It was the first day of September in the tenth year of Yuan Sui. The sky was high and the clouds were clear, and the autumn sun was bright. The sunlight shone on Qi Ziyin's face, and it seemed to have a warmth and warmth like early spring. The young man raised his face, half-squinting his eyes, and for a moment
It was as if he had forgotten that he was in the execution ground.
After all, he is of royal blood. Before the execution, there was a special woman to bathe and wash the young master, comb his messy hair neatly, and put on his favorite plain clothes. If it were not for the handcuffs and shackles, others would
Perhaps he thought that the young man had regained his freedom.
According to the laws of Ye State, all prisoners with severe punishments will be tried in public after the autumnal equinox, and they will be executed only after they are convicted. The late kings Qi and Yin managed the country well, even during the more than ten years of fighting between the six southeastern countries and the influx of a large number of refugees.
, there are only a handful of death row prisoners in the entire Ye Kingdom.
At the moment, only Qi Ziyin was escorted to the execution ground, and there were only dozens of warriors standing in twos and threes around him to maintain order. However, the people in the entire Mulu City were moved by the wind, and the dark crowd was like a crucian carp crossing the river.
People gathered around the execution ground, wanting to see with their own eyes what this extremely evil man who had been unknown for more than ten years and now committed regicide and his father in one night was like.
"quiet--!"
Ting Wei, who was in charge of the trial and execution, shouted loudly, which immediately silenced the spectators at the execution site, and also made the young man on the scene finally come to his senses.
"Qi Ziyin is guilty, can you plead guilty?"
Qi Ziyin's slightly raised Adam's apple moved, and he responded loudly: "I did not kill your father."
"It's not true if you say it's not true? Don't think that just because you are the young master of Ye State, you can talk nonsense in front of me!"
"I have repeatedly discussed the cause and effect of the matter with the Lords of Tingweisi when I was in prison. But if I insist on framing the case, it will be useless no matter how I defend it, so why bother trying it all over again?"
Although Qi Ziyin's voice was not loud, his words were righteous. His face, which still had a childish air, was full of disappointment, resentment and unwillingness.
"You are still stubborn and refuse to confess, right! On the day of the incident, it was clear that you and the king were the only two people in Shoucheng Palace. After your whereabouts were exposed, you still waved your sword at Marquis Jinghai who came to rescue you! Who else?
Can I frame you with false accusations?!"
Tingwei looked like he had ironclad evidence.
"Then I would like to ask your lord, my father has always been in good health, but he suddenly suffered from a serious illness a few months ago. Even the famous doctors in the palace could not find the cause of the disease. It seems that someone has cast a witchcraft on him and caused excessive wear and tear.
In the past few months, you ministers have not found out the reason, but have allowed it to get worse. Who gave the order?!"
Qi Ziyin finally couldn't bear it anymore and asked sharply.
The Tingwei on the opposite side was stunned for a moment when asked, and then became furious: "How brave! Dasheng Law has already explicitly prohibited the practice of witchcraft. How can you insist that the king is bewitched by someone without evidence?"
?”
"Am I wrong to doubt? My father has always loved his children very much. If he hadn't been bewitched by witchcraft and secret magic, how could he kill all his children one by one on the Moon and Eve Festival without leaving any one alive?! However,
However, this case was secretly suppressed by some people in the palace and kept secret. Could it be that such a strange thing is so common in your eyes?!"
The exchange of words made the crowd of onlookers gradually become commotion. The people never expected that the news about the changes in the palace that had been circulating in the public recently were actually true!
Wei Ting also seemed to be disappointed that he did not expect that the young man would use the tragedy that happened on the Moon Festival to refute him. For a moment, he could not think of a reason to continue scolding him, and his momentum suddenly weakened.
At this time, there was an inconspicuous carriage parked next to the execution ground. The carriage did not have any complicated or gorgeous decorations, but it was specially guarded by two teams of fully armed black armor warriors deployed from various places in the venue.
.I saw the door curtain move slightly. The person sitting in the car lifted a corner of the curtain and looked outside, but his face was not exposed.
He didn't know who he was, but Ting Wei seemed to feel an inexplicable pressure from the other party immediately. He immediately swallowed a mouthful of saliva, thought for a moment and continued to scold, but it was difficult to speak fluently:
"Even if someone did cast a magic spell on the king, it must have been done by your accomplices! I'm afraid... I'm afraid that your conspiracy to usurp the throne was leaked, so you wouldn't hesitate to do anything.
Set up a trap on the night of the Moon Festival to eliminate all those who may inherit the throne!"
"Sir, please listen to what you are saying. Do you still have the rigor of the Tingwei Division in judging cases? Have you ever thought that the person who usurped the throne and conspired to rebel may be someone else? Have you ever thought about it?
, maybe it was other people who knew the secret arts who secretly planned to frame me and then arrest and convict me to avoid future troubles for themselves?!"
The young man in the execution ground suddenly laughed weakly. He knew clearly that Qi Shouyu and Qi Zixiu had not yet appeared. Even if he identified these two people as the initiators of the rebellion, no one would believe it, and it might even be counterproductive.
However, as soon as he finished speaking, the person sitting in the carriage couldn't help but rushed out. It was Qi Zixiu who had broken an arm. He had a ghost in his heart, fearing that if his brother continued to speak at this moment, he would end up on the Liuying Stage.
The matter of casting a curse on his father would be exposed on the spot, and he waved the residual arm that was still tied with gauze and was bleeding slightly and roared:
"You fart! My king, my father cut off one of my arms that day! If there is someone plotting to usurp the throne, the only one who is suspected is you, who is completely unharmed!"
The brothers who respected and loved each other in the past met again, but they were now irreconcilable enemies. Qi Ziyin's nose felt sour, but he couldn't help but offer kind words to each other:
"Brother Zixiu, haven't you understood after all these years? Uncle Wang has actually been using you! He has been coveting the throne of King Ye for a long time. When he was on Hailing Island, he even admitted it in front of me.
Conspired to usurp the throne!
"What a joke! After my father's funeral, I will officially succeed to the throne. What chance will Qi Shouyu have? For the sake of you and my brother, Ruo Ziyin, you will now tell the truth about Xiang Baili and the others who rebelled against the party.
Wherever you have fled, I, I, can still issue an edict to spare you from death!"
The other party seemed to regard himself as Duke Ye, and did not believe the young man's persuasion at all. Instead, he continued to trick him step by step into betraying his friend and mentor. Qi Ziyin sighed deeply when he saw this, and walked towards the entire place in the execution ground.
In front of the guillotine made of granite, there is an awe-inspiring righteousness:
"Brother Zixiu, listen to me! Now my father, six brothers, and sisters are all gone. Uncle Wang has great power, and he has already had murderous intentions. Even if you succeed to the throne,
What can I do? It’s useless to say more, I just hope that my life can buy more time for you and my friends! "
"Nonsense, nonsense, nonsense! A dying person is still talking nonsense in front of so many people, trying to sow discord between me and Uncle Wang?! If you want to die, then it will be granted to you!"
The young prince completely lost his last trace of reason. Perhaps it was the young man's words that made him feel scared, or perhaps he was trying his best to cover up the fact that he was colluding with Marquis Jinghai, so he rushed directly to the Tingwei and seized the small case.
The bamboo tubes containing the tokens were all thrown out:
"Execution! Execute this king immediately!"
The executioner wearing a black mask received the order and skillfully pushed Qi Ziyin down on the guillotine, tightened the lock of the iron shackle, and then picked up some water from a small bucket on the side and sprinkled it on the generous ghost-head knife.
, rustling:
"Young Master, I have offended many people today. My sword was carefully sharpened last night. It only takes a moment to free you."
"Thank you..."
The boy in white had already made plans to die. At this moment, he no longer struggled in vain. He just stared at the blood-stained wooden basin under the guillotine that was used to hold his head, quietly waiting for the cold
The blade cuts through one's own skin, flesh, muscles and bones.
The executioner raised the ghost-headed sword in his hand high above his head, blocking the last ray of sunlight that hit the young man's face. However, just as Qi Ziyin closed his eyes tightly and waited for the sword to fall, he heard a sudden sound coming from above the execution ground.
There was a roar like a dragon's roar, followed by a loud bang, and a bolt of black-gold lightning flew from the sky, breaking the ghost-headed sword that had been swung halfway and breaking it into two pieces!
The broken blade grazed the young man's ear and only cut off a few strands of hair on the temples.
"Let's see who dares to touch my friend!"
A familiar voice sounded over the execution ground. Qi Ziyin turned his head with difficulty and saw a figure standing against the light on the roof of a small building beside the execution ground. The figure was wearing the light armor of Mo Lingwei, with a long quill on his helmet.
Pointing to the sky, the aura is overwhelming, it is Jiang Yan who has disappeared for a whole day!
If his companions hadn't thrown Xiao Tianmo out in time, I'm afraid that the young master on the field would have lost his head and body. The tall executioner was shocked by this fierce and domineering force. After a slight hesitation, he threw his body into his hand.
With only half of the Ghost Tou Dao left, he threw it towards his feet and quickly retreated out of the field.
When Qi Zixiu saw this, he became so angry that he rushed into the execution ground himself. He picked up the broken knife and tried to cut his brother's neck again. However, before he could hold the knife firmly, he suddenly heard the sound of a bowstring above his head.
, a feather arrow accurately hit his left sleeve, and was firmly nailed to the ground!
"My archery skills are not as accurate as my sword skills. If you dare to move again, you may not know where the next arrow will penetrate your body!"
The black-eyed boy on the roof threatened loudly, stretched out his hand and took out another feather arrow and put it on the copper-tied iron-backed bow. Kong's powerful arms pulled the bow string loudly and made the bow string rattle.
"Jiang Yan, what are you doing back here? I thought you and General Baili had already taken advantage of the chaos to escape. You alone can't save me! Hurry up and leave!"
Qi Ziyin, who was trapped on the guillotine, struggled to raise his head higher. His tone was both surprised and anxious. However, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw another man in green clothes and blue robe flash out from behind the black-eyed boy.
The man, with his messy hair fluttering in the wind, is bold and unruly:
"Kid, he really can't save you by himself, why don't you add me as well!"
"General Baili, you are here too..."
Qi Ziyin's nose felt sore, and his vision was immediately blurred by tears. However, before he could continue to say anything, the young prince next to him grabbed his hair and threatened the two uninvited guests on the roof:
"I never thought that you bunch of treacherous officials and traitors would dare to show up again! Let me capture everyone who comes!"
Qi Zixiu tried hard to pull the sleeve of his shirt that was nailed to the ground by the iron arrow a few times, but found that he couldn't pull it at all, so he could only roar angrily at the black armor warriors around the execution ground: "A bunch of idiots! The criminal's accomplices came to rob the execution ground.
Now, do you want me to tell you what to do? Come and help me quickly!"
"Your Majesty, the general did not let you charge into the execution ground alone. Although we have ambushed many people around the execution ground, most of them are archers and crossbowmen, who are not good at close combat. If we had fired arrows, we would have killed you too.
Shot to death right here!"
Yu Li, who had been hiding among the troops, finally stepped forward and looked at the Crown Prince's face with his bulging eyes like a falcon staring at its prey. The murderous look in his eyes made Qi Zixiu panic.
, even the voice trembled slightly:
"You - don't act recklessly! This king, this king will soon be the new king of Ye Kingdom. You, you were sent by Uncle Wang to protect me, so you can't act recklessly!"
"For an incompetent person like you, if it hadn't been for the order of the Governor, I would not have kept you here today!"
Yu Li held his broad-backed saber in his hand and walked to Qi Zixiu's side. He raised his hand and pulled out the iron arrow from his armband. The prince was able to escape and immediately ran away from the execution ground with his head in his arms.
Li snorted heavily behind him, but his eyes were always staring at Jiang Yan, extremely jealous:
"Since he is a major regicide, there is no need to talk about morality and rules. Brothers, the Lord Governor previously told me that if you capture General Yan today, you will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins and hundreds of households! If you capture Baili, you will be rewarded.
Thousands of gold, thousands of households sealed! No matter life or death! Follow me quickly and catch all these gangsters who tried to murder the late king!"
Under the heavy reward, the black armor warriors around the execution ground also became excited. They were all good warriors carefully selected by Yu Li from the four battalions of the boat master.
Like a black tide, it surrounded the black-eyed boy and the green-robed general who had just jumped off the ground!
"Jiang Yan, try your best to block these soldiers so that I can free up my hands to rescue Ziyin! The other side is well prepared, and it is impossible to send such a small number of troops to garrison. If it is delayed until reinforcements arrive, the few of us will have Tongtian Che
It’s hard to get away even with the earth’s abilities!”
Xiang Baili patted the strong back of the young man next to him, and spoke in a tone as if he was a father and son who went into battle together to kill the enemy. Jiang Yan nodded, raised the iron bow in his hand and fired three times in succession.
The young man's archery skills were not weak, and he had been carefully trained by General Qingyi over the years. When the string sounded, the three soldiers who had rushed to the front fell to the ground, and the arrow hit the center of the eyebrow.
These three arrows immediately tore a gap in the encirclement, and then Jiang Yan was like a black lightning. With one step, he crossed over the human wall in front of him and headed straight towards Xiao Tian who was stuck on the ground.
Mo ran away.
"Good archery skills! But since you are trying to save people, you have to pay a price. You can't succeed easily!"
Yu Li waved the saber in his hand, and immediately two masked soldiers stepped over the corpse of his colleague and rushed forward. The black-eyed boy hurriedly bent his bow and shot several arrows, but this time they were all swung by the opponent.
The knife blocked it!
He knew that the enemy was not weak, so he immediately reached out to touch the arrow pot at his waist, only to find that it was almost empty! At the same time, the two warriors on the opposite side also rushed in front of him, attacking the black-eyed boy one by one.
come over!
"Come and accept your fate!"
One of them shouted loudly with a hoarse voice, and then jumped up in the air, slashing from top to bottom like a giant axe. Jiang Yan couldn't wait to lift the arrow and shoot again, he raised his iron bow and aimed it above his head.
, which immediately caused sparks to fly.
"Yu Chi Jingde! Since you and Yu Li are both here, the third person is indispensable!"
The black-eyed boy recognized the opponent's voice, and fiercely thrust his bow arm forward to fend off the powerful opponent. In just a short moment, another person quietly came around behind him, slashing his sword.
Cut it to his lower back:
"The bold traitor, you think that you, the master and the disciple, can rob my country of Ye?!"
The man's voice was shrill, and it sounded even more harsh at the moment. It was Deng Guiyi, the second son of Guangluqing in the imperial court!
The blow came so fast and hard that Yan couldn't dodge it, and was immediately hit by a knife in his back. Although protected by the cowhide light armor, it could not damage the muscles, but it still made him break out in a cold sweat!
"You two have nothing to do here. If you don't want to die, get out of here!"
The young man shouted sternly and swung the iron bow in his hand like a long whip, forcing the opponent to suspend the attack. Then, he pulled out the last iron arrow from the arrow pot at his waist and aimed at the three of them.
Among them, Yuchi Jingde was the worst in martial arts.
Upon seeing this, the opponent immediately put the knife across his eyebrows to protect his vital points. Unexpectedly, Jiang Yan suddenly pressed his bow down at the moment of releasing the arrow. He heard a scream, and the arrow changed direction and shot directly at Yuchi.
The armor was pierced through Jingde's calf, making him unable to stand steadily anymore. He staggered forward, took a big step, and fell to the ground!
Sooner or later, Jiang Yan immediately seized this opportunity, put the bow around the opponent's neck, then pulled it to the full string and played it hard! There was only a snap sound, and the strong bow string was lifted up.
With his bow arm, he hit the opponent's armor-clad head hard. With one impact, the mask on his face was knocked off on the spot. Yuchi Jingde was beaten until his face was covered with blood, and he lay on the ground and passed out.
"You bastard, you're just using some wild and despicable means! Now I'm completely out of arrows, let's see what else you can do!"
Seeing that his companion was knocked down, Deng Guiyi once again pounced on him with a long sword. The black-eyed boy knew that the opponent's sword was famous for its speed, so he had no choice but to let go of the iron-backed bow in his hand, and stepped back in a thrilling manner.
Deng Guiyi grinned and used enough strength to attack Jiang Yan again. This time his sword danced faster than before, and the blade drew a silver arc of light in the air, clearly intending to kill the defenseless black-eyed man.
The young man rushed towards the encirclement of black armored warriors behind him!
However, at this moment, Deng Guiyi's attention was all on the blade and the opponent, and he completely failed to notice the three soldiers lying on the ground who had been shot down by Jiang Yan before. The black-eyed boy suddenly shrunk as he backed away.
Then he moved in the opposite direction and slammed into Deng Guiyi's waist and abdomen.
Deng Guiyi completely did not expect that the unarmed Jiang Yan would dare to retreat in order to advance. At this moment, when he saw the opponent approaching, he immediately subconsciously slashed sideways with his sword. However, before he could exert any force, he suddenly felt a cold blade aura.
It moved towards his chin.
Deng Guiyi hurriedly tried to hide, but it was too late. With a pop, the object easily pierced his jaw - it was an iron arrow just pulled out of the corpse! The tip of the arrow pierced Deng Guiyi's tongue in the blink of an eye.
It was pierced with the upper jaw, but it didn't hurt much. It was just as numb as a stone, and I couldn't even scream!
Jiang Yan didn't intend to give the opponent any chance to struggle. He pulled hard with his hand and pulled the barbed iron arrow out of the opponent's throat again! The arrow shaft was broken and blood gurgled from the wound.
The blood spurted out, making Deng Guiyi unable to breathe, his eyes rolled up, and he immediately dropped the long knife and tried to press the wound. However, his hands lost strength just as he raised them halfway, and he died on the spot!
In just a moment, one of Yu Li's two lieutenants was dead and the other wounded. This made him become even more frantic, his eyes widened, and he raised his saber and attacked General Yan himself. The black-eyed boy had no choice but to
He had no choice but to retreat again, and at this time, except for the half of the arrow shaft left in his hand, he had no weapons left!
"Admit defeat, you can't escape today! Instead of struggling and dying in pain, you might as well let me give you a refreshment and go on your journey with peace of mind!"
Yuli stared at the black-eyed boy fiercely, as if he were an evil beast teasing its prey before making a killing move. However, before he could finish his words, he suddenly heard a rustling noise coming from outside the venue!
That was the sound of the crossbowmen lying in ambush on the side of the field, bending their bows and setting arrows! For a moment, their eyes were attracted by the sound. And the moment they turned their heads, the screaming iron arrows were already flying.
Soaring into the sky like a locust. Under the volley of thousands of arrows, the dense rain of arrows quickly floated over the execution ground like a dark cloud, covering the sky and the sun!