The Double-Chapter 624 - 185: Divorce the Wife

Time passed quickly, and the day of Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong’s execution had arrived. Jiang Li had an early meal and prepared to leave the house. Jiang Yuanbai, upon learning that she was also going to watch the execution, hesitated before finally saying, "It’s very frightening, you shouldn’t go and watch."

"No matter, I won’t look at the execution, I’ll just stand outside and that will suffice." Jiang Li smiled, "Also, to vent some anger for my third sister."

Jiang Yuanbai felt even more remorseful. He did not plan to watch the execution. Perhaps because of the matter involving Princess Yongning, Emperor Hongxiao felt guilty towards him, and had summoned him frequently these past few days. Their conversations as monarch and minister somewhat resembled the candidness of the past.

However, whether this was royal manipulation or sincere feelings was something Jiang Yuanbai himself could not clarify. As the saying goes, ’to accompany a monarch is like accompanying a tiger,’ he dared not be negligent. He still had to do what needed to be done, and would not let his guard down due to Emperor Hongxiao’s sudden rapport, allowing himself to make mistakes.

But Jiang Youyao had gone mad. The instigator was executed today. He did not go to watch, yet let Jiang Li, who was often troubled by Jiang Youyao, go. Jiang Yuanbai could not articulate his complex feelings about this.

Fortunately, Jiang Li did not dwell on this matter with him. After saying goodbye to Jiang Yuanbai, she left. Jiang Li knew that Ye Mingyu and his group, including Xue Huaiyuan, would also go to watch the execution, but she did not tell them that she, too, would be there.

She hadn’t yet found the right way to face Xue Huaiyuan. The next time she saw him, Jiang Li planned to reveal the truth, telling Xue Huaiyuan that she was Xue Fangfei. She knew it would be difficult for him to suddenly accept this, so she had to think of a gentler way to explain it. But until then, she could not meet Xue Huaiyuan. She feared that in her agitation she might blurt it out, or startle him, or that he might not believe her at all. Indeed, it was this matter that had preoccupied her recent days.

Bai Xue and Tonger helped Jiang Li into the carriage.

The streets of Yanjing City were less crowded today. Many people had gone to the execution ground to watch the spectacle. One was the once-triumphant Top Scholar, the young and promising Assistant Head Writer, the other was the sister of Prince Cheng, a genuine royal princess, who together had committed such an outrageous crime. The commoners always loved such spectacles and wanted to see these two pay the price.

When Jiang Li’s carriage arrived at the execution grounds, it was already impossible to enter. The crowds and carriages of onlookers had blocked the road. Bai Xue and Tonger had to pay silver to clear the way. With the silver in hand, the people were amenable and made way, allowing the carriage to move farther in, close enough to catch sight of the two people on the execution platform.

Princess Yongning and Shen Yurong, dressed in filthy prisoner’s garb, their hair disheveled, no longer bore the careful elegance of the past and looked no different from the other condemned prisoners. Worse yet, they appeared even more wretched. Righteous indignation had driven the commoners to spontaneously bring their market baskets and continuously hurl eggs and throw vegetable leaves at them, creating a pitiable sight.

It likely never occurred to Shen Yurong that he would meet such an end.

Jiang Li thought Princess Yongning, even at this point, would maintain her defiant nature and curse loudly. But today, she seemed completely silent, her head drooping, her expression hidden. Although Shen Yurong appeared to face everything calmly, or rather numbly. His gaze wandered through the crowd as though searching for someone.

Knowing he could not see her, Jiang Li still stepped back, hiding behind Bai Xue. She suddenly found humor in the situation. When Xue Fangfei was killed by Princess Yongning, Shen Yurong had been right outside, witnessing the scene but standing by idly, watching her soul depart for the underworld. Now Shen Yurong was to die, and she had become an onlooker, accompanying Shen Yurong on his final journey.

The affairs of this world truly are a strange cycle.

Suddenly, the sound of a woman’s wailing filled the air, mixed with the noise of curses. Jiang Li looked in the direction of the commotion and saw a familiar figure, none other than Mother Shen.

Mother Shen collapsed in front of the execution platform, crying out "My son," while also cursing Princess Yongning. Jiang Li heard her loud and clear. Mother Shen cursed that Shen Yurong had a bright future but was dragged down by Princess Yongning, the "licentious woman." She even brought up Xue Fangfei, saying her former daughter-in-law had been kind and virtuous, able and considerate, yet was killed by Princess Yongning through vicious means, with the crime wrongfully pinned on Shen Yurong.