The Legend of Zhen Huan: Year after year, we share the spring breeze

The rain was pouring down like a rip between heaven and earth. Bean-sized raindrops hit the bluestone slabs, splashing countless tiny drops of water.

When the three of them arrived outside the Qinzheng Hall holding oil-paper umbrellas, the hall was already filled with concubines and palace maids from various palaces.

Seeing them approach, the crowd parted like a tide, leaving a narrow passage. After passing through the crowd, I finally got a clear view of the situation in front.

Sun Heyin was tied to a wide stool and lay prone, with two burly maids beside her. Her hair was disheveled, with a few strands of wet hair sticking to her pale cheeks. Her light pink dress had long been soaked by the rain and clung to her body.

Two young eunuchs were standing by, holding clubs as thick as bowls, ready for battle. Several imperial guards in bright yellow jackets were standing around them.

The execution can begin as soon as Zhen Huan gives the order.

The whole scene was solemn and depressing.

The rain flowed down Sun Heyin's sleeves and skirt like beads that had broken off the string, forming a small puddle under the stool.

Hearing the sound of salute, she raised her head with difficulty.

Water droplets kept sliding down her cheeks, and it was hard to tell whether they were rain or tears, making her originally plain face almost transparent. Fine water droplets hung on her long eyelashes, trembling slightly with her weak breathing.

When her eyes met An Lingrong, Sun Heyin smiled.

This was a smile An Lingrong had never seen before.

She was no longer as cautious as before, nor was she forced to smile. The curve of her lips was so natural, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes were so vivid. At this moment, she had finally cast off all the shackles.

The rain washed away all the makeup on her face, but made her smile look even purer.

At this critical moment, her eyes revealed an ease and relief that she had never felt since entering the palace.

Their eyes met.

An Lingrong only felt a sharp pain in her heart. She subconsciously pressed her chest. Her fingertips could feel her violent heartbeat through the wet clothes. The only sounds in her ears were the interweaving of her own rapid breathing and the sound of the rain.

Shen Meizhuang grabbed her arm tightly.

Su Peisheng stepped forward, flicked his whisk, and announced in a loud voice, "The Emperor has decreed that the Sun family has plotted to murder the Emperor. This crime is unforgivable. The entire Sun family must be executed, and Concubine Sun must be beaten to death immediately!" He turned to Zhen Huan, bowed, and said, "Royal Concubine, please."

Zhen Huan took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling violently. She gathered her rain-soaked sleeves and said gravely, "I need to say a few words to her."

"Your Majesty, please." Su Peisheng took a step back and made a gesture of invitation.

Zhen Huan walked forward slowly, and Jin Xi immediately followed her closely with an umbrella.

"Sun," Zhen Huan said, looking down at the person pinned to the torture bench, her voice cold, "Since you entered the palace, you have been disrespectful to me many times. I, considering your youth and ignorance, never held it against you."

As she spoke, she suddenly squatted down, reached out and pinched Sun Heyin's chin hard.

Seeing this, Jin Xi immediately bent down and lowered the umbrella to prevent rain from falling on Zhen Huan.

"I never thought you would be so bold as to attempt to murder the Emperor. I advise you to go earlier so you can avoid suffering."

After saying this, Zhen Huan stood up and her voice suddenly rose: "Execute!"

The eunuchs carrying out the execution received the order, stood on the left and right, swung the red lacquered sticks, and hit Sun Heyin hard.

"Snapped!"

The first stick fell heavily, and the dull sound penetrated the rain curtain.

Sun Heyin's whole body trembled violently, and her ten fingers clenched the edge of the torture bench tightly. She bit her lower lip until it bled, but did not make a sound.

"Crack! Crack!"

The sticks came down one after another, each one accompanied by a sound of breaking through the air.

Soon, her body was stained with blood. Rainwater mixed with blood flowed across the torture bench, diluted by fresh rain, and bloomed into pale red flowers on the bluestone slabs.

An Lingrong tightly grasped Shen Meiyu's hand, her nails digging deep into her palm.

She could clearly hear the unique muffled sound of the stick hitting flesh - the dull sound of flesh colliding with the stick, and the crisp sound of bones bearing the impact. Each sound hit her heart like a sledgehammer, shaking her internal organs.

The concubines around had already turned their heads away, and some even covered their mouths and began to retch.

Sun Heyin's breathing became increasingly rapid, but she remained clenched. Her forehead rested on the cold torture bench, sweat and rain dripping down.

As another heavy blow landed, her body twitched violently, but quickly returned to calm.

Time seemed to be swollen by the rain, and every breath seemed to be stretched to an infinite length.

I do not know how long it has been.

Sun Heyin's fingers gradually loosened the torture bench, and the blood seeping from the cracks of her nails was washed away by the rain. Her breathing became weaker and weaker, and finally turned into an almost inaudible tremor, and her originally tense back collapsed bit by bit.

When the next stick fell, her body bounced slightly.

Sun Heyin used up the last of her strength and moved her neck with difficulty, wanting to see that face again, but her heavy head just shook weakly and ultimately could not be lifted up again.

The rain flowed into her eyes along her messy hair, blurring her vision into a blur of light and shadow. The light green hem of her dress gradually faded in her field of vision and eventually turned into nothingness.

The surroundings suddenly became eerily quiet.

The eunuch who was carrying out the execution stopped and put the bloody stick aside. The nanny beside him immediately stepped forward, stretched out her finger and paused it for a moment at Sun Heyin's nostrils, and finally shook her head.

Zhen Huan's fingers dug into her palms beneath her wide sleeves, but her face showed no sign of it. She heard her own eerily calm voice echo through the rain: "Imperial Physician, perform an autopsy."

The imperial physician stepped forward and leaned over to touch Sun Heyin's bruised wrist. "Your Highness, Noble Consort Sun has no pulse and is dead."

Su Peisheng then stepped out from the shadows, flicking his whisk and saying, "My lords, please return!"

The concubines turned around and left as if they had been pardoned.

Shen Meizhuang's face was pale, but she still forced herself to remain calm. She grabbed An Lingrong's cold wrist and shouted,

"go!"

An Lingrong seemed to be possessed by a demon, her eyes fixed on the rain-washed corpse on the ground. Her feet seemed to have taken root and she couldn't move even a step.

Seeing her like this, Shen Meizhuang was startled and used more force in her hands, almost pinching into her flesh.

She suddenly turned An Lingrong's body around, forced her to face her, and lowered her voice: "Go back first!"

An Lingrong staggered as she was pulled by her, and almost fell into Shen Meizhuang's arms, allowing Shen Meizhuang to pull her away quickly.

It rained harder.