Chapter 42

Shen Changqing's ruthlessness.

It stunned everyone, and Hong Cheng and his men easily took control of the Zhao family.

They were shackled with iron chains and handcuffs.

One by one, they were all escorted to the yamen.

Shen Changqing just stood to the side, not interfering any further.

Among those taken away were elderly people on the verge of death and infants waiting to be fed.

But from beginning to end,

His expression never wavered.

Colluding with demons was absolutely unforgivable.

"If you must blame someone, blame your family name, Zhao!" Shen Changqing shook his head slightly and then looked at Hong Cheng: "After all the Zhao family members are imprisoned, they can be executed at noon tomorrow.

Additionally, send people to raid the Zhao family's property, and all their possessions will be confiscated into the yamen's treasury."

"Understood!"

—

The Zhao family, numbering over a hundred, were all escorted to the yamen, naturally drawing a large crowd.

"Good catch!"

"The Zhao family dared to collude with demons; they deserved to be exterminated long ago!"

"I thought Zhao Fang was a good official, but now, pah!"

"Over a thousand people in Guyue Village died unjustly; the Zhao family should be buried with them."

"Haha, the court has finally seen the light—"

Everyone who witnessed the Zhao family's fate applauded and cheered.

Ever since the news of the Zhao family's collusion with demons spread, their reputation had been utterly ruined.

Now that they were being raided,

In everyone's eyes, they were getting what they deserved.

Colluding with demons,

In everyone's eyes, was unforgivable.

"Alas, the Zhao family is finished!"

Cui Cheng, dressed in martial attire and carrying a long sword, sighed as he watched the many Zhao family members being escorted to the yamen.

In fact, as soon as he received the news from Zhao Li, he had just arrived in Lin'an City.

But all along,

Cui Cheng had no intention of standing up for the Zhao family.

Although he and Zhao Li had a deep friendship, friendship was one thing, but the current situation was not something that could be resolved by mere friendship.

If he were to intervene and the truth came out, it could implicate the Guiyuan Sword Sect behind him.

For a friend,

Sacrificing his sect was clearly out of the question.

As for this,

Zhao Li was completely in the dark, thinking that after sending the message, Cui Cheng had not arrived in time, unaware that at the moment the Zhao family was sealed, Cui Cheng had already arrived in Lin'an City.

"Brother, isn't the Zhao family a bit pitiful?"

By Cui Cheng's side, Zhao Yue frowned, perhaps because they shared the same surname, she felt some sympathy for the Zhao family.

Especially when she saw among those arrested were people holding infants, she felt even more discontent.

Hearing this,

Cui Cheng turned his head and looked at his junior sister's delicate face, his expression serious: "Sister, you can say this to me, but never say it in front of others.

Otherwise, it will bring trouble to the Guiyuan Sword Sect!"

"Brother—"

Seeing Cui Cheng's serious expression, Zhao Yue's face immediately showed dissatisfaction.

Seeing this,

Cui Cheng sighed and patiently explained: "You must understand that those who collude with demons have always harmed countless human compatriots, and in some cases, caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands.

Ever since then, the Great Qin has established laws that anyone who colludes with demons will be punished with the extermination of their entire clan.

The purpose is to deter others from colluding with demons.

Although the Zhao family is innocent, the people of Guyue Village are even more innocent. If we show leniency to the Zhao family, and everyone follows suit, colluding with demons and harming the people, who will speak for those who died unjustly?

If your words are investigated, at best, it will be seen as disregarding the laws of the Great Qin, and at worst, you might be accused of colluding with demons.

At that time, even the Guiyuan Sword Sect cannot protect you."

These words

Made Zhao Yue's face pale.

"I, I just said a few words, how, how could it be colluding with demons!"

"Some things, even if you didn't do them, can still be pinned on you. In the eyes of those with ill intentions, a single word can be used to accuse you of many crimes, especially since the Guiyuan Sword Sect has many enemies.

If they catch you, they will make a big deal out of it.

So some things can be thought about, but never spoken lightly, and if you do speak, you must consider the context and the severity."

Cui Cheng earnestly warned, and after speaking, he felt somewhat exhausted.

His junior sister, who had never been out much, had caused him a lot of trouble on the journey.

If it weren't for his strength and the reputation of the Guiyuan Sword Sect in Guangyuan Prefecture,

They might have already run into trouble.

As the two were talking, the Zhao family members had already been escorted into the yamen.

Many civilians followed the Zhao family members to the yamen and stopped at the entrance.

They were waiting.

Waiting for a result.

Not long after,

The clerk, Shi Qingsheng, walked out of the yamen, looked at all the civilians, and announced loudly: "At noon tomorrow, the Zhao family will be executed in the street in the eastern part of the city!"

After speaking,

He walked back into the yamen, leaving only two bailiffs at the entrance.

Public execution in the street!

These four words caused a stir among many civilians.

If they had only speculated on the way to the yamen, then Shi Qingsheng's words now definitively sentenced the Zhao family to death.

"Execution!"

Cui Cheng took a deep look and then pulled Zhao Yue away.

There was no need to watch any longer.

Public execution in the street had already sealed the Zhao family's fate.

He did not intervene at the beginning, and now he would not intervene at all. The Zhao family was destined to be destroyed.

The news of the Zhao family's imprisonment and the execution the next day spread quickly throughout the city.

Everyone knew.

At noon tomorrow, the Zhao family would be executed in the eastern part of the city.

This topic

Became the subject of conversation for most civilians.

"Extermination of the entire clan, public execution in the street, the laws of the Great Qin are as ruthless as ever!" In a guesthouse, someone sighed and then raised his wine glass to drink.

Hearing this, the person at the same table shook his head and laughed.

"Colluding with demons, they deserve it. If it weren't for the laws of the Great Qin, who knows how many would join the Eternal Alliance. It's better to execute them; the more executed, the fewer will dare to collude with demons."

"Let it be, this has nothing to do with us. Let's drink, and tomorrow we'll go to the execution site to watch."

"Alright, let's drink!"

The two clinked their glasses and drank heartily.

—

At the same time,

Hong Cheng and a few others thoroughly searched the Zhao family's residence and then transported all the items back to the yamen.

In the inner hall,

Shi Qingsheng was holding a ledger, reporting on some matters.

Shen Changqing sat at the head of the table, sipping tea slowly while listening to every word.

"Report to the大人, this time we found two thousand taels of gold, seven thousand taels of silver, and several antiques and paintings, initially estimated to be worth about twenty thousand taels—"