The First Marquis of Leisure

Third day

Today, the execution grounds in the capital are packed with people, many of whom gathered early in the morning.

Today, Bai Xinghe, the heir of the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, will be publicly executed by slow slicing, and Emperor Zhao Tianhe will personally go to witness the execution.

At this moment, in the death row.

Bai Xinghe remained calm and composed, while Li Yuan looked disheveled and utterly wretched.

He was covered in wounds, all to ensure the safety of the people in the Marquis's residence.

On that day, Bai Xinghe forced Chen Ping and a group of scions of noble families to drink a bucket of urine, and also kept Li Yuan as a hostage.

He also threatened that if the Prime Minister's residence or anyone else dared to bring people to the prison to rescue him, he would personally kill Li Yuan!

But today is the third day, the day Zhao Tianhe has designated for the execution.

"Bai, Bai Xinghe, can you release Young Master Li now?"

The prison guards were cautious; at this moment, they dared not provoke Bai Xinghe any further.

Bai Xinghe paused, mentally estimating the date.

Three days have passed quickly, but I should receive news from my father today.

"Rest assured, I keep my word!"

After saying that, he released Li Yuan.

Several jailers rushed in and carried the half-dead Li Yuan out.

"Bai Xinghe, today I, Li Yuan, will eat your flesh raw and drink your blood."

......

Noon approaching

The execution ground was packed with people, and the executioners and the supervising officials were all present.

Even the entire court of civil and military officials rushed over, and the emperor himself officiated at the execution—a first in the history of the Great Zhao.

As a large group of armored soldiers appeared escorting a prison cart, the scene immediately erupted in commotion.

The prisoner inside the prison van was none other than Bai Xinghe!

Bai Xinghe was not shackled; he was simply imprisoned in a prison van.

"Look, this is Bai Xinghe, the heir of the Marquis of Zhenguo's mansion!"

"He deserves to die! Bah! Traitor! Bai Tianque has already betrayed our Great Zhao!"

"Your Majesty is wise. The Bai clan, these traitors, should all be executed by slow slicing and their entire families wiped out!"

Along the streets, many people were pointing and whispering, spreading all sorts of rumors and expressing their extreme anger.

Standing in the prison van, Bai Xinghe remained indifferent. Clearing one's name requires facts, not words.

Supported by his servants, Li Yuan, dragging his wounded body, had already arrived.

A while later, the Imperial Guards appeared.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

As the sound rang out, Zhao Tianhe also appeared in person.

A group of civil and military officials followed behind, heading towards the execution ground.

"Long live the Emperor!"

The people knelt to welcome them, shouting loudly.

Soon, everyone was in place.

Bai Xinghe was pressed onto the execution platform, where the expressionless executioner was already prepared.

"Bai Xinghe, let's see who can save you today!"

Li Yuan was the first to lead Chen Ping and a group of scions of prominent families over, all of them gritting their teeth.

Bai Xinghe glanced at the group and sneered, "Eunuch Li, did you enjoy that bucket of urine?"

"Bai Xinghe, fuck your mother!"

Chen Ping and the others cursed loudly, their eyes flashing with malice.

"Don't worry, Bai Xinghe, after you're executed by slow slicing, we'll definitely treat the people from the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion well!"

"Heh!" Bai Xinghe remained confident. "A bunch of idiots, I'm not going to die!"

"Hahaha." Li Yuan laughed loudly.

"Useless trash, do you think your father can save you? Let me tell you, your father can't even save himself."

At this moment, Zhao Tianhe also came over with Zhao Feishuang and other ministers.

Zhao Tianhe's face was cold, and he became even angrier when he saw Bai Xinghe's indifferent expression.

"Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king; on the shores of the earth, all people are subjects of the king."

"Bai Xinghe, this world belongs to me. I can decide who dies and who lives!"

Bai Xinghe scoffed, "Your Majesty, what if I told you that my father is playing a grand game, and we'll see the outcome today?"

"Ha!" Li Taibei immediately said coldly, "You brat, Bai Tianque has surely already been defeated and betrayed the country. What kind of pipe dream are you still having!"

"Is that so?" Bai Xinghe said sarcastically, "Lord Li, as a subject of Zhao, you seem to be quite looking forward to my father's defeat."

Li Taibei was startled, but quickly regained his composure.

"I won't waste my breath arguing with a dying man like you!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that after this child is executed by slow slicing, everyone in the Zhenguo Marquis's household be relegated to the lowest social class, the men to slavery for eternity, and the women to prostitution for eternity, in order to uphold the law of the land!"

Zhao Tianhe nodded: "Granted!"

As the time drew near, the number of people inside and outside the execution ground increased.

A group of armored soldiers appeared again on the street ahead.

The armored soldiers, looking imposing, led a large group of people quickly forward.

Bai Xinghe recognized them at a glance; they were all people from his Marquis's mansion!

Upon seeing this, a surge of anger welled up within him.

"Bai Xinghe, today we'll execute a portion of the Marquis's household members first, so you can witness it yourself, and then we'll have you executed by slow slicing!"

"Ha!" Bai Xinghe straightened his back and looked at the terrified Hou Mansion staff.

"Don't be afraid, everyone! I will not die today, and none of you will die!"

"Hahaha!" Li Yuan, Chen Ping, and a large group of people burst into laughter immediately after hearing this.

"Let me tell you a secret, you piece of trash. After you die, the heads of those missing during the day will be hung at the city gate to be exposed to the sun every day, and then kicked around like a football by countless people!"

"Eunuch Li, today I will not spare your life!" Bai Xinghe had made up his mind to kill Li Yuan!

"Still talking tough even when you're about to die, you piece of trash!"

As the executioner took his place, the sun was high in the sky, and noon had arrived.

"The prisoner Bai Xinghe has offended the Emperor and the Princess, and has damaged the dignity of the nation. He shall be executed by slow slicing today!"

"Lord Zhenguo, Bai Tianque, disregarded the Emperor's grace, deserted his post in the face of battle, and betrayed the Great Zhao. His crimes are unforgivable. All personnel of the Lord Zhenguo's mansion shall be executed immediately!"

Li Taibei stepped forward and personally read out the imperial edict.

He had been waiting for this day for a long time. Today, he could not only avenge his son, but also completely destroy the entire Zhenguo Marquis's mansion.

"The crime of treason is unforgivable; the entire family must be exterminated!"

"Exterminate the entire Bai clan, their nine generations!"

The onlookers were confused, but they had all heard that Bai Tianque had been defeated and had even betrayed the Great Zhao.

Therefore, everyone was filled with righteous indignation and wished they could rush up and devour Bai Xinghe and the Hou family members alive.

Seeing the crowd's impassioned emotions, Bai Xinghe felt a mix of emotions, including a sense of helplessness.

The eyes of the common people are not discerning; on the contrary, they are easily deceived and used as pawns!

He forced himself to stand up, despite his hands being tied behind his back and his long hair flowing backward.

"Today, no one can kill me, Bai Xinghe!"

Many ministers scoffed, believing that Bai Xinghe must have damaged his brain.

"Prepare for execution!" Li Taibei shouted coldly, yelling at the executioner.

The executioner took a swig of strong liquor and sprayed it onto a sharp dagger.

They would use a knife to cut away the flesh from Bai Xinghe's body inch by inch, in order to achieve the punishment of slow slicing.

Bai Xinghe clenched his fists, his eyes resolute, certain that his judgment was absolutely correct.