Chapter 24 - Her world fell apart

The sun shone brightly in the sky as people crowded on the execution ground. Some were whispering, some were staring at them with pity, and some even cursed them.

Four people kneeled on the wooden stage with a blade hanging above their heads. There was no fear in their gaze as they faced death. People could still feel the air around them filled with pride and arrogance. The four people's gazes were locked on a person standing in front of the crowd.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks as Xie Mei stared at her family. Feng Shu stood beside her, holding her hand tightly in her grasp as silent sobs wracked her body. Her eyes were locked on an auburn one, staring at her with so much love that it tore her soul into pieces. If it was up to her, she would have taken him far away from this place and run away to a land where nobody knew them.

Xie Mei wished so badly for all of this to be a nightmare. When she woke up, her mother would be sitting beside her, stroking her hair lovingly, while her brothers would be making fun of her and her father would be scolding them for teasing his darling daughter.

How did she end up in a situation like this???

Even after searching the entire capital, they couldn't find that woman, Meng Zhi, and when she visited her parents last night to coerce them to confess the truth, not one of them agreed. She begged them to request the emperor issue a second investigation, but they declined all her pleas.

And here she was standing in front of the crowd to watch her family being brutally killed while her heart was being twisted in pain.

Her heartbeat fastened when her twin brother quietly gave her a small smile and nodded his head in reassurance.

She took a step ahead towards them, only to be warned by her father as he shook his head. She gave him a pleading gaze as tears streamed down her porcelain face. But he quietly avoided her and looked away.

Her poor mother was kneeling there with her head held high, still warmly smiling at her even though she was the reason for all this. Sobs wracked her body, robbing her of her ability to speak and barely allowing a breath to be drawn.

How could she live knowing that she was the one who caused the demise of her family??

.....

Suddenly, the crowd heard the announcement of the emperor's arrival. The entire body of people kneeled when they saw their emperor arriving alongside his council. Dressed in a golden robe, he looked high and mighty, but it couldn't hide his tired and worn-out face.

"Xie Chen, I'll give you one last chance. Tell us the truth, and this one will only punish you with banishment." The emperor said as he gazed at the person kneeling in front.

Xie Mei looked towards her father and begged him with pleading eyes to confess that he was being forced, but her father completely avoided her. She knew they were doing this to save her child, but how was she supposed to live after they were gone??!! What was she supposed to say when her child asked about his grandparents and uncles???

Xie Chen kneeled there quietly, and with a firm gaze, he answered.

"Your majesty I have betrayed this empire and its people by providing our enemy with our war strategy. I'll atone for my sins now."

The emperor sighed, looking at him with a heart filled with sadness. He knew the person in front was lying. How could a general who had been protecting the empire for the past thirty years do something like this??? And he didn't even request a second investigation. He, as the emperor, simply cannot ask for an inquiry; instead, he needs to listen to his council before making a decision.

He turned around to look at his daughter-in-law, who looked lost and miserable. He felt pity for her. He really liked her and wanted her to be his daughter-in-law for a long time, but his choice of the groom for her was not the fifth prince; instead, he wanted her to be the wife of his Yi'er. Sadly, things didn't go as he expected. He sighed and turned back to where he came from.

'SLASH!!!!'

"NO!!!!"

Xie Mei felt her heart jump out of her throat when the blades fell and heads rolled out. Her eyes widened as she stared at the four bodies that fell. Her entire body crumbled to the ground as her heart numbed and her eyes turned bleak. She couldn't bring herself to accept this. Just a few days ago, wasn't she happily chatting with her family and pampering her child???! Then how could her entire world fall apart within these few days???

Feng Shu held her tightly as she placed her head on her shoulders and cried quietly. The crowd pitied the two, and little by little everyone left and only the two women remained.

.....

In the huge bed chamber, a pale man sat there, arguing with his subordinate.

"Hu Chen, I beg of you!! Please take me to her!!! She is all alone, Hu Chen; even Yu'er is not there beside her!! Please, she needs me!! Just this once, let me just take a look at her. I'll stay away, I promise!! Let me see her once, please!!!" Qin Yi pleaded as tears ran down his face. His pale face looked more sickly than usual, and tears were beginning to blur his vision. This did not sit well with the man beside him.

"Master, it's too late now, and it's not good for your health. The imperial physician is already on his way here; please wait." Hu Chen explained, but he too was anxious. His master's health was declining way faster than they had expected, and if he stepped out of the chamber, people would know, and that was not good for him. He quietly watched the man who was sitting on the bed, heaving and coughing as pain took over his heart.

....

Xie Mei opened the door to her home and walked inside. All her childhood memories came rushing in, and her heart hurt so much that she wanted to rip it off her body. She stood all alone in the huge courtyard where her parents stayed. This place, which was once filled with the laughter of her parents and brothers, seemed quiet. The entire house was filled with gloom, and Xie Mei stood there like a corpse, unable to move or talk.

"Mother, Father!! I'm home!!" She called out in the hope of getting some response.

"Elder brother!!! Brother Ling!!!!"

"Anyone???" Her voice choked when she called out again, but all she got in return was silence. She was standing there like an idiot like she was waiting for a miracle to happen.

But all she got in return was a silent, empty house, and this silence was killing her from the inside. She clutched onto her clothes tightly; her throat felt as if someone was choking her. Tears never stopped as her vision blurred and her clothes crumpled.

She opened the door and walked inside her mother's and father's bedroom. Soon she was greeted by the intoxicating smell of home, and her lips quivered. She walked further and sat on their bed, looking around the room. She touched the intricate design on the embroidered pillow that her mother sewed, which only brought more pain to her heart. She lay quietly on their bed, her body wracked with a loud sob.

She was an orphan now; she had no one to call her own. Even that person's health was not in good condition. If something happens to him, then it will just be her and her child, if she's able to find her little one.

Remembering her poor child, who was already hurt from the incident that happened a few days ago, her heart twisted in pain.

'Is he alright?? Did he eat?? Is he missing her??' The more she thought, the more her heart ached for him.

...

'Knock!!'

Xie Mei sat up and wiped the tears from her cheeks when she heard the knock on the door. She saw a shadow through the window and quickly ran towards the door. As she opened the door, she found a small bronze chest in front of her. She looked in the direction she saw the person run off and found no one in sight.

Squatting down, she picked up the chest and opened it. The moment she saw the contents inside, her breath hitched and her bloodshot eyes widened. Her hands trembled as the chest slipped from her hands and fell. She slowly squatted down, only to see the head of a small child roll out of her chest...