Chapter 1230: Pearl Collector and Princess
The County Magistrate’s Wife didn’t understand why it was her son and a sow inside, instead of the mute girl they had abducted. Then a faint sense of relief rose in her heart. See? They really hadn’t taken the Princess’s student, hadn’t forced that mute girl. Her son was only forcing a pig—humiliating, yes, but surely that wouldn’t be a big deal, right?
“Filthy to the eye.” Tianmiao frowned.
“To offend the Princess is a capital crime!” Tang Zhishi said coldly. That kind of scoundrel, and he still wanted to set his sights on his Qinghe. Death is too good for him!
A capital crime?
When the County Magistrate’s Wife heard this, she trembled all over. She dropped to her knees and let out a pig?killing shriek: “Princess, spare his life. Princess, the one inside isn’t your student, I beg the Princess to spare my son.” How had she forgotten that having the Princess witness something like this was also an offense against the Princess’s majesty. That was a capital crime too!
The County Magistrate was stunned as well, and knelt in a daze. He was shaken! Although he had no idea what was really going on, he knew at least one thing: there was no way his son would fancy a sow, no way he would go force himself on a sow. Yet that was exactly what had happened, and the Princess’s party had caught him in the act. No matter how you looked at it, something was wrong. And it wasn’t a problem he could explain away.
At this moment the County Magistrate’s son finally sobered up. He stared in horror at the sow beneath him, then looked around at the ring of people. He even saw his father and mother kneeling out front. He looked again at the sow under his body, felt his stomach heave, and turned his head to vomit, retching loudly.
“Princess, spare him, spare him, our family has had only one male heir for nine generations, just this single sprout. I beg the Princess to show mercy.” The County Magistrate’s Wife kowtowed, pleading for his life.
“I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die.” At this point the County Magistrate’s son finally understood the situation and burst into wails.
“Oh? Not wanting to die is acceptable too.” Tianmiao turned. “You’ve polluted My eyes. The death penalty can be waived, but you won’t escape living punishment. Castrate him.”
Castrate him? That meant being gelded! The County Magistrate’s Wife shook all over, her face deathly pale. Wouldn’t that be an even more miserable fate?
“Then just let me die.” The County Magistrate’s son wailed. If they cut him, would he still be a man? What meaning would living have? What dignity? Better to die and be done with it.
“Then kill him it is.” Tianmiao said, light and casual.
Dong Xiao drew his sword. Cold light flashed as he walked slowly toward the County Magistrate’s son.
The County Magistrate’s son stared at the sword tip gleaming with icy light, scared out of his wits. He scrabbled backward desperately, howling, “I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, spare me!” He regretted it now; compared to castration, death was far more terrifying.
“So he still chooses castration in the end.” Tang Zhishi said coldly.
“Seems that way.” Tianmiao’s lips curved. “This kind of scene isn’t fit for us to watch. We’ll be going ahead. You handle the rest.”
“Yes.” Tang Zhishi answered, casting a disgusted look at the County Magistrate’s Wife. It was this stupid, vicious woman who had come up with such a venomous scheme, intending to destroy Qinghe. Fortunately his imperial elder sister had long since received word and sent him to rescue Qinghe. Otherwise, would the last thing he saw have been Qinghe’s corpse?
…
Tianmiao led Li Qinghe and the others away. Qinghe and Tianmiao settled into the post station.
The entire county city boiled over.
The Princess had graced their little county with her presence, and moreover, Li Qinghe—this mute girl who collected pearls—turned out to be the noble Princess’s own student!
The Pearl Collector and the exalted Princess actually knew each other, and were that close?!
It was utterly shocking.