Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

The midday sun scorched the sky above the execution ground, and the air was filled with suffocating heat.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves was heard in the distance, and the onlookers turned their heads to look at the same time.

I saw a group of cavalrymen on white horses coming in the billowing dust, led by Prince Chu Ning who was wearing a black python robe.

"The Crown Prince is here!"

"Shh... keep your voice down..."

The people were whispering to each other, their discussions spreading through the crowd like ripples, but they all deliberately lowered their voices.

Some people secretly looked at the young crown prince, with awe and a bit of dissatisfaction in their eyes.

Chu Ning sat upright on the horse, his stern face showing no emotion, only the gilded sword at his waist shone with a dazzling cold light in the sunlight.

At this moment, the King of Chu's ceremonial guard also arrived at the execution ground.

The old emperor noticed the strange atmosphere at the scene at a glance and immediately winked at Jiang Tong beside him.

The censor understood what he meant and walked quickly towards the crowd with a few colleagues.

"Fellow villagers!"

Jiang Tong suddenly raised his voice: "Master Taifu has devoted himself to the Chu State for fifty years, but now he has to end up like this. Where is justice?"

This voice was like a spark thrown into a frying pan, instantly igniting the long-suppressed public grievances.

Several scholars immediately responded: "Master Taifu revised the laws and reduced taxes, and his kindness to the people is as great as a mountain!"

"Last year there was a severe drought. If the Grand Tutor hadn't opened the granaries and released grain, we would have starved to death!"

"We can't kill the Grand Tutor! The State of Chu still needs the Grand Tutor!"

The noises grew louder and louder, and the people who had been cowering in fear gradually straightened their backs.

Some people began to push forward, trying to get closer to the execution platform.

A white-haired old man trembled as he raised his cane. "I am seventy-three years old this year. I still remember when the Grand Tutor quelled the rebellion in the northern border..."

Before he could finish his words, they were drowned out by even louder noises.

Ling Haoran's forehead was covered with beads of sweat. He looked at Jia Yu anxiously: "Something's going to go wrong!"

Jia Yu's hand was already on the hilt of the knife, but he didn't dare to give the order - these were all unarmed civilians!

The crowd gathered closer and closer, and the strong men in the front row almost touched the hooves of the white horse cavalry.

Chu Ning still had no expression on his face, but just raised his hand slightly.

Zhao Yu immediately understood this subtle movement. He drew out his sword with a "swish" sound, and the cavalrymen behind him all displayed their weapons. The sound of metal clashing was terrifying.

"Back off!"

Zhao Yu shouted sternly: "Anyone who attacks the execution ground will be charged with treason!"

The people were so frightened by the scene that they took a half step back, but soon someone shouted again: "Your Highness! The Grand Tutor is old, please show some mercy!"

This cry attracted more responses, and the noise rose again.

Chu Ning finally spoke, his voice was not loud but it made everyone hold their breath involuntarily:

"This is the last time I'm saying this—step back."

His gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on the old man who was shouting, "Or, do you want to accompany the Master on the journey?"

These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads.

The people who were just filled with indignation suddenly realized that the prince in front of them was a person to whom even the emperor had to give in.

The crowd began to slowly retreat, but unwilling sobs still drifted in the wind.

Ling Haoran breathed a sigh of relief, but then he heard Chu Ning say coldly, "It's noon, execution will begin."

The execution ground was completely silent; even the sound of the wind seemed to have frozen.

Grand Tutor Dugu Xin was pressed on the guillotine, but he suddenly raised his head, and his bloodshot eyes stared at Chu Ning on the platform.

"Chun Ning kid!"

The Master's hoarse voice exploded on the execution ground: "I failed to poison you this time, you are lucky! But even if I become a ghost, I will enter your dreams every night and make you never rest in peace!"

The roar frightened the onlookers and they all stepped back, and some timid women even covered their ears.

After the tutor finished speaking, he slammed his head hard on the guillotine, and his gray hair was covered with sawdust.

Just as the executioner raised his ghost-head knife, the King of Chu suddenly stumbled onto the execution platform and said, "Wait a minute!"

Chu Ning frowned, his fingers tapping on the armrest of the chair with a dull sound. "Father, your patience has run out."

"Ning'er misunderstood."

The Emperor of Chu hurriedly explained, his bright yellow dragon robe rustling in the wind. "I'm not here to stop the execution. I just want to... to see my teacher off for the last time."

As he spoke, his voice choked with sobs: "Please, for the sake of your mentor, please allow me to...feed him one last bowl of wine."

Everyone's eyes at the execution ground were focused on Chu Ning.

Chu Ning was silent for a moment, and finally nodded slightly.

The eunuch chief, Zhao Ming, immediately came forward with a gilded wine pot and tremblingly filled a bowl with amber liquor.

When the King of Chu took the wine bowl, a few drops of wine spilled out, leaving dark marks on the bluestone slabs.

"teacher……"

The King of Chu squatted in front of the Grand Tutor and held the wine bowl to his lips. "I...can't save you."

A hint of emotion flashed in the Taifu's cloudy eyes.

He struggled to stand up, took a sip from the Emperor Chu's hand, and suddenly lowered his voice and said:

"Your Majesty, remember this: after this old minister dies, you must..."

The King of Chu hurried closer, only to hear the Grand Tutor's weak voice say, "The Crown Prince may be powerful, but he's not invincible... If he ever gets the chance..."

Before he finished speaking, the Grand Tutor suddenly raised his head and drank the remaining wine in one gulp, then shouted at the executioner:

"Execution!"

The machete reflected the dazzling sunlight, and the executioner looked at Chu Ning hesitantly.

It was not until Chu Ning nodded slightly that the heavy steel knife fell with a sound of breaking through the air.

"Crack!"

Blood splattered, drawing hideous patterns on the bluestone slabs.

The Taifu's head rolled to the ground, his eyes still wide open, as if still glaring at the world.

Almost at the same time, another executioner raised his knife and cut off Dugu Sheng's head. This once high-spirited nobleman could not even utter a scream in the end.

The King of Chu sat on the ground in a daze, the hem of his bright yellow dragon robe soaked in blood.

He stretched out his hand tremblingly and gently closed the tutor's eyes, but heard Chu Ning's cold voice coming from behind:

"Hang these two heads on the city gate for three days."

Chu Ning stood up, his dark python robe rustling in the wind. "Let everyone see clearly what happens to those who plot to murder the crown prince."

Zhao Yu immediately accepted the order and was about to go forward to collect the head, but he saw the King of Chu suddenly throw himself on the body of the Grand Tutor and burst into tears.

The old emperor cried like a child, tears mixed with blood running down his face.

“Your Majesty, please accept my condolences…” “Zhao Ming wanted to support him, but was pushed away by the Emperor of Chu.

Chu Ning watched all this with a cold eye, and suddenly said to Ling Haoran: "After three days, return the body to His Majesty."

After saying this, he turned and left. The white horse cavalry immediately parted the crowd and cleared a path for the prince.

Among the onlookers, a middle-aged man wearing a bamboo hat quietly retreated to the back of the crowd.

He stared at Chu Ning's receding back, then looked towards the city gate, then turned around and disappeared around the corner.