On our wedding night, my wife acted strangely.

The sun was rising higher and the sunlight was getting a bit dazzling; it was almost noon.

Zhao Chang'an sat in the executioner's chair, feeling as if there were awls under his buttocks, making it uncomfortable no matter how he sat. He wanted to drink some water to calm his nerves, but his hands were shaking so badly that he spilled tea all over the table.

The registrar leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Sir, the time is almost up. Shouldn't we prepare to give the order?"

Zhao Chang'an turned his head and glared at him.

Hurry, hurry, hurry!

You're driving me crazy!

Do you think I don't want to finish chopping and go home quickly?

The question is, are these two even capable of cutting?

Zhao Chang'an was deeply troubled.

The imperial edict was issued far too hastily, not even waiting for the autumn execution, and proceeded directly with the execution.

The case was not tried by the three judicial authorities, there wasn't even a proper case file, and the charge was just a random attempt to assassinate.

In a peaceful and prosperous era, he wouldn't dare to oversee such a muddled execution even if he had ten lives.

But these are extraordinary times, and His Majesty and the Regent are locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Moreover, His Majesty is determined to kill and silence witnesses, intending to cover up the scandal of last night.

If he dared to utter even a single word of dissent at this critical juncture, it wouldn't be the Luo family couple who would lose their heads, but himself.

But if I kill the Luo couple, how will I explain it to the Regent? That brat is unreasonable. If he gets into trouble someday, what can I, a mere junior official in the Ministry of Justice, do to defend him? At that point, even the earthworms in my house will have to be split open vertically.

Ugh.

The more Zhao Chang'an thought about it, the more his head ached.

The crowd below the stage didn't care how difficult his situation was; their clamor grew louder and louder.

"Officials! The time has come, why haven't you executed them yet!"

"Exactly! What's the point of keeping such a shameless couple around for the New Year?!"

"His Majesty is in such a hurry to silence witnesses, why aren't you officials doing your jobs? Do you want to lose your heads along with him?!"

Zhao Chang'an was terrified when he saw that the common people dared to curse even His Majesty. He broke out in a cold sweat.

Oh no, the people in the capital are getting bolder and bolder.

What does this mean? It means that Nangong Xiong's prestige has been completely destroyed, and everyone's hearts are with the Regent.

"My lord, we can't delay any longer. If we miss the appointed time, we'll be in deep trouble if the palace blames us," the registrar whispered again.

Zhao Chang'an gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

Damn it, better to die for your fellow Daoist than for me.

This task was assigned by His Majesty; if the sky falls, His Majesty will hold it up.

If the Regent really wants to blame me, I'll just resign and go back to my hometown to farm.

After thinking it through, he slammed his gavel, stood up, and shouted, "Silence!"

The execution ground fell silent immediately, and all eyes were on him.

The latter took a deep breath, pulled a red token from the divination tube, raised it high, and prepared to throw it down.

He thought to himself, "Old Luo, every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor. That's how political struggles are. Don't come looking for me in the underworld, you two."

"The time has come! Execute!"

Snapped--

The command arrow fell to the ground.

Two shirtless, burly executioners immediately stepped forward, picked up a bowl of strong liquor, took a big gulp, and then spat it onto the blade with a "pfft".

"puff!!"

"Wow! Lord Luo, don't be afraid, my knife is sharp, it won't hurt at all!"

"But please, please don't dodge! If I get a second cut, not only will you suffer, but I'll die too!"

The two executioners walked up behind Luo Hongtu and Li Shi, tore off the death warrants stuck behind their heads, and threw them on the ground.

The people in the audience held their breath, and the timid ones covered their eyes.

The executioner raised his knife high.

Just at this critical moment, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the distant street.

"Spare his life!" A thunderous shout echoed through the Caishikou area.

Everyone turned to look, and saw a general wearing bright armor, riding a tall, pure black horse, leading hundreds of cavalrymen sweeping in.

"My goodness, who is this?"

"It's the Divine Machine Battalion!"

"The Divine Machine Battalion is here!"

"What are they trying to do? Are they planning to storm the execution ground?"

The crowd gasped in fright and scattered to both sides, making way for them.

Yue Nan spurred his horse straight into the execution ground, hooves flying high, his eyes cold and fierce, and roared, "Let's see who dares to draw their sword!"

"No, I dare not..." The executioner was startled by the sudden turn of events and quickly threw down his knife, looking towards Zhao Chang'an to the north.

The latter was so frightened that his courage vanished instantly. He forced himself to ask, stammering.

"Commander Yue...you...you're so insolent! Rescuing someone from the execution ground is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!"

One of the constables, unafraid of death, stepped forward and said, "Commander Yue, the Luo couple attempted assassination. His Majesty personally ordered their immediate execution. You...

Yue Nan didn't even glance at them, sneering, "Ha, I am the commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, and I only obey the Regent's orders! What assassination attempt? It's nothing more than someone doing something shameful and wanting to kill them to silence them!"

Although the statement was not explicitly stated, which of the people present did not understand it?

This is clearly a slap in the face to the Emperor.

Yue Nan turned to face the thousands of people below the stage, took a deep breath, and shouted loudly, "The Regent has given an order!"

The entire hall fell silent, everyone straining to hear what this powerful regent was up to.

Yue Nan pulled out a warrant from his pocket and read it aloud:

"Although Luo Hongtu and Li Shi are greedy and despicable, they framed me and damaged my reputation. However, considering they are still the biological parents of my former queen, I cannot bear to kill them all. I repay evil with kindness, and now I spare their lives, demoting them to commoners. They will be escorted by the Shenji Battalion to Lantian County to perform lifelong labor as atonement for their sins!"

"what……"

Not to mention others, even Luo Hongtu and Li Shi on the execution platform were filled with disbelief when they heard this.

The one who saved them was actually Lin Yi?

How is that possible?

After Yue Nan finished reading the order, he put it back in his pocket.

The crowd below the stage was stunned for several minutes before erupting into a huge uproar, even more lively than during the Lunar New Year.

"Did you hear that?! The Regent has ordered a rescue!"

"My goodness, Your Highness is truly a bodhisattva descended to earth!"

"The Luo family couple were so shameless in framing him, throwing dirty water on him, and he actually repaid evil with kindness, sparing their lives!"

"That's right! If it were anyone else, they would have torn those two scoundrels to pieces long ago."

"Your Highness truly values ​​human life!"

However, there were also dissenting voices among the crowd.

A butcher, brandishing his cleaver, shouted at the top of his lungs, "What kindness! Your Highness is being too soft-hearted! People like Luo Hongtu, who are worse than pigs and dogs, should be chopped off! Are we going to let them waste food in Lantian County?!"

An old man dressed in a long gown, who looked like a scholar, immediately jumped out to refute him, pointing his finger at the butcher and cursing him.

"What do you know, you pig butcher! His Highness's actions are called magnanimity and benevolence! Although the Luo family did wrong, His Highness, out of consideration for family ties, couldn't bear to kill them. This is the behavior of a true gentleman! What do you know about moral principles and ethics!"

"Yes! The prince is a good person! The emperor, on the other hand, is a complete and utter tyrant!"

"Having committed such a shameful act, and then trying to kill someone to cover it up, they're worse than animals!"

"The Great Zhou Dynasty is incredibly unlucky to have an emperor like this!"

The common people argued back and forth, their faces flushed with anger.

But as they argued, they eventually reached a consensus.

Whether Lin Yi is soft-hearted or magnanimous, saving lives is a matter of benevolence and righteousness.

For an emperor to kill someone to silence them is to be incompetent and tyrannical.

Public opinion completely reversed at this moment.

Just two days ago, ordinary people were cursing Lin Yi as a beast in the streets and alleys, but now they have all turned their guns on Nangong Xiong, sending all the most vicious curses at him.

"Long live the Regent!"

I don't know who started shouting it from the crowd.

Immediately afterwards, hundreds and thousands of people joined in the chant.

"Long live the Regent!"

"Long live the Regent!"

The shouts grew louder and louder, deafening, as if they were going to turn the sky upside down at Caishikou.

Standing on the execution platform, Yue Nan listened to the heartfelt cheers of the people, feeling his blood boil and even his scalp tingling.

He looked at Zhao Chang'an and said coldly, "Lord Zhao, did you hear that? This is the will of the people. Are you still going to disobey the Regent's order and continue the execution?"

Would Zhao Chang'an dare?

He didn't dare at all, especially since he never intended to kill the Luo couple in the first place.

Now that Yue Nan has interfered and the people are making trouble, he might as well take the opportunity to quit his job and go home.

The officialdom these days is no place for humans to survive.

"This humble official dares not!" Zhao Chang'an hurriedly bowed, his expression becoming even more solemn. "Since it is the Regent's order, this humble official will naturally obey! Commander Yue, please take these two away."

After saying this, he quickly gave the yamen runners a look, signaling them to step back.

"snort."

Yue Nan snorted coldly, waved his hand, and several Shenji Battalion soldiers stepped forward, ripped the rags out of Luo Hongtu and Li Shi's mouths, and cut the hemp rope.

As soon as the rag was removed, Luo Hongtu immediately collapsed to the ground and burst into tears.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing my life! Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing my life! Waaaaah..." He cried as he kowtowed repeatedly toward the Regent's Palace, and the wooden board was soon stained with blood.

But he seemed oblivious to the pain, continuing to bang on the doorstep.

In contrast, although Li was also slumped on the ground, she was crying and laughing like a madwoman, not knowing whether she should be happy or sad.

Fortunately, she survived and didn't lose her head.

Tragically, from now on she could never become an official's wife or an empress, but would forever remain an ordinary person toiling in the soil for a living.

Yue Nan frowned in disgust at their miserable state.

If you know today, why should you be in the beginning.

"Enough! Stop wailing!" Yue Nan shouted, interrupting their cries. "Men, put them in the prison van and send them to Lantian County immediately!"

"yes!"