After years of planning, it all amounted to nothing, and he lost everything.
“Fan Shun, things have come to this point. There’s no need for you to resist any further. Your actions have already been exposed to the world. Your crimes are unforgivable. Guards, take Fan Shun away!”
Ling Mohan spoke in a deep voice, and the black-armored soldiers behind him stepped forward and dragged Fan Shun away.
“As for you all, who have colluded with Fan Shun for years, oppressing the common people, your crimes will be dealt with one by one. For now, you will be imprisoned.”
These individuals had been attached to Fan Shun for years. They could not escape responsibility for his actions, and none of them were any good. They deserved to die.
After dealing with Fan Shun’s matters, Ling Mohan had no energy to deal with the remaining underlings. He directly ordered them all to be thrown into prison and dealt with one by one.
“Lu Shi, you did well to capture all of Fan Shun’s confederates in a timely manner!”
Ling Mohan rarely praised Lu Shi. If Lu Shi hadn’t apprehended Fan Shun’s accomplices, he would have been held hostage by Fan Shun.
After all, Yuncheng was on the border with Xiliang and was Dongchu’s most crucial defense line. No mistakes could be made in Yuncheng.
“This matter is largely thanks to the Young Madam. She brought evidence of Fan Shun’s collusion with other officials in Yuncheng, as well as letters exchanged with Xiliang. This allowed us to apprehend Fan Shun’s confederates in such a short time.”
Lu Shi did not dare to take credit for himself. He quickly revealed the truth of the matter.
When the Young Madam had rushed over with the letters, he was greatly surprised. However, the situation was urgent, and he didn’t have time to ask further questions before leading his men to arrest everyone.
“Young Madam, where did you get those letters?” Lu Shi finally had the opportunity to ask the question that had been on his mind.
As soon as he spoke, Ling Mohan and Chu Chenyi’s gazes simultaneously fell upon Feng Jin.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Feng Jin glanced at the three of them, their gazes making her feel uneasy.
“Where did you get the letters?” Ling Mohan asked in a gentle tone.
“This…”
A hint of hesitation crossed Feng Jin’s face. Could she say that she had gone to find some cotton to plug her nose, and by chance, she encountered a servant from Fan Shun’s mansion who was secretly carrying some things out? She then intercepted the servant and obtained these letters.
After hesitating, Feng Jin still recounted the entire incident. Although it sounded a bit far-fetched, it was the truth.
“If things can happen this way, I can only say you’ve stepped in dog excrement!”
Chu Chenyi really couldn’t find any other words to describe the situation. After all, something like this only happened once in a hundred years, yet Feng Jin had encountered it. Besides good luck, there was no other explanation.
“You’re the one who stepped in dog excrement! I have good luck and am blessed by heaven. Unlike you, who is unloved and uncared for, and who managed to marry a wife only to have her constantly seeking a divorce. You should really reflect on what your problems are!”
Showing no mercy to Chu Chenyi, Feng Jin’s words deeply wounded him.
“You… don’t you know that gentlemen don’t hit faces and that people shouldn’t expose others’ shortcomings? You, who constantly pick at others’ weak points, are truly without any grace. As expected, it is difficult to raise women and petty people!”
“If I don’t point out others’ sore spots, then I’m an idiot! And I don’t need you to raise me. My husband will naturally take care of me.”
At this moment, Feng Jin still remembered to curry favor with Ling Mohan, showing her devotion. The man was also very pleased with Feng Jin’s unconditional dependence on him.
Ling Mohan took a step forward and stood in front of Feng Jin, smiling insincerely. “Your Highness, the Prince of Jing, perhaps you should stop worrying about how other people’s wives are raised and focus on your own backyard first.”
After all, the matter of Lin Yuwei seeking a divorce from Chu Chenyi had already caused a stir throughout the entire capital.
The Emperor was also furious upon hearing this. It was rumored that he had punished Chu Chenyi by making him kneel at the palace gate for a day before reluctantly letting him return. However, he had issued an imperial decree, threatening to hold Chu Chenyi accountable if he did not appease Lin Yuwei.
“You two are simply… simply in cahoots.”
“Shut your foul mouth. We are in harmony, husband and wife singing together. You are envious and jealous of us because your own marriage is not flourishing. I strongly suspect you have psychological problems and suggest you see a psychologist immediately!”
Feng Jin angrily threw her words down and directly pulled Ling Mohan away.
…
At noon, Fan Shun was dragged and shoved onto the execution platform by two soldiers.
His face was pale and he knelt there in a daze, constantly muttering, “This is fake… it’s not real… it’s not real…”
Chu Chenyi, his face displeased, sat in the high seat, coldly watching Fan Shun kneeling there, feeling a surge of disgust.
If Feng Jin hadn’t deliberately tricked him, he wouldn’t have had the misfortune of dealing with such unpleasant matters.
As noon arrived, Chu Chenyi immediately declared, “Verify his identity and proceed with the execution!”
After finishing this matter, he could go back to take another nap. He had been traveling day and night for the past few days and was utterly exhausted, yet he still had to oversee Fan Shun’s execution. He was truly bone-weary.
“I don’t want to die… I don’t want to die…”
Fan Shun suddenly shouted loudly and broke free from the soldiers who were restraining him, charging into the crowd.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Chu Chenyi drew his bow and arrow, aimed at Fan Shun’s knee, and shot.
The arrow flew and pierced Fan Shun’s knee. A desperate will to survive caused Fan Shun to suddenly stand up again, and ignoring the pain in his knee, he bolted outward.
Seeing this, Chu Chenyi shot another arrow, which pierced the other knee of Fan Shun.
With an arrow in each knee, Fan Shun lost the strength to stand and lay on the ground like a stray dog, barely clinging to life.
The surrounding citizens, seeing this scene, realized that the man who had oppressed them was now utterly powerless and lying pathetically before them.
The pent-up anger in their hearts could no longer be contained. They surged forward and began to beat and kick Fan Shun.
The scene became uncontrollable. Amidst the citizens’ cries of hatred, Fan Shun’s tragic and helpless pleas could also be heard.
Chu Chenyi, witnessing this scene, was also somewhat shaken. Only Fan Shun could receive such a beating from so many people at once. It was truly a shocking spectacle.
“Your Highness, shouldn’t we disperse the crowd?”
“It’s too late. Fan Shun is probably already beaten to death.”
Looking at the scene, even if Fan Shun wasn’t dead yet, he wouldn’t last long. Chu Chenyi didn’t bother to get involved and let things take their course.