow Bai Zhanfeng in his death.
She hated him for ruining Bai Zhanfeng. She was indebted towards Bai Zhanfeng.
Only, despite her hate, despite how he falsely accused her of treason to then sentence her to her death, she could not tell him what happened that night in Yanxia.
When that horrifying truth was revealed, he would die.
She did not want him to die.
Xi Liang needed such an Emperor, one who could bring the country and her people peace and prosperity.
Really, there were a hundred excuses and a thousand reasons, but in the end, there was truly only one.
She did not want him to die.
She could not bear for him to die, even if the woman standing by his side now would no longer be her.
Didn"t he once say that he would create a flouris.h.i.+ng era?
It would be enough, if, he was alive.
The woman of Xuesong Palace… she knew her. In all these years of terrifying schemes, he had kept that woman hidden well, her existence a secret from all his enemies, choosing only to confer her the t.i.tle of his consort now that the dust had settled and everything was peaceful.
That, should be true love.
Ah Li, continue to hate me then.
No matter what, at least there is someone who can accompany you by your side.
"Begin the execution!"
In the snowfall, a cruel voice pierced through the silence.
Her trembling fingers clenched around the object in her hands.
The wooden tablet, signalling the start of the execution, clattered to the ground in a hollow echo.
Silently, her tears fell, sliding down the curve of her cheeks.
At this moment, her despair and hopelessness finally exceeded her fear.
From above her body, she heard the gust of wind sweeping over her; the swing of an axe being raised.
"Nian Xuanji, apart from mercy, if I were to grant you one last request, what do you wish for?"