Li Wu kept throwing eggs, and others joined in, hurling not just eggs and vegetables but even stones. Thankfully, soldiers had managed to keep those frenzied citizens at bay.
After much difficulty, Xiao Yao was finally brought to the execution ground, where Xuanyuan Jinxing and Chang Liying had taken their seats on a temporarily erected high platform. Guards flanked them on both sides, and the perimeter of the execution area was secured by Imperial Guards. It seemed the precautions were stringent; the Execution Supervisor was none other than Chang Hongwei, Chang Liying's father.
Xiao Yao was led to the spot nearest the Xiao Family for execution.
"Reporting to His Majesty, the time has arrived for midday. Shall we commence the execution?" Chang Ping, the leader of the Imperial Guards and the third son of Chang Hongwei and also Chang Liying's father, took over the position from Xiao Chengguang's third son, Xiao Yisen, and reported to His Majesty.
"Hmm, Minister Chang, let Xiao Yao bid his last farewell to Xiao Chengguang and the others. Proceed!" said Xuanyuan Jinxing.
"Yes!"
Soon, Xiao Yao was brought to Xiao Chengguang at the execution ground. Xiao Yao knelt down, but outsiders couldn't see the panic in the eyes of Xiao Chengguang and his wish to lift Xiao Yao to his feet, which was halted by Xiao Yao's stern look.
"Father, mother, I am sorry. It is all because of me that you have suffered this fate today. If it weren't for my request for your assistance in supporting Xuanyuan Jinxing's rise to power, the Xiao Family wouldn't have met such an end. It is my unfilial piety!" Xiao Yao, embracing his parents, spoke sorrowfully; his voice was soft yet just loud enough for Chang Hongwei on the execution stage to hear. Chang Hongwei and Xiao Chengguang had been political rivals since they entered the Imperial Court. Now, seeing Xiao Chengguang's family facing the execution of the entire clan, Chang Hongwei's feelings were indescribable. Although he maintained a serious facade, his ears were eagerly picking up on Xiao Yao's words.
"Do not blame yourself, Yaoyao. It is our Xiao Family's overwhelming influence that has made the Imperial Family wary. However, I, Xiao Chengguang, as a man of Nanyang, bear no shame towards the heavens above, the earth below, nor the people of Nanyang, and hold no guilt towards the Imperial Family. The ruler's wish is a subject's command; if he must die, he must. Yet now, the entire Xiao Family must die. How unjust the heavens are!" With shackles on his wrists, Xiao Chengguang embraced Xiao Yao, looking up to the sky as he sighed and wept bitterly while speaking.
Xiao Chengguang's words were audible to those nearby; the citizens could hear, so could the Emperor, Empress, and Chang Hongwei.
In the hearts of the common people, such words from someone branded a 'rebel' might seem an attempt to exonerate themselves, but the words were like a stone thrown into a vast lake—not enough to raise a tempest, but sufficient to leave a ripple on the surface.
Heard by Xuanyuan Jinxing, the Emperor, Xiao Chengguang's words appeared to incite the commoners before his death, seeking to leave behind a good name for himself, which challenged the Emperor's dignity. It was as if the Emperor was being implied to have wronged the Xiao Family, that he, Xuanyuan Jinxing, as the ruler, could not tolerate the existence of the Xiao Family. Although this was indeed the case, he could not allow the citizens to become aware of this truth; in their eyes, the Xiao Family had to be known as rebels.
Unable to intervene personally, he gestured with a look to Eunuch Li, hoping he would stop the Xiao Family and calm the implicit message in Xiao Chengguang's words.
However, this time Eunuch Li chose to overlook the Emperor's gaze.
Empress Chang Liying, on the other hand, was all smiles at Xiao Chengguang's words, thinking to herself, "So what if your Xiao Family doesn't owe anything to heaven and earth, or anyone for that matter—now I am the Empress, your daughter is a criminal, and the life or death of your Xiao Family is in my hands."
The happiest of them all was Chang Hongwei. His daughter was the Empress, and before long, he would have an Imperial grandson. What he most wanted and was pleased to see was Xuanyuan Jinxing's reputation ruined, the more thoroughly the better; then he would have an excuse to force him to abdicate, and his grandson would ascend to the throne. With his grandson still young, wouldn't he, as grandfather on the mother's side, be wielding power on behalf of the Emperor? How different would that be from being the Emperor himself? With this thought, his smile stretched so wide it almost reached his ears, as if he could see the dragon throne beckoning him.
Atop the platform, minds were abuzz with diverse thoughts, while below it, the scene was one of life-and-death, filled with agony and tears.
"Right, it's not your fault, Yaoyo. Oh, my precious daughter!" Xiao Yao's mother Bai Xuelian also hugged Xiao Yao and wept, saying.
"Yaoyao, don't blame yourself, don't be sad. The Xiao Family has no regrets toward heaven and earth, nor have we served the people of Nanyang Country well. We are wronged, yet we are innocent and will die with dignity!" Xiao Yao's eldest brother, Xiao Yimu, said across from Xiao Chengguang.
He had been a reticent person since childhood, not much for words. As he grew up, he made a name for himself and became a Great General. Now, he was consoling Xiao Yao in the same way he used to when she was little. Hearing his words, Xiao Yao cried even louder.
"Yaoyao, don't be sad, don't be heartbroken, Yaoyao, stop crying. If you cry, I, I... I want to cry too, sob sob... It's not your fault!" Xiao Yao's second brother, Xiao Chenglin, said with a choked voice.
He was the one who cared for his little sister the most. Since she was special from a young age, he had resolved to take care of her for life, to give her the best life possible. That's why he became a merchant. Later, when his sister got involved with Xuanyuan Jinxing, he spared no effort in expanding his business, aiming to become Nanyang Country's top merchant to help his sister support Xuanyuan Jinxing's ascendancy to the throne. Although he didn't become the top merchant, he became the second most successful one in Nanyang Country, just behind the first merchant, Young Master Luo Chen—who was not only the top merchant in Nanyang Country but also throughout Longteng Continent. Even so, he felt a sense of regret at never having met Young Master Luo Chen.
"Sister, don't cry, oh, it's not your fault. It's our fault for not knowing people well, for thinking he would be a magnanimous and wise ruler. In the end, he was nothing but a narrow-minded, resentful wolf. Because of our family's power, because of your talent, he couldn't stand the Xiao Family..."
Xiao Yao's third brother, Xiao Chengsen, couldn't continue and paused. With reddened eyes, he went on,
"We of the Xiao Family do not fear death. On the battlefield, protecting our country and home, the members of the Xiao Family would never hesitate to offer our lives for the nation, willing to die with content. But to be executed on trumped-up charges of treachery? This is unbearable. How could Xuanyuan Jinxing do this? After we did everything within our power to help him rise to the throne, he couldn't wait to get rid of the Xiao Family. Father and mother at such an old age, to be denied a peaceful end—I can't accept it, sister!"
The third brother, candid by nature, was dashing and careless, known for his romantic pursuits, but with his exceptional martial skills, he gained a position in the palace, becoming the leader of the Imperial Guards.
Hearing these seditious words, Chang Hongwei's face bloomed with delight, thinking to himself, "As you are about to die, I even wish you to have no place to be buried. The people hearing these words will undoubtedly have doubts. And His Majesty Xuanyuan Jinxing, having heard these words, how can he ever rid himself of this thorn in his side?"