The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Haitang recalled Jin Jian's habit of "hiding by day and acting by night" and accepted the explanation.

She furrowed her brow and said, "And the two Shadow Guards aren't here either?"

This time, it was the little secretary, Qian Kerou, who replied, "They were sent out on another mission by the master last night."

Mysterious... Haitang murmured, knowing that Zhao Douan was good at scheming; today, he was surely up to no good.

It aroused her curiosity.

...

A group of people left the Golden Fortune Inn and headed straight for the county government.

When they arrived at the county government, they found that Vice General Yuan Ji had already led a large group of soldiers to blockade the street.

Lu Zhengchun and over thirty disciples of the Zixiao Palace, who had been investigated, exposed each other, and confirmed to be executed by law, all looked disheveled, wearing prison clothes, bound by iron chains.

Their prison clothes' abdomen was stained with blood—they had nails driven into their Qi Sea in prison to destroy their cultivation.

Lu Zhengchun had awakened, and this once-glorious Magician now had disheveled hair and a heavy yoke around his neck.

He looked emaciated, his eyes fierce.

Under the watch of a group of soldiers, he looked up at Zhao Douan, who was riding over, and suddenly cursed, "Zhao family dog! You won't get away with... Ah!"

Beside him, the burly Vice General Yuan Ji punched him hard, causing the Taoist whose Mana had been sealed to bend over like a shrimp, kneeling and retching violently, but having not eaten in seven days, there was nothing to vomit.

"Da da da..." Zhao Douan reined in his horse and looked down at Lu Zhengchun, mocking, "What did Lord Lu just say? I didn't hear clearly."

Lu Zhengchun dry-heaved on the ground, trying to lift his head with hatred in his eyes, but remained silent.

Zhao Douan smirked and ignored the dying man, turning his gaze to Magistrate Luan Cheng, who was coming to greet him.

Today, Magistrate Luan was also wearing a crimson official robe and a black scarf cap, followed by a guard, Zhang Jian, who had a long and short knife hanging from his waist.

"Junior Guardian Zhao, the prisoners are all here, and we can go to the execution ground immediately."

Luan Cheng said, pausing, then added with a worried look, "I've heard that for the past few days, there has been some unrest in the city..."

"No worries," Zhao Douan smiled faintly, pointing at the clear sky above: "Today during the execution, we will respond accordingly to whatever comes."

"...Alright." Luan Cheng could only nod, still feeling uneasy.

As a civil magistrate, in all his years of service, he had rarely encountered such a bloodthirsty spectacle.

The group marched mightily towards the autumn execution ground.

The most famous execution ground in the Capital was "Cai Market," established due to the dense crowds.

Feng City didn't have Cai Market but did have its own designated "autumn execution ground."

Public executions served to make an example and to deter the populace.

Although it was not after autumn, Zhao Douan, with a golden token in hand, kept everything simple.

The execution ground was located near a crossroads, and by now, a considerable crowd had gathered around.

Mainly local family heads lined up to show their stance, surrounded by Martial World folks eager to join in the spectacle, and curious onlookers.

In an era lacking entertainment, watching a so-called "immortal" being executed was quite an event.

When Yuan Ji arrived leading a large contingent of soldiers wearing armor and wielding war hammers, sealing the entire execution ground, the presence was naturally intimidating.

"Move in!"

The soldiers wielded whips, driving Lu Zhengchun and the over thirty evil Taoists into the execution ground, forcing them down to kneel.

The executioners waiting there affixed wooden execution plaques behind their heads.

Then they hefted their decapitating swords, standing ready behind the prisoners.

Zhao Douan, along with Magistrate Luan and other officials, sat at the executioner's table and chair.

The late winter cold wind blew, yet today was a rare sunny day. The execution ground was solemn and dignified, while the observing crowd whispered among themselves, pointing at the condemned Taoists.

"Junior Guardian Zhao," Magistrate Luan, sitting next to him, glanced at the sky and asked quietly, "Should we wait until 11:45 AM? It's still early now, and we may have to wait for quite a while."

Zhao Douan replied lightly, "Since it's execution by law, we must observe the appointed time."

Magistrate Luan hesitated, "Could you give me some insight, if the rebels make a move today..."

Zhao Douan smiled and said, "Does Lord Prefect think that my men, who could march through Zixiao Palace, cannot defend this mere execution ground?"

"No, no... I just think that Zhuang Xiaocheng is deeply scheming. If he doesn't come in such a brazen display, then what?" Luan Cheng worried.

Zhao Douan chuckled, "They will come."

Seeing him so confident, Luan Cheng could only shut his mouth, resignedly thinking that although he was officially the Executioner today, he didn't actually know any of Junior Guardian Zhao's arrangements.

Is it because he doesn't trust me?

Luan Cheng glanced at the nearby soldiers and the few "experts" behind Zhao Douan, thinking that perhaps, in Junior Guardian Zhao's eyes, he, the magistrate, was also suspected of colluding with the rebels.

Wasn't he, sitting here today as the executioner, essentially standing in line just like those local family heads watching below?

Time passed by, minute by minute.

The sun gradually rose to its peak.

More and more people gathered around the execution ground, while the surrounding banners drooped languidly.

There seemed to be no wind in the air.

Zhao Douan sat in the execution seat with his eyes closed, appearing asleep.

Finally.

At 11:45 AM, a minor official struck a gong and shouted: "It's 11:45 AM!"

Zhao Douan opened his eyes abruptly and said calmly, "Lord Prefect, give the order."

Luan Cheng took a deep breath, expressionless, as he tossed out the token inscribed with the word "Execution" inside a circle, and stated calmly, "The time has come, execute!"

In the execution ground.

One by one, the kneeling Taoists cried out in terror, trying to break free, but they were held fast, unable to move.

"Master!"

"We don't want to die..."

"Zhao thief, you'll die a terrible death..."

Some pleaded, some cursed, others tears of despair.

Lu Zhengchun squinted, slowly raised his head, and gazed at the dazzling sun in the azure sky.

He felt the execution plaque behind his neck being pulled out and thrown down. The burly executioners picked up strong liquor, sprayed it over their blades with their mouths, then flexed their arms, slowly raising their execution blades.

"Zhuang Xiaocheng, are you not going to act?" Lu Zhengchun murmured, a trace of panic finally flickering in his eyes.

At that moment.

A loud shout suddenly erupted from the crowd: "Act now!!"

Woosh!!!

From afar, hidden archers all released their bowstrings simultaneously, their arrows raining down densely over the execution ground.

"Rescue the prisoners!"