roccoschili Chapter 129 Do you think I am the murderer you are looking for?
Chapter 129 Do you think I am the murderer you are looking for?
Watanabe Sora and the other eleven Japanese struggled painfully on the simple wooden stretcher. Every bump caused their legs, which had been twisted into a pretzel, to feel a sharp pain.
It nearly made them faint.
The miserable state of those legs, with twisted and deformed bones and bruised and swollen muscles entangled with each other, was horrifying.
The severe damage to their legs alone was not enough to cause the tragic deaths of so many of the twenty-nine people in just ten days.
The most deadly and cruel thing is that the perpetrators were so cruel as to deprive them of their dignity as men. This kind of evil act is a rare and humiliating act in the world.
Watanabe Sora was not sure who the perpetrators were.
But the young man's face and the tall and mighty figure were deeply engraved in his memory, and the unique style of their official uniforms was also clearly recognizable.
What helped him endure the endless pain and humiliation was the glimmer of hope that Matsushita Arita had brought to him earlier - His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty attached great importance to this matter and even wanted to personally inquire about it.
It was this belief that allowed Watanabe Sora to persevere despite being on the verge of collapse due to severe pain time and time again.
The excruciating pain every time one urinates feels like a burning fire; only those who have experienced it firsthand can understand the horror of it.
Several times, Watanabe Sora felt that he was about to die, but the strong desire for revenge held on to his life tightly, allowing him to hold on several times.
At this moment, he thought of the good news that had just come from the Daming Palace - His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty had solemnly promised that no matter who the murderer was, he would punish him in his own way and then execute him.
Watanabe Sora couldn't help but feel excited.
This made him temporarily forget the cold and the excruciating pain in his legs and lower body.
Snowflakes fluttered down.
When the twelve injured were carried to the Daming Palace, the tragic scene made everyone present gasp involuntarily.
The person who did this was too cruel and ruthless.
Look at these people's legs. Not only are they twisted into a knot, but they have also been castrated.
The civil and military officials looked at each other in bewilderment and whispered to each other, all wondering secretly, could there be such a perverted and cruel person in the Tang Dynasty?
Normally, if there are disputes or hatreds, at most people would take their lives. Why would they torture others like this?
As they thought about it, a mysterious and special department suddenly emerged in their minds - the Jinyiwei.
Thinking of this, the civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty immediately shut their mouths one after another.
When the envoys from other countries saw this scene, they all looked confused and full of doubts.
Why did the Tang Dynasty officials, who were just discussing heatedly, become silent in the blink of an eye?
As envoys from small countries, they are best at observing people's expressions and adapting to the situation.
Seeing that the Tang officials were all silent, they also hurriedly quieted down one by one.
Matsushita Arita was still kneeling devoutly in the center of the hall. His legs had already become numb because His Majesty had not ordered him to stand up.
He was full of curiosity and didn't understand why the hall, which was noisy just now, had become silent at this moment.
When Watanabe Sora and the other eleven people were carefully carried to Matsushita Arita's side, although they were unable to stand up and salute, they still endured the severe pain.
With a trembling voice, he respectfully said to Li Chengqian, "We, the Japanese envoys, come to see His Majesty the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty! We hope that His Majesty will help us and avenge our grievances!"
Anyone could clearly hear the resentment and anger in that voice.
"Today, all the civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty are here. Go and identify who it is, and I will not let them off lightly!"
Li Chengqian's words were powerful.
Hearing Li Chengqian's words, all the Japanese people immediately showed joy on their faces.
According to Li Chengqian's order, they were slowly carried by Japanese attendants, and each face was carefully identified.
After a round, they did not find the familiar face of the murderer.
A hint of doubt flashed in Watanabe Sora's eyes, and his heart was full of confusion.
Matsushita Arita was also extremely anxious.
The people are clearly here, how can I not recognize them?
Just as Watanabe Sora was filled with disappointment and was about to look up and report to His Majesty, he inadvertently looked up and suddenly found that the figure of the man on the stage was extremely familiar.
He hurriedly took a closer look, and was immediately overjoyed.
His voice trembled with excitement. "Your Majesty, it's him! It's him! He is the murderer! Your Majesty! Please punish the murderer severely!"
"Your Majesty, his subordinates are wearing special official uniforms! I don't even know what department they belong to!"
Watanabe Sora shouted excitedly, completely unaware that the expressions of all the civil and military officials of the Tang Dynasty had become extremely unnatural.
At this moment, the eunuch outside came in with a message: "Jinyiwei Commander Zhang Xianhuai requests an audience with Your Majesty! I have a gift for Your Majesty!"
Li Chengqian was delighted to hear the news of Zhang Xianhuai's return and shouted loudly, "Announce it quickly!"
Zhang Xianhuai hurried into the hall, holding two wrapped heads steadily in his hands.
Upon seeing Li Chengqian, he immediately knelt on both knees and said respectfully, "Your Majesty! I have fulfilled your trust and have brought the heads of Wang Qizhao, the head of the Wang family, and Wang Yi, a subordinate, to present the New Year's Day gift to Your Majesty!"
As soon as Zhang Xianhuai said this, there was a cry of surprise in the hall, and everyone widened their eyes in shock.
The Taiyuan Wang family was destroyed just like that?
Your Majesty's methods are too drastic.
Everyone couldn't help but worry. If this happened, wouldn't other families have an excuse to rise up in rebellion?
Although everyone knows that these noble families have ill intentions and will rebel sooner or later, this matter has not been made public. They have been secretly waiting for the right opportunity, an opportunity that will conform to the will of the people and be justified.
Now, isn't your Majesty's action equivalent to handing this reason to them personally?
Li Chengqian glanced at Zhang Xianhuai with satisfaction and praised him, "Xianhuai, you did a good job. The Wang family persecuted the Princess of Tang and the Earl of Huguo. They deserve to die."
"Come here, send the head to Zhaoyu Prison and show those children of the aristocratic families the head of the Wang family!"
"Yes! Your Majesty!" Two eunuchs hurried forward, took the two terrifying heads, and hurriedly trotted towards Zhaoyu.
Hearing what Li Chengqian said, all the civil and military officials breathed a sigh of relief. The legitimate power was still in the hands of the court!
Watanabe Sora pointed at Zhang Xianhuai with excitement and shouted, "Your Majesty, that's it! It's this outfit! He's wearing the same outfit, just a different color!"
Zhang Xianhuai looked at Watanabe Sora pointing at him, and then looked at Li Chengqian's eyes.
After receiving the signal, he slowly turned his head and looked at Watanabe Sora with cold eyes: "Japanese? You dare to point your finger at this commander? Who do you think you are? Where are the Jinyiwei?"
"Here! Commander Zhang!" Two Jinyiwei quickly stepped forward, their postures straight and their expressions stern.
"Cut off all ten of his fingers." Zhang Xianhuai's voice was calm.
"Yes! Commander!" The two Jinyiwei responded in unison, and then directly picked up Watanabe Sora's hands.
The knife came down and Watanabe Sora let out a scream.
Ten bloody fingers fell to the ground.
Watanabe Sora was stunned for a moment. He widened his eyes and looked at the Jinyiwei in front of him with horror.
They actually cut off all their fingers like this?
Matsushita Arita was also stunned, his heart filled with shock and confusion.
Who is this man? His Majesty is still up there, and he's so bold? He dares to issue orders in His Majesty's presence. Isn't he afraid of losing his head?
Matsushita Arita quickly shouted, "Your Majesty! This man is so arrogant! He has no regard for Your Majesty at all! Please punish him swiftly!"
Zhang Xianhuai glanced at Matsushita Arita with disdain and sneered, "I am the commander-in-chief of the Jinyiwei appointed by His Majesty himself. I have the right to act at my own discretion. Cutting off a few fingers is certainly within my discretion."
"You, you don't want your tongue anymore?"
Seeing Zhang Xianhuai being so arrogant and domineering, Matsushita Arita was extremely frightened and he fell to his knees with a plop.
Using both hands and feet, he crawled step by step towards Li Chengqian. "Your Majesty! Please execute this man immediately! He is threatening me in public!"
Hearing what Songxia Youtian said, Li Chengqian did not answer him directly, but said slowly and calmly: "Ten days ago, I took Qi Taishi and Wei Zhijun to play in the East Market."
"A group of people suddenly appeared from nowhere and tried to break my legs."
"Thankfully, Commander Wei was present, allowing me to escape danger. Otherwise, I would have been in great danger."
As he spoke, Li Chengqian slowly stood up and walked down from the platform step by step.
"I have been searching for the murderer who wanted to break my legs these days."
"That Japanese man, take a look and see if I am the murderer you are looking for?" Li Chengqian's voice echoed in the silent hall.
When Watanabe Sora heard these words, his body began to tremble violently. He raised his head tremblingly and looked at the face that he had hated so much before.
At this moment, this face was so close to him, but he no longer had any hatred in his mind. Instead, there was only endless fear.