How could such a thing happen.

All of Shangjing was abuzz with discussion.

In the feudal thinking tainted by tea poison, anyone would find it hard to accept.

Especially a well-educated noblewoman who has read the "Women’s Commandments".

The old woman suddenly looked up: "Our young lady just said..."

What was said?

— Please be sure to save yourself from calamity.

The old woman’s throat tightened: "How did the young lady see it?"

Jiasan didn’t speak further.

She closed her eyes, yet the scene of Yu Tingwan looking at Second Madam Cao’s expression lingered in her mind.

Jiasan’s tightly held fingers turned white.

There was no pity in Yu Tingwan’s eyes.

Nor was there urgency to prevent Second Madam Cao from harboring a death wish.

Instead, it was...

An expression one would have for their kind.

Calm, composed, as if seeing her former self.

Because she knew what to say to strike accurately and pull someone teetering on the edge back from the abyss.

Jiasan’s back slightly bent, and she forcefully mustered a faint smile that could dissipate at any moment.

She wondered if, at that time, there was anyone to lend Yaoyao a hand.

Probably not.

She walked down from there herself.

Yet, the more it was like this, even a small incident could snap her taut string.

She would stand high up again and again, facing the wind, tormenting herself, her body swaying.

But she couldn’t die.

So she saved herself time and time again.

Her resolve grew stronger through each instance, becoming unbreakable.

Thinking of this, an overwhelming sorrow seemed to drown Jiasan.

The carriage fell silent, unsettling the old woman.

"Oh dear, could Second Madam Cao be planning to take her life once the villain is punished?"

"Would it be necessary for this old servant to run to the Shu Family?"

After all, it’s a life, the Shu Family must keep a close watch on Second Madam Cao.

"No need."

Jiasan: "She won’t take her own life."

The old woman muttered to herself.

How could Madam be so sure? She’s not a worm in Second Madam Cao’s stomach.

————

Upon returning to the box, Yu Tingwan sat back down, lazily.

Shen Zhiyi felt greatly moved.

She was just about to praise Yu Tingwan.

At the next moment.

Yu Tingwan spoke.

"I really envy Wei Zhao."

Shen Zhiyi: ??

Yu Tingwan sincerely sighed: "He married such a good wife like me."

Shen Zhiyi: ...

But one had to admit.

Previously, she admired Yu Tingwan, today she was completely convinced.

Shen Zhiyi: "I finally understand why so many young ladies wanted to enter Duke Shun Mansion, yet Wei Zhao didn’t choose any of them."

Shen Zhiyi was curious: "He was the one who pursued you, right?"

"A man like that, if he had a lady he admired, wouldn’t hesitate, afraid she might be taken away, hurrying to marry you."

Yu Tingwan lazily: "No."

Her lips curled slightly upward.

"I was the one who worked hard to promote, selling against his wishes."

Yu Tingwan: "He had no choice but to comply with me."

She enunciated the words "had no choice" clearly, emphasizing her tone.

Which only highlighted her skills.

Shen Zhiyi: ???

What on earth.

She was utterly shocked.

Is this really what Wei Zhao liked?

"That..."

She was impressed.

"Then your foresight was not bad, knowing at a glance he wasn’t an ordinary person."

Yu Tingwan: ...

Not really.

Back then, her sense of aesthetics didn’t quite work.

She just wanted to get by.

Had already prepared to live as a widow if the man died.

Yu Tingwan raised her hand to grab a snack again.

Two crisp, short knocks sounded at the door.

Yu Tingwan: "Come in."

The door of the box was pushed open, and the tea house shopkeeper entered with a smiling face, holding a tray with a plate of exquisite snacks, a small dish of treats and fruit, as well as freshly brewed tea.

Yu Tingwan frowned.

She hadn’t ordered any.

The shopkeeper set the snacks down respectfully: "Earlier, I did not realize it was the General’s wife, so I had a waiter serve you. Your presence here graces our humble tea house. I greatly admire the General for protecting our country, and offer some refreshments, hoping Madam will kindly accept."

The words were watertight, raising no suspicion.

Yu Tingwan nodded, seeing no reason to fuss over some snacks with the shopkeeper.

However, all are working hard to earn a living, it wouldn’t be right to really take it for free, she thought to pay later on.

The shopkeeper, seeing her willing to accept, smiled more broadly and respectfully stepped back.

Every piece of the snacks on the tray was small, perfect for one bite.

The variety wasn’t particularly exquisite compared to what the tea house served earlier, but they were rich in milky scent.

Yu Tingwan was already full.

Yet she sniffed, leaning in.

Smells so good.

She picked up a piece and put it in her mouth.

The crust was golden and crispy, the inside soft.

Her eyes brightened.

————

Execution ground.

Beheading, actually quite quick.

No time for prisoners to scream or beg for mercy, a single chop could have a head falling, blood spurting a yard high as life ends.

But there were too many Zhou Family members, within moments, the ground was littered with heads, and bodies twitching in spasms without heads.

The smell of blood was overpowering, nauseating.

Civil Servants, accustomed to wielding pens, were unprepared for such a sight?

Faces paled to pallor.

Legs turned to jelly.

Vomiting started.

In contrast, the Military Generals fared somewhat better.

Though how many of them had truly seen battle?

Though they had indeed taken lives, faced with so many corpses at once, some still couldn’t bear to look directly.

Wei Zhao was different.

But he bore a ghastly pale face as though clutching his last breath.

Gu Fuju was uneasy but excelled at concealing emotions, his face gloomy and calm.

The ever-present voice of Duke Zhongyong echoed in his ear.

"Gui Zhi, are you alright?"

Wei Zhao: "Not very well."

He indicated that he was genuinely feeling weak.

Wei Zhao: "Actually, I’m not very brave."

Xiao Huaian: ...

Duke Zhongyong agreeing: "Indeed, you wouldn’t even step on an ant as a child. But there was no choice, in the end, you had to enlist."

"You turned out well, I always thought you’d excel at whatever you did!"

Xiao Huaian: ...

One dared to speak, the other dared to believe.

The atmosphere was too much for Xiao Huaian, he was about to shield his face with the fan in his hand, avoiding the sight.

But feared that blood might splatter onto the fan.

Xiao Huaian was also unwell: "Ugh, I won’t dare eat meat for three months."

Did Duke Zhongyong feel sorry?

He did.

But under the watchful eyes, with so many people around.

Who knew who might be Emperor Ying’s spy.

Moreover, several Princes were present.

He scolded: "Useless thing! Endure it! The Emperor brought you here to test your wits, for your own good!"

The words had barely left his mouth when the bloody head of Duke Zhou rolled to Wei Zhao’s feet.

Eyes bulging, as if he died with grievances unaddressed.

Xiao Huaian moved away in disgust, hopping to avoid it.

Wei Zhao looked down, slowly nudging it with his foot.

He didn’t put much force into it, given he was in no state to muster strength in front of others.

The head arced lightly and elegantly through the air, then rolled across the ground.

Xiao Huaian paused in silence: "You..."

Wei Zhao listlessly: "Cuju."