"Your Highness, His Majesty has left his chamber and went to the Imperial Court to seek audience." one of the eunuchs informed as he hurriedly entered the Crown Prince's chamber.
"His Majesty has also made a decree asking you to immediately enter the ChangYuan Palace."
Hui Jing leapt to his feet, rubbing his watery eyes. After that, he made his way to the Imperial Clan Court, trailed by the eunuch.
~~~~
In the Imperial Clan Court where royalty reigns supremely,
"I have led my men to investigate this matter." said the Commander, bowing before His Majesty.
"The person who harmed Prince Jiang was indeed Fei Jia, who disguised herself as a man." The Minister of Justice alleged.
"We were unable to provide adequate protection, which resulted in such a blunder. Please pardon us, Your Majesty." The commander and the general spoke before the Emperor, kowtowing.
Gua Huang was standing near his throne, his back facing his officials and subjects. "This person must face harsher penalty for impersonating a man merely to sneak into the market and harm the Royal Prince of the Gua Empire." Gua Huang stated categorically.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully oppose. My daughter is the victim of a false accusation. Therefore, I urge you to investigate this matter properly." In defense of his daughter, the Grand Herald retorted.
Suddenly, the Minister of Imperial Clan, Li Wang interfered, "Informing His Majesty, I heard that Crown Prince has kept Fei Jia on his residence. I fear this might tarnish the reputation of the Royal family."
The Grand Herald, taken aback by such statements, didn't hesitate to lash out. "Official Li Wang, What exactly do you mean? Are you implying that Crown Prince and Fei Jia conspired to assassinate the fourth prince?"
"Why are you agitated, Official Fei Zhirong?" I simply stated what I had overheard. Of course, there are matters in between that must be investigated and verified." with a malicious smirk, Li Wang tried to reassure the matter.
Shifting his gaze from the Grand Herald to the Emperor, Li Wang stated, "We must severely punish the criminal because Prince Jiang has been injured. We must not allow her to flee."
"Arrest and execute the female criminal first. For the remainder, we'll just have to wait till next time to discuss it." The Emperor Gua Huang, speaking in an authoritative tone, directed a sidelong glance
"Your Imperial Majesty, she is currently unconscious in the palace of the Crown Prince." With a lowered head, the General indicated his displeasure.
"Do you not dare to enter there?" the Emperor objected, raising one of his brows.
In the meantime, Crown Prince Hui Jing walked into the courtroom, his heavy footsteps emitting silence all over the room. He knelt in front of the Emperor, raised his hands to his shoulders, clasped them together, before bowing in front of His Majesty.
"Emperor Father."
"Crown Prince, it is being said that Fei Jia is behind the Fourth Prince's predicament. She is currently in your place. As a result, His Majesty has issued an order to apprehend her and bring justice." The general entreated.
"Jia is indeed in my manor." The Crown Prince said. "But, whether to arrest her or not before such decision is to be made, I want to seek privacy with Emperor Father."
The Emperor wielded his hand, gesturing everyone to leave the courtroom. After a minute, the court was emptied only leaving the Emperor and The Crown Prince alone. Then, Gua Huang turned around to face his son. "Get up."
"Thankyou, Emperor Father." Hui Jing straightened his spine and stood up. "As the Emperor of the Gua Empire, you'd rather not punish the culprit than falsely accuse an innocent woman." Hui Jing's tone was melancholy in the extreme.
"Innocent? She was never innocent." Gua Huang roared. "She dared to bewitch the Crown Prince of Gua Empire despite being a member of the royal clan. Isn't that her transgression?" He started circling the Crown Prince after descending the two-step stair.
"I vividly recall the day when you were about to lost your title because of her. She had already committed a crime the day you started liking her. And the more you try to exonerate her now, the heavier her crimes become." He snapped his fingers, as he grumbled.
"If it is final verdict, I, Hui Jing, the Crown Prince of Gua Empire, shall prove her innocence with my life." Hui Jing proclaimed bravely.
~~~~~
The screaming sounds, coupled with dread and sorrow, weeping for pardon may be heard in a dark dungeon far away from the human dwelling.
"We beg of you, Master. Please allow us to live."One of the guards, who was hanging upside down with his legs chained to the ceiling, implored.
"M-a-s-t-e-r, we merely did this to make it easier for you to get to your mission." said another guard, who was also cuffed in the same spot.
If the chamber is to be believed, it was a big hall filled with darkness, where many others involved in the forest, including the man with the black mask, were hanged up in the same position as the two guards.
There was a large pot beneath them with hot boiling water inside that could easily adjust all those men at once only if they wished to end their life.
A black throne, similar to that of a monarch, was in the center of the front row of the hall. Shuo Jin made himself comfortable in that throne, leaning against it and resting his elbows on the armrests.
Hearing all of his people' pleadings, he had his eyes closed. While, HaoRan was standing next to him, his back straight.
"When we saw the fourth prince practicing martial arts in the forest, we decided to avenge him, Th-a-t-s....why....we that's took this step, M-a-s-t-e-r," the man with the black mask yelled.
"All right, I got it." Shuo Jin calmly said, opening his pair of closed eyes. He stood up from his seat and took a step towards his subjects.
"What about that girl?" He queried again, one of his brows furrowed.
"Abou-t.....h-e-r...." that mane began pleading before he could continue. "Mercy, Master...mercy!"
"Speak!" Shuo Jin roared furiously.
"She was impersonating a male and creeping into the wilderness. But, when we discovered her to be a g-i-r-l....we couldn't resist ourselves to devour on her." he explained stutteringly.
"Before enrolling as my subjects, you people had pledged to march on my commands only. What about that agreement? You brats have violated it." Shuo Jin shouted in rage. He then held the head of one of the guards, and glared him down with his dark black eyes.
"I despise those who oppose me. There's just one thing I can do for you now since you've done the same." Shuo Jin groaned lazily as he retreated his steps. "Cut the ropes, HaoRan, and boil them in this hot, steamy water." He was adamant.
"I don't want to waste my time with you people so die in the easiest form."
"H-a-v-e....mercy. Mercy.....M-a-s-t-e-r." The screeching, deafening scream continued to reverberate along the dimly lit corridor.
"I pray that your soul finds salvation the instant you leave your body." Shuo Jin stood there watching the scalding bodies struggle inside the cauldron.