Chapter 179: Womanly Sentimentality

Chapter 179: Womanly Sentimentality

"What do we do? Tell me, what should we do! Our residence is surrounded, and where is he?"

"Calm down, sister-in-law."

"I can't calm down!" The woman's cries were sharp and sorrowful. "What about Ying'er? He's so selfish, saying he won't come back and not coming back. Ying'er is only five!"

The commotion was rather vexing to listen to. Ye Jiangbai frowned and instinctively wanted to pull Chang Nian away to another spot. But as soon as his hand touched her, he froze.

It had been a long time since they last made contact. Holding her hand again made him feel as if something had suddenly sprouted in his heart, an itchy and strange sensation. He wanted to withdraw his hand, but for some reason, it refused to obey him, staying frozen in place.

"Hmm?" Chang Nian glanced at him quizzically. "Can the Duke see nothing?"

"See... what?" Ye Jiangbai felt a bit guilty and, unusually compliant, followed her gaze downward.

Chang Nian seemed completely oblivious to their joined hands. With her other hand, she pointed seriously at the children playing below, then at the noisy courtyard in the distance. "Look at them."

What was there to look at? Ye Jiangbai pursed his lips. Still, considering that Chang Nian didn't reject his touch, he stayed where he was, patiently listening to her chatter.

"You say Yao Chongye deserves to die, and I won't stop you, for he did harm to you. But how old are these children? If you kill them all, it might eliminate the root of the problem, but have you considered what kind of impression such brutality will leave on others?" Chang Nian said. "Using Yao Chongye's betrayal of military secrets as grounds for conviction, you could sentence his family to exile, but capital punishment is truly excessive."

In the courtyard, several innocent children laughed blissfully as they chased each other in circles. A servant watered the flowers nearby, while a maid served tea in the distance. Apart from the noisy main courtyard, the other yards seemed to be going about their days as usual, orderly and serene.

After observing for a long while, Ye Jiangbai spoke, "So you're still pleading for mercy."

"If Duke Guo insists on the death penalty, I can't stop you," Chang Nian's face darkened as she said solemnly. "After all, you hold the power of life and death. With a wave of your hand, no one in this courtyard would survive."

Ye Jiangbai yawned and pulled her along. "Let's go back first."

Without any indication of whether he would kill or not, Chang Nian was in a foul mood, pouting as she refused to move.

"What are you doing? Do you need me to carry you down?" Ye Jiangbai raised an eyebrow.

Rolling her eyes at him, Chang Nian angrily descended from the roof. Standing on the eaves, she declared, "If you really give the execution order, karma will catch up with you sooner or later."

"Is that so? You can't persuade me, so now you're cursing me?" Ye Jiangbai found it amusing. Extending his arm, he scooped her up and leaped into the alley, asking with a raised brow, "Did you learn this fierce demeanor from me?"

The moment they landed, Chang Nian pushed him away and withdrew her hand, saying earnestly, "I'll learn anything from Duke Guo except this ruthless streak!"

"Well, if you don't want to learn, then don't," Ye Jiangbai said. "Let's leave first. There are still people guarding outside. It wouldn't be proper if they saw us sneaking around here."

"Then just go ahead," Chang Nian replied. "I can make my way back on my own."

Men, their tempers were so irrational at times, Ye Jiangbai mused. After a moment of thought, he tucked his sleeves and walked out.

Chang Nian stood alone in the alley, her face sullen.

The laws of the Great Zhou were strict, with numerous cruel punishments such as being torn apart by five horses, turned into a human pig, sliced to pieces, or having one's bones pulled out.

She had once witnessed the Empress pull the bones out of a palace maid in front of all the other consorts, simply to establish her authority. A living person, with their limbs cut open, their bones forcefully removed... The scene of bloodshed had haunted Chang Nian for several nights. Back then, Little Chang Nian had thought that if she ever became as powerful as the Empress, the first thing she would do was abolish such brutal punishments.

Now, she seemed much more formidable than she was back then, but these punishments still remained. Many in power used them to establish their authority and intimidate others.

Ye Jiangbai was no exception.

After sulking for a while, Chang Nian lifted her feet to leave, her head hanging low and her spirits dampened. Just as she was about to sigh, she took a deep breath and caught the scent of steamed jujube cake.

Her eyes lit up. She patted her money pouch and strode out to buy some.

As she reached the alleyway, she spotted Ye Jiangbai holding a large piece of date cake and fanning himself vigorously with a fan.

Zhao Changnian: "…"

"Ah? Don't you want to eat it?" Ye Jiangbai raised an eyebrow.

Sniffing the aroma, Changnian answered honestly, "I do."

"Then why are you rolling your eyes at me?" Ye Jiangbai smiled. "Be a good girl and come back to the mansion with me, and I'll let you have some."

"You treat everyone like they're three years old," Changnian glared at him fiercely before snatching the cake and taking a big bite. She ate while casting sidelong glances at him.

Ye Jiangbai found it amusing. With his hands behind his back, he walked back and said, "Orders have been given, and it's not becoming of a leader to change them at the last minute. Even if Prince Wu has a valid point, the Yao family won't escape this fate."

"But you can't spare their lives?" Changnian glared at him.

"When Yao Zhongye pledged allegiance to Prince Wu, he should've anticipated this outcome. Yet, he failed to protect his family," Ye Jiangbai pointed out. "If he doesn't care, why should Your Highness?"

Taking a deep breath, Changnian seethed, "Reason prevails where violence fails!"

"In these tumultuous times, no one will bother with notions of righteousness and morality," Ye Jiangbai said nonchalantly. "Your Highness, just wait and see. After this execution, there won't be a single traitor left in my ranks."

"Y-you!" Chang Nian angrily stuffed the half-eaten date cake back into his hand and said sternly, "If our paths diverge, we cannot be partners!"

With that, she wiped her mouth and marched away.

Ye Jiangbai watched her retreating figure with amusement, realizing that she wore her emotions on her sleeve. Just look at how forcefully she was treading; it was as if she was trying to dig holes in the ground with her feet.

The date cake in his hand now had crescent-shaped teeth marks. Ye Jiangbai chuckled, shook his head, and casually wrapped it up. He then followed her footprints, strolling slowly behind her.

Upon returning to her residence, Chang Nian immediately summoned Feng Jingxian for a private discussion. Her face was dark throughout the meeting but slightly brightened once they were done.

"Your Highness," Feng Jingxian hesitated before saying, "While Duke's methods are indeed brutal, considering the current situation, executing one to warn the rest might prove effective."

"Do you also think so?" Chang Nian looked up at him in surprise, then a bit angrily. "Do you believe I'm being too merciful because I'm a woman?"

"I dare not say such a thing."

"You don't dare, but that's what you're thinking," Chang Nian said with disappointment. "Lord Feng, I thought after all this time, you would understand my perspective."

Gazing into her clear eyes, Feng Jingxian felt a pang of guilt, yet he also knew that Duke of Guo was not entirely wrong. For the moment, he could only lower his head and bow in acquiescence.

"Sir, why don't we make a wager on this matter?" Chang Nian proposed. "Let's proceed with what needs to be done. As for the outcome, I bet Ye Jiangbai won't escape unscathed, while you bet that he'll serve as a warning to others. The stakes are your own son—do you dare?"