CHAPTER 386: CHAPTER 383: GRAND GIFT

The prison cart carrying Xiao Xingzong rolled into the distance, and it was only then that the onlookers snapped out of it and immediately chased after the cart, shouting curses.

A general of Daqi defected to the Liao people and even helped the Liao raise the Thirteen Grand Protectors. The spies of the Liao have committed numerous atrocities, and to speak of recent events, the epidemics in Yuezhou and Zhenzhou are inseparable from these people, not to mention the turmoil in the North.

Just thinking about this filled the hearts of the people with hatred.

"Xiao Xingzong... defected to the Liao, but in the end, wasn’t he returned by them?"

"After doing so much for the Liao, why didn’t the Liao protect you?"

"In the end, just a dog."

"Hmph, he’s not even worth a dog."

"My two sons died at the hands of the Liao, I want to beat him to death..."

A stone hit Xiao Xingzong hard, followed by a second, a third...

Everyone knew that such an utterly unpardonable person would not escape death; they were waiting for the court to take him away for execution, so they all avoided hitting Xiao Xingzong in the head.

The people vented their hatred, wanting Xiao Xingzong to suffer.

Song Xian held the reins and steadied his warhorse, instructing the government officials and accompanying military envoy: "Calm the horses, lest they get startled and injure someone."

The military envoy replied, "Don’t worry, my lord."

Song Xian’s gaze brushed over Xiao Xingzong’s face, immediately meeting his gaze. Xiao Xingzong’s expression changed slightly, a hint of a smile appearing in his cold eyes.

Song Xian remained calm, as if there was no such person as Xiao Xingzong before him.

Xiao Xingzong’s throat made strange noises, as if he was trying hard to say something but couldn’t get it out.

When Song Xian received Xiao Xingzong, he heard from the military envoy that Xiao Xingzong had destroyed his own throat and couldn’t speak. Furthermore, both of Xiao Xingzong’s hands had been broken, long since shriveled and blackened, clearly unusable.

In other words, Xiao Xingzong couldn’t speak or write now.

Why had Xiao Xingzong become like this? Song Xian knew all too well; it was because someone didn’t want Xiao Xingzong to speak.

"You’ve worked hard, Song Jiedu."

As the prison cart arrived outside the Ministry of Justice Prison, a Ministry of Justice official immediately stepped forward to greet Song Xian.

Song Xian dismounted and returned the greeting: "The man has been escorted back, but when I took over, Xiao Xingzong had already ingested mute medicine, and his hands were severely injured."

The Ministry of Justice official hastily said, "The military envoy who escorted him sent a report back; this was their oversight in supervision."

Song Xian nodded, watching as the government officials escorted Xiao Xingzong towards the prison. As he was about to proceed with the other officials to the government office, a Ministry of Justice official immediately stepped forward: "Song Jiedu, you’ve worked hard on the journey, please rest first. We’re here, and we’ll interrogate Xiao Xingzong immediately. Please rest assured."

Song Xian furrowed his brow: "This Eight States conflict has something to do with Xiao Xingzong. His subordinates, the Thirteen Grand Protectors, sent a message to Gao Yu, intending to join forces with him... Moreover, the death of Princess Guangyang back then is also related to Xiao Xingzong..."

"Please rest assured, Song Jiedu," Du Zhuo’s voice came from behind Song Xian, "The Emperor has ordered the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Justice, and the Imperial Censorate to jointly interrogate Xiao Xingzong, and they will clarify the case. As for the matters regarding the Eight States, the court will also inquire of us. We must first start with the attack on the Taiyuan Prefecture, followed by the Battle of Dai State."

Du Zhuo seemed patient and carefully explained to Song Xian: "Song Jiedu, don’t be too anxious; when the court needs you, they will naturally summon you."

After speaking, Du Zhuo patted Song Xian on the shoulder. Song Xian remained silent, ultimately watching as several officials filed into the Ministry of Justice.

Du Zhuo recalled the moment he passed by Song Xian earlier, the look in Song Xian’s eyes. Song Xian quickly glanced at Xiao Xingzong and then shook his head.

This meant for him not to step forward. They all knew Xiao Xingzong held an incredible secret.

Du Zhuo paused at the Ministry of Justice Office entrance: "I’ll wait in the duty room; when the lords require it during the trial, summon me in."

Du Zhuo suddenly felt a bit sentimental. Though he and Song Xian had exposed Yang Wu together, roamed the Capital City, and charged into the Eight States, displaying mutual humility in Taiyuan Prefecture, discussing political situations deep into the night by candlelight, they were not close friends.

After leaving the Ministry of Justice Prison, Song Xian returned directly to his courtyard to change clothes, reaching to unclasp the robes he wore and instructed Chang An: "Have someone keep an eye on the Ministry of Justice Office."

With the expression Xiao Xingzong showed him, he would not just be at others’ mercy. A person so full of schemes, even with one last breath, would struggle to his utmost.

Chang An replied in acknowledgment.

...

In the secret cell of the Ministry of Justice, several officials sat in chairs discussing how to deal with Xiao Xingzong.

Interrogating Xiao Xingzong was now impossible through speech, nor could his hands grasp a pen. How should this case proceed? Though they had prior knowledge and preparation, there was still no satisfactory conclusion.

"In truth, the case’s evidence is irrefutable," said the Ministry of Justice official, "and there’s no need for Xiao Xingzong to confess. We only need to organize the evidence and testimonies to convict."

"The lord speaks sense," replied an official from the Ministry of Justice, "Moreover, Xiao Xingzong’s betrayal of Daqi is evident. Colluding with foreign enemies to rebel against the court is a capital crime."

As people discussed, a hoarse voice suddenly said: "Don’t you all want to know... why I... chose to betray Daqi?"

A silence descended on the prison, and all faces showed shock as they looked towards Xiao Xingzong.

The military envoy who transported Xiao Xingzong to the Capital City looked pale, eyes wide as he stared at Xiao Xingzong.

Xiao Xingzong suddenly smiled: "Because I know a secret, and if I didn’t flee, I’d be killed. It was better to seek a way to survive, especially as the enmity of killing my father was greater than the sky. My father... was loyal and devoted to Daqi... but in the end, he was coerced into plotting against Prince Guangyang... forced to pay with his life..."

Xiao Xingzong’s voice, like sharp tools grating against each other, was harsh to the ear, but what he said demanded attention, so everyone listened intently.

"Prince Guangyang was murdered, and the one who did it... first borrowed his troops... then leaked the military and engineering dispositions of the eight states," Xiao Xingzong looked at everyone, a cruel smile on his face, "A secret message was sent to my father, making him open the barriers for the Liao to enter the Eight States... Feng Jiang noticed something, wanted to warn Prince Guangyang... and I killed him... I buried Feng Jiang’s body in the backyard of our Yixian estate, then framed Feng Jiang for the crime of opening the barriers."

Xiao Xingzong took a breath and continued: "Using Feng Jiang... deceived Song Qizheng, made Song Qizheng stand on our side, and from that point... Prince Guangyang faced only a dead end."

The expressions of all officials present varied, but in their eyes lurked fear and shock.

Xiao Xingzong’s gaze swept over the officials’ faces: "You lords should... thank me... thank me for not picking one of you... to tell these words to, otherwise... that person would face a dead end... Now that you all know... luckily there are many of you, and you won’t be killed for a while, but you must fend for yourselves."

"After Prince Guangyang died, I lived this way—cautious, anxious, fearing I’d be killed any day. And so, thought maybe it’s better to take preemptive action to protect myself... In the future, lords... you too will go through what I endured, see if you can do better than I did, that is the gift I give you."