Although it was late, outside the prefectural yamen of Haizhou City, a great many disaster victims and common folk were still gathered.
Mu Changxi did not have them driven away. Instead, he said to everyone, "Since this Prince is here to resolve matters today, then I shall resolve them thoroughly. Even if there is one more person who wishes to come forward and accuse, this Prince will continue to preside. Therefore, do not drive away the people outside. As long as there is someone, let them in."
For the common folk, this was perhaps their only chance.
No one had expected that this night would pass so quickly!
In the middle of it, Mu Changxi rested twice. He ate some food and changed his clothes.
He told Song Chaoyu to go to sleep first, but Song Chaoyu wanted to stay by his side.
Although they had stayed up all night, Song Chaoyu felt that anyone who heard the crimes accused against Gu Xuezhuo would surely have no heart for sleep.
It was not until noon the next day that there were no more people outside wishing to enter the yamen to accuse Gu Xuezhuo.
Everyone was exhausted, including Gu Xuezhuo, who had been kneeling in the main hall throughout the trial.
His knees ached from kneeling, and his back could no longer straighten.
His mind had become muddled, and he had no other thoughts in his heart.
He only wished that these matters would pass quickly, even if Mu Changxi were to give him a swift end!
It was not until close to noon, when no one else entered the yamen, that Mu Changxi straightened his body slightly, feeling utterly exhausted.
He couldn't help but look towards Song Chaoyu, seeing that she seemed alright.
However, General Zhang and Lord Lei, who were sitting beside Song Chaoyu, both looked as if they could not hold on any longer. The two men were drowsy, no longer paying attention to what was being said in the hall.
"Bang—"
It was not until Mu Changxi sharply struck the table before him with the gavel in his hand that General Zhang and Lord Lei were startled awake.
The two of them raised their heads simultaneously. Mu Changxi's icy gaze swept over them. The two exchanged a look before sitting up straight.
After a day and a night of trials, Xu Yuan, who was assisting in place of the secretary, also felt his hand ache from writing.
However, his thoughts remained clear, and his movements were swift.
Upon the conclusion of the trial, he had compiled Gu Xuezhuo's twenty-three counts of crime! The lightest of these offenses was enough to warrant exile. For the rest, even ten of his lives would likely not suffice.
Everyone now looked at Mu Changxi, unsure of how he intended to proceed.
But Mu Changxi's decision was resolute.
Without a word, he sentenced Gu Xuezhuo to beheading, to be carried out at noon the following day. This would be done in front of the common folk, allowing everyone to witness Gu Xuezhuo's execution, thus providing an explanation to the people.
Song Chaoyu felt that for all the evil deeds he had committed, a mere beheading was too lenient for Gu Xuezhuo.
However, she understood Mu Changxi; he was not one to abuse the law or to torment others.
Therefore, allowing Gu Xuezhuo to die so swiftly was likely Mu Changxi's final "mercy."
In truth, after experiencing this day and night, Gu Xuezhuo had long understood that he would not survive.
A swift and clean beheading brought him a slight sense of relief.
Yet, unexpectedly, Lord Lei, who was beside him, suddenly stood up: "Your Highness, simply sentencing Lord Gu to beheading, is that not against the rules?"
"Oh?"
Mu Changxi, feeling weary, gently rubbed his forehead. "How is it against the rules?"
Lord Lei argued righteously, "Although Your Highness is an envoy sent by the Emperor, matters of sentencing within the prefectural yamen should naturally be decided after consultation among various officials. Furthermore, before sentencing, it is necessary to verify whether Lord Gu truly committed these acts. Only after the evidence is conclusive and everything is in order can a verdict be reached. How can a death sentence be passed directly in the hall without giving Lord Gu any opportunity to defend himself? This is against the rules!"
It seemed Lord Lei still wished to protect Gu Xuezhuo.
Song Chaoyu felt that the next person Mu Changxi would deal with would be Lord Lei.
Lord Lei's desire to protect Gu Xuezhuo must have had its reasons.
Song Chaoyu saw the color of Mu Changxi's eyes quickly turn cold: "Oh? So, Lord Lei believes that Gu Xuezhuo did not commit these acts, and that all these people who have come to accuse him are simultaneously slandering him?"
He sneered, "If this Prince's memory serves him correctly, among the accusers just now, there were those who also accused Lord Lei. This Prince thought that the residents were also tired, and would address it another day. It seems, however, that Lord Lei does not believe it is necessary to clarify matters today?"
"Hahaha—"
At this moment, Gu Xuezhuo, who had remained silent, suddenly burst into laughter: "Your Highness, Your Highness, I accept whatever punishment you wish to mete out to me! But do you perhaps intend to exterminate all the officials in this entire Haizhou City? I, Gu Xuezhuo, take responsibility for my own actions. What I have done has nothing to do with them! Your Highness, do not wrongly accuse others because of your feelings towards me!"
At the same time, he looked at Lord Lei: "Lord Lei, we have been colleagues for many years. I know you to be a simple-minded person who is unwilling to believe that I have done those things. But today, I confess my guilt myself; I am indeed the kind of person they describe. Lord Lei, you need not defend me; you only need to remember what you should do in the future!"
He was clearly hinting at Lord Lei, and Lord Lei immediately understood.
He frowned and then sat down, no longer arguing with Mu Changxi.
Thus, Gu Xuezhuo's death sentence could no longer be escaped.
When Mu Changxi threw down the gavel, the common folk outside all clapped and cheered.
From this point on, there would likely be no more Gu Xuezhuo in Haizhou City.
—
As Song Chaoyu watched everyone celebrate and saw Gu Xuezhuo being pulled up from the ground, she suddenly realized that she and Mu Changxi seemed to have done something remarkable!
With Gu Xuezhuo's death, Haizhou City would be under their control, which would naturally be more beneficial for disaster relief efforts.
Perhaps it was because her heart had suddenly relaxed, but Song Chaoyu now felt utterly exhausted. She was also a little hungry and sleepy, and for a moment, she didn't know whether to sleep or eat first.
She looked at Mu Changxi and, for the first time, saw weariness in his eyes. She surmised that he must feel the same as she did.
As Mu Changxi was pushed towards the rear chambers by Xiao Ruizi, cheers arose from the common folk outside: "Long live Prince Chang! Long live Prince Chang!"
The people of Haizhou City seemed to have finally seen a ray of hope, a glimpse of the future.