This was a grand yet sinister hall, with carved beams and painted rafters draped in red silk, but every candle burned with green flame.
At the far end of the hall stood a high flight of steps, upon which sat two enormous dragon-and-phoenix chairs—yet both were empty.
Below the steps knelt the phantom of a woman in a simple wedding gown, her head covered by a red veil. Her body trembled. It was Su Wanqing. Behind her stood the phantoms of two executioners wielding Ghost Head Sabers.
This was the core scene of the memory of her conviction and execution.
"Welcome, all of you, to My wedding—also her execution ground." A majestic yet cold voice came from the direction of the dragon-and-phoenix chairs. Yet they remained empty, with only the voice echoing through the hall. "Since you have passed the betrothal rites and delivered the bridal gifts, you acknowledge this marriage. Then next comes fetching the bride."
The instant the voice fell silent, dozens of indistinct phantoms of civil and military officials appeared along both sides of the hall and shouted in unison, "The auspicious hour has arrived! Execute her!!"
The kneeling phantom of Su Wanqing suddenly tore off her red veil, revealing a delicate face streaked with tears and smeared with blood. The red mole on her neck was painfully conspicuous.
She raised her head, her gaze seeming to pierce through time and space as she fixed it on Chu Jiang and the other intruders. Her voice was shrill, like one weeping blood:
"You saw it. You all saw it. This is the realm he promised me as a bridal gift; this is the ten miles of red bridal splendor he promised me! My learning, my sincere heart—all I received in exchange was this execution block. Tell me, should