Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 32 The Rabbit Dies, the Fox Feels Sorrow; Entire Family Executed

Lin Yan was so slapped that she saw stars, half of her cheek swelled up visibly, and blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

She had never suffered such humiliation in her life, and was so stunned that she stood there covering her face, forgetting even to cry.

She finally realized that the group of people in front of her were not her father's servants or guards, nor were they the slaves who could be beaten and scolded at will.

They were the emperor's personal guards, killing machines that obeyed only the emperor's orders.

Standing in front of the crowd, Lin Hong seemed to have all his energy drained away.

Looking at his children being escorted away, at his wives and concubines wailing and lamenting, at the mansion that was about to be raided, the light in his eyes was completely extinguished, turning into ashes.

"Lu Ying, you have such ruthless methods..." Lin Hong muttered to himself.

Lu Ying looked at him expressionlessly, without a trace of pity in her eyes.

Take them all away!

Before dawn, news that the Lin family had been raided and their property confiscated by the Imperial Guards overnight, and that the entire household had been imprisoned, had already spread throughout the capital.

Many powerful and influential families were immediately alarmed and broke out in a cold sweat.

The rabbit dies and the fox grieves; creatures grieve for their own kind.

Many of them actually had the same ideas as the Lin family, but they just hadn't had the chance to put them into practice yet.

After a brief moment of fear, the cutting was swift.

These people all knew very well that since the emperor had acted so decisively, even mobilizing the Imperial Guards, it proved that he was truly enraged. Therefore, no one could protect the Lin family, and no one dared to protect them.

So when the morning court session began, those who might have been on friendly terms with Lin Hong just yesterday rushed out to launch a verbal and written attack on the Lin family.

In their mouths, the Lin family was guilty of treason and treason, their crimes were too numerous to count, and even if the entire family were executed by slow slicing, it would not be enough to quell their hatred.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Yang Zhao remained expressionless, coldly watching the performance of the officials below without uttering a word.

Only when the hall gradually quieted down and no one spoke did Yang Zhao slowly begin to speak.

"The Lin family has failed the country's grace and their crimes are unforgivable. However, considering that their ancestors also made contributions to the founding of the country, the punishment of slow slicing is not in accordance with propriety."

Upon hearing this, many people were moved, thinking that the emperor was ultimately showing consideration for their past relationship and would be lenient in his punishment.

But Yang Zhao's next words surprised them.

"But the law of the land is merciless. Without severe punishment, it will not appease public anger. By imperial decree, the entire Lin family, regardless of age or gender, shall be taken to Caishikou and beheaded in public!"

The whole family was slaughtered!

After a moment of deathly silence, all the officials knelt down in unison, shouting "Long live the Emperor!", though some of their voices trembled slightly.

Inside the dark and damp prison, Lin Hong huddled in a pile of straw, his former majesty as the head of a powerful family completely gone, his face filled with haggardness and unease.

He still clung to a last glimmer of hope.

He pinned his hopes on the powerful families that were on good terms with the Lin family to come to his rescue, even if it meant going bankrupt. As long as he was alive, there was still a chance for him to make a comeback.

Just then, the heavy cell door was opened, and blinding light shone in.

Lin Hong squinted, and when he saw who it was, the last trace of color drained from his face.

The newcomer was dressed in a scarlet official robe, with a solemn face; he was none other than Lu Ying, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

It’s over.

The moment Lin Hong saw Lu Ying, he knew it was all over.

If it were merely a matter of confiscating property, the emperor would never have sent Lu Ying, his sworn enemy with whom he had a grudge.

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..." Lu Ying unfolded the imperial edict with a blank expression and began to read it aloud.

When he heard that he would be taken to Caishikou and beheaded in public, all his strength was instantly drained away. He collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud, his eyes vacant and devoid of any spirit.

After reading the imperial decree, Lu Ying put it away, looked down at him, and spoke in a cold voice.

"Patriarch Lin, you have brought this upon yourself, and you cannot live without it. You chose this path yourself, so you have no one else to blame but yourself."

"Ha ha ha ha ha……"

Lin Hong, lying on the ground, suddenly let out a bitter laugh that was hard to decipher, then slowly raised his head and looked coldly at Lu Ying.

"Lu Ying, don't be so smug. It won't be long before the iron hooves of the grassland barbarians trample the capital. None of you will survive. I'll be waiting for you on the road to the underworld!"

Lu Ying simply smiled at this, saying, "The nation has nurtured scholars for a hundred years, and now we are at a critical juncture of life and death. It is our duty and an honor for us scholars to serve our country and die for it."

He leaned down slightly and said coldly, "As for you, Patriarch Lin. You schemed your whole life and were clever all your life, but you never thought that you would end up with no descendants and be infamous for ten thousand years."

After saying that, Lu Ying didn't look at the dying man again, turned around, and left in a huff.

The news that the Lin family would be executed at noon the next day spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of the capital.

The people spread the news with great joy.

Before dawn the next day, the area around Caishikou was already packed with people. Every rooftop, wall, and tree branch with a view of the execution ground was crowded with people. Those who arrived late could only stand on tiptoe and wait anxiously.

As noon approached, dozens of prison vans, escorted by officers and soldiers, drove into the execution ground.

Inside the lead prison van was Lin Hong, whose face was ashen.

When he saw the dense crowd around him and the contemptuous looks they were casting at him, an unprecedented sense of humiliation welled up inside him. He was so ashamed and indignant that he could only lower his head deeply, not daring to look anyone in the eye.

Inside the prison van behind him, his beloved son, Lin Rui, was terrified, tears streaming down his face. His crotch was wet and hot, and a foul stench filled the air, drawing laughter from the surrounding crowd.

The Third Miss, Lin Yan, was also crying with tears streaming down her face.

Her once beautiful face was now covered in mud and tears, and she was crying out for mercy in heartbreaking agony.

Unfortunately, no one paid any attention to their cries of despair.

Today's executioner is none other than Lu Ying.

Dressed in official robes, his face was ashen, and he ignored the cries and pleas for mercy from the Lin family.

After all the prisoners had knelt on the execution platform, he looked up at the sky, then pulled out a red-headed slip from the slip container and threw it on the ground without hesitation.

"Execution!"

At a command, the executioners, who had been waiting for a long time, took a swig of strong liquor and sprayed it onto their broadswords.

Then, with a swift movement, the knife fell!
puff!puff!puff!
Blood splattered, and the heads of once noble people rolled to the dust.

At the execution ground, tens of thousands of people were silent for a moment, then erupted into thunderous cheers.

Meanwhile, in a private room on the second floor of a teahouse not far from Caishikou.

Chen Ye sat by the window, taking in the scenes unfolding in the distance.

When he saw the Lin family members all beheaded, his expression did not change at all. He simply picked up the teacup on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

The tea is slightly astringent, but then has a sweet aftertaste.

Just like this grudge.

(End of this chapter)