freenovelworld Chapter 101 Clear rewards and punishments
Chapter 101 Clear rewards and punishments
Upon returning to the northern desert, Ye Beichen went straight to the old lord and solemnly reported the whole affair to him. After listening, the old lord trembled with rage, his white beard bobbing up and down with his rapid breathing, his eyes wide open as if spitting fire.
"Is this really true? It was Lady Nangong who committed this heinous act? This is simply outrageous! How dare she so blatantly bully my daughter-in-law! I will not let her off easily and will make sure she receives the punishment she deserves to uphold the law!" the old lord roared in fury.
Immediately afterwards, Lord Nangong and his first wife, like two frightened rabbits, were forcibly led by the guards to the lord's office tent. As soon as they entered the tent, they felt a heavy and oppressive atmosphere, like the calm before a storm.
"Kneel down!" The old lord roared, his voice shaking the entire tent. His booming voice was like thunder, silencing any thought of disobedience. The Nangong couple were instantly terrified, their legs buckling as they collapsed to their knees with a thud.
The old lord paced back and forth in his tent, his hands behind his back, each step imbued with deep anger and authority. He stopped, his gaze piercing as he stared at the kneeling Lady Nangong, coldly questioning, "Lady Nangong, I've heard you secretly sent assassins to the Southern Song Dynasty to murder our young lord's wife. Is this true?"
Lady Nangong was startled, but she still tried to remain calm, quickly shaking her head and waving her hands, attempting to defend herself: "That's not true, Lord! You mustn't believe the nonsense of those with ulterior motives! Besides, hasn't that Miss Su already divorced Ye Beichen? How can she still be called the young lord's wife?"
However, the old lord was not about to believe her sophistry. With a wave of his hand, he shouted, "Hmph! I see you won't give up until you're faced with the truth! Guards, bring the witnesses here immediately!"
Immediately afterwards, two burly, fully armed guards dragged the assassin before the crowd like a dead dog. The assassin was disheveled and ragged, but his eyes were unusually sharp. When he saw Madam Nangong, his emotions instantly surged with intense agitation, like a hungry wolf spotting its prey. He abruptly raised his hand, pointing directly at Madam Nangong, and shouted hoarsely, "Yes, it's her! It's this heartless woman who gave me a whole bag of heavy gold bars, ordering me to assassinate Su Yuning!"
Upon hearing this, Madam Nangong trembled, her face turning deathly pale. She dared not look directly at the assassin, but instead, like a startled rabbit, hastily hid behind Master Nangong's broad figure, clutching his clothes tightly as if only in this way could she find a sense of security, hoping he would step forward to protect her.
In reality, as the saying goes, even a day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of kindness! Despite Madam Nangong's grave mistake, Master Nangong still harbored some affection for her. Therefore, seeing his wife in such a predicament, Master Nangong did not hesitate to stand up for her, saying, "My lord, please investigate thoroughly! This person may be acting under someone else's orders to spout such nonsense. I absolutely do not believe my wife would do such a heinous and unforgivable thing!"
Just then, a series of steady, powerful footsteps sounded at the tent entrance. Everyone turned to look and saw Ye Beichen strode in with an imposing air. He held a yellowed scroll of indictment in his hand, which he tossed aside with a slight gesture. "This is the evidence! Master Nangong, what else do you have to say? Are you also involved in this matter?"
Husbands and wives should be like birds flying wing to wing, but when disaster strikes, they become like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow. At this moment, Master Nangong hurriedly waved his hand and said, "No, no, no, I know nothing about this matter, and it has nothing to do with me."
"Madam Nangong attempted to murder the young lord's wife and will be executed tomorrow!" the old lord solemnly announced.
"Master, please save me!" Madam Nangong pleaded tearfully, but Master Nangong remained unmoved.
"My lord, how could you be so cruel! Waaah~" Immediately afterwards, the tearful Madam Nangong was dragged away by the guards like a dead dog.
The next morning, Xiaodoukou, like a carefully dressed butterfly, gracefully arrived outside Ye Beichen's tent to request an audience. After the guards announced her arrival, Ye Beichen finally nodded in agreement.
Then, the delicate and lovely Xiaodoukou parted her lips slightly and pleaded in a gentle voice, "Brother Ye, please, for the sake of our past relationship, please be merciful and let my mother go! She was just confused for a moment."
However, Ye Beichen remained indifferent, showing no pity whatsoever. He coldly replied, "No matter the reason, a mistake is a mistake. Since you have made a mistake, you must accept the punishment you deserve. There is no room for discussion on this matter. So I really cannot help you with this."
Upon hearing this, Xiaodoukou's tears flowed like a burst dam. Without hesitation, she knelt down, crying so hard that her face was streaked with tears and her heart was breaking. She choked out, "Brother Ye, back then, I used incredibly precious medicinal herbs to save Sister Yu Ning's life! Isn't this kindness enough for you to show leniency? Please, please forgive my mother this time. From now on, I will definitely discipline her strictly and never let her make any more mistakes."
To everyone's surprise, Ye Beichen remained unmoved. In fact, he suddenly flew into a rage and roared, "Enough! Don't bring up the past with me again! Do you really think you're such a good person?! Didn't you lie and falsely accuse Yu Ning for no reason? If it weren't for your nonsense, how could I have ended up in this divorce situation with her? Hmph, there's absolutely no affection between us. This matter is settled, and don't say another word!"
After speaking, Ye Beichen's handsome face twisted with anger, veins bulging on his forehead. He glared fiercely at Xiao Doukou, then turned away without hesitation, striding quickly away. His steps were so resolute and ruthless, each one seeming to pound on Xiao Doukou's fragile heart.
He left Xiaodoukou with only a resolute and cold back view. That back view was tall and majestic, yet it filled Xiaodoukou with unbearable coldness and despair. She stared blankly at Ye Beichen's figure gradually disappearing from sight, tears welling up uncontrollably in her eyes, blurring everything before her eyes.
Xiao Doukou's heart seemed to have gone with Ye Beichen. She felt the world suddenly become empty, devoid of support and warmth. Her body went limp, her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the cold, hard ground. Tears streamed down her beautiful face like a burst dam; she couldn't suppress the sorrow and pain within her, and could only continue to sob softly.
After a long while, Xiaodoukou seemed to have exhausted all her strength. She slowly supported herself with her hands and struggled to her feet. But her steps were still unsteady, as if a gust of wind could blow her over. She looked back every few steps, her eyes blurry with tears, watching the direction Ye Beichen had left in. She kept letting out low sobs, her cries like those of a wounded little animal, heartbreaking to hear.
And so, Xiaodoukou, sobbing and dragging her heavy steps, slowly walked toward the Nangong residence.
It was noon, and the sun hung high overhead, relentlessly radiating its scorching rays, making people dizzy. At this blazing moment, good and evil finally faced their ultimate judgment—Madam Nangong was brought to justice.
Upon hearing the news, Xiaodoukou was stunned, as if struck by lightning. Then, she rushed to the execution ground without hesitation. When she saw Madam Nangong already bound to the execution platform, she could no longer control her emotions. She knelt down with a thud and burst into tears, crying out, "Mother, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, I'm so sorry..."
Her cries were heart-wrenching, echoing throughout the execution ground. However, no matter how much she regretted and blamed herself, she could not change the established facts.
Master Nangong arrived at the scene. When he learned that everything Madam Nangong had done was to protect her daughter, he was filled with regret and helplessness. But it was too late for regrets. He could only sigh and stand silently by, watching the tragedy unfold.
Some were consumed by sorrow, while others were overjoyed. Meanwhile, on the other side, something remarkable was unfolding—Ye Beichen was rewarding his trusted guards for their service! With a wave of his hand, he shouted, "Guards! Grant this brave and fearless guard one hundred taels of gold!"
The guard who was called out was thrilled, but he still quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed to express his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your kindness and reward, young lord. However, the successful completion of this mission is not only due to my own efforts, but also to the contributions of my fellow guards."
Ye Beichen smiled slightly after hearing this and nodded in understanding, saying, "I know this very well. Don't worry, their deserved reward will be paid out on time with their monthly salary."
After receiving Ye Beichen's affirmative reply, the guard breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, he then suddenly took a step forward, bowed again, and asked with a slightly nervous expression, "Young Lord, I have another request."
Seeing this, Ye Beichen nodded slightly, signaling him to continue, and said generously, "Speak freely! As long as it is reasonable, this young master will certainly agree."
Encouraged, the guard took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm his nerves, before finally mustering his courage to plead loudly, "Young Lord, I have loved Miss Xuanyuan Rong'er since childhood, and this feeling has only grown stronger over the years. Now, I am fortunate enough to have her with whom I share mutual affection, so I humbly beg you, Young Lord, to have mercy and grant me and Miss Rong'er a marriage contract, thus fulfilling our beautiful destiny!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Beichen was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, readily replying, "Hahahaha, so that's what it is! This is truly a joyous occasion! Since you two are truly in love, how could I, this young master, refuse to grant your wish? Very well, this lord will now agree to your request and choose an auspicious day for your wedding!"
"Thank you, young lord!" The guard, barely containing the overwhelming joy in his heart, responded loudly in a trembling voice. His face, flushed with excitement, shone as brightly as if illuminated by the warm spring sun.
Before long, the auspicious day arrived. The young lord and the old lord walked side by side with steady, powerful steps, followed closely by a group of highly respected ministers. They smiled, their eyes filled with blessings, as they came to attend this grand wedding. At the same time, Xuan Yuan Rong'er's parents, the renowned General Xuan Yuan and his dignified and virtuous wife, were also present. Although Rong'er had initially not followed their wishes in choosing her husband, when they saw that their beloved daughter was marrying the upright, kind, and handsome guard beside the young lord, their concerns vanished instantly, and they wholeheartedly expressed their approval of the marriage.
The wedding in the northern desert was exceptionally lively and extraordinary. Under the bright sunshine, the guard and Xuanyuan Rong'er, dressed in their finest attire, solemnly held their wedding ceremony under the watchful eyes of everyone. Friends and relatives from all directions arrived, gathering to share in this happiness and joy. The spacious courtyard was filled with a sumptuous feast, a dazzling array of northern delicacies: fragrant roasted beef that made mouths water; sizzling roasted lamb, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside; and golden-brown, crispy roasted lamb chops that whetted the appetite... Guests sat together, enjoying the meal, laughter and chatter filling the air, the whole scene brimming with a festive atmosphere.