Chapter Sixty-One: The Rescue at the Execution Ground

The next day dawned under a gloomy sky.

Riverside Inn.

“Young master, what are you doing?” Eleven watched Li Yunjie fussing over something, suspicion rising in his heart.

Before Li Yunjie stood two or three dozen oil lamps of varying sizes, each one with a porcelain bowl hung upside down above it.

“You’re just in time,” Li Yunjie said, instructing Eleven, “Scrape the black charcoal powder from the bowls, as I did.”

Eleven murmured assent and followed suit. Before long, a box was filled to the brim with fine black charcoal powder.

Li Yunjie closed the lid, then hurriedly stepped out.

As he opened the door, a commotion downstairs caught his attention.

“Have you heard? Mao Shan’s been sentenced to beheading!”

“They say he tried to escape and killed a jailer!”

“Come on, let’s go see!”

Li Yunjie’s face darkened. “So soon…”

He hurried back inside, scribbled a secret letter, and handed it to Eleven. “Go to the opposite wing.”

“Give this letter and the charcoal powder to someone named Lin Mao.”

“He’ll know what to do.”

After giving his instructions, Li Yunjie picked up the broken sword on the table and strode out.

“Where are you going?” Outside, Su Qingmeng watched Li Yunjie’s urgent steps, her expression grave.

Li Yunjie didn’t pause, walking straight out without a backward glance.

…

Execution Grounds.

Dark clouds gathered overhead.

Mao Shan knelt before the execution block, his gaze vacant, devoid of any desire to live.

The butcher, his face broad and brutish, stood nearby, eyes gleaming with malice.

The crowd murmured in low voices, sharing rumors and scraps of gossip.

Song Yongnian sat at the rear, his expression calm.

A cool breeze swept through, bringing a hint of chill.

“The hour has come!”

A bailiff glanced at the sky and shouted loudly.

Song Yongnian brandished the wooden token inscribed with “Execution,” and threw it from the platform.

“Proceed!”

His voice rang with authority.

The executioner received the order, and the cold gleam of his blade flashed across his chest.

He drank deeply from a flask of aged wine, then raised the blade high above his head.

His eyes bulged, his mouth uttering incoherent sounds—some ritual to steel his courage for murder.

“Ah!”

The executioner shouted, and the blade fell with lightning speed!

Perhaps sensing death’s approach, Mao Shan slowly closed his eyes.

For him, such an ending seemed almost like release.

But instead of the expected thud of a severed head, a clear, sharp clang echoed.

In a split second, the executioner’s blade snapped cleanly in two!

The broken shard flew and embedded itself deeply into the muddy ground nearby.

Looking up, Su Qingmeng had forced the executioner back.

Li Yunjie, meanwhile, pointed his sword at Song Yongnian.

“Master Song, you have remarkable tactics,” Li Yunjie said coldly. “Framing others, twisting truth and falsehood—you leave nothing out!”

Song Yongnian dared not move, swallowing hard. “Your Highness, words require evidence.”

“You’ve openly disrupted the execution in broad daylight—no question about it!”

Li Yunjie didn’t reply, but sneered, lowering his broken sword.

He made a gesture of surrender.

“What are you waiting for, Master Song?” Li Yunjie’s voice was strong. “I am an official of the court, and have openly interrupted an execution!”

“Why not arrest me at once?”

His words fell, and the entire place fell silent.

All eyes centered on Li Yunjie.

No one knew what scheme he was plotting.

Su Qingmeng frowned at Li Yunjie, her mind full of questions.

Wasn’t this a rescue?

The prisoner hadn’t been saved, yet you’ve surrendered already—what is the meaning of this?

Song Yongnian’s lips curled in a smile, his tone imperious. “Seize these two! Throw them in the dungeon!”

“This case involves a court official. I will investigate thoroughly and schedule another trial!”

…

Song Residence.

The Black and White Twins scurried in, bringing news.

“Master Wu, you truly predicted it!” The servant in black said excitedly. “Li Yunjie really disrupted the execution today!”

The servant in white chimed in, “Caught red-handed. The prefect has already thrown him into the dungeon!”

Song Zeye, hearing this, was full of admiration. “Brother Wu, your scheme is brilliant! To kill two birds with one stone!”

“Such blatant disregard for the law—even if Prime Minister Su intervenes, it won’t help!”

“This way, not only is Mao Shan eliminated, but Li Yunjie is imprisoned as well.”

“Marvelous, simply marvelous!”

Wu Jin’s lips curved slightly, his gaze fierce. “With this case, Li Yunjie is finished.”

“Master,” the black-clad servant grinned wickedly, “Since Li Yunjie is now a prisoner—what about his enchanting sister…”

“Silence!” Song Zeye’s brows furrowed, and he angrily rebuked the servant.

He glanced guiltily at Wu Jin, forcing a smile. “The servant is ignorant of manners—Master Wu, please forgive him.”

“No matter,” Wu Jin replied, his eyes sly. “As far as I know, Su Xiyan is mute.”

“At this critical moment, even if Song Zeye did something to her, no one would ever know.”

With that, the two exchanged a knowing look.

Lascivious laughter echoed through the rear courtyard of the Song Residence.

…

Dungeon.

The damp air filled Su Qingmeng’s nostrils, making her nauseous.

“I told you not to follow me. Why did you insist on getting involved?”

Li Yunjie found a clean spot to sit, his expression calm.

Su Qingmeng was anxious. “How was I supposed to know you planned to disrupt the execution?!”

“You really didn’t know?” Li Yunjie raised a brow.

“At the execution ground, you drew your sword faster than I did!”

Su Qingmeng frowned, unwilling to admit it.

She had acted impulsively at the time; regretting it now was pointless.

“So, what now?” Su Qingmeng sighed. “We failed to rescue him and got ourselves caught.”

“Disrupting an execution is a serious crime!”

Her resentment was understandable.

After all, it was a wasted effort. With her skills, she could have fought her way in and out several times.

But Li Yunjie hadn’t even resisted—he simply surrendered.

What did it mean?

Li Yunjie remained composed. “My status is distinguished. For ordinary cases, it wouldn’t matter, but this case is significant. That little prefect has no authority to judge.”

“So disrupting the execution was merely to buy time.”

“You have a plan?” Su Qingmeng’s eyes lit up. “What is it?”

Li Yunjie paused, glancing at the flickering candlelight, and spoke in a low voice. “Do you really want to know?”

Su Qingmeng nodded vigorously.

“Then swear first,” Li Yunjie edged toward the corner. “Promise not to kill me.”

…

Mao Shan’s Mansion.

Eleven and Lin Mao opened the door, gazing at the messy bed with a sense of unease.

Lin Mao unfolded the letter Li Yunjie had written him. Following its instructions, he carefully took a handful of charcoal powder, sprinkling it slowly along the edge of the bed.

He then lit an oil lamp, picked up a feather, and gently brushed the charcoal powder.

“Master Lin,” Eleven watched Lin Mao’s actions in confusion. “What does the young master’s letter mean?”

Lin Mao shook his head. “I don’t know either.”

“His Highness only said that with this method, the situation can be resolved…”