Chapter 199: Chapter 198 Execution GroundRecently, a major event occurred in Quanzhou City.


    The State Mansion posted a notice: "The He Family’s youngest daughter, He Hongzhao, conspired with the Beiqi Country Prince, Qi Wuya, intending to rebel against the Emperor. A reward of ten thousand gold is offered for information on their whereabouts."


    Not only that, but they also announced how the He Family used their medical expertise to secretly poison patients and conduct medical experiments on them.


    Once the notice was posted, it immediately caused a huge uproar in Quanzhou City.


    At this time


    Beneath the city walls, a crowd was bustling.


    The people were standing on tiptoes to read the notice, and the chatter was incessant:


    "Could the officials have made a mistake? The He Family are such good people! How could they do such a treacherous and unfathomable thing?"


    "Exactly, and that female Divine Doctor, she’s the one who cured my grandson’s fever last time."


    "But the official word, how could it be false? I have a relative who works in the State Mansion, and they said she was sentenced to death by the Emperor! She faked her death to escape!"


    ...


    He Ying governed for over a decade, establishing countless great achievements. In the hearts of the people, he was as revered as a god.


    Anything related to his name made the people believe it by seventy percent.


    The murmurs gradually quieted down.


    However, the He Family had been rooted in Quanzhou for a long time.


    The people still carried a look of shock and suspicion, considering the possibility of some mistake.


    In short, they did not quite believe that the He Family could commit such detestable acts.


    Atop the city wall


    Sang Yan stood shoulder to shoulder with He Ying, naturally overhearing all the discussions of the people below.


    "Xinyuan, the He Family holds the title of a family of medical heritage, and they have treated countless patients—"


    She furrowed her brows, her eyes filled with worry: "Chasing after He Hongzhao and incriminating the He Family like this, I fear it could destabilize public sentiment."


    She saw clearly: although the people were no longer discussing it, confusion was still evident in their expressions.


    And this confusion, if not addressed, would deepen further in their hearts by the day.


    Over time, it could easily be exploited by those with ulterior motives.


    This could be damaging to the reputation of him, an Emperor.


    He Ying knew what Sang Yan was worried about. With a slight smile on his thin lips, he disregarded the soldiers protecting their safety around them, affectionately took her hand, and kissed it: "Ah Yan, don’t worry, just wait a little longer."


    Sang Yan: "..."


    Wait?


    Wait for what?


    She was somewhat bewildered.


    Until Gao Wenliang led the soldiers in a grand procession.


    And beneath the soldiers, three disheveled figures were being pushed forward, dressed in prison garb, handcuffed and shackled.


    "Who are those people?"


    Sang Yan unconsciously asked, though she already had an answer in her mind.


    And the answer was shouted by the people below:


    "Doctor He!"


    "Mrs. He, what happened to you?"


    "Doctor He, the officials said you were using patients for medical experiments, is that true?"


    "Doctor He, please say something!"


    ...


    The voices of the people were mixed.


    But mostly, they were voices of concern.


    He Zhongwen, seeing such an attitude from the people, immediately started to win their hearts, crying out to the heavens: "Injustice! This is an injustice! For generations my He Family has practiced medicine, saving lives and helping the injured, how could we be framed by villains today and be coerced into confession!"


    His hair was disheveled, his face smeared with blood, wearing filthy, tattered prison clothes, indeed, he looked as though he had suffered harsh torture.


    Seeing is believing for the people, and their sympathy surged, beginning to shout:


    "Doctor He is a good person!"


    "Your Honor, you must discern the truth, you cannot wrongfully execute a good person!"


    "Release the He Family!"


    "Restore the He Family’s innocence!"


    ...


    They pumped their fists in the air, largely believing He Zhongwen’s lies.


    Seeing how things were unfolding, He Zhongwen felt a glimmer of hope and burst into tears, which only made him look more pitiful in the eyes of the others.


    But still, he spoke "grand" words, "As everyone knows, the He Family’s medical code is: first learn broadly, then become a doctor; first be virtuous, then practice as a doctor; first be cautious, then practice medicine. Medicine is an act of kindness, and one must have a kind heart. With such a heart, how could one harm another’s life?"


    These words were quite influential.


    The common people were so moved that they began wiping away tears.


    Even Sang Yan, perched on the city wall, might have been deceived by his performance, if she hadn’t known the truth.


    "Heart of a beast in a human’s guise! A beast in human’s clothing!"


    Her chest burning with rage, she spat out, "Sounding so high and mighty, yet engaging in acts lower than a beast!"


    He Ying managed to remain unperturbed and patted her hand gently, consoling her, "Just watch."


    Sang Yan nodded and looked down—


    "Officials, sirs, spare us, please! We truly are wronged!"


    This time, a young man spoke.


    He too was filthy and looked as if he had been punished.


    Now, faced with the execution ground, his resolve crumbled, collapsing on the steps like one with rubbery bones, in such fright that his trousers wetted, "Don’t kill me! It was all that little slut He Hongzhao’s doing! I didn’t know anything! It really had nothing to do with me! Don’t kill me! I don’t want to die!"


    Clearly, he was the runt of the He Family.


    He Hongzhao’s brother, He Fengyang.


    Before, Sang Yan thought that maybe He Fengyang was innocent, given that it was the He parents who valued sons over daughters.


    But now, it seemed He Fengyang knew.


    Not only did he know, but the term "little slut" rolled off his tongue too easily—likely, he’d insulted his sisters both openly and covertly.


    He deserved to die just the same!


    The He Fengyang deserving of death shakily got up and, with a "thud," knelt before Gao Wenliang. Sёarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He clung to Gao Wenliang’s legs, wailing loudly, "Mr. Gao, spare my life, please! This scheme against the Emperor, it really has nothing to do with us! That little slut has been living away on Cangcui Mountain for ages, nothing to do with us, the He Family! We truly didn’t know she would commit such a heinous crime!"


    Gao Wenliang looked down at the thing clinging to his feet like a dead dog, suppressing his disgust, thinking about the Emperor’s command—before the execution today, He Fengyang must, in front of countless commoners, confess all the deeds of the He Family without omission.


    Thinking about this, he raised his foot and tapped his shoulder, "There’s a way for you to survive, lad."


    "Really? What way?"


    Upon hearing this, He Fengyang’s eyes lit up.


    He bowed, carefully cradling Gao Wenliang’s foot, as if wishing to kiss it.


    His actions resembled that of a person on the brink of death who had finally grasped the last straw of salvation.


    As long as he wasn’t killed, he would do anything!


    Gao Wenliang saw his determination and smiled with satisfaction, "Listen. You’re to recount the He Family’s usage of patients for medical experiments in front of the people, in detail. If you do, considering your contribution and reflection on past wrongdoing, I might just spare you a dog’s death."


    "Ah?"


    He Fengyang hadn’t expected Gao Wenliang to ask such a question in public.


    Actually, in prison, after only a couple of lashes, he had told everything.


    But his father had just spoken of being coerced into admission; if he now spilled everything in front of the commoners, the He Family’s reputation would be tainted forever!


    But if he didn’t speak, his head would be chopped off immediately!


    He didn’t want to die!


    He was only twenty, so young and had yet to fully enjoy life!


    But speaking out meant betraying the He Family, and even if he miraculously survived, how could he face his ancestors in the future?


    But that was in the future!


    He didn’t want to die right now!


    Just as he was about to concede—


    "Medical progress inevitably involves sacrifice. I, Ni Yuehua, have saved countless lives, with no regrets towards the common people!"


    Suddenly, Mrs. He broke her silence with fierce ardor, "Fengyang, my son, even a lowly healer has their pride, to be killed but not humiliated!"


    As her voice fell, she collided with the executioner’s broadsword.


    "Mother!"


    "Yuehua—"


    Blood splattered.