Chapter 36: Decapitation

Page (1/3)

Early the next morning.

“Send the bill to the Gu household.”

With Madam Su’s help, the account was settled quickly. Every item had been listed clearly and in meticulous detail.

This time, the steward personally led a group of men there.

Su Zhinian, meanwhile, took Yushu to Azure Dragon Temple.

By then, the peach blossoms at Azure Dragon Temple had spread across the mountains, turning the landscape into a breathtaking pink wonderland.

Helian Yu arrived slowly in a white robe, with Mu Dong pushing his wheelchair.

Su Zhinian wore a long, pale-pink dress, making her look like a peach blossom fairy who had wandered into an enchanted realm.

“Greetings, Your Highness.” Su Zhinian and Yushu bowed.

“There is no need for such formality, Miss Su. Let us go.”

The group soon reached the rear mountain, where an old man with a white beard sat beneath a luxuriant peach tree.

“You finally know enough to bring reinforcements?” Wan Wen raised an eyebrow.

It was the first time the young man had ever brought a woman with him.

“Old Wan, this is the opponent you have been longing to meet.”

At those words, Old Wan’s eyes lit up, and he hurriedly said, “Quickly, quickly! Sit down and play a game with this old man.”

Su Zhinian wore a faint smile as she sat down and picked up the black stones.

The two of them began playing, trading moves back and forth.

Time passed unnoticed.

Three full days went by. Fatigue was plainly visible on Su Zhinian’s face, while Old Wan remained full of energy.

Yet neither of them showed any intention of stopping.

At last, one final stone was placed, and the game was decided.

“I lost.” Old Wan shook his head.

“As expected, the younger generation is formidable.” He looked at Su Zhinian with undisguised admiration.

“You flatter me, Old Wan. I merely won through good fortune.” Su Zhinian neither claimed credit nor grew arrogant. Instead, she remained humble and courteous, which was deeply pleasing to behold.

Mu Dong’s eyes shone with excitement.

“Wonderful! Old Wan, does this mean you can save our master now?”

Old Wan nodded, but then changed the subject.

“This old man said from the beginning that whoever defeated me would be taught this technique. Since this little girl is the one who beat me, naturally I should teach it to her.”

“But—” Mu Dong grew anxious at once and was about to speak, but Helian Yu interrupted him.

“Old Wan is absolutely right.”

“However, you two must be exhausted by now. Why not rest and recover first?”

Fatigue was plainly visible on Su Zhinian’s face.

“Do you think this old man’s time can be wasted whenever you please? We begin now. Miss this opportunity, and there will be no second chance!”

Page (2/3)

Old Wan snorted and lifted his chin, looking thoroughly self-important.

Thus, Su Zhinian remained at Azure Dragon Temple for another five days.

What she did not know was that, after her departure, the entire Gu household descended into chaos.

Gu Shijin ordered everyone to return everything they had taken from Su Zhinian. But much of it had already been taken by the Old Madam to support her own family, and Madam Gu had spent a considerable amount as well.

Only then did Gu Shijin realize that, all these years, Su Zhinian had been using her dowry to support the entire General’s Residence.

He regretted it bitterly, but what awaited him was a bill delivered by the Su family.

When he saw that the total amounted to fifty thousand taels, Gu Shijin nearly fainted from shock.

At the same time, Gu Heng somehow managed to meet with Gu Lingxuan.

The two of them eloped, taking with them the dowry Gu Lingxuan had stolen from Su Zhinian.

The Old Madam was so enraged that she vomited blood and died soon afterward.

Madam Gu fell gravely ill and never recovered. Gu Jingyuan was reported by his colleagues for abusing his authority to help Gu Shijin and Ren Xixi.

The Emperor flew into a rage, had Gu Jingyuan beaten thirty times with a rod, and stripped him of his office.

The entire Gu household was plunged into filth and disorder. They could no longer even pay the maids and servants their monthly wages, so everyone simply stopped working.

Gu Shijin went to the Su residence several times to look for Su Zhinian, only to be told each time that she was not there. He was driven into a frenzy.

The Su family showed him no mercy either. When they failed to receive payment, they immediately brought the matter before the authorities.

Even Father Su could no longer tolerate it. He submitted a memorial to the Emperor, condemning Gu Shijin for refusing to repay the debt.

Beset by anxiety and hardship, Gu Shijin was driven into a corner. Someone then tricked him into borrowing money from loan sharks.

He managed to repay the Su family, but the lenders soon came to the Gu residence to demand payment.

When no money was produced, they carried away every valuable item in the estate. Even the deeds to the entire Gu property were mortgaged, and only then was the debt barely covered.

Gu Shijin was filled with resentment. He schemed to appeal to the authorities and reported the loan sharks.

The government seized the entire group.

What Gu Shijin never expected was that the mastermind behind them was the Marquis of Jing’an.

The Marquis of Jing’an harbored a deep grudge against Gu Shijin and revealed a shocking secret.

It turned out that, many years earlier, Gu Shijin had merely been a minor officer responsible for transporting provisions under Prince Yu.

He had conspired with the Northern Rong, setting a trap that caused Prince Yu to suffer a devastating defeat. Worse still, it had left him disfigured and crippled.

The Emperor was enraged and ordered the execution of every member of the Gu household.

On the day Su Zhinian returned to the capital, the execution ground was surrounded by people.

“Wow, Miss, what are they doing?” Yushu asked.

Mu Dong gave a light cough. “You really don’t know?”

“Your former husband has had his household confiscated. Today is the day they are to be executed!”

Upon hearing the good news, Yushu craned her neck to look.

“Miss, Miss, it really is him! That scoundrel Gu Shijin!”

“He deserves it!”

Page (3/3)

Yushu’s face was filled with satisfaction.

Mu Dong curled his lips. Women were truly terrifying.

Su Zhinian glanced over. Gu Shijin was kneeling in the front row, filthy and disheveled. Kneeling beside him were Gu Jingyuan and Madam Gu.

Gu Shijin lifted his head and happened to see Su Zhinian inside the carriage. He raised his head desperately and shouted.

“Zhinian! Zhinian!”

“Did you come to save me?”

He cried out eagerly.

The execution official glanced at the sky, then cast down the execution tablet. His voice was firm and commanding.

“High noon has arrived! Execute them!”

Gu Shijin struggled desperately. He could not accept this.

He had clearly possessed such a promising future—how had it all been ruined like this? His bloodshot eyes remained fixed on Su Zhinian.

Then he saw the person beside her, and his pupils contracted sharply.

Why was he here?

Prince Yu!

When had the two of them become involved?

Gu Shijin roared, “You two shameless wretches! You plotted against me! You are the ones who ruined me!”

“You will never die in peace—”

With a clang, his round head rolled down from the platform, spilling blood across the ground.

Even in death, his eyes remained wide open.

Ugh—

The onlookers recoiled in disgust.

Su Zhinian lowered the curtain. Her voice was calm and emotionless.

“Let us go.”

“Serves him right! Good riddance!” Yushu added, angrily waving her hand.

The Gu family had vanished from the world entirely.

Su Zhinian closed her eyes and slowly curved her lips into a faint smile.

Helian Yu’s gaze fell upon her, his expression dark and unreadable.

During the time that followed, Su Zhinian used the massage and acupuncture techniques she had learned from Old Wan to treat Helian Yu’s leg every day.

The people saw the carriage from Prince Yu’s residence arrive at the Su household day after day to fetch her, and rumors soon spread throughout the capital.

Prince Yu was a cripple with an indomitable spirit, while the Su family’s daughter was a discarded wife. The two of them were birds of a feather, perfectly suited to each other—an ideal pair who would at least spare the world two more victims.