A large crowd had already gathered around the execution ground.

Among the onlookers, besides ordinary people who came to watch the spectacle, a large portion were students participating in the imperial examinations.

When they learned that Meng Jiyang was to be executed for cheating in the imperial examinations, everyone cheered, and now they've all come to watch the execution.

Meng Shaoqing got off the carriage first, then helped Qi Ning down.

"Let's go," Meng Shaoqing said.

Qi Ning nodded: "Let's go to the front, we can see it more clearly then."

Meng Shaoqing naturally had no objections. He led Qi Ning through the crowd of onlookers and walked towards the front of the crowd.

When they reached the front, they met two acquaintances: Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping, who had been drinking with Meng Shaoqing earlier.

"Oh, Brother Shaoqing, you've come too?"

When Meng Shaoqing saw them, he cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Brother Zhongqin, Brother Xiuping."

After exchanging greetings, Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping spotted Qi Ning next to Meng Shaoqing; they clearly came together.

"Brother Shaoqing, who is this?"

Meng Shaoqing pulled Qi Ning over and said, "Let me introduce you both. This is my wife."

Qi Ning stood next to Meng Shaoqing and nodded to them.

Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping were stunned for a moment before they realized what was happening.

"Is this Brother Shaoqing's wife?"

"Oh, I remember now, Brother Shaoqing mentioned before that you were already married. So this is your wife."

“That’s right,” Meng Shaoqing replied with a smile.

Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping bowed to Qi Ning and then teased Meng Shaoqing.

"Brother Shaoqing, you are truly blessed."

"Indeed, but Brother Shaoqing, how can you bring your wife to witness an execution? Aren't you afraid of frightening her?"

Qi Ning smiled slightly: "You two are overthinking it. Meng Jiyang cheated on the imperial examination and deserved to be beheaded. It's a great relief. It's not a miscarriage of justice. Why would I be scared?"

Upon hearing Qi Ning mention Meng Jiyang, the two of them were immediately filled with righteous indignation.

“Indeed, Madam is absolutely right.”

"Meng Jiyang truly deserved to die!"

As they were talking, the crowd suddenly became restless.

"The prisoner is here! The prisoner is here!"

The group looked over at the sound and saw Meng Jiyang in shackles being led to the execution platform by two soldiers.

Meng Jiyang's legs were so weak that he couldn't walk at all and had to be carried up.

He was dragged to the executioner and forced to kneel down.

When Meng Jiyang saw the large knife in the executioner's hand, he was so frightened that he wet himself, soaking his pants and discoloring the fabric.

The onlookers below, who had been cursing Meng Jiyang, burst into laughter upon seeing this scene.

"Look, look! Meng Jiyang is so scared he peed his pants!"

"Serves him right! He used to abuse his power as a secretary in the Ministry of Personnel, and now he's in this mess!"

Hearing these murmurs coming from below, Meng Jiyang subconsciously glanced down at the audience.

Looking down, he saw Qi Ning and Meng Shaoqing standing directly opposite him.

Qi Ning?!

Meng Jiyang's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked down at the audience.

Upon closer inspection, he realized that Qi Ning and Meng Shaoqing were standing very close together, clearly indicating that their relationship was unusual.

"you……"

Meng Jiyang's parched lips murmured two words.

When Meng Shaoqing saw that Meng Jiyang had noticed them and was staring at them, he reached out and grasped Qi Ning's hand, which was hanging by his side.

Qi Ning looked up and met Meng Shaoqing's gaze. She didn't break free, but gave him a reassuring look before turning back to look at the stage.

As Meng Jiyang watched Meng Shaoqing hold Qi Ning's hand, the two looking incredibly close, he trembled even more violently.

In that instant, Meng Jiyang remembered what the stranger couple who claimed to be villagers of Mengjia Village had said: his wife had remarried after his mother died.

Could it be that Qi Ning remarried to Meng Shaoqing?

No wonder Meng Shaoqing was so surprised and had such a strange expression when he recognized him that day. When he mentioned Qi Ning, he even seemed to be protecting her.

At the time, Meng Jiyang didn't pay any attention to it, but now that he thinks about it, he suddenly realizes it.

So, it turns out that Qi Ning remarried to Meng Shaoqing!

It turns out that the people who were really harming him behind the scenes were them!

Thinking of this, Meng Jiyang's eyes widened in fury.

"You bitches! You two bitches! How could you do this to me!"

He stood up from the stage, as if he wanted to leap off.

"What are you doing! What are you doing!"

"Your Majesty!"

Before Meng Jiyang could even stand up straight, he was pinned down by the soldiers behind him.

"Let me go! Let me go!" Meng Jiyang struggled.

The executioner sitting at the head of the table, seeing this scene, thought Meng Jiyang was trying to escape.

It's worth it!

If the death row inmate escapes, will the executioner get away with it?

The executioner hurriedly shouted, "The time for the execution is almost here! Hold the prisoner down for me!"

He also heard Meng Jiyang shouting something, but the onlookers were too noisy for him to hear clearly.

There have been instances in the past where death row inmates cursed the emperor before their execution, and the executioner probably thought that Meng Jiyang was also insulting the emperor.

He quickly added, "Also, gag him."

"Yes, my lord!"

Upon receiving the order, the two soldiers forced Meng Jiyang back to kneel, tore off a piece of cloth stained with urine from his body, and stuffed it into his mouth.

To prevent him from struggling, they tied him up tightly.

"Woooooooo..."

Meng Jiyang was completely immobilized, and his mouth was gagged so he couldn't make a sound. He could only stare intently in the direction of Qi Ning and Meng Shaoqing.

Qi Ning had a faint smile on her lips, which Meng Jiyang caught in his eye.

"Qi family! Meng Shaoqing! You actually harmed me, you..."

Meng Jiyang was cursing and swearing, but because his mouth was gagged, he could only make some whimpering sounds. No one could hear what he was saying; they could only see his frantic appearance.

Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping were somewhat puzzled by this scene.

They turned their heads and asked Meng Shaoqing and the others.

"What was Meng Jiyang shouting just now, Brother Shaoqing? Do you understand? He seemed to be saying something about a bastard or something about harming him."

"Yes, and he was looking in our direction too."

Meng Shaoqing knew exactly what Meng Jiyang meant, and replied without changing his expression, "He's probably been scared out of his mind and is talking nonsense."

Qi Ning found Meng Shaoqing's words somewhat amusing.

Yang Zhongqin and Huang Xiuping, however, wholeheartedly agreed.

"That's true. Who wouldn't be afraid of death? He must have been scared out of his wits."

"Not necessarily. It's also possible that they're trying to play the fool to escape."

Just as they were chatting and laughing, the sun overhead reached its zenith, and the incense in front of the executioner finally burned out.

Upon seeing this, the executioner threw out the execution warrant.

"It's noon, carry out the execution!"

The executioner picked up his executioner's sword, spat a mouthful of wine on it, and then slashed down hard on Meng Jiyang's head.

Qi Ning watched this scene with a smile in her eyes, making no attempt to avoid it.

On the contrary, Meng Shaoqing felt it was too bloody and worried that Qi Ning would be scared, so he hugged her and pulled her into his arms.

Just before Meng Jiyang's head rolled, he watched as Meng Shaoqing pulled Qi Ning into his arms.

The next moment, his head rolled off, splattering blood everywhere.

The head rolled twice and stopped, facing Qi Ning and Meng Shaoqing.

Do not look down.

------

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