Five Big Bosses are Too Clingy After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Chu Xingchen Clutches Xiao Wang’s Sleeve

Wan Dong ran an errand for Chu Xingchen, informing Xiao Wang and requesting him to summon all off-duty palace personnel to attend.

Zhu Mo was taken away to prepare for execution, and the palace servants summoned by Xiao Wang were all present.

The entire staff of the Jade Splendor Hall was forced to attend. Xie Ziqing and Miaobi were among them. Chu Xingchen looked deeply at Xie Ziqing. “Proceed with the execution.”

Zhu Mo’s existing staff wounds hadn’t healed. After just two blows, bl00d was already visible. He had initially looked ready to die but quickly broke down and began to scream tragically.

Xie Ziqing’s hands trembled amidst Zhu Mo’s piercing cries. With the scheme exposed, the plan failed, and his right-hand man, Zhu Mo, was caught. Xie Ziqing knew he shouldn’t interfere, but hearing Zhu Mo’s pleas, he couldn’t help himself and rushed forward. “Stop! Stop!”

No one paid attention to Xie Ziqing. Xie Ziqing gritted his teeth and lunged toward Chu Xingchen to beg for mercy. “Your Highness!”

Chu Xingchen sneered. “Anyone else can plead, but you cannot. Xie Ziqing, a life for a life. I cannot let Zhu Mo go.”

Xie Ziqing’s hand trembled. Finally, he knelt in humiliation.

“Your Highness, I know Zhu Mo made a mistake, but please spare his life. I will compensate the family of the palace servant who died unjustly. I will definitely guide Zhu Mo well. He only went astray because he was hit with the cane earlier.”

“Is compensation enough? Furthermore, he has no family; you have nowhere to send compensation. And you ask me to let him go? You say that so lightly. Would you spare a murderer like this, someone who wanted to take your life?” Hearing his flippant tone, Chu Xingchen’s anger flared up.

Xie Ziqing was startled. He thought for a moment and carefully reached out to grab Chu Xingchen. “Your Highness, I beg you, is that not enough? For my sake…”

“What sake do you have?” Chu Xingchen interrupted him expressionlessly, violently shaking off his hand.

Xie Ziqing stared at his discarded hand. With Chu Xingchen’s uncompromising words ringing in his ears, he froze. How could she treat him like this?

He was furious and disappointed, but an untimely memory flashed through his mind: the time she secretly held his hand, and the look of disappointment on her face when he impatiently pulled away.

So this is what it feels like to have one’s hand publicly discarded. Xiao Wang stood silently nearby, his expression neutral, but Xie Ziqing felt certain he was being mocked.

Listening to Zhu Mo’s screams slowly fading, and remembering the loyalty of the man who had served him, Xie Ziqing’s face was a mixture of blue and white, his heart aching.

He realized clearly that Chu Xingchen was retaliating and warning him. Recalling the news he had received earlier, a metallic taste filled his throat.

The news he had fought tooth and nail to uncover made him even more depressed. He hadn’t expected the White Cloud Flower to be such a valuable asset. He had never considered it when he saw it, yet Chu Xingchen immediately grasped its potential.

Fate is playing a joke on me. No, he had to save Zhu Mo.

“Your Highness, please…”

Before Xie Ziqing could finish, Chu Xingchen cut him off. “Xie Ziqing, I said you have no right to plead. You are Zhu Mo’s master. I haven’t even sought to hold you accountable yet. Coating the dagger with lethal poison—only you have that kind of ability. Were you trying to murder me?”

Chu Xingchen’s dark eyes were like sharp swords, seeing through everything. Xie Ziqing’s heart seemed to stop, and his body turned cold. “No, no, I didn’t.”

Xie Ziqing was not lying this time. He truly hadn’t ordered Zhu Mo to coat the poison; Zhu Mo had acted on his own initiative.

Xie Ziqing’s expression was defeated. He felt utterly humiliated under Chu Xingchen’s gaze. He had never known Chu Xingchen’s eyes could be so terrifying. He continued to defend himself but dared not utter another word of plea, instead asking for punishment. “It is my fault for poor management.”

Chu Xingchen scoffed. “Coward.”

Xie Ziqing was the mastermind of this whole affair. If he had stepped up and taken responsibility, she would have looked up to him. Unfortunately, he hadn’t. Despite pleading, he had pushed Zhu Mo forward as a scapegoat.

Chu Xingchen raised her voice. “Guards! Drag Xie Ziqing in front of the criminal Zhu Mo. Make him watch the execution with his own eyes as a warning to others.”

Xie Ziqing’s face changed dramatically. “No!”

“Do not allow him to close his eyes. Make him look closely at the fate of those who plot against me. And drag everyone from the Jade Splendor Hall forward. Let everyone watch.”

Xie Ziqing was forcefully dragged in front of the half-dead, disfigured Zhu Mo and forced to make eye contact as he watched Zhu Mo’s life slowly ebb away.

Miaobi, who was similarly restrained nearby, clawed at the ground, unaware that his hand was bleeding.

Chu Xingchen took one last look at Zhu Mo, flicked her sleeve, and turned to leave. She wasn’t being cruel; she was simply returning to them exactly what they had done in the novel.

In the novel, Wan Dong was beaten to death in this exact manner. Zhu Mo’s execution—beaten to death right in front of the Crown Princess—was a symbolic act. Zhu Mo did this because Wan Dong refused to bow to them, so he made an example of the loyal Wan Dong to intimidate everyone else, ensuring no one dared to protect the Crown Princess again.

This time, he had even tried to implicate Wan Dong. But she wouldn’t allow Wan Dong to go through that again. Wan Dong didn’t know the full extent of the plot, but this time, it was her who watched Zhu Mo be beaten to death.

It is the will of heaven.

Zhu Mo did not confess Xie Ziqing until the end. Perhaps he had wanted to speak, or perhaps he regretted it at the end of his life, but he could no longer speak.

When Zhu Mo finally stopped moving, Wan Dong checked and reported, “Your Highness, the execution is complete.”

With a sound of pu, Xie Ziqing spat out a mouthful of bl00d and completely fainted.

“Third Young Master!” The red-eyed Miaobi was horrified, quickly catching Xie Ziqing. His eyes were filled with hatred, but he dared not utter a single word.

The others were the same. This day was surely deeply engraved in everyone’s memory. Many would have nightmares tonight.

Xie Ziqing was taken away. The bloody stains on the ground were quickly cleaned up. Chu Xingchen exhaled. Xiao Wang looked down and saw that Chu Xingchen was unconsciously clutching his sleeve, her fingers white from the tightness of her grip. Remembering Chu Xingchen’s rigidity earlier, he thought she might be somewhat afraid.

But Xiao Wang quickly dismissed the thought, certain he was mistaken. How could Chu Xingchen be afraid of a servant being executed by staff? She had been so calm and decisive, displaying such clear command.