My Lord, the princess doesn't want you anymore.

The capital of Zhen Kingdom.

sunny.

Xiang Zhong was still in prison, but the area around the execution ground was already crowded with people.

"Why execute General Xiang?"

"It's unfair, it's unfair!"

"For God's sake, open your eyes!"

Some people also wrote a large banner, listing the records of the old general's dozens of battles, big and small, in his life.

Some people threw rotten eggs, rotten vegetable leaves, and even stones at Cui Hongjing, who was sitting in the execution seat early.

Cui Hongjing wiped the rotten vegetable leaves off his face, not moved at all, and said nothing, his eyes fixed on a vague place.

Cui Qimo sat in a nearby attic and could see the whole situation outside through the window.

He had expected that there would be trouble, but he did not expect the public resentment to be so great.

The greater the public resentment, the angrier he became, and the more he felt that he was doing nothing wrong.

No matter how great the public grievances are, let Cui Hongjing deal with them. He is happy to kill two birds with one stone.

Seeing the emperor's increasingly cold expression, Eunuch Li said cautiously, "Your Majesty, if this continues, will there be a big mess?"

Cui Qimo's face was dark. He said nothing, but he took out a crudely made slingshot from his sleeve and squinted his eyes at Cui Hongjing. "If he can't even clean up this mess, what use is he to me?"

His eyes swept across the crudely made slingshot, and he couldn't help but sigh again.

In the past, he would never have imagined that among all his sons, the one closest to him would be the Eighth Prince, whose existence he almost forgot.

This was a long-lost family affection, which suddenly came when he had almost forgotten what family affection felt like.

That day, when he was leaving with the slingshot, the eighth prince suddenly came forward and hugged his thighs.

The child said nothing, just looked at him eagerly.

But he understood that this meant that she didn't want him to leave and wanted him to stay and be with him for a while longer.

His nose felt sore at that moment.

I haven't felt needed by my son like this for more than ten years.

Only children's hearts are pure. Besides, what bad thoughts could a seven or eight-year-old child have?

"If he can't even clean up this mess, what use is there for me?" This sentence made Eunuch Li shudder, and he slapped himself, "I was talking too much."

Cui Qimo glanced at him sideways, then shifted his gaze to the window and aimed the slingshot at Cui Hongjing again.

There was another uproar on the execution ground: "Here he comes, here he comes, the old general is here, God, please open your eyes..."

Xiang Zhong was taken to the execution ground, with dishevelled hair and dirty face, and his head hung, completely lacking the heroic spirit of the past.

Cui Qimo frowned and looked at Eunuch Li: "It's your turn. Turn the old general's head to the side so that I can take a closer look."

"Yes——" Eunuch Li bowed deeply and was about to go downstairs.

A young eunuch came running up in a hurry. He was the eunuch serving in Anyu Garden.

He suddenly knelt down and kowtowed, gasping for breath, "Your Majesty, no, it's bad, the Eighth Prince, he, he..."

"What's wrong with him?" Cui Qimo was not very moved. "Tell me!"

"The Eighth Prince has been poisoned again, with the same poison as before."

"What?!" Cui Qimo stood up suddenly, "How is the Eighth Prince?"

"No, not very good..."

"Go back to the palace!" Cui Qimo was extremely anxious, and Eunuch Li hurriedly followed.

When Mei Xueer sent someone back with the antidote, she specifically reminded them to pay attention to their diet while taking the medicine. If they were poisoned again, all their previous efforts would be wasted, and the toxicity would be aggravated several times, and even a god would be unable to save them.

He was afraid that the Eighth Prince would be gone just like that, and that the little bit of family affection he had finally regained would be gone just like that.

Just as he was about to go downstairs, he suddenly turned around and looked at Eunuch Li: "You stay."

"Ah?" Eunuch Li said quickly, "Your Majesty, please allow me to accompany you and serve you."

Cui Qimo looked out the window again and said, "I am worried about the others. When you are done here, return to the palace immediately to report."

Eunuch Li said with a sad face: "I obey your command."

Cui Qimo patted his shoulder and walked away.

Eunuch Li knelt down and kowtowed respectfully to Cui Qimo's back: "This old servant respectfully sends His Majesty off."

After saying this, he looked up, tears seeming to well up in his eyes.

"The time has come. Verify the identity and prepare for execution—"

Amid another round of bombardment of rotten eggs and vegetable leaves, the executioner slowly walked towards Xiang Zhong, who kept his head lowered.

Cui Hongjing stared at the man's feet, and every step made a layer of cold sweat seep out of his vest.

One step, two steps, three steps...closer and closer.

"Wait--" At this moment, a sharp voice was heard and the whole audience fell silent.

Cui Hongjing suddenly turned his head and saw Eunuch Li waving his whisk and slowly walking forward. "In compliance with the Emperor's order, I have ordered this old servant to personally identify the prisoner on behalf of the Emperor."

He glared at her and said, "All of you, step back."

Cui Hongjing was shocked: It was really Eunuch Li? The person my father trusted the most!

Eunuch Li bowed to Cui Hongjing and said, "Your Highness, please wait for a moment. Once I have verified your identity on behalf of the Emperor, Your Highness can proceed with the execution."

He once again emphasized that this action was "on behalf of the emperor." Even if others had doubts, they did not dare to say another word and withdrew one after another.

"Please come in, Eunuch Li." Cui Hongjing's heart was in turmoil and he was so nervous that his heart was about to jump out, but his voice was calm.

Eunuch Li walked over, lifted Xiang Zhong's chin, looked left and right, and checked his face to see if there was a human skin mask.

After a long while, he turned around and said, "Your Highness, I have verified that it is the traitor General Xiang Zhong."

Cui Hongjing was extremely shocked, but he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He tightly grasped the sword at his waist, and then slowly loosened his hand with some stiffness.

This simple disguise technique may look real from a distance, but Eunuch Li checked so carefully just now, how could he not notice anything unusual?

But right now, there is no time to think so much, the important thing is to kill the man quickly.

He winked at Zhuang Xiang in the crowd, "The time has come, execute the sentence—"

At this moment, the originally clear sky suddenly became windy and then covered with dark clouds.

The strong wind blew up the debris on the ground and hit everyone in the face.

The crowd became even more agitated. Amid the people's shouting and cursing and in the sudden strong wind, the executioner raised his knife and splattered blood.

After a brief silence, the people's anger reached its peak, and countless people broke through layers of obstructions and rushed to the execution ground.

Strong winds began to carry hailstones as big as broad beans, which hit people's faces and caused great pain.

"Old General, you died unjustly..."

The scene was in chaos and was about to get out of control.

Cui Hongjing's deep voice resounded throughout the execution ground: "This prince is supervising the execution by order. The emperor has said that the people are the heaven and the people are the foundation! Pass on this prince's order, maintain good order, and do not clash with the people!"

All officers and soldiers: How can we maintain order without conflict? But the prince mentioned the emperor. What should we do?

The people quickly rushed into the execution ground. Some people hugged Xiang Zhong's body and cried bitterly, while others continued to throw rotten vegetable leaves and even stones at Cui Hongjing and others.

Cui Hongjing pulled Eunuch Li behind him to protect him and quickly left the scene.

"Why help? Last night, he was your man?" Cui Hongjing asked softly while hiding.

"I just have always respected General Xiang." Eunuch Li lowered his head and replied softly.

"This favor is remembered by the General's Mansion and the King." Cui Hongjing wiped the blood from his face that was hit by stones and hail, and a smile appeared on the corner of his lips. "Eunuch, please return to the palace first to report. The King cannot leave yet."

He turned around and continued shouting, "This king is ordered to supervise the execution. No harm to the people is allowed. Those who violate the order will be punished according to military law..."

After a while, the imperial guards arrived.

The imperial guards took orders directly from Cui Qimo and would not listen to Cui Hongjing. In the violent storm mixed with hail, they pointed their knives directly at the unarmed civilians.

"I am here to supervise the execution. You must not harm the people..."