Chapter 591

First Volume, Chapter 591: Execution

According to Qin Feng's judgment, Li Qian's faction would next accelerate the trial of Xie Bi.

Under normal circumstances, the higher one's status, the more elaborate the trial process; take Ning Guogong as an example, the shortest time required for execution would still be one to two years.

But now, Li Qian's faction has nearly gone mad and would never follow procedure, even disregarding the legal code of Shedynasty entirely.

Therefore, before the Northern Di Envoy Group arrives in Jingdu, Xie Bi will be tried.

The charge of treason and collusion with the enemy, no matter who it is pinned on, inevitably leads to death.

Li Qian now holds absolute initiative and merely needs to wait.

Whether Qin Feng tries to protect Xie Bi or rescues him in a more direct and brutal manner, it will play right into Li Qian's hands.

At that point, the charges awaiting Qin Feng will be nothing but "prison break" and "collusion with the enemy"; the former can destroy all his achievements, the latter can directly send him to the Execution Platform.

In short, Li Qian, who recklessly tramples on Shedynasty's legal code, relies instead on the very phrase "legal code" to gradually push Qin Feng into an irrecoverable abyss.

Qin Feng can see through Li Qian's plan, and Xie Yun'er naturally can too—but the problem is, Xie Yun'er will never stand by and watch Xie Bi being led to the Execution Platform.

Blood is thicker than water; even if she knows tigers lurk on the mountain, she must still climb it!

This is precisely what Qin Feng fears most—he must find Xie Yun'er quickly to prevent her from walking straight into Li Qian's carefully laid trap.

Ning Hu led the Beixi Soldiers in a carpet search of Jingdu, searching for three full days, yet found nothing.

Xie Yun'er had vanished as if she had never existed, leaving not a trace.

At first, Qin Feng worried that Xie Yun'er had been captured by Li Qian's men.

But upon reflection, he found that illogical—after all, Li Qian's goal in framing Xie Bi was precisely to lure Xie Yun'er into making a reckless move.

If Xie Yun'er were already under control, wouldn't the entire trap lose its value?

Yet Jingdu is neither small nor vast—where could a grown woman possibly hide?

And at this critical deadline, Xie Yun'er should have come to him to discuss solutions—why hide instead?

Just as Qin Feng was growing desperate, more bad news arrived.

After returning from court, Qin Tianhu's face was ashen—he was furious beyond measure, finding fault with everything, even kicking chairs and tables just to vent his rage.

"The imperial order is in chaos, rites and music have collapsed. Shedynasty bases itself on the people's heart and upholds the ancestral edicts of past emperors, placing utmost importance on the phrase 'legal code.'"

"If the legal code is unjust, even the throne of the Holy Emperor cannot be held securely."

"Yet now, to eliminate rivals and suppress political enemies, from the Holy Emperor down to every Official, all ignore the legal code—Shedynasty's future is grim!"

Qin Tianhu was so enraged because the Liang Emperor was acting with extreme favoritism.

How many days had passed?

The Liang Emperor had already impatiently announced in the Imperial Court that Xie Bi would be beheaded in five days.

Under the pretense of ensuring smooth State Peace Talks and maximizing Shedynasty's interests, such a traitor as Xie Bi must be executed.

As the saying goes: kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, tap the mountain to shake the tiger.

Xie Bi's death would surely intimidate the Northern Di Envoy Group, making them dare not act rashly during the peace talks.

Yet everyone knows Sima Zhao's true intentions!

Tapping the mountain is correct—but the tiger being shaken, is it the Northern Di Envoy Group or the Qin Family? That remains uncertain.

Although Qin Tianhu, leading the Ministry of War faction and the Taolin Party, had fiercely opposed the Liang Emperor's edict to buy time for Xie Bi,

the Liang Emperor remained obstinate.

After all, he now longed to see the Qin Family's allies vanish completely—why would he help them?

In effect, Li Qian's scheme perfectly aligned with the Liang Emperor's hidden desires.

He merely stood behind the scenes, letting events unfold naturally…

Added to this, one of the Three Dukes has been lost, the Grand Tutor is absent from Jingzhong, and the remaining Grand Protector Lin is a loyalist of Li Qian.

There is now no one in court capable of checking the Liang Emperor's power.

Thus, even though the Ministry of War and the Taolin Party's Officials together make up two-thirds of the court's composition,

they still cannot sway the Liang Emperor's decisions.

The positions of the Three Dukes are extremely vital—if one's faction lacks the support of even one of them, it is ultimately a headless body.

Qin Feng continually soothed Qin Tianhu, urging him not to harm his health with anger.

At this deadline, if Old Qin collapsed, the joke would be too big.

Know this: unless there is a major event, the Liang Emperor now avoids letting Qin Feng attend court—entire Qin Family relies on Old Qin to maneuver in the Imperial Court.

Qin Feng rested his chin in thought: "Father, we still have five days—no need to rush."

"Today, I will visit the Dali Temple prison to see Uncle Xie."

"Finding Yun'er remains the top priority—I've deployed all Northern Border Generals, and even the Embroidered Uniform Guard has joined the search."

"But so far, there is no word of Yun'er."

"Father, your connections are wide—think of a way."

"Also, the Embroidered Uniform Guard messenger has reported that Third Sister has already set out for Jingdu, lightly equipped—she should return in five or six days."

"When she arrives, we must find a way to keep her at our home—if she enters the palace, the mastermind behind the scenes will surely act."

Qin Tianhu nodded and sighed deeply.

Since Qin Feng had thought through the matter so thoroughly, Qin Tianhu felt reassured.

As for finding Xie Yun'er, as long as the girl remains within Jingdu's borders, even if they dug three feet into the earth, they would find her.

There was no need to overly worry about Li Xiaolan.

After all, Li Xiaolan had served under Qin Cheng Clan for many years, receiving her true teachings—her depth and quick wit were more than enough to handle the upheavals of Jingzhong.

Right now, Qin Tianhu's greatest concern was Qin Feng himself.

"Feng'er, your father has been uneasy these past days."

"Suppose, if Xie Yun'er storms the Execution Ground, what would you do?"

Qin Feng had already anticipated Qin Tianhu would ask this, and without the slightest hesitation, he blurted out his answer.

"If it truly comes to that, I am willing to follow Yun'er in the PatrioticOath!"

Upon hearing these words, Qin Tianhu drew a quiet breath, his emotions swirling with complexity.

He did not know whether to admire Qin Feng for his loyalty and righteousness.

Or to dread the coming catastrophe.

But no matter what, whatever Qin Feng decided, Qin Tianhu would fully support him.

"Feng'er, no matter what you wish to do, just go ahead and do it."

"You are the only heir of the Qin Family; your father will surely break the cauldrons and sink the boats, sparing no cost to support you."

Feeling the firmness in Qin Tianhu's gaze, a warm current flowed through Qin Feng's heart.

Though daily, father and son joked, cursed, and even punched and kicked each other,

at critical moments, Old Qin never withheld his paternal love.

Qin Feng could not help but wonder what virtue he had accumulated in his past life to have such family in this one.

Even for all those who silently supported him, Qin Feng could not fall.

Qin Feng took a deep breath and silently resolved within himself.

"Sage? Li Qian? No matter what tricks you have, bring them on!"

"I, Qin Feng, will accept them all!"

"With my beloved ones beside me, what do I fear?!"