Dragon's Origin

Chapter 248: None of My Business (Part 1)

The implication behind being able to choose someone to pardon is truly fascinating.

They are all sinners, all guilty of disobeying the imperial decree, a heinous crime. Why is one person allowed to be pardoned? Can this person be chosen arbitrarily, or only within a certain range?

If it were an ordinary person, they would definitely think that this was the Emperor leaving a chance for his son to save his life. Because ordinary people, upon realizing this is the Emperor's grace, would definitely ponder the deeper meaning and naturally choose to pardon the Seventh Prince, while having all others beheaded.

Unfortunately, this time it's Wang Sheng they're dealing with. In everyone's eyes, Wang Sheng is someone who doesn't play by the rules. Who will he choose to pardon this time?

"Who do you think he will choose?" In the mansion across from the Marquis' residence, the Emperor sat under the shade of a tree, holding a cup of tea. He didn't drink it but slowly inhaled the aroma, asking as he did so.

"This humble servant does not know," replied the legendary expert.

"Could it be that he won't choose Little Seven?" The Emperor's interest was piqued by this answer, and a gleam appeared in his eyes: "If it were my court officials, they would probably choose Little Seven without hesitation, right?"

"Marquis Chang Sheng is not your court official," the legendary expert replied to the Emperor. In his heart, however, he began to wonder if he would choose to pardon the Seventh Prince if he were in such a situation.

No! The legendary expert was very sure of his own thoughts. Saving the Seventh Prince at this time might seem like currying favor with the Emperor and giving him face, but with his many years of experience in the palace, the saved Seventh Prince would become a venomous snake ready to bite him at any time.

The people of the royal family, including the Seventh Prince, and even, to put it bluntly, the Emperor before him, have never understood gratitude. To make people feel unpredictable, they would turn their faces at any time. Serving a ruler is like living with a tiger; it's not just a saying.

Eunuch Li was watching Wang Sheng, even the female boss was watching Wang Sheng, all waiting for him to choose which one.

"Eunuch Li, what if I don't want this grace?" Wang Sheng suddenly asked: "What will happen?"

"It doesn't matter, then all will be executed," Eunuch Li explained quickly, not caring at all: "However, afterwards, I will have to trouble the Marquis to meet with the Emperor and explain it in person. Not pardoning can also be considered disobeying the imperial decree."

"Then forget it, I'm too lazy to run back and forth," Wang Sheng said, holding the gold token and walking forward.

Among the ten principal offenders, at least nine pairs of expectant eyes instantly locked onto Wang Sheng. Although their bodies were bound, each person's eyes revealed a strong sense of survival and a sincerity beyond compare.

Especially the Seventh Prince, whose face already showed a look of ecstasy. From the moment he heard Eunuch Li say that one person could be pardoned, he knew he wouldn't die.

Any intelligent person would never choose someone else over the Seventh Prince, right? Wang Sheng was tricked into giving away his gold token yesterday, and he didn't say a word of complaint. What is that if not intelligence?

Watching Wang Sheng walk over, the Seventh Prince wanted to shout with joy. Unfortunately, not only was he completely tied up, but his mouth was also stuffed with rags that made him want to vomit. He couldn't make a sound, and could only greet Wang Sheng's arrival with the most fervent gaze.

Wang Sheng walked past those young men without any mercy. The four of them were still gleefully mocking Wang Sheng yesterday, but today they were being held here waiting for execution, and the only opportunity was actually the special pardon held by Wang Sheng. Life is truly terrifyingly unpredictable.

Unfortunately, a slim hope is just that, a slim hope. Wang Sheng hadn't even met them, so how could he know who they were? Who their fathers were? Even if he knew who their fathers were, weren't their powerful and high-ranking fathers tied up next to them waiting for execution?

The four important court officials also showed some pleading. However, Wang Sheng still didn't look at them. If they hadn't been resentful and told their sons about the Emperor's decree, inciting the Seventh Prince to cause trouble, how would they be in this predicament today?

They weren't the only four who knew the Emperor's decree; how come the others were honest and didn't stand out? In the end, it was still their own dissatisfaction, and they neglected that their actions were actually disrespectful to the Emperor.

It was the Emperor who really wanted them dead, not Wang Sheng. Wang Sheng wasn't a saint either, and wouldn't fight with the Emperor for the rule of law in this world. So, they were being blind and doing the wrong thing, yet they still wanted Wang Sheng to save them. Forget it.

Everyone watched Wang Sheng walk up to the Seventh Prince. Even the Emperor watching from afar thought that Wang Sheng would definitely pardon the Seventh Prince, let alone anyone else.

The Seventh Prince was so excited that tears were about to flow down his face. His father was indeed his father. Although he had sentenced him to death, he still arranged such an opportunity to pardon his crimes so that he could live. He must be filial to his father in the future, be respectful...

Wang Sheng stood in front of the Seventh Prince and carefully sized up the culprit who had plotted against his Marquis' residence. The Seventh Prince tried his best to make his gaze appear softer, more friendly, and then waited with hope for Wang Sheng to say the words to pardon him.

"Just so-so!" The Emperor watched Wang Sheng stop in front of the Seventh Prince, sneered, and gave Wang Sheng such an evaluation.

However, as soon as the Emperor finished speaking, Wang Sheng shook his head, walked away from the Seventh Prince, and went to the side of the last managing eunuch who had always been looking down and never looked at him.

The managing eunuch knew he would die, and understood even more that he could not obtain any pardon, so he had long been mentally prepared to take the knife.

Suddenly feeling someone next to him, the managing eunuch looked up and saw Wang Sheng's face.

Wang Sheng saw the managing eunuch's calm face, nodded, and then reached out and pinched. The rope tying the managing eunuch was pinched off and fell from the managing eunuch's body.

"I'll leave my gold token in your safekeeping," Wang Sheng said, holding out his hand and handing over the gold token.

The managing eunuch couldn't help but hold the gold token with both hands, looking at Wang Sheng with a face full of astonishment, as if he couldn't believe everything he was seeing and hearing.

"Keep it safe!" Wang Sheng's voice came again: "Don't tell me you don't know what gold token is when I ask you next time."

After saying that, Wang Sheng turned around and greeted Eunuch Li: "It's him!"

Only at this moment did the managing eunuch completely wake up from his shock, and only then did he understand that he had become the luckiest one to be pardoned by Wang Sheng.

The joy of escaping death made the managing eunuch burst into tears. Regardless of the situation around him, he knelt down on the ground with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly to Wang Sheng.