The Prince Wants to Assassinate Me Every Day-Chapter 849 - 433: Imperial Marriage Decree, Son-in-Law to the General Mansion (Third Update)
Everyone listened quietly to the emperor’s decree.
Hoping for a glimmer of hope.
The next moment, Xiao Jinxing commanded solemnly, "The hanging punishment can be spared. One hundred strokes instead!"
One hundred strokes?!
An ordinary person couldn’t endure it.
Not to mention someone like Song Yanqing with such a health condition.
A hanging execution would mean an instant death, ending it all at once. But this flogging is being beaten to death alive, a naturally more brutal process.
Was the emperor aiding Song Yanqing, or was he tormenting him?!
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, spare his life!" Ming Yufang, upon hearing this, was naturally anxious.
An order from the emperor was as irreversible as iron, not a trifling matter.
"Song Yanqing is only twenty-seven this year. He cannot be beaten to death like this. I plead with Your Majesty to be lenient." Ming Yufang pleaded with tears streaming down.
Song Yanqing, on the other hand, remained silent.
Song Yuanzhong, naturally, couldn’t stand it any longer and knelt to plead, "Your Majesty, considering Song Yanqing accompanied you in battles and grew up alongside the Princess for many years, I implore Your Majesty to spare Song Yanqing’s life. Our family is willing to retire from court affairs and live in seclusion in the countryside, never to appear before General Xie again. I beg for Your Majesty’s mercy."
"Lord Song, Madam Song, it is not I who wishes to make things difficult for Song Yanqing, but as the ruler of the nation, I must ensure fairness and justice in all matters! Today, Duke Xie came to me for fairness. Song Yanqing tarnished Xie Ruotong’s reputation and deserves this punishment. Please do not say more." Xiao Jinxing spoke sternly, making his meaning clear.
Song Yuanzhong and Ming Yufang dared not plead further.
But couldn’t bear to see their son beaten to death like this.
"Someone, drag Song Yanqing away, one hundred strokes!" Xiao Jinxing ordered.
At the moment of the order.
His eyes subtly glanced at Gu Xingchuan.
Gu Xingchuan knew there was no good reason the emperor had summoned him.
While punishing Song Yanqing to prove the emperor’s fairness, it was evident he couldn’t truly let Song Yanqing die, consequently placing all the blame on him.
Just as Gu Xingchuan was about to plead on his behalf.
Ming Yufang quickly approached Xie Ruotong, pleading urgently, "Ruotong, it was my fault for making you suffer, for standing in the way of your happiness with Song Yanqing, and I promise never to do it again. I beg you to save Song Yanqing. He was even willing to sever mother-son ties with me today for you. Even if you have no feelings for him, please have mercy considering his unwavering love for you and save him! I will be forever grateful to you, serving you as if you were my master."
Xie Ruotong looked coldly at Ming Yufang.
She knew all too well about Ming Yufang’s character.
Right now, she speaks well, but once things go her way, Ming Yufang would never settle down.
She would never allow Song Yanqing to simply sever the Song family line.
Xie Ruotong’s eyes flickered slightly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Song Yanqing standing there unmoving.
Not pleading for mercy.
Simply accepting it all in silence.
"Xie Ruotong, I beg you..." Ming Yufang continued to plead in desperation.
Xiao Jinxing had already ordered Song Yanqing to be taken away.
Gu Xingchuan swallowed the words that were about to leave his mouth.
He thought he could gamble one more time.
Given Song Yanqing’s physical condition, he shouldn’t die from one or two strokes.
By the time the wooden staff struck Song Yanqing, perhaps Xie Ruotong would relent...
Gu Xingchuan lowered his head.
Pretending not to see the glance Xiao Jinxing gave him.
Xiao Jinxing clenched his fist.
Gu Xingchuan’s courage had grown over the years.
Just as Song Yanqing was really being taken out of the palace doors.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say." Xie Ruotong spoke up.
Everyone secretly let out a sigh of relief.
Xie Kangheng didn’t want to see Song Yanqing killed for nothing either.
"Speak your mind, General Xie."
"I will not marry Song Yanqing," Xie Ruotong articulated clearly.
Upon hearing this, Ming Yufang almost fainted. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
She had thought Xie Ruotong had softened.
Who would have thought Xie Ruotong would add fuel to the fire instead?
"But I am willing to marry Song Yanqing," Xie Ruotong said.
As her words fell.
Everyone in the hall was stunned.
Xie Ruotong meant she wanted Song Yanqing to become part of her family.
"I married Song Yanqing once and the outcome was unfavorable. I do not wish to repeat the same mistakes. I also do not believe Madam Song when she says she does not care about having an heir. Therefore, I can have Song Yanqing join my family if he and his family agree." Xie Ruotong said, suppressing her emotions, trying to speak calmly.
"Lord Song, Madam Song, do you agree?" Xiao Jinxing turned to ask Song Yuanzhong and Ming Yufang.
He was somewhat surprised that Xie Ruotong proposed such a condition.
However, Xie Ruotong had certainly thought it through, as marrying Song Yanqing would involve many complications, not least the issue of having descendants. But if Song Yanqing joined the General Mansion, the Song family wouldn’t have a say in any matters.
He actually thought this was the best outcome.
Not knowing if she would return, would she be...happy?
"I agree." Song Yuanzhong agreed promptly.
He didn’t want to break up his son’s marriage.
Even if not having descendants made him hesitate slightly, in the face of life and death, his son’s life was naturally more important.
Ming Yufang, however, hesitated slightly.
In her heart, she was still contemplating finding a concubine for Song Yanqing, but if he joined the General Mansion, how could that be possible?!
At this moment.
Ming Yufang began to suspect if all of this was part of Xie Ruotong’s scheme.
Xie Ruotong used this way to make Song Yanqing have to marry her, causing everyone to plead with her to marry Song Yanqing, and in this way, she completely took her son away.
"Madam." Song Yuanzhong noticed Ming Yufang hesitating and nudged her.
Ming Yufang suppressed her inner rage.
At this moment she could only yield to Xie Ruotong.
Otherwise, her son would truly die here.
She hurriedly agreed, "I agree for Song Yanqing to join."
The moment she said it, she nearly broke down.
"And Song Yanqing?" Xiao Jinxing asked Song Yanqing again.
Song Yanqing was brought back to the hall.
He glanced at Xie Ruotong.
Saw the unwillingness in her eyes.
He was well aware of Xie Ruotong’s reluctance.
But he didn’t want to refuse.
He wanted to accompany her for a lifetime.
Even if she didn’t like him, he would persist stubbornly.
He knelt on the ground, speaking one word at a time, "I am willing."
"Does Duke Xie have any objections?" Xiao Jinxing looked at Xie Kangheng.
Xie Kangheng couldn’t have been happier now; how could he have any objections?
Today’s outcome was better than he had expected.
Song Yanqing joining the family indeed would lessen many mother-in-law issues.
He quickly said, "The emperor is wise, I have no objections whatsoever."
"The sixth day of next month is an auspicious day." Xiao Jinxing said, glancing at Song Yanqing.
Song Yanqing pursed his lips.
He had mentioned to the emperor that the sixth day was an auspicious day to wed.
"I now bestow the marriage of Song Yanqing to General of Cavalry Xie Ruotong, to be wed on the sixth day of next month!"
