"Alright, everyone out!"
As Zhao Jiaqi gave the order, the people in the cellar began to emerge.
Yu Mengxueyao and Xiao Junjun were carried out by Fan Zehao, and only then did someone come to help Zhao Jiaqi out of the cellar.
The couple walked behind the crowd. She tilted her head and asked, "How are the servants in the manor?"
"A few were injured and are being treated by the manor physician in the front courtyard. The rest have been hidden in the secret chamber."
She nodded, a little color returning to her pale face. "Ji Shiyi is at the Liu manor. Did you send people to arrest him?"
"After Gao Wenbin found me at the Li manor, we planned to go to the Liu manor to arrest him. We ran into Xiao Ce and the manor guards halfway there. The moment I saw them, I knew something was wrong. Instead of letting Gao Wenbin arrest him, I returned with Xiao Ce and our men. That's how we caught those men in black off guard. Fortunately, we returned in time, or the consequences would have been unimaginable!"
He said with lingering fear, truly not daring to imagine what the manor would have been like if they had returned even a moment later, or if his wife would have been...
His thoughts raced, but Zhao Jiaqi was unaware of them. She simply wondered if Gao Wenbin would have managed to arrest Ji Shiyi alone. "Quickly send people to help Gao Wenbin. Ji Shiyi must have brought helpers. Gao Wenbin could handle ten Ji Shiyis with no problem, but if he encounters a master, how will he catch him! We absolutely cannot let this scoundrel escape this time!"
Zhao Jiaqi urged him. He patted her back to comfort her. "Don't worry, Xiao Ce has already taken a contingent of men."
As they walked out of the moon gate, they saw Pingting and Fan Lao Er being affectionate, with their maids and nannies standing by awkwardly, waiting.
"The nannies will stay to take care of the Princess. The rest of you go to the front courtyard to help the manor physician with the injured patients."
Xiao Jiu and the maids serving the young ladies bowed to Zhao Jiaqi. "Your servants take their leave."
The news of the prince's manor being attacked by traitors and the princess almost being captured spread like wildfire.
Within a day, the news had spread with wings, and all the city's mansions knew of it. People began to flock to the manor to investigate.
However, Steward Wang turned them all away, stating that the Princess Consort and the Princess were pregnant and could not receive guests, so all visitors were refused.
The inner city streets and alleys were filled with soldiers in armor, searching house by house, not sparing even the most dilapidated latrines.
At this time, there were more officers and soldiers than ordinary citizens on the streets. Ji Shiyi was arrested the afternoon of the day after he escaped.
Xiao Ce, with Ji Shiyi struggling angrily, kicked his knee, forcing him to kneel and preventing him from resisting.
Fan Zehao looked down with disdain at the once arrogant man, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Didn't they say that a strong dragon can't suppress a local snake? Today, this king is taking your head, and I'll see who dares to be the snake king!"
He gestured to Xiao Ce. "Take him out and behead him at the market!"
The notion of beheading at noon was non-existent for him. As Ji Shiyi began to curse, Xiao Ce covered his mouth.
With his mouth gagged, Ji Shiyi could only grunt incoherently, glaring at Xiao Ce with his eyes.
Looking at the local snake, Fan Zehao suddenly remembered that he was not the only one.
He then instructed Xiao Ce, who was about to leave, "Ji Shiyi is good friends with the Meng, Li, and Liu manors. At this time, when a friend is about to depart this world, I will be merciful and let them send off this traitor for his final journey."
Xiao Ce replied, "Yes." When he looked up again, Fan Zehao was already gone.
He gazed at Fan Zehao's departing back, increasingly feeling that his former brother had become ruthless.
Asking the heads of the other three manors to see Ji Shiyi off, was it truly to see him off?
It was a move to kill the heart and warn the chickens by sacrificing the monkeys!
At the market, Zhang Heng led over a thousand soldiers, surrounding Ji Shiyi. The common people could only watch from the periphery. If they wanted to get a closer look, not only did the yamen runners not allow it, but even the soldiers in the inner circle could not get through.
Meng Yang, Li Ben, and Liu Runming arrived one after another. Seeing the once prosperous Ji Shiyi reduced to such a state, they had never dreamed of it.
One day, he would be tied up like a dumpling, thrown onto the execution platform, awaiting death.
They all sighed.
Liu Runming knew the prince's purpose in having them witness the execution. He was not afraid at all. Through Xiao Ce, the overseer, he stepped onto the platform and looked at the fallen Ji Shiyi. "You attacked the prince's manor, injured countless people, and engaged in corruption. You are a madman, and I was mistaken in you. From now on, we are strangers. I hope you can be a good person in your next life. This is all I have to say." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
With Liu Runming saying these words in front of everyone, he did not blush nor feel embarrassed.
This move stunned Meng Yang and Li Ben. They exchanged glances, both filled with admiration for him. This man truly knew how to adapt to circumstances.
It was as they said, people strive for higher ground, and water flows to lower places.
Meng Yang and Li Ben ascended the platform together, each clearly distancing themselves from Ji Shiyi. They were now genuinely afraid that Fan Zehao, this madman, might turn his attention to them.
After all, their families' business models were similar.
If anyone put their mind to it, they could investigate them easily. Especially those merchants who had long been oppressed by them. If the prince's manor supported them, they were afraid these merchants would retaliate.
Xiao Ce watched their actions, but inwardly he scoffed. Were these the kind of people who called themselves friends?
They were all fickle, fawning creatures!
Everyone who should have been there had arrived, and even those who shouldn't have. None of that mattered. The prince's objective had been achieved, and the mission was complete.
At Xiao Ce's command, Ji Shiyi's head was severed by a large cleaver. Bright red blood gushed out from the bowl-sized wound, splattering everywhere. His headless body, like a pillar without a soul, collapsed softly onto the ground.
His head, larger than a bowl, rolled on the ground and slowly came to a stop. Even in death, his mouth was stuffed with cloth, his eyes wide open, never to close in peace.
Seeing this sinner, Xiao Ce didn't even bother to look. He ordered his soldiers, "Hang this man's corpse and head on the city wall. Let them be exposed for three days, then throw them into the mass grave!"
"Yes."
Fan Zehao's method was to kill the heart, while his was iron-blooded and merciless.
At the prince's manor, Zhao Jiaqi tallied the injured servants.
Fifteen with minor injuries, eight with serious injuries. The lightly injured were given thirty taels, and the seriously injured were given one hundred taels. After recovering from their serious injuries, regardless of whether they were maimed or completely incapacitated, the prince's manor would support them until death.
This action by Zhao Jiaqi not only did not alienate the servants but instead won the loyalty of even more people in the prince's manor.
A master who was righteous and compassionate was rare, especially a master like the Princess Consort who was generous, was even rarer.