The Art of the Emperor
After Bai Yan had slaughtered his way through the opposition, a Squad Leader hurried in from outside. He bowed to Bai Yan and reported:
"My lord, the traitors are about to be executed at the Vegetable Market. Would you like to go and watch?"
"Executed? So soon?"
Ren Hong was startled.
The Squad Leader shook his head.
"This subordinate doesn't know the details either. I only know that everyone arrested yesterday is to be executed. The jailers are currently escorting them to the Vegetable Market, so I came to report it."
Bai Yan was not particularly surprised. After all, this case had implicated far too many people. The traitors had been interrogated personally by the Imperial Guard Commander and the Grand Guardian.
Their interrogation methods were probably no less ruthless than Bai Yan's—if anything, they might have surpassed him. Naturally, they had worked quickly. If they had dragged things out for ten days or half a month like they were questioning ordinary criminals, they might as well have quit.
Even if they failed to extract any valuable intelligence in the end, the prisoners still had to die.
After all, they needed to extinguish the Emperor's fury as quickly as possible.
The day before, Bai Yan had heard Zheng Haihan mention that the Emperor had flown into a thunderous rage at the Palace of Gazing Immortals, even overturning his most treasured alchemy furnace.
If they did not kill a few traitors to cool his temper, the old Emperor probably would not be able to sleep.
"Let's go take a look."
He had nothing better to do. Besides, Bai Yan had never properly watched criminals being executed at the Vegetable Market. This was the perfect chance to broaden his horizons.
Everyone left the Northern Commandery Investigation Bureau