The Blood Crown - Chapter 25

The news of Yuán Mǎo’s imprisonment spread rapidly throughout Guangning, causing widespread discussion and anxiety among the people. Despite their attempts to keep it a secret from Yuè Qīngshuāng, she fell ill upon hearing the news, casting a shadow over the Yuán family.

After an agonizing night, the three Yuán brothers rushed to Qián Ānróng’s residence, hoping to learn more about the interrogation.

Qián Ānróng wore a troubled expression as he spoke quietly, “Lord Gé has already confirmed that the handwriting on the letter is indeed that of Lord Lǐ.”

“It’s impossible!” Yuán Shàoxū exclaimed. “On that day, Lord Lǐ spoke passionately. We, along with the soldiers from Guangning, were all present. He didn’t seem coerced in any way.”

“Indeed, Shàoxū, I know, but my belief is not enough. We need the support of the Imperial Censor for a thorough investigation.”

Yuán Sīkōng clenched his teeth, saying, “Forgery of handwriting is not uncommon. How can a major case be decided based solely on handwriting?”

“Lord Gé needs to speak with Lord Lǐ’s family as well. It appears that his family members are genuinely under pressure and are reluctant to talk,” Qián Ānróng explained.

“How is my father now?” Yuán Nán Yù asked.

Qián Ānróng sighed, “He has been subjected to punishment, but nothing severe. The prison guards are showing some leniency.”

“What should we do now, Qián Ānróng?”

Qián Ānróng shook his head, “You need to understand that the root of this issue lies not in the letter or Lord Lǐ but in someone your father has offended, someone he cannot afford to offend. If that person is determined to destroy your father, I fear…”

“If I go to plead with Hán Zhàoxīng?” Yuán Shàoxū asked urgently. “As long as he agrees to release my father, our family will leave Guangning and never return!”

“That is absolutely not advisable,” Qián Ānróng said with a bitter smile. “If you plead with him, it would be like announcing to the world that he framed your father. He might become even more furious. I’ve already submitted a memorial to the Right Deputy of the Ministry of Punishments, who is also from our hometown. He might be willing to help, and I’m also sending an urgent letter to Duke Jìngyuǎn. He respects your father; if he is willing to intercede on your father’s behalf, there may still be hope for this case.”

“Thank you, Qián Ānróng. Thank you.” Yuán Sīkōng felt a glimmer of hope; that person would surely help his father.

Yuán Nán Yù asked, “Qián Ānróng, can I visit my father in prison?”

“Lord Gé currently does not allow any visitors.”

Yuán Sīkōng frowned, “This goes against the laws of the Great Shèng. Regardless of the charges, family members should be allowed to visit.”

Qián Ānróng sighed, “Here, the court is far away, and the Imperial Censor won’t be concerned about filial piety. If he won’t allow it, you should not go.”

Yuán Sīkōng clenched his fists, feeling helpless. He was too small, and his most important person had been unjustly imprisoned. He couldn’t do anything.

On their way back, Yuán Nán Yù said, “Qián Ānróng mentioned the Right Deputy of the Ministry of Punishments and Duke Jìngyuǎn. Can they help us?”

Yuán Shàoxū replied despondently, “We can only wait for news now.”

Yuán Nán Yù bit his lip and asked, “If they can’t help, should we attempt a prison break?”

“That’s unrealistic,” Yuán Shàoxū said, handing him some silver coins. “Go to the pharmacy and get some medicine for Mother.”

“Second Brother…”

“Be obedient,” Yuán Sīkōng patted Yuán Nán Yù’s face and looked at him seriously. “Take care of Mother.”

Yuán Nán Yù nodded.

Separated, Yuán Sīkōng went straight to the Lǐ residence.

The atmosphere at the Lǐ residence was gloomy as everyone mourned. The place was filled with a sense of lifelessness.

Yuán Sīkōng sent a message through the gatekeeper, waiting outside. After a while, the gatekeeper returned, his expression grim. “Madam is in deep grief and does not wish to receive any guests. Young Master, please return.”

“Uncle, I have an urgent matter to discuss.”

“Please return.”

“Uncle.” Yuán Sīkōng pleaded, “My father, Yuán Mǎo, has been falsely accused. He’s in prison, and he saved all of Guangning!”

The gatekeeper seemed troubled but ultimately shook his head. “Madam has made it clear she does not wish to see anyone. Please leave.” With that, he firmly pushed Yuán Sīkōng out and closed the gate.

Yuán Sīkōng kicked the gate hard, then sat down outside, waiting.

But after a whole day, he sat there freezing, and his hands and feet grew numb. He still didn’t see the person he was hoping for. Taking into account Qián Ānróng’s words, it seemed that Lǐ’s family members were indeed being threatened by Hán Zhàoxīng and were avoiding this matter.

He could only return home dejected.

Yuè Qīngshuāng’s old illness had flared up, and she was constantly coughing, running a fever with an unnatural flush on her face. Yuán Wēilíng and Yuán Nán Yù watched by her side, their eyes swollen from crying.

“Second Brother…” Yuán Nán Yù hesitated, wanting to ask if he had been successful in meeting with Lǐ’s family. Yuán Sīkōng shook his head, his expression desolate.

Sitting by the bed, Yuán Sīkōng held Yuè Qīngshuāng’s feeble hand. He gazed at her emaciated face and tried to comfort her, “Mother, please relax and focus on your recovery. Father will surely come back.”

Yuè Qīngshuāng remained silent, only nodding as tears welled up in her eyes.

Yuán Sīkōng turned his head away, feeling a sharp pain in his heart. How had things come to this? They were once lost in the joy of victory, anticipating the court’s rewards and the funds to build a stronger city wall. But they received such a cold and cruel imperial decree, plunging their entire family into hell.

He prayed to the heavens that if they could survive this ordeal, as Yuán Shàoxū had suggested, they would be willing to leave Guangning, never to serve in official positions again

Qian Anrong’s attendant said with difficulty, “Lord Yuan… has been convicted and is scheduled for noon today… the execution in the market square.”

Yuan Sikong felt as though a thunderbolt had exploded in his mind, nearly shattering his soul. He struggled to catch his breath, but it felt like he was sinking in deep water. He heard himself saying, “Impossible, how can he be convicted in just three days? Even if he were a common bandit, he would need the emperor’s approval before receiving a death sentence, let alone a court-appointed official! It’s impossible.”

Qian Anrong wiped away tears and said, “Ges Zhong claimed to have an imperial edict, but… they are executing him on the spot.”

“Impossible!” Yuan Sikong shouted fiercely, “No one can kill my father!” He rushed out of the house and headed to the market square.

Dad… it can’t be, it’s impossible, you can’t die, Dad!

When Yuan Sikong arrived at the market square, a crowd had already gathered in front of the execution platform. Officials like Ge Zhong and Han Zhaoxing were seated at the high positions. The one wearing prisoner’s clothes, bound in chains, and forced to kneel on the execution platform was Yuan Mao.

Yuan Mao’s clothes were stained with blood, his hair disheveled, and his face dirty. His lips were pale, but he knelt with a straight back, and his expression was strangely calm, showing the fearless spirit of a true hero.

Yuan Sikong shed tears in an instant and pushed his way into the crowd. “Dad, Dad!”

Yuan Mao was taken aback, and when he saw Yuan Sikong, his expression finally showed a hint of emotion, and his eyes glistened with moisture.

“Dad, my dad is innocent! My dad is innocent!” Yuan Sikong cried hoarsely. “My dad didn’t steal the military orders, my dad didn’t harm Lord Li. Why are you framing him? Why are you persecuting him?”

Ge Zhong stroked his beard, furrowing his brows, and Han Zhaoxing also looked displeased.

“Yes, Lord Yuan is definitely innocent.”

“We were only able to defend Guangning because of Lord Yuan. He’s a good man and must have been framed.”

The people began to discuss vehemently, and the noise in the entire square grew louder.

Ge Zhong angrily smashed a teacup in his hand and said sternly, “Quiet down.”

The scene fell silent instantly.

Yuan Sikong stared at Ge Zhong with red eyes and shouted, “Ge Zhong, on what grounds do you convict my dad? Just based on a letter that can be forged? What use is it for my dad to steal military orders for a city on the brink of danger? Lord Li sacrificed his life for the country, yet you claim he was coerced. You not only framed my dad but also brought shame to Lord Li in his grave!”

Ge Zhong was infuriated. “Where did this arrogant child come from? Get him out of here!”

Yuan Mao said in a hoarse voice, “Son, please stop. Go back home quickly!”

However, Yuan Sikong showed no fear. “Ge Zhong, how dare you, as an imperial censor, disregard the laws of the Great Sheng? Forbidding family visits, extracting confessions under duress, and hastily convicting are all violations. Executing a court-appointed official without the emperor’s review, you have quite the audacity. Do the emperor and the people of this land know about your actions?”

“Han Zhaoxing!” Yuan Sikong had thrown caution to the wind. He glared at Han Zhaoxing with bitterness in his eyes. “You wicked and sinister man. You caused the abandonment of the seven northern provinces, the peril of Guangning, and if it weren’t for my father, Guangning would have fallen long ago. You would have died, and my father shouldn’t have let you into the city that day. You repay kindness with enmity, framing my father. You will not die a peaceful death, and your name will be cursed for generations. I curse you—”

Han Zhaoxing jumped up from his chair, “Daring to defame a court-appointed official, you seem to have a death wish. Get him out of here!”

“Son!” Yuan Mao shouted, “Hurry, leave and stop speaking.”

“Dad,” Yuan Sikong sobbed, “Why are they killing you? You saved Guangning, you’re a hero, and why are they killing you? When the Jin army besieged the city, you stood on the walls, arrows piercing your shoulders, yet you didn’t retreat. Where was Han Zhaoxing when he claimed to have merits? Ge Zhong accuses you of crimes, but what crimes have you committed?”

Tears flowed from Yuan Mao, “Son, please, don’t say more. Go now, take care of your mother.”

“Ge Zhong, Han Zhaoxing, today you unjustly sentence my father to death. Tomorrow, the whole world will know that my father, with unwavering loyalty and courage, saved forty thousand people in Guangning. He didn’t die at the hands of the Jin, but at the hands of his own people. There is divine justice and righteousness in this world!” Yuan Sikong cried, “My father only has merits, not crimes. Why are you killing him?”

Ge Zhong roared, “Seize him, seize him! Do you all want to defy imperial orders?”

Yuan Sikong was shielded in the midst of the crowd. Guards and citizens pushed and shoved.

“Lord Yuan is innocent!” Someone in the crowd shouted, and like a spark, it ignited the whole square. People began chanting, “Lord Yuan is innocent, Lord Yuan is innocent!”

The chants filled the air, resonating far and wide.

The guards around the execution platform formed a circle, spears held across their chests, blocking the indignant citizens.

Ge Zhong and Han Zhaoxing were both furious and anxious. The situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control. Han Zhaoxing shouted, “Noon has arrived, execute, execute!”

“Dad,” Yuan Sikong’s voice was drowned out by the uproar.

Tears welled in Yuan Mao’s eyes as he gazed at Yuan Sikong. Their eyes met amid the chaotic crowd, and that one look communicated their love for each other.

Yuan Sikong reached out his hand, futilely trying to reach Yuan Mao. It was only a few yards, but it felt like an insurmountable distance. Tears blurred his vision, and he wiped them away, yearning to see Yuan Mao, even for just one more look.

The executioner shouted, “Noon has arrived, execute—”

“Lord Yuan is innocent!”

The executioner pressed Yuan Mao onto the stone platform, and he said solemnly, “Lord Yuan, I’m sorry.”

The people, realizing there was no turning back, gradually grew silent, their sobbing forming a collective mournful chorus.

“Dad,” Yuan Sikong knelt on the ground, his body devoid of strength, his throat too hoarse to make a sound, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Yuan Mao smiled with dignity, “Son, live well and take care of your family.”

“Dad… don’t…” Yuan Sikong felt an excruciating pain in his heart, as if he was about to die instantly.

“Execute!”

Yuan Mao chanted loudly:

Amidst the miasmic clouds, my eyes are clear,
Fate’s timing is not yet here.
My bones lie beneath eternal snow,
Loyal spirit guarding Liaodong’s flow!

As the executioner raised the large blade and it fell with a chilling swiftness, this moment became the lifelong nightmare of Yuan Sikong.

In that instant, something within him crumbled, and everything he had believed in for the past thirteen years turned into nothing in an instant. All he saw were the icy blade, the gushing blood, and the person who could no longer comfort him, care for him, or protect him.

He felt like he had already died, and the pain of his skin being stripped inch by inch and his soul being drained point by point must be what death felt like.

“Ahh!”

The people knelt en masse, their cries shaking the heavens, their sorrow almost engulfing the entire city.

Suddenly, Yuan Sikong felt himself being lifted by someone. He was too weak to resist, and he let out a heart-rending scream, directed at the execution platform and the person who would never respond to him again. He hoped that his soul hadn’t completely departed and that he could hear his own voice one last time.