Chapter 79 Death Sentence

Chapter 79: Ordered to Die

Cheng Ge was stunned, lifting his head to stare blankly at Zhou Mingqi.

"Your... Your Majesty, what did you say?"

As soon as Cheng Ge finished speaking, two guards stepped forward and grabbed his arms.

Cheng Ge forcefully struggled free, crawled forward a few steps, and grabbed Zhou Mingqi's knee.

"Your Majesty, I... your subject, what crime have I committed? Why must I endure this flogging?"

Zhou Mingqi looked down at him from above, a hint of coldness in his eyes. "Did you not just admit your guilt?"

Cheng Ge's eyes showed a trace of panic. He shook his head repeatedly, almost as if to shake his brains loose. "Your Majesty, your subject does not know what crime he has committed. Please, enlighten me!"

Zhou Mingqi simply stared at him, his gaze obscure and unfathomable, and said coldly, "The Rites of Zhou states: 'When the Son of Heaven travels by night, torches and candles must be prepared, let alone for the Crown Prince!' You serve as the Crown Prince's tutor, in the sovereign's service, yet you allowed the Crown Prince to break into the prince's manor at night without trying to dissuade him! The Crown Prince's meals must undergo three poison tests, yet you allowed Zhan'er to consume it hastily, nearly costing him his life. If not for the antidote, I would have exterminated your entire clan! For such a great crime, you still dare to claim ignorance?" Zhou Mingqi's voice was icy, each word striking Cheng Ge's heart like a heavy hammer.

Cheng Ge's face instantly drained of color. He lifted his eyes to look at Zhou Mingqi, opened his mouth, but said nothing.

A sudden wave of sorrow rose in his heart. He gently moved his fingertips away from Zhou Mingqi’s body and lowered his head.

At that moment, he realized that before imperial authority, human life was as cheap as grass.

Zhou Mingqi watched him, as if waiting for an explanation.

Cheng Ge found it somewhat absurd. He let out a few low laughs, almost to himself. "If you wish to convict someone, you need not worry about finding a pretext..."

Zhou Mingqi abruptly stood up, his expression turning ugly, and snapped, "What do you mean by that? Are you questioning me?"

Zhou Mingqi's eyes blazed with anger, exuding a chilling pressure.

Cheng Ge straightened his back, looking up at Zhou Mingqi, his eyes as clear as if washed in water.

He was naturally weak and short-lived. If he were to receive fifty strokes of the rod today, he would surely not survive.

The statutes of the Great Zhou clearly stipulate that when carrying out the rod, the person must be stripped of his clothing to be flogged.

Cheng Ge sneered inwardly. Since death was inevitable anyway, why should he endure such humiliation?

He placed his hands together before his forehead, bowed deeply to Zhou Mingqi, and said calmly, "I beg Your Majesty to grant me death."

As soon as the words fell, an urgent voice rang out: "Father!!! This matter has nothing to do with Muyu! I insisted on doing it myself!"

Zhou Zhan struggled to sit up halfway, clutching tightly at Zhou Mingqi’s sleeve, pleading on Cheng Ge's behalf.

Zhou Mingqi's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained cold. "You are the Crown Prince; you should set an example. You are also at fault in this matter! I will deal with you later!"

The Crown Prince pushed aside the brocade quilt and knelt beside Zhou Mingqi. "Father, Muyu has always served me faithfully. I beg you, in light of his past merits, spare him this once!"

Cheng Ge listened to the words around him but did not respond. His forehead pressed against the cold hard ground, and he closed his eyes wearily.

His mind grew hazy, and the sounds began to fade out. In a daze, he felt as though he were floating in the air.

Beneath his feet was a softness, and wherever his gaze reached, everything was vast and boundless.

He did not know where he was. He drifted aimlessly, like a mayfly in the mortal world.

"Boy, come here..." An ethereal voice echoed around him.

Cheng Ge instinctively followed the sound. Ahead sat an old man with white hair at a chessboard.

He walked forward a few steps before he could barely make out the other's face. His eyes lit up. "Great-grandfather, why are you here?”

Cheng Yi looked at him, placed his hand on his head, and smiled gently. "Nothing much, just came to see you."

"Even when I look like this, you still recognize me?" Cheng Ge sat down across from him and began to play chess with him.

Cheng Yi chuckled and placed his piece down. "Even if I had turned to ashes, you would still recognize me."

Cheng Ge held a piece without placing it, hesitated, and said, "Great-grandfather, I think I'm done for..."

Cheng Yi smiled and spoke slowly: "Everyone has their own destiny. As long as everything stems from what one truly thinks and wishes, then every step taken is the right one.

Don't confine yourself to a corner. Go see the mountains and rivers, the deserts, the sun, moon, and stars, the good and evil, the poverty and suffering—then you will know what you want."

Cheng Ge placed the piece in his hand, his puzzled expression lingering. "But what does that have to do with my kidney deficiency?"

When he looked up, the person before him had already vanished...

"Father, Muyu..." Zhou Zhan tried to plead again, but Zhou Mingqi cut him off. "Silence! Remember your place!"

Zhou Zhan was so startled that he quickly shut his mouth. He turned his head to look at Cheng Ge kneeling on the ground, his face full of anxiety.

Zhou Mingqi looked down, staring at the unmoving back at his feet. A surge of anger rose within him.

He had originally intended only to give a minor punishment as a warning, using a pretext to issue a warning, and had never meant to impose a severe penalty.

If only Cheng Ge would relent, the subsequent punishment would still be at his discretion.

But this person was so ungrateful that he kept spouting rebellious words.

Now he was even begging for death—how could he not enrage Zhou Mingqi?

"Cheng Muyu, do you want to die that badly?"

However, Cheng Ge seemed not to hear and didn't stir.

Seeing him like this, Zhou Mingqi assumed he was throwing a tantrum, and his anger flared even more.

"Fine, I will grant your wish! Guards, drag him out and execute him by hanging!"

Zhou Zhan was horrified, tears streaming from his eyes. "Father, no!"

He struggled to rise to stop them but, due to his weakness, fell back onto the bed.

The guards dared not hesitate. They immediately stepped forward to lift Cheng Ge and drag him out.

But the moment they touched him, Cheng Ge’s body tilted and fell straight to the ground.

His eyes were tightly shut, his mouth half-open, his cheeks flushed like peonies, and a few strands of hair stuck to his forehead.

Everyone gasped in shock!

Zhou Mingqi’s heart tightened. He strode forward quickly, scooped Cheng Ge into his arms, and reached out to feel his forehead. It was indeed scorching hot.

His brows knitted together. A strange panic arose in his heart. Those words just now had only been spoken in extreme anger; he never imagined Cheng Ge would be so easily frightened.

Seeing Cheng Ge collapse, Zhou Zhan cried out, "Father, please save Muyu!"

Zhou Mingqi took a deep breath and said sharply, "Summon the imperial physician!"