The Assassin Empress; WBYP

At a square with hundreds of people. The officials, Nobles, and commoners could be seen either standing or sitting.

A huge platform raised with planks to form a stage. On the stage were knotted ropes that could contain a persons head, tied to poles. Below the ropes were stools.

Beside the poles were about twenty to thirty criminals in white under garments and those criminals included– children and women. The criminals were kneeling with their hands tied to their backs.

Even a heavily pregnant woman was not spared from kneeling. Her face was twisted with agony as her eyes were red from crying. In front of her white under garments were blood stains as it appeared that she had been bleeding.

A young girl of about fifteen shifted with her knees towards the woman as she tried to console her but her hands were tied back.

One of the middle aged men on their kneeling position balled his hands with veins bulging on his forehead as he watched the bleeding woman.

Murmurs and whisperings of scorn and displeasure could be heard from many of the people, however those officials sitting on chairs paid no heed.

The sorrowful cries of children around the age of three to ten years old sent chills down the onlookers spines as some mothers broke down in tears watching the sorrowful scene.

On the highest seat was an official wearing a red robe with a black official cap.

He gestured with his hand and a eunuch spread out the decree he had folded and started to read it with a loud voice.

”General Su Yulan, General Bai Ting, and General Zhu Muyi were supposed to be the pillars of Hua Xia kingdom, but unfortunately, these great generals are the enemies of the Kingdom! ”

Some of the people watching exclaimed in shock while others sneered.

”They gave the Kingdoms layout to the enemies, sacrificed the lives of thousands of soldiers, bribed and killed officials, and recently, they were caught conspiring to kill the new emperor and bring Crown Prince Yi to the throne-treason.

Plotting treason, endangering the lives of the citizens, corruption amidst other crimes not mentioned, the new emperor hereby declares the public execution of the traitors, including their whole family.

The emperor spared general Su Yulans third brother; master Su Tian for coming forth and exposing his older brother, and for that, the son of heaven- the emperor, shall reward him. ”

The man rolled up the decree once he was done reading and then announced. ”Let the execution begin! ”

Although the crimes of the three greatest generals have been exposed, still the majority of the people refused to buy it.

How could the new emperor be so blind to the truth?

But what would the cry of the commoners do compared to the decree from the son of heaven?

On the stage, five bulky men with heavy swords raised their heavy execution swords and slashed their intended targets one after the other.

The cries of the kids multiplied when they saw their mothers, sisters, grandparents, older brothers, and uncles going down one after the other. Some with missing heads while others with deep cuts on their backs or on their stomach.

Soon, the cry of the children ceased as bead bodies filled the stage.

Among the people watching with tears in their eyes, a young girl of about five years old could be seen in the midst of adults.

The small girl watched as her older brother and older sister, kneeling beside the bleeding pregnant woman were beheaded on the stage. She was about to cry out loud when a small hand covered her mouth.

She turned to look at the person covering her mouth with tears and mucus all over her face and saw that it was her best friend– Bai Lu.

The boy was around eight years old, his eyes were blood shed. He shook his head, telling her to not scream. His family was there too and he was told to take care of her.

The little girl nodded and continued watching.

After everyone around the three generals were killed, including the pregnant woman who was stabbed in the stomach before she was beheaded, the people started to wonder if the three men would be sent back to prison to be executed another day since they have been waiting for a time longer than it took to burn an incense stick and yet nothing has happened.

The people didn have to wait much longer as four large cages were pushed into the square.

Seeing those four deadly beasts that the people of Hua Xia kingdom dreaded, the onlookers instinctively pushed themselves back while some ran away, causing a massive commotion on the execution ground.

The little girl and boy were separated by the commotion. She looked around with tears in her eyes but couldn find him anywhere. She called his name several times but no response.

One of the three men on the stage glanced around when he heard that voice amidst other screaming voices. It felt like his imagination because he had sent his daughter and his friends child away when he sensed trouble, but hearing her sweet but sorrowful voice just now pierced his heart, even though he thought he was only imagining it.