Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 850 - 828: Stigma
As Mr. Gu expected, the citizens of Mudan City learned after dawn that King of Sangnan was assassinated in the inner courtyard of the Royal Palace, with the culprit being Xie Jue. Moreover, Xie Jue had razed the Priest Temple, slaughtering all the priests in Sangnan, a mass killing that caused rivers of blood, thus igniting the fury of the Sangnan populace, leading to widespread public outcry.
The King of Sangnan was indeed beloved by the people. During his reign, Sangnan was peaceful, its land prosperous, and its citizens living in harmony and joy, often celebrating with the masses. He was the kindest king in Sangnan; some citizens even hung portraits of him in their homes. The Priest Temple and Nine-Layered Pagoda were sacred places in the hearts of Sangnan people, inviolate. The High Priest’s status rivaled that of the King of Sangnan in the public eye, yet Xie Jue burned him alive before the collapsed temple. Sangnan citizens instantly erupted in anger. To them, Xie Jue not only killed the King but also cruelly slaughtered the priests, engaging in a killing spree, making him a bloodthirsty demon. None of the priests from the Priest Court survived.
Tens of thousands of citizens surrounded the Royal Palace, demanding Han Ziqi execute Xie Jue to appease public grievances. They didn’t even care if cavalry came from the frontier, as the citizens of Mudan City lived lives of affluence; many had never left Mudan City, living in luxury, unaware of the dangers at the border, which seemed too distant from them.
"The King has already agreed to sign the letter of surrender, and Sangnan will become Beining’s territory in the future. Why did he still kill the King?"
"I heard it was due to his private affair with Fang Chuning, refusing to agree to marry Princess X. Amidst their dispute, he angrily killed our King. Anyway, since the letter of surrender was signed, he was confident in victory and didn’t regard the King at all."
"I’ve long suspected something between him and that General, inseparable and intimately close. For the sake of a man, he ignored the peace talks between the two tribes. He’s indeed insane."
"I heard he was killing indiscriminately in Ningzhou; what crimes did our priests commit for him to burn all of them to death? He’s a demon, tearing up the alliance for a man. How dare he!"
"Sangnan does not acknowledge such a Prince; he’s unworthy to be the son of the Great Princess. The King and Priest are our Sangnan rulers. Xie Jue is guilty; he should be executed at the torture platform."
"Execute Xie Jue, execute Xie Jue!"
Outside the Royal Palace were dense crowds of Sangnan citizens. They besieged the palace, demanding Han Ziqi execute Xie Jue. Meanwhile, rumors about Xie Jue and Fang Chuning continued to spread. Sangnan has many literati, and their pens are like killing knives, crafting tales of scandalous stories and forbidden emotions, widely circulating, likening Xie Jue and Fang Chuning to King Zhou and Daji, embellishing tales of their entanglement in the military camp, explicit and lascivious.
Mr. Gu was so angered that he felt chest pain, despite being such a gentle and refined person. He wanted to tear apart the Sangnan citizens, but Xie Jue remained unconscious. Although his injuries were severe, they were promptly treated, not affecting his internal organs. Yet he slumbered without cause, seemingly unwilling to wake. The Royal Palace was under the charge of Mr. Gu, Lin Xiao, and Zhang Boxin. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
The spies in the city have already called for assistance at the border. As long as the citizens do not attack the city, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry can defend the palace gates. Han Ziqi and the Princes, Princesses, and Concubines who fled through secret passages were all captured and detained in the courtyard.
Mr. Gu tried to persuade Han Ziqi to convince the citizens to retreat, but Han Ziqi couldn’t sway the Sangnan citizenry either. Public resentment surged, overshadowing the prestige and reverence of the Royal Family. The citizens even accused Han Ziqi of being a lackey, saying that vengeance for their King’s murder was irreconcilable, and he ought not to associate with enemies, but avenge his father, etc.
Evidently, the High Priest organized people in the city to spread rumors, fanning the flames, making public resentment difficult to quell. Therefore, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry could only guard the palace gates steadfastly. On the first night, a group of citizens, incited by someone unknown, actually attacked the palace gates. Zhang Boxin and Lin Xiao straightforwardly ordered a shooting, killing more than twenty people, after which the citizens didn’t dare act rashly, settling in protest outside the palace, clamoring, intended to trap them inside, resolute they wouldn’t dare kill ordinary citizens. Zhang Boxin attempted to use the Imperial Palace’s secret passage, yet it was exposed and destroyed by the citizens, its exit long blockaded. To escape the Royal Palace, they must carve a bloody path, to slaughter the civilians lacking in might; as long as the citizens took no aggressive action, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry wouldn’t attack civilians, otherwise defying their creed.
Zhang Boxin was also anxious. The resources inside the Royal Palace were already thin, enough to sustain them for only five days. If no military reinforcements came, they’d be exhausted and out of supplies!
Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin kept vigil at the palace overnight; fatigue was immense. They clutched their swords sitting atop the palace gates, daring not to sleep too deeply. The delegation’s General was originally Fang Chuning, military affairs under Fang Chuning’s supervision, the team led and commanded by Fang Chuning. Now without Fang Chuning, Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin took charge.
With Xie Jue unconscious, they could only alternately guard the city, encouraging and comforting each other, hoping reinforcements arrive soon, and that Xie Jue would wake up soon. He was their central figure, without whom everyone was anxious. They dared not kill citizens nor decide on their stay, initially intending to withdraw via the secret passage as Mr. Gu suggested, now blocked, losing their sole escape route.
Lin Xiao slept for an hour and awoke, changing shifts for Zhang Boxin to rest. However, Zhang Boxin wasn’t sleepy. Lin Xiao took a liquor sip to revive himself. A cold wind blew, chilling him to the bone, despite Sangnan being mid-spring. Standing by the palace gates, looking out at the teeming masses, flames soaring, crowds overflowing the gates, sometimes silent, sometimes noisy, they silently protested or shouted for Han Ziqi to kill Xie Jue. Only with Xie Jue’s death avenging King Sangnan and the Priest would they disperse.
"A bunch of troublesome folk!" Zhang Boxin spoke unrestrainedly in anger, "Generally, trouble arises from the northern regions. Who’d expect prosperous Jiangnan to produce such unreasonable barbarians."
Poor landscapes breed troublesome people; Jiangnan usually has more scholars and genteel individuals, placid demeanor, persuading with reason. This time, incited hatred turned them against Beining. Sangnan citizens carried the High Priest’s hurt, leading them to be barbaric and persistent in vengeance; resolute not to cease unless Xie Jue died.
The seeds of hatred spread throughout Sangnan. With Beiman yet unsettled and Sangnan in chaos, it was a massive challenge for Xie Jue and Xie Xun. Rumors would inevitably reach Beining.
News of Xie Jue’s actions for Fang Chuning, killing the priests and King of Sangnan, traveled back before they returned to Beining. Regardless of past deeds for the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, facing life and death, being stalwart, once entwined in such scandals, his image would shatter irrevocably. People mostly parrot each other; once his reputation collapses, it’s beyond restoration. Not only would Sangnan citizens despise him, should war ensue, the families of soldiers who died in battle might also loathe him for disrupting peace talks, inviting conflict, and causing bloodshed. Xie Jue would be nailed to a pillar of shame, tainted for life.
This was the reason for Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin’s urgency and sorrow. Explaining was impossible, even if circumstances calmed down, they could explain repeatedly, but with countless people, how could they explain to each individually.
Rumors abound until they become reality.
Once Sangnan’s turmoil ended, Xie Jue would be eternally ridiculed, scorned by Sangnan people, mocked by Beining, without care for his loss of love amidst chaos or experience. They’d only state Xie Jue shattered alliances for a man, killed King of Sangnan, slaughtered all in the Priest Court.
His image forever a ruthless demon.
