zChapter 993 - What Exactly Is the Meaning of This? (1/2)
This shout caused Feng Yuheng to immediately stand up and poke her upper body through the window. This scared Xuan Tiange into thinking that she was about to jump down, as she quickly pulled her back.
They then heard Feng Yuheng say: “It’s Zhang Yuan! It’s actually Zhang Yuan!” She could recognize this familiar voice. It was the eunuch who accompanied the Emperor at all times, Zhang Yuan. But instead of accompanying the old emperor in the Imperial Palace, he had come out to the execution site to stop the execution. What was the meaning of this? Was he coming to his rescue at the last second?
The observing official, Xu Jingyuan, was also unable to understand this. As someone who stood on old seventh and old ninth’s side, he really was all too eager to chop off the eighth prince’s head; however, who knew that just as the deed was about to be done, another hurdle appeared, and it just happened to be Zhang Yuan.
Xu Jingyuan felt his head swell. As the Emperor’s personal eunuch, once he spoke, that would be the same as the Emperor himself speaking. Intuition told him that he would not be able to execute this eighth prince.
While thinking, Zhang Yuan’s horse had already arrived. He did not immediately get down from his horse. Instead, he looked over at the living eighth prince and furrowed his brow. His appearance was not at all of someone who was happy that he was alive. On the contrary, there was a look of “did I come too early” on his face. Not only did he frown, but he also looked up at the sun then at a sundial to the side. Very well! He had come at the exact right moment. Why could he not have arrived a step later! If he had been a step later, the eighth prince would have been executed. How great would that be.
Zhang Yuan helplessly sighed and raised an imperial decree in his hand, saying to Xu Jingyuan: “His Majesty has made a decree. The eighth prince’s case will be re-tried. Would Lord Xu immediately send him back to the palace. His Majesty wishes to see him personally.”
Xu Jingyuan quickly stepped down from the observation stage and arrived in front of Zhang Yuan in confusion, asking: “Eunuch Yuan, what exactly is going on here? Things have already gotten to this point. Why is it being re-tried? Aren’t things already very clear?”
Zhang Yuan helplessly shook his head, “I also have the same feelings as Lord Xu, but this is indeed His Majesty’s intention.” He looked at Xu Jingyuan and got down from his horse. Walking a bit closer, he quietly said: “These days, because of the eighth prince’s matter, His Majesty has not been eating or drinking, and he has gotten significantly thinner. The night before last night, Talented Lady Liu came. For some reason, His Majesty met with her. The two spoke for a while, and there was nothing at first. But for some reason, His Majesty suddenly changed his mind just now and forcefully chased this servant out with this imperial decree. Lord Xu, let’s wait until we get into the palace to talk about it! Even if you ask me now, I am unable to say anything for certain.”
Xu Jingyuan received the imperial decree and stared at the jade seal imprinted on it. He felt extremely complicated. Yet it was at this time that Xuan Tianmo heard the conversation between the two and knew that Zhang Yuan’s imperial decree would save him. He could not help but laugh: “You see that! I already said it. I have lost, but you also will not win! As long as I do not die, there are a plethora of possible outcomes! Xu Jingyuan, go back and tell your master that the next one to be brought to the execution stage might be him! Hahaha!”
He laughed extremely loudly, and the sound echoed clearly. It was also quite filled with arrogance.
On the second floor of the teahouse, Feng Yuheng’s fists were tightly clenched, as she nearly shattered her teeth from gnashing them so hard. “Even this isn’t enough to get him killed? Why exactly is this?”
Nobody could answer her question because nobody understood. Nobody could figure it out. Xuan Tiange also stood at the window for a long time and could only manage to say: “A-Heng, your premonition was really accurate!”
Fung Tianyu’s thoughts were a bit more detailed, tugging at Feng Yuheng’s clothes and quietly saying: “A-Heng, look, isn’t Zhang Yuan looking for someone? Whom is he looking for?”
Everyone looked over. Sure enough, they saw Zhang Yuan looking all around. It looked like he was searching for someone. As for Xu Jingyuan, he had already accepted the imperial decree’s orders and brought the eighth prince back to the criminal transport, slowly heading in the direction of the Imperial Palace.
All of the citizens who had come to observe were very emotional. Most of them were poor people who had come from the northern part of the city. All of them had come while holding in some feelings of wanting to see the eighth prince die to console the souls of the deceased. Just as they were about to see it happen, they never thought that an imperial decree would appear just as he was about to depart for the underworld. The people really wanted to ask Zhang Yuan what was going on. Although Zhang Yuan was a type of person with a low ranking, he had a direct connection to the Emperor. Those who wished to ask directly had some reservations. With nobody leading the way, nobody dared to ask.
Some went and followed the criminal transport and wanted to know what the final outcome would be. Gradually, the execution site began to empty out. This quickly left just Zhang Yuan and the officers tasked with cleaning up the execution. Zhang Yuan continued to look around. When he finally looked up and met Feng Yuheng’s gaze, he stomped his foot and waved to Feng Yuheng, gesturing for them to come down.
Feng Yuheng led her sisters and left the teahouse. Zhang Yuan quickly met with them and looked at the citizens looking on. Only then did he lean closer and lower his voice, saying: “Princess, I fear that something has happened in the palace.”