Chapter 14
As they strolled outside, they came across a frenzied group of people heading north.
"Come on, it's starting!!"
"If we arrive late, we may not be able to watch it."
"Move faster, I haven't seen a capital punishment before."
"Hurry up!!"
Mu Feng figured they should be near the capital and something major must be happening this morning. She declared, "We're going there."
Lai Yin doesn't care at all, "Your Highness, you're not thinking of stopping capital punishment, are you?"
She glanced at him and gave a soothing smile, "It depends." Then she began trailing after the people heading north. Cheng Qiu sighed heavily. Knowing Her Highness, he's certain that it's more than likely she'd act herself when injustice presented itself before her eyes.
Upon arriving at the capital, eight people were kneeling on the execution platform while being lashed by a whip and watched by hundreds of citizens. But what horrified the group was the fact that there were two seven to eight years old children on the platform, bawling their eyes out. Mu Feng noticed a n.o.ble-looking blue-clad young man beside her, blue-sapphire hanging in his sleeves and silver belt with a sword on his waist. She thought this young man must be the son of some wealthy family. He's fanning while gazing furiously to the executioners. She turned to ask him, "Young Master, what was their crime?"
The young master glanced at her then fanned even harder. "They had no crime. These were just homeless people begging for food on the street. The officials spotted them and that's what happened." Then he gripped the hilt
Fan Zhan stepped in and transformed into a phoenix. She's the most familiar with Mu Feng, and she knew that this kind of bulls.h.i.+t won't be able to pa.s.s by Her Highness' raging compa.s.sion. The phoenix flew on the top of the platform, its black feathers fell like leaves in autumn and discharged a black smoke, blinding the sight of everyone in the area. With her on the move, Mu Feng used this opportunity to save the children. She dashed and hopped on it, then carried the little boy; subsequently, Cheng Qiu sprang in as well and carried the little girl. A hundred civilians watched in awe as white lights moved swiftly in the midst of black smog. However, the guards reacted right away. They dashed towards the platform aiming at them.
"Don't move!!"
"What are you doing???!!"
"Stop right there!!"
But of course, they just ignored them. Cheng Qiu called, "Your Highness!" Now that they got the children already, it's time to flee. They hurriedly went to the backside of the platform where there were fewer people watching. The two hadn't yet reached the other side when eventually, the black smog cleared. A person blocked and stared at them with furrowed eyebrows. They had been caught red-handed. Mu Feng felt her heart skip a beat and cold sweat dripped from her face. The person standing in their way was the second prince of JingHai Kingdom, Qian Zhou!!
"Hmm~" Qian Zhou kept his gaze at them without even saying anything. Mu Feng thought that if they stayed a while longer, they'd have no means to escape. As she contemplated, Qian Zhou finally opened his lips. "Why are you meddling in JingHai's affairs?"
He recognized me?!!!!
She kept hold of the child in her arm and calmly answered, "Your Highness, why would you punish innocent people? And even harm little children who were just asking for food? Isn't that… "
Before she even finished, Qian Zhou unsheathed his sword, "If I still pretended to not know you're the beloved Gongzhu of DongTian kingdom, would this pa.s.s as I merely executing a spy?"
We're dead meat!!!
Qing Zhou started attacking right away. He kept on striking for her vital organs, but she would reflexively dodge his blade. She summoned XingYue and parried his attacks. Cheng Qiu wouldn't dare to land a ma.s.sive blow, for if he managed to hurt the second prince, there'd surely be a conflict that would arise between the two kingdoms. So relying on pure pa.s.siveness, he tried to block Qing Zhou, but the other party was only aiming for Mu Feng. With a child in her arms, merely dodging became arduous. "Ge!!" She tossed the child to him and he caught it. "Take the children to a safe place."
Cheng Qiu felt worried sick, "Your Highness!!"
Mu Feng persisted, "Just take them away, come back when you're done."
He did as she said and left the scene, then had the phoenix Fan Zhan fly them away.
In whatever way one looked at it, the fight on the platform was clearly one-sided. Seeing his master in danger, Hao Xi instantly took the Young Master's sword and without further ado, he leaped and appeared behind Qian Zhou. He placed the tip of the blade on the side of his neck, making the second prince freeze in his position. Speaking in a threatening voice, he warned, "Put it down!"
Qian Zhou didn't move any longer and continued to stay still in his position; Mu Feng felt the need to placate him. After all, they were in his territory in the first place. She bowed and apologized, "Your Highness Qian Er-w.a.n.gzi, please forgive our intrusion."
Hao Xi withdrew his blade, the second prince sheathed his sword too. The latter sighed, "I will let your mess pa.s.s this time." Then he glared at the one behind him, "You're a demon as well, why bother to kill your own kind for these useless humans." He didn't wait for Hao Xi to respond and hopped down to walk away.