Chapter 226: Sun Zhiye Dies

Chapter 226: Sun Zhiye Dies

Sun Zhiye suddenly interrupted Gu Huai's ramblings.

His voice was clear and bright, like a spring trickling over stones.

"The Mr. Lu you know is entirely different from the Mr. Lu I know."

"What's past is past, and forcing it is pointless."

"Perhaps her past affection for you was just a fleeting glimpse of youthful naivety, a choice made under the constant guidance of the Yongning Marquis and his wife."

"But her affection for Xie Yan is a choice she made willingly after careful thought."

"She not only loves Xie Yan but also loves who she becomes when she is with him."

"If she followed you back to the capital, would you still let her shine in public?"

"You can't. What you want is a clinging vine, a caged bird."

"How dare you speak to me like that!" Gu Huai slammed the wine jug onto the ground, his eyes bloodshot, pointing at Sun Zhiye and shouting hysterically.

His angry outburst echoed far and wide.

At the narrow steps leading to the prison cell, Magistrate Xu paced anxiously.

What could Sun Zhiye have said to provoke Heir Gu to such fury?

Sun Zhiye stood up and shouted at the top of his voice, "Spare me, Your Highness!"

In the next instant, like a gust of wind, he crashed into the stone wall.

"Lu Mingchao, I have wronged you many times. Let me help you one last time with my dying breath."

"And my second brother, who died in prison, can now rest in peace."

A dull, loud thud, followed by a sharp, fading wail.

Magistrate Xu's eyes narrowed, and he gritted his teeth, making a snap decision. He whispered, "Bailiff Shi, go quickly and inform Mr. Lu that Heir Gu has driven Sun Zhiye to his death."

Bailiff Shi was slow to understand, but obediently hurried away.

Right after, Magistrate Xu rushed to Sun Zhiye's cell.

The stone wall was smeared with blood.

Sun Zhiye lay limp on the ground, his blood quickly soaking his clothes and staining the faded, withered red plum blossoms.

Unseen by anyone, the plum blossom petals now shone more vibrantly than when first picked.

The sudden turn of events left Gu Huai rooted to the spot.

Sun Zhiye's decisive collision was a calculated move against Gu Huai!

"Imperial Envoy Gu, what should we do now?" Magistrate Xu glanced at Sun Zhiye and quickly looked away, fidgeting like an ant on a hot pan.

He couldn't bear to look, nor dared he.

"He is indeed a condemned prisoner, but His Highness Prince Duan himself has decreed the execution date."

"He should not die before his time."

"Your Excellency, if you drive him to death, I cannot justify it to my superiors."

Gu Huai felt a surge of nausea in his stomach, turned his back, and retched a few times.

"This imperial envoy did not drive him to his death," Gu Huai said word by word, his eyes gleaming with cold light. "Magistrate Xu, watch your words!"

Magistrate Xu widened his eyes in disbelief. "Your Excellency, are you suggesting that the prisoner Sun Zhiye had a death wish and killed himself?"

"That doesn't add up."

As the alcohol kicked in, Gu Huai grew more and more impatient. "That's the truth."

"He had no quarrel with me, so why would I dirty my hands over a mere prisoner?"

"Magistrate Xu, stop talking nonsense."

"Go inform Sun Zhiye's family to come and claim his body."

Magistrate Xu's lips trembled, hesitating to speak. "Before His Highness Prince Duan left, he mentioned he would come to Changhe to oversee the execution on Sun Zhiye's sentencing day."

"How should I report today's events?"

"Please give me clear guidance."

Gu Huai said coldly, "Magistrate Xu, are you loyal to the Emperor or to His Highness Prince Duan?"

"Sun Zhiye had grown weary of life."

"Got it?"

Magistrate Xu: He didn't get it.

Every jailer, high and low, knew Sun Zhiye had no desire to die. Not long ago, he had begged Madam Sun during her visit to bring him writing materials, books, and painting supplies, clearly intending to cultivate his mind and face death with composure.

It was unclear why Madam Sun had been delayed, as she hadn't shown up for days.

Gu Huai's face was icy as he glanced at Sun Zhiye, lying lifeless in a pool of blood, then flicked his sleeves and walked away.

The spring breeze brushed his face, clearing Gu Huai's mind.

Good! Excellent!

Sun Zhiye was using his life to hand a chess piece to A Chao!

He hadn't realized his A Chao was so captivating.

A mere death row prisoner wouldn't concern the Emperor.

Sun Zhiye had likely overestimated his own worth.

The only minor issue was the meddlesome Prince Duan, who prided himself on virtue and loved to stick his nose in.

After all, the case of Sun Zhiye was presided over by Prince Duan.

However, Prince Duan was still under house arrest, and the situation was awkward. If he didn't want to sever ties with the Duke's family completely, he wouldn't make a fuss over this again.

Just to be safe, I should send a letter to my mother.

With the Duke's family and the Wu Xing Shen family working together, Prince Duan wouldn't dare to act rashly.

Gu Huai stayed composed.

...

"Sun Zhiye is dead?"

Lu Mingchao was arranging some peach blossom branches she had picked into a white porcelain vase. Distracted and surprised, she accidentally snapped one of the branches.

The rough, uneven peach blossom branch in her palm felt like a small pebble pressing and rubbing, giving her an indescribable sensation.

Last winter, she broke a plum branch to silence Sun Zhiye and make him await his death quietly.

Since then, she and Sun Zhiye had no further contact.

She only occasionally heard Magistrate Xu mention that Madam Sun often bribed the jailers to treat Sun Zhiye well.

Did Gu Huai drive Sun Zhiye to his death?

No.

Impossible.

Gu Huai had the arrogance of a nobleman, but he wasn't that foolish.

The only possibility was that Sun Zhiye committed suicide, conveniently framing Gu Huai.

What was the point?

To do her a favor as he died?

How could she repay this favor?

Bailiff Shi nodded, "Sun Zhiye begged the young master to spare his life, and then there was a loud bang."

Lu Mingchao set the broken peach blossom branch aside and said gently, "Thank you, Uncle Shi, for coming to tell me."

Bailiff Shi came and left quickly.

Lu Mingchao frowned, "We should send a letter to Prince Duan."

"Prince Duan might not act," Xie Yan said seriously.

"Previously, a memorial from Prince Duan had upset the Duke's family and the Wu Xing Shen family, but he still had a reputation for acting in the people's interest, so they couldn't make a fuss."

"But this time, it's just about driving a death-row prisoner to his death."

"If Prince Duan pushes this, the Duke's family and the Wu Xing Shen family will see it as deliberately provoking them."

Lu Mingchao pursed her lips, "Are you saying we should drop it?"

If handled right, this could force Gu Huai to slink back to the capital in disgrace.

But she knew Xie Yan's analysis was spot on.

The content of Prince Duan's previous memorial was known to few, and the Emperor had kept it quiet, ordering the Duke to handle it privately.

Therefore, few outsiders knew that Gu Huai had once disregarded the Daqian laws to protect a criminal and interfere in a criminal case.

Thus, it would be most reasonable if Prince Duan went the extra mile.

However, Prince Duan might indeed not take action.

Xie Yan was quiet for a while before saying, "If we let the matter rest, we would waste a great opportunity."

"Prince Duan has his reservations, but the Emperor would not be indecisive."

"Regarding the same matter, the Emperor has already shown face to the Duke's family. If the Emperor hears that Gu Huai drove a prisoner to death, what would he, with his self-assured and suspicious nature, think?"

"Get a simple coffin ready."