When it rains, it pours; the prestige accumulated by General Shi over the years disintegrated as he vomited blood.

With his fall, Nanliang’s morale was further dampened.

Daqi seized the grain and gold, boosting their morale, and took the opportunity to attack the city, causing Nanliang to flee in panic, losing yet another city.

The news of Nanliang losing the gold and grain requisitioned from Beimo was sent to the capital of Nanliang with utmost urgency.

The Emperor of Nanliang was furious upon hearing the news.

Originally, the Nanliang military camp’s grain was burned, losing a city, and the Emperor of Nanliang was already dissatisfied with General Shi.

Unexpectedly, Duke Huguo was delayed due to some matters and did not make it to the border, and he lost the hard-won grain and gold from Beimo!

Three hundred thousand loads of grain and one hundred thousand taels of gold, just like that, fell into the hands of Daqi, resolving Daqi’s grain shortage?!

Duke Huguo nearly smashed the table in rage upon hearing the news.

The good situation he had painstakingly planned was thus completely destroyed, how could he not be angry?

He was so angry he wanted to skin General Shi alive.

Just as Young Master Shi got involved in a murder case, with "irrefutable evidence," Duke Huguo petitioned the Emperor of Nanliang to execute Young Master Shi and make an example.

The Emperor of Nanliang was furious and agreed, while some veteran ministers of the Nanliang court stood up to plead for Young Master Shi, though unaware of why General Shi kept losing battles, but General Shi had rendered great service to the court before.

Chopping off the head of his legitimate eldest son like this, isn’t this forcing him to rebel?

The Sixth Young Master of the Wang Taifu Mansion only sneered at General Shi’s defeats and quarreled with Young Master Shi, they didn’t believe Young Master Shi would kill for this, though there were witnesses and evidence, Young Master Shi did not confess.

Several veteran ministers knelt and begged the Emperor of Nanliang, temporarily sparing Young Master Shi’s life, just as the Emperor of Nanliang hesitated, news came back that yet another city at the border was lost.

The Emperor of Nanliang’s moment of hesitation immediately hardened.

Young Master Shi was executed at West Street Vegetable Market.

General Shi’s wife cried in great sorrow, fainting several times.

The Changning Marquis Mansion exhausted all possible means to save Young Master Shi but was at a loss.

The Marchioness of Changning wiped her tears and looked at the Marquis of Changning, "The execution is tomorrow, is there really no solution?"

If there was a solution, wouldn’t the Marquis of Changning save Young Master Shi?

The Heir of Marquis Changning, Dong Chenglang, angrily said, "I will take people to attack the prison tonight!"

"Things are chaotic enough as they are, you’d better behave and not make it worse," said Marquis Changning.

Xie Jingchen sat on the side, really confused.

The Red Book Iron Certificate is an honor, true, but now that Young Master Shi is about to be executed, why not bring out the Red Book Iron Certificate to save him?

Is the Red Book Iron Certificate more important than a life?

If the Shi Family is indeed so pedantic, Zhao Xu wanting General Shi and Duke Huguo to fight against each other and rebel against the Nanliang court is almost impossible.

But this is the private matter of the Changning Marquis Mansion and the Shi Family, he ought to listen less, let alone interfere.

Dong Chenglang angrily pounded the table, which Xie Jingchen couldn’t stand and said, "Doesn’t the Shi Family have the Red Book Iron Certificate?"

Xie Jingchen mentioning it made Dong Chenglang sigh directly, "The Shi Family does have the Red Book Iron Certificate, but it can’t be used to save a life."

"Why?" Xie Jingchen was puzzled.

Dong Chenglang remained silent; he couldn’t possibly say the Red Book Iron Certificate was damaged, right?

The Red Book Iron Certificate was bestowed by the late Emperor to his maternal grandfather, the greatest honor of the Shi Family.

Damaging the Imperial Gift is a great disrespect to the late Emperor.

Using a damaged Red Book Iron Certificate to save a life, his cousin would die faster.

Though Xie Jingchen had saved Dong Chenglang three times, and Dong Chenglang trusted him, such a big matter couldn’t be shared.

He himself only learned of it yesterday.

Xie Jingchen looked at him and said, "Could the Red Book Iron Certificate be damaged?"

Dong Chenglang abruptly looked up at Xie Jingchen, "You... you can guess that?"

What’s not to guess?

His wife has one, she takes it out to play with sometimes, he’s worried so many times.

"Speak to me, perhaps I can help," Xie Jingchen said.

...

The next day was the day of Young Master Shi’s execution.

The prison carriage took him to West Street Vegetable Market.

The spectators surrounded the place three layers deep.

Young Master Shi knelt on the execution platform.

This Xingtai has seen countless ferocious criminals beheaded, and claimed the lives of many innocent people.

Only he never thought he would one day die here.

The cracks on the bluestone ground were soaked red with blood, the stench heavy.

Duke Huguo personally supervised the execution.

The hour arrived.

Duke Huguo ordered the execution.

The executioner drank some wine, spraying it on the blade.

Just as he was about to strike, General Shi’s wife arrived, holding a metal box in her arms, she climbed the Xingtai, raising the metal box high, saying, "My Shi Family has the Red Book Iron Certificate granted by the late Emperor!"

The Shi Family using the Red Book Iron Certificate to save a life, no one can stop them.

Furthermore, Duke Huguo did not want Young Master Shi’s life, just this Amulet granted to the Shi Family by the late Emperor.

Duke Huguo ordered the box to be taken.

The metal box was locked, Duke Huguo frowned and said, "Unlock it."

General Shi’s wife said, "The Red Book Iron Certificate granted by the late Emperor to the Shi Family was traded by our ancestors with their bones and blood for honor. After the late Emperor granted it to the Shi Family, it has always been locked in the box, enshrined in the ancestral hall, the key carried by the Great General, and I’ve already sent someone to fetch the key."

Duke Huguo furrowed his brow tighter, saying, "Is this box really containing the Red Book Iron Certificate, and not deceiving me?"

General Shi’s wife stared at Duke Huguo and said, "The Red Book Iron Certificate is to be presented to the Emperor for inspection; my son killed someone, being beheaded is but one life, deceit to the Emperor is a crime of executing nine generations, does Duke Huguo think my Shi Family dares to take this risk?!"

"The Red Book Iron Certificate is within this box, if Duke Huguo doesn’t trust it, he can have the box split open. If there’s no Red Book Iron Certificate inside, today I’ll accompany my son to be beheaded on this Xingtai!"

General Shi’s wife’s voice was resolute.

By saying this, Duke Huguo had no choice but to believe.

He took the box to the palace to report to the Emperor.

General Shi’s wife, almost faint from exhaustion, collapsed as soon as Duke Huguo left, and was supported by the Heir of Marquis Changning.

General Shi’s wife steadied her heart, hurriedly untied Young Master Shi’s ropes, Young Master Shi looked at her, "Mother, that Red Book Iron Certificate...."

"We’ll talk back at the mansion," General Shi’s wife said tremulously.

She was this close to having to send her black-haired son away with white hair.

Walking farther away, Dong Chenglang punched Xie Jingchen’s chest in gratitude, saying, "You’ve helped me once again."

To think of putting the Red Book Iron Certificate in a metal box and sealing the keyhole.

To open the box, there’s only the way of splitting it open.

The metal box is indestructible, definitely not easy to split open, and if it really is split open, who can guarantee the Red Book Iron Certificate inside won’t be damaged?

In the soft palanquin, Duke Huguo stared at the box, growing more suspicious.

He felt increasingly that what’s inside is not the Red Book Iron Certificate.

He entered the palace to present it to the Nanliang Emperor for inspection, the Nanliang Emperor ordered the palace locksmith to unlock it.

The locksmith tried several times and, afraid of Imperial reprimand, fearfully said, "The keyhole is sealed, it can’t be opened."

"Split it open," said the Nanliang Emperor.

Although it was the Emperor’s order, which of the guards dares to split it open?

They lightly tried a few times, the box remained intact, the blade damaged.

All the more so, Duke Huguo suspected something was amiss; originally, he just wanted General Shi’s military power, but General Shi ruined his plans, he wanted his whole family’s heads!

Coincidentally, the Nanliang Emperor possessed a precious sword, sharp enough to cut through anything.

Duke Huguo wielded the sword, striking the box.

The first time, he only cut a little.

The second time, the blade got stuck, failing to cut through.

Duke Huguo became furious, took a deep breath, and struck the box with full force.

Clunk.

The box was split in two.

Together with the Red Book Iron Certificate inside, it was cut in half.

Duke Huguo, "...!!!"

His legs buckled, and Duke Huguo knelt down to beg for mercy, "Emperor, I deserve death...."