The supervising execution officer waved his hand, "Execute."
Zhou Chang's confidant, carrying a plank, stepped forward. His body, weighing over two hundred pounds, stood beside Su Xiuer like a small mountain.
As he raised the plank, he even smiled at Su Xiuer.
"Madam Su, if you can't bear the pain later, you can scream. However, it will only be for a short while. After all, with sixty heavy planks, even if you don't die, you'll faint from the pain."
Having a mountain standing beside her, the psychological pressure was naturally immense. Everyone felt Zhou Chang's confidant was showing off.
Yet, Zhou Chang glared at his confidant, "You talk too much."
Su Xiuer pursed her lips and closed her eyes.
She thought that since this time it was a real beating, she wouldn't fake her cries.
The plank was lifted high and swung down, the motion so large it created a gust of wind.
Su Xiuer tightly gripped the edge of the execution bench.
Meanwhile, Duan Gehong was drinking tea in the concubine's courtyard at the Minister's Estate.
Wei Mingze and Duan Zhenzhu also returned to the manor, continuing to paint the unfinished portrait of a beauty.
The head steward, holding a letter just delivered from the Imperial Palace, handed it to Duan Gehong.
After opening and reading it, he discovered the letter stated that Zhou Chang had arranged for the most robust guard from the Imperial Guards to carry out the execution. Duan Gehong stroked his beard and smiled.
Zhou Chang indeed followed his instructions.
After all, he had saved Zhou Chang's life.
Duan Gehong dismissed the steward and was about to close his eyes again to listen to the concubine sing, when two Imperial Guards burst into the courtyard: "Lord Duan, Miss Duan, Scholar Wei, the Emperor has issued a decree, summoning you to the Hall of Supreme Harmony to await his command immediately."
Duan Gehong's eyes snapped open. The concubine in his arms was almost pushed away, "The Emperor summons us? Why the sudden summons?"
At this time, Su Xiuer should have just about been ready for her imperial execution.
The Imperial Guards' faces were expressionless, "This servant does not know, only that it is an urgent imperial decree and cannot be delayed."
Wei Mingze and Duan Zhenzhu arrived, both with pale faces.
They had thought that once Su Xiuer died, this matter would be over. Why would the Emperor suddenly be alerted?
How could the Emperor possibly side with that lowly woman?
Who was helping that lowly woman?
It was impossible. How could that lowly woman be so lucky?
"Father, what do we do now?" Duan Zhenzhu anxiously grabbed Duan Gehong's sleeve.
Duan Gehong, after all, had seen much and truly experienced storms.
He suppressed his anger and thought carefully, then his heart suddenly gave a violent lurch.
Once in the carriage, Duan Gehong's eyes were sinister, and he let out a long sigh.
"I actually forgot that the new law about striking the Dengwen Drum was revised by the Eldest Princess. The Emperor greatly values the Eldest Princess. That lowly village woman is the first person to strike the Dengwen Drum, so it's hard for the Emperor not to pay attention."
So that's how it is!
Duan Zhenzhu and Wei Mingze both showed expressions of understanding.
They had wondered who would speak up for a village woman.
Without reason, why would the Emperor pay attention to an insignificant village woman?
This was all thanks to the Eldest Princess's influence.
After clarifying why the Emperor had suddenly summoned them, Duan Zhenzhu was no longer as anxious as before.
Duan Zhenzhu thought for a moment and then comforted Duan Gehong.
"Father, even if the Emperor is concerned, it's fine. As long as Su Xiuer dies and there's no victim, the Emperor still can't hold us accountable."
"Mm," Duan Gehong responded and glanced at Wei Mingze.
He knew that his daughter was fine, but Wei Mingze might have left a bad impression on the Emperor, making his official path difficult in the future.
Wei Mingze had also seen the hidden danger. He secretly squeezed Duan Zhenzhu's hand and glanced at her belly.
Ever since Su Xiuer turned against him, he had been making backup plans, having taken Duan Zhenzhu's virginity in advance.
Even if the Emperor had a bad impression of him, as long as he married Duan Zhenzhu as he wished, Duan Gehong would help him for the sake of his daughter and their interests.
However, Su Xiuer still needed to die!
A vicious glint flashed in Wei Mingze's eyes, filled with regret.
Su Xiuer, it's all my fault for being too soft-hearted with you.
If I had known, I should have directly poisoned you that night you came to the Capital City, instead of drugging you.
The sun climbed higher, and the sunlight grew more intense.
The plank fell with a resounding crack that shook the heavens, but Su Xiuer felt no pain.
She opened her eyes in confusion, and as the second plank fell, she felt the blood flowing from under the execution bench.
If there was no pain, how could there be blood!
Su Xiuer was stunned for a moment, then her eyes slowly widened as she finally understood.
This was going easy again!
The words the fat Imperial Guard had spoken earlier weren't a threat, but a deliberate reminder!
Duan Gehong's political enemies had reached such a level that their influence extended even to the Emperor's presence.
Su Xiuer sensed that things might not be as simple as she thought.
Regardless of the reason, her life-saving grace could not be repaid in vain.
Su Xiuer immediately resumed her pig-like howling.
"Ouch... it hurts... this commoner is innocent... I am so wronged... Oh, Emperor... this commoner cannot die..."
Because she was skilled, Su Xiuer's cries this time were even more "unpleasant."
Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the Emperor's thoughts of his elder sister were instantly interrupted by Su Xiuer's cries.
The Emperor pressed his finger to his forehead and secretly glanced at Fu Delu, "Why does this howling sound so unpleasant?"
Fu Delu bowed and stepped forward, whispering, "When I was young and lived in the countryside, I heard the sound of pigs being slaughtered. Madam Su's howling is very similar."
The Emperor was taken aback, then suddenly burst out laughing, "She's truly a treasure."
Fu Delu was about to laugh along when the Emperor's smile suddenly vanished, "Yan Hui confessed that he had the First Prince arrange for Zhou Chang to tamper with it. The force was halved, yet she cries so pitifully. This is deceiving the Emperor!"
Fu Delu dared not say another word.
By the time Duan Gehong, Wei Mingze, and Duan Zhenzhu arrived, the thirty heavy planks had been administered, and Su Xiuer had already fainted as instructed.
Duan Zhenzhu stood with Wei Mingze and Duan Gehong, seeing Su Xiuer's body lying limply on the execution bench, blood flowing from the bench onto the ground, a shocking sight.
She was startled, yet at the same time felt immense satisfaction, believing her guess was correct.
Su Xiuer couldn't withstand sixty heavy planks to begin with. Now that her father had specifically arranged for a robust guard to execute her and increase the punishment, she surely couldn't endure it.
Her entering the palace was just a formality; she should be able to leave soon.
Thinking this, Duan Zhenzhu gave Wei Mingze a look.
Zhou Chang's confidant collected the plank and stepped forward to check Su Xiuer's breathing.
Wei Mingze stared intently at Zhou Chang, ignoring Duan Zhenzhu.
Duan Zhenzhu was displeased, feeling Wei Mingze wasn't paying attention to her. What was there to see in a dead person like Su Xiuer?
She suppressed her triumph, secretly glared at Wei Mingze, and then heard Zhou Chang's confidant loudly announce, "Madam Su has resisted the punishment too heavily and has fainted!"
Zhou Chang said, "The Emperor is waiting for the interrogation. Since she has only fainted and still has a breath, take her to the side hall, splash water on her to wake her up, and then present her to His Majesty."
Two young eunuchs stepped forward and lifted Su Xiuer from the execution bench.
After they moved a distance away, with the light behind her, Su Xiuer quickly and secretly glanced back. She saw the figures of Wei Mingze, Duan Zhenzhu, and Duan Gehong standing to the side.
Their figures were motionless. From her current position, they no longer looked composed.
"Father!" Duan Zhenzhu abruptly withdrew her gaze and called out to Duan Gehong in a hushed voice.
Duan Gehong subtly shook his head at her.
Duan Zhenzhu calmed down again, frantically reassuring herself inwardly.
That's right, until the very end, one doesn't know the outcome.
Su Xiuer was carried away, her blood dripping all the way. She still had a breath, but after a few basins of water were splashed on her in the side hall, it was uncertain if she could still come out alive.
Thinking this, Duan Zhenzhu stared intently at the door of the side hall.
Wei Mingze clearly had the same thought; he stared at the side hall without blinking.
Time passed, more unbearable than the scorching sun on one's skin.
After a long wait, a young eunuch finally emerged from the side hall and walked directly to Zhou Chang.
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