Chapter 172: Inciden
172 Inciden
"Miss?" Xia noticed that Jun Hua expression after she had returned from the prison is a bit off. The girl seems like pondering deeply about some things, but at the same times, she looks like dozing off.
Jun Hua opened her eyes. "Xia, do you know why the four big families can keep their position for so long?"
Xia shakes her head.
Jun Hua didn't blame the girl for not knowing. There are some unwritten rules among the nobles to never talk about this. Who among them didn't have any secret at all? Considering the strength of the four big families, they all choose to close their eyes.
The only one who didn't choose to close his eyes is the current emperor of Ming Kingdom. Ever since he obtained the throne, he was thirsty of power. He doesn't want any of the big families to grow stronger than him and surpass him. Despite him being the emperor, he feels threatened by them.
Unlike the other previous emperor who let them go and collaborate with them, he started to investigate everything related to the four big families. That was what makes the four families entered their most dangerous position in the history. Their position was threatened and they know that their new emperor is someone who's too ambitious for them.
Jun Hua is not there, but she had heard most of them. Lin family chooses to comply with the emperor demand and didn't do anything drastic. Jun family doesn't wish to be controlled which makes them a huge threat and the emperor makes many unreasonable demand. In the end, the Jun family declined and had lost the status as the big family of the kingdom.
Lan family experiences massacre for half of their family. The father of Lan Gao Ya and his family are all killed, leaving only a little girl. Nanglong family lost some of their important members, but it's unclear how it happened. The same with Jun family, but after that the Nanglong family rise quicker and use their might to force the emperor to tone down.
Besides, with the emperor starting to lose those who sides with him, his move becomes restricted. With that being the case and the war that was happening years ago, the emperor had to shift his attention to the outside matter before considering things inside his kingdom again, allowing the remains to stay alive.
The little girl from the Lan family, that was Lan Gao Ya. Considering how she still could survive all these years, Jun Hua knows, she is not ordinary.
"Xia, tomorrow is going to be interesting," Jun Hua smiled.
"Why?"
Jun Hua truly wants to know how Lan Gao Ya will fare against the execution. If the hidden ability of Lan family is like what she had deduced after examining the four families, that girl indeed have the chance to survive.
With such a good show, Jun Hua wants to know what she will do. And…
"Xia, remind me to buy a horse."
"Miss?" Xia looks towards her Miss with confusion all over her face. Why the topic suddenly changes so much? However, Jun Hua only smiles slightly and refuses to tell anything to the girl beside her.
…
The next day the people in the capital are gathering on the square. They are looking towards the platform before them and wait patiently. They heard that Lan Gao Ya will be executed today, so they come to watch the show.
This is not the first time in this emperor reign that someone from the four big families being executed. However, none of them dare to question the emperor conduct for fear that they would be the next one to be placed in that platform.
"I feel that every year there will be at least one prisoner being executed here," one of the people in the crowd commented.
"What can you say? There are just too many crimes."
A different person slightly leaned in, "But, do you realize that the number of nobles being executed during this emperor reign increased by leaps and bound?"
"Shh…. Don't speak anything so obvious. No one should talk about the emperor if you want to keep your head intact," his friend warned.
"Right," he nodded his head as he looks towards the platform.
"Besides, she is the one at fault for scheming against our general," his friend added with indignation. They all love their powerful little general and to hear the news of his sudden and unjustified death, they can't accept it.
The person on his side didn't say anything to respond. He looks towards the side slightly before excusing himself and move to a different spot. Before long, the crowd can see the guards appear. The time for the execution has come.
The guards take Lan Gao Ya out. Her appearance is no longer that of a noble. Her hair and makeup are really messy, but no one pay any attention to it. They are waiting for the executioner to do his job.
Lan Gao Ya looks towards the crowd below her as she surveyed the condition. None of the other nobles were here, they only send someone to replace them. Her pitiful appearance this time didn't manage to move the crowd, who are too angry because of her action against their young general.
"Jun Min is indeed famous," she murmured as she looks towards the crowd in front of her. That young general should be able to strive in the battlefield for an even better position and possibly gain more supporters.
The guard in front of her glared at her. She quickly lowered her head, acting as a fearful little girl. However, her eyes are calm as she peeks towards the crowd around her. After some time, she looks towards the stage as a slight smile appeared on her lips.
"I have already planted the seed and now, they have grown ripe."
The guards are all looking at her with weird expression. Before they could ask her anything else, they could hear the sound of something breaking and screams among the audience. In that instant they know, something had grown terribly wrong.