Capítulo 736: Chapter 736: Must Be Killed
“Empress Dowager, my mind is made up; there is no need for further discussion.”
Behind Emperor Yongye, the calligraphy and painting that once hung on the wall of the Imperial Study were no longer there.
Upon seeing Emperor Yongye, the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Guo hurriedly approached.
“Emperor, even if it’s begging, I am begging you.”
Tears stread down the Empress Dowager’s face.
The Crown Prince had already died, and she had already lost one grandson; she did not want to lose another, Dugu Wu.
“Emperor, over the years, Ah Wu has fought for Great Chu on the battlefield, pacifying the frontiers. Even if he’s at fault, it’s not a cri worthy of death. Moreover, the case involving the Crown Prince hasn’t been thoroughly investigated yet. Please think thrice before you act.”
Noble Consort Guo was also full of urgency.
She knew that if the Emperor really executed Dugu Wu today, he would surely regret it later.
Li Qing, who stood to the side, hesitated for a mont before earnestly speaking.
“Emperor, there are still many doubts about this case, why not investigate further.”
“You all, one by one, want to persuade not to kill Dugu Wu. If he truly has been wronged, why has he not defended himself over these days? I’ve given him several days’ ti; he has not said a word, and he won’t even seek an audience with .”
Emperor Yongye said coldly.
As an emperor, he had been more than tolerant towards Dugu Wu over the years, he even gave Dugu Wu power that eclipsed the Crown Prince, yet Dugu Wu disappointed him ti and ti again.
“Emperor, I’m begging you. No matter what, Ah Wu still carries half of his blood, don’t forget the promise you once made to Prince Shun…”
The Empress Dowager sighed deeply. When she ntioned Prince Shun, Emperor Yongye involuntarily furrowed his brows.
He thought of Lady Dugu, the painting hidden in his sleeve, the woman in that painting.
He gripped the painting tightly, the sound and smile of the woman echoing in his mind.
Ever since Imperial Consort Dugu entered the palace, Emperor Yongye hadn’t thought of Lady Dugu for a long ti, but due to Dugu Wu’s case, he recalled those mories that had been buried deep in his heart, the scenes of eting, knowing, and loving Lady Dugu were etched into his heart.
It also reminded Emperor Yongye that Dugu Wu carried half of Lady Dugu’s blood, and the other half belonged to another man.
She and her own brother betrayed him.
“Imperial Princess Consort Dugu has arrived.”
While Emperor Yongye was lost in his mories, Imperial Princess Consort Dugu marched over with a group of palace maids and eunuchs in tow.
Upon seeing the situation outside the Imperial Study, she felt assured.
It seed the Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Guo had still not given up. With only the final quarter hour remaining before Dugu Wu’s execution at 11 a.m., if they could just delay a bit longer, Dugu Wu’s fate would be sealed.
Imperial Princess Consort Dugu believed that with her master intervening and casting a wide net, even if Dugu Wu had great abilities, this ti he would not be able to escape.
All she had to do was ensure that Emperor Yongye did not change his mind.
A trace of self-confidence flashed in the eyes of Imperial Princess Consort Dugu. She had the man before her completely under control.
“Greetings to the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Noble Consort Guo.”
Imperial Princess Consort Dugu greeted Emperor Yongye and the others with a bow but gave Noble Consort Guo’s belly a glance.
Noble Consort Guo’s belly was already six or seven months along, quite large, and a few more months from delivery. However, after seeing this, Imperial Princess Consort Dugu scoffed in her heart.
This child was dood never to be born.
The Empress Dowager saw Imperial Princess Consort Dugu and frowned unconsciously. She had been quite fond of Imperial Princess Consort Dugu, but ever since Dugu Wu was thrown into the Heavenly Prison, when she wanted to join forces with Imperial Princess Consort Dugu to plead on behalf of Dugu Wu, Imperial Princess Consort Dugu had softly yet firmly rejected the Empress Dowager every ti.
Only then did the Empress Dowager realize that Imperial Princess Consort Dugu was not simple.
“Emperor, this concubine heard that you didn’t sleep last night, so I specifically ordered soone to stew a bowl of ginseng soup for you.”
Imperial Princess Consort Dugu did not ntion Dugu Wu, only had a palace maid deliver a bowl of soup.
Seeing this, a softness flickered in the depths of Emperor Yongye’s eyes. These past few days, due to Dugu Wu’s matter, not only the Empress Dowager but even Noble Consort Guo, who was usually very understanding, often made things difficult for him. Only Imperial Princess Consort Dugu was still so considerate of him at this ti.
The mories of Lady Dugu in his mind gradually faded again, leaving only the smiling face of Imperial Princess Consort Dugu before him.
“Dear, it’s you who cares for .”
Emperor Yongye said with a smile as he accepted the soup.
“Emperor, the ti of 11 a.m. is approaching, please reconsider.”
“”
The Empress Dowager was burning with anxiety, and Emperor Yongye’s brows furrowed slightly.
Whether to kill Dugu Wu or not lay in his single thought.
“Your Majesty, I heard that Dongfang Xiu had her tongue cut out by the Grandmaster Mansion and was sold into a brothel,” Imperial Consort Dugu sighed softly.
Empress Dowager and Noble Consort Guo both couldn’t help but be taken aback.
Just a few days ago, Dongfang Xiu was a suprely honored Imperial Eldest Granddaughter, dearly beloved by the Emperor and Empress Dowager among others. However, once her true identity was exposed, she beca a disgrace to the Royal Family.
Not only did Emperor Yongye refrain from ntioning her, the Empress Dowager also sighed whenever she spoke of her. As for the people at the Grandmaster Mansion, they treated her as a shaful disgrace. Soon after Nalan Yan’er was locked in the Heavenly Prison, Dongfang Xiu was secretly sent back to the Grandmaster Mansion.
Dongfang Xiu was young and knew nothing. With her spoiled and stubborn nature, she continued to throw tantrums demanding to see her mother, Queen Mother. Upon hearing this, people like Nalan De reacted like cats who had their tails stepped on, instantly flaring up.
They couldn’t be bothered to pacify Dongfang Xiu. After she unknowingly offended a favored concubine of Nalan De, the concubine took advantage of the situation to have her tongue cut out and sold her.
Shockingly, not a single person in the Grandmaster Mansion ca forward to plead for her.
Upon hearing this news, sadness flickered in both the Empress Dowager’s and Noble Consort Guo’s eyes, after all, Dongfang Xiu was young and understood nothing.
“Nothing but a filthy bastard, it’s just as well she was sold,” Emperor Yongye snorted coldly, unwilling to ntion Dongfang Xiu.
Dongfang Xiu’s existence reminded Emperor Yongye how much he once adored that pair of dragon and phoenix twins. The so-called Dragon and Phoenix Auspicious Phenonon was simply a joke.
“His Majesty is correct. Those who stained the Royal Bloodline should have been dead long ago,” Imperial Consort Dugu said with a smirking smile.
The words ‘stained the Royal Bloodline’ echoed in Emperor Yongye’s ears, and strands of blood rapidly grew evident in his eyes.
“Correct, those who stained the Royal Bloodline should have been dead long ago.”
As Emperor Yongye thought of the existence of Dugu Wu, he was the best proof of the contamination of the Royal Bloodline.
Nalan Yan’er was not the first.
“Your Majesty…” the Empress Dowager earnestly advised.
“Today, I must kill Dugu Wu,” Emperor Yongye spoke with hatred.
The Empress Dowager’s heart plumted.
Around 11 a.m., the execution ground in Chu City.
The crowd of onlookers had already swelled like an ocean, for today was the execution of Dugu Wu, the Ninth Prince.
Dugu Wu’s na and reputation were well-known across Great Chu. Though the common folk mostly knew of the Ninth Prince’s brutality, very few had actually seen him.
A man in prison garb, disheveled, with shackles on his feet and hands, was escorted onto the execution ground.
The official supervising Dugu Wu’s execution was Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Hua Wushang.
Dressed in official robes, Hua Wushang looked towards Dugu Wu.
After being escorted up, Dugu Wu kept his eyes downcast, his expression hidden from the bystanders.
Amidst the crowd, the noise was deafening, and upon the sight of Dugu Wu erging, a deathly hush first fell. Suddenly, soone shouted loudly.
“Murderer!”
“Rebel and traitor!”
Among the crowd, so angrily threw rotten leaves at Dugu Wu, and others pelted him with pebbles.
Despite the illustrious battle achievents of Dugu Wu, his reputation among the civilian population was not good, especially since he had even assassinated the Crown Prince.
The commoners, disregarding the facts, joyously heckled the once high and mighty Ninth Prince, now a condemned prisoner. They erupted in all sorts of vile words, too foul to bear hearing.
There were people in the crowd who couldn’t help but clench their fists tightly, feeling the injustice of Dugu Wu’s misfortune.
“These commoners are truly foolish and ignorant.”
Soone hidden in the crowd struggled to suppress their rage.
Looking back at Dugu Wu, he faced the insults and humiliations from the crowd as if he hadn’t heard a thing.
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