Chapter 61

Capital.

On the very first day these people from the future arrived for their sightseeing tour, three major events took place.

First, it was rumored that all the scholars at the Poetry and Wine Gathering, including Young Master Lanting, were no match for Li Bai, the legendary Immortal of Poetry, who had appeared out of nowhere.

Second, these people from the future were extraordinarily wealthy, scattering money with supreme generosity, and were remarkably easy to get along with.

Third, the wealthiest patron in the east of the city was being hauled away in a prison cart to have her head chopped off today!

Huo Meijun hurriedly instructed the shopkeeper to keep a close eye on the garment store. Then, gathering up the silver coins she had been counting, she rushed outside in a flurry.

She was terribly anxious inside. What on earth could these two young girls have possibly done to end up locked inside a prison cart after such a short while?

By the looks of it, they were heading toward the execution grounds at the southern marketplace—that was a place where people were beheaded!

As soon as she stepped out, she discovered that she was not alone; the surrounding neighbors and townsfolk had all poured out into the streets as well.

A crowd of people, filled with utter confusion, followed closely behind the prison cart.

At this moment, Mi Tianxin inside the prison cart looked utterly pitiful. She opened her round, wide eyes, and because she was so small, only her hands were bound; she was not even fitted with a wooden cangue.

However, her legs were indeed locked with iron chains.

[As expected of Little Yellow Duck, the pioneer of the execution experience!]
[Why aren't they going to attend the flower-viewing banquet?]
[They can go later, anyway the song and dance performances haven't started yet. But the flowers in the imperial garden are blooming so beautifully, there are so many I've never seen before.]
[66666 watching an execution.]
[So funny, I wonder if they're going to scare the ancients to death.]

The bailiffs dragging the prison cart looked at the surrounding gazes of the crowd, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

It was their first time ever dragging people who had committed no crimes. They truly could not understand why these people from the future enjoyed playing such games as getting their heads chopped off.

However, since His Majesty had issued the decree, they could only obey.

Thus, they dragged the two young girls all the way to the execution grounds. The bailiffs then released them from the prison cart and escorted them to the execution platform.

Before long, an official arrived—a minor official indeed, who would normally never be assigned to a real execution.

Since this was merely to accompany these people for a game, and his superiors were busy, yet they couldn't simply dispatch a few random bailiffs to handle it, he was given the assignment.

Qi Zijin sat on a chair, picked up the document placed before him, and began to read, "By order of His Majesty, this official is here specially to pronounce judgment on these two individuals!"

As soon as his voice fell, Huo Meijun and the others down below felt their hearts leap into their throats with dread.

What kind of crimes could these two little girls possibly have committed that they were to be put to death today?

Usually, executions were only carried out in the autumn.

Could it be the grave crime of treason?

"Mi Nuannuan, Mi Tianxin, both being people from the future. The two of you raised a cat and completely disregarded the wish of the little cat Tommy to eat more freeze-dried treats, forcing it to go on a diet, and failing to play with the little cat either," Qi Zijin read the words on the page, finding every single term utterly incomprehensible.

Yet, his fine upbringing compelled him to continue reading, "You even harbored the intent to raise yet another cat, without ever consulting Tommy's wishes. This crime is heinous and unforgivable. Do the two of you confess?"

As Huo Meijun listened to the charges he read out, she could not help rubbing her ears once more.

It must be because she had earned too much money today, making her eyes dizzy with joy and causing her ears to malfunction.

Otherwise, how could there be such bizarre charges as raising a cat and failing to play with it?

Wasn't a cat supposed to just be given a bite to eat so it would catch mice?

The numerous locals down below also wore expressions as if they had been struck by lightning.

"Since when has there been such a crime?"
"Astounding! What on earth is this freeze-dried treat? I have never fed my cat such food; am I going to have my head chopped off too?"
"Lord Imperial Commissioner! Surely there has been a miscarriage of justice!"

Qi Zijin noticed the commotion and gave a cough. "Silence!"

"Do the two of you confess?"

Mi Tianxin and Mi Nuannuan nodded excitedly. "We confess!"

[Hahahahahahahaha, I am honestly going to die of laughter.]
[Do they not know that this execution is just for fun?]
[Not playing with the little cat, not feeding the little cat freeze-dried treats—whose idea was this charge, hahahahaha!]
[Wait for it, when I come over I'm bringing my cat. When I get my head chopped off, I'll make sure it watches from the side.]
[Hurry up and chop! I support immediate execution!]

Huo Meijun now felt that this world was entirely surreal. With such bizarre charges, they were actually confessing!

"This is going to result in decapitation, do you know that?" she asked in a low voice.

Mi Tianxin nodded. "We know. Decapitation is exactly what we want."

Huo Meijun: ......

These two people must be out of their minds!
They were completely out of their minds!

She thought of her money and was just about to offer a few more words of persuasion when she saw the official seated on the stage speak again, "Since the two of you have confessed, in accordance with the laws of our dynasty, you are to be executed immediately!"

The moment Qi Zijin's voice trailed off, the executioner waiting off to the side impatiently strode over, brandishing a large saber.

The executioner looked at these two little runts, took a fierce gulp of wine, and sprayed it fiercely across the blade. "This broadsword of mine has slain countless people. Don't be afraid, it will be over very quickly."

Mi Tianxin felt a surge of excitement inside. "I'm not afraid, bring it on!"

The executioner gripped the broadsword tightly and raised it, preparing to swing down, when a woman stepped forward and shouted, "Stay the execution!"

[Triggered key plot point, stay the execution!]
[Young lady is fierce!]
[So thrilling, just like watching a television drama, it makes me want to experience an execution too.]
[Even though I know they have a golden shield, I'm still quite nervous.]
[So fun, so fun! I want to play too!]

Hearing her voice, the executioner stopped the blade in his hands, and Qi Zijin, seated above, demanded, "Who dares to obstruct this official in the execution of his duty?"

The woman glared at him with arched brows, offered a respectful bow, and then spoke, "This commoner Kong Yaojin, may I ask the magistrate a question?"

Qi Zijin replied, "Speak."

Kong Yaojin looked at him and said, "This commoner has never heard of such a crime, nor is there any such statute within the laws of our Great Xuan Dynasty. May I ask when and on what date this crime was written into the law codes?"

Qi Zijin: "This..."

There wasn't a damn thing like that in the laws of the Xuan Dynasty!

"Audacious! Silence!"

Seeing that Kong Yaojin was still trying to stand up for them, Mi Tianxin hurriedly spoke up, "Big sister, we're just playing around, you don't need to worry!"

Hearing this, Kong Yaojin assumed the girl was still completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation and mistook an execution for mere child's play.

Just as she was about to say more, a bailiff standing nearby chimed in, "Don't worry, miss, they really are just playing. Word has it that these people from the future possess indestructible golden bodies, and they paid money to experience being beheaded."

Kong Yaojin: ???

Indestructible golden body? Paying money to experience decapitation?

She must have studied until her brain turned mushy; otherwise, why would she be hearing such absurd words?

[Ancient person looking bewildered.gif]
[Screen recorded, I'm turning this into an emoji later hahahahahaha!]
[Hilarious as it is, this young lady is genuinely valiant. She dared to step forward and point out that this was wrong. If someone were actually being wrongfully executed, her actions would truly be risking her life to save another.]
[Thumbs up for the young lady!]
[Hopes the official won't blame her later, especially since that charge sounded entirely too ridiculous hahahahaha!]

The executioner clutched his blade. Hearing Qi Zijin command the execution once more, he raised the saber.

The weapon in his hand was not actually his usual broadsword, but a dull blade.

After all, they claimed to possess indestructible golden bodies, but he had no desire to slaughter the innocent either.

Therefore, he raised it high and brought it down gently.

The people down below had already closed their eyes, unable to bear watching the scene.

Yet, with a sharp snap, the executioner stared in shock as his blade shattered into pieces all over the ground! "It truly is an indestructible body!"

Huo Meijun cautiously opened one eye, only to see the two young girls safe and sound, glowing with a faint golden light.

Meanwhile, the executioner's blade was already broken.

"Buddha have mercy!"
"Immortals have descended!"

The onlookers, gazing at the golden radiance emanating from them, dropped to their knees.

Qi Zijin up on the platform felt somewhat shaky himself. Could these two little lasses actually be immortals? Why else would they be glowing with golden light?

Though he had heard tales of a protective golden aura beforehand, hearing it from others paled in comparison to the shock of seeing it with his own eyes.

He gritted his teeth, deciding to pretend he hadn't seen anything, while silently chanting in his heart, "Buddha, Immortals, I wasn't the one who wanted to chop off their heads; they wanted to be beheaded themselves. Do not blame me, do not blame me."

The executioner was still standing in a daze when Mi Tianxin piped up, "My turn! My turn!"

She hadn't experienced the decapitation yet!

The executioner could only feign composure as he retrieved another blade, took a fierce swig of wine, and spat it onto the metal. "This blade of mine is exceedingly sharp!"

With that, he raised the saber and brought it down squarely on Mi Tianxin's neck.

"Snap!"

This blade shattered as well.

Mi Tianxin kept her eyes closed until she heard the sound of the blade breaking, then opened them with a grin. "So fun, so fun!"

Nearby, bailiffs hurried forward to untie the two of them. Qi Zijin also stood up on the platform to explain to the people of the capital, "It was merely all in good fun just now. Upon hearing of our Xuan Dynasty's decapitation methods, these people from the future grew exceedingly curious."

"Hence, they wished to experience it for themselves. Sorry to have startled you all."

Kong Yaojin remained in a dazed state. What on earth had she just witnessed?

The blade shattered, and they glowed with golden light?

Clearly, her constant studying had addled her mind; her mother was entirely right to insist that she go out and take a walk.

Down below, the crowd was still kneeling and chanting praises to the immortals.

Qi Zijin walked over to the edge of the platform and announced, "They are not immortals, merely mortals blessed with indestructible golden bodies."

Wait, phrasing it that way...

Huo Meijun also knelt on the ground. She never imagined she had actually sold garments to celestial maidens. Ah, she shouldn't have taken money from celestial maidens at all.

Perhaps, moved by her sincerity, the celestial maidens might take her along to attain immortality as well.

"My lord, stop trying to trick us. How could they not be immortals if they possess indestructible golden bodies? And if they have indestructible golden bodies, how could they not be immortals?" Xiuniang chimed in.