CHAPTER 148: CHAPTER

The horse finally slowed down.

Mo Ying tapped Lin Xu’s cheek. "...Wake up. We’re here."

Lin Xu opened her eyes slowly, still half asleep. "Mm... already...?"

But the moment she looked around, she woke up fully.

The place in front of her... was nothing like anywhere she had ever been.

Tall stone pillars stood in rows. Big lanterns hung from the ceiling, lighting the whole area in a serious, heavy glow. Guards in dark red and black clothes stood neatly on both sides, their faces cold, not moving at all.

She knew this place.

She had heard the name many times.

"...The Punishment Hall of Xuen Palace," she said quietly.

Mo Ying nodded and moved the horse forward. "Yes."

People began to notice him, and the moment they saw him, they bowed deeply.

"General Mo!"

Their voices echoed loudly.

Lin Xu didn’t question it. She already knew who Mo Ying was and what kind of power he carried here. Still, seeing everyone lower their heads because of him made her chest tighten. This wasn’t a fun place. A lot of scary things happened inside these walls.

The people moved aside, and Prosecutor Han walked out, wearing dark robes. His face looked strict, as usual.

He bowed.

"General Mo, you came earlier than expected."

Mo Ying got off the horse easily, then turned to help Lin Xu down.

"Hold my hand," he told her.

She let him help, stepping off slowly as she looked around again. She wasn’t confused... but she was alert. This was the kind of place where even one wrong word could cause trouble.

Prosecutor Han nodded at her politely, then looked back at Mo Ying.

"Everything is ready," he said. "We can begin whenever you say."

Lin Xu tugged Mo Ying’s sleeve gently. "What... are they getting ready for?"

Mo Ying didn’t avoid her question.

"You said I still haven’t kept my promise," he said softly.

Mo Ying looked down at her hand in his, then back at her face.

"You wanted Su Feng to pay for what he’s doing to those children," he said quietly. "So I found a way."

Lin Xu’s eyes narrowed. "What way...?"

Mo Ying’s voice dropped lower.

"The Fifth Princess of the Xuen Empire was supposed to return two days ago. The one who went missing when she was five."

Lin Xu froze. "What about her?"

Mo Ying met her eyes without blinking.

"I kidnapped her."

Lin Xu almost choked on her own breath. "YOU WHAT...?!"

He raised a hand. "Listen first."

She grabbed his sleeve tighter, whispering harshly. "Mo Ying, that’s the emperor’s daughter! If he finds out..."

"He already knows," Mo Ying cut in calmly. "And that’s the point."

Lin Xu felt her heartbeat jump.

Mo Ying continued walking deeper into the hall, pulling her gently along as he spoke.

"The princess returned secretly. I knew Su Feng’s people would be collecting new slaves for the black market around that time... so I placed her among them."

Lin Xu’s mouth dropped open. "You put a princess into a slave wagon...?!"

"She was safe," he replied. "My men watched her the whole way."

"But still...!"

Mo Ying exhaled sharply. "Lin Xu. I needed proof strong enough to break this case wide open. I needed something the emperor could not ignore."

They stopped at the center of the hall.

Guards rushed around them. Papers, seals, chains, crates... the whole place felt like it was boiling with tension.

"Because of the princess’s sudden disappearance," Mo Ying said, "the emperor ordered an immediate search."

Lin Xu stiffened.

"And while everyone panicked and started looking..."

Mo Ying lifted his chin slightly.

"...I brought the black market matter straight to court."

She stared at him.

He stared back, steady and firm.

"The emperor had no choice," he said. "He had to act. He had to face what Su Feng was doing."

Lin Xu swallowed hard. Her voice wavered. "Mo Ying... you did all that because of what I said?"

He didn’t hesitate.

"Yes."

Lin Xu felt her chest tighten.

Mo Ying stepped closer, lowering his voice even more.

"You wanted justice for those kids... so I moved everything to make it happen."

She looked up at him, her eyes soft even in the heavy light of the hall.

"...Mo Ying."

He lifted a hand and gently brushed her cheek.

"Tonight..." he murmured, "...you’ll see the results of the trap we set."

Lin Xu didn’t breathe for a moment.

Then...

The sound of heavy doors unlocking echoed through the hall and Prosecutor Han walked in.

Prosecutor Han raised his hand.

"Bring them in!"

His voice echoed across the huge hall.

Lin Xu blinked and looked up at Mo Ying.

"...Them?" she whispered, confused. She didn’t know who he meant.

Before Mo Ying could answer, the heavy side doors opened.

A line of guards marched in, forcing a group of people forward. All of them were dressed in plain white clothes... but the clothes were stained red. Some had dried blood. Some had fresh blood. Men and women, young and old... all of them looked beaten, pale, and terrified.

Lin Xu’s breath caught in her throat.

Then her eyes stopped on one face.

Him.

Su Feng.

Her body went cold.

If Mo Ying hadn’t returned... if he hadn’t stepped into her life again...

She would have married this man.

She would have walked right into his hands.

Su Feng met her gaze, and his expression twisted with something dark and hateful.

At the front of the hall, several high officials... ministers, generals, and elders... stood watching. All of them were here to witness the punishment of people who had crossed the law.

The guards pushed Su Feng and the others forward until they were on their knees.

Su Feng lifted his head slowly and glared straight at Mo Ying, as if he wanted to rip him apart.

"So it was you," he spat. "You were the one who ruined everything."

Mo Ying didn’t even blink.

"You ruined your own life," he replied calmly. "I just made sure the world saw it."

A vein pulsed in Su Feng’s neck. "You think this makes you righteous? You think she..." he pointed at Lin Xu with a shaky, blood-covered hand... "will stay by your side after seeing what you’ve done?"

Lin Xu’s heart jumped.

Mo Ying stepped slightly in front of her, blocking Su Feng’s finger with his shoulder.

Su Feng let out a dry, bitter laugh.

"Lin Xu... you’re really lucky," he said, his voice sharp and mocking. "Lucky Mo Ying came back when he did. If not..."

His smile turned sickening.

"...you would have ended up in my little cavity. Just like the others."

Lin Xu’s skin crawled. She took a step back, stomach tightening.

Mo Ying’s jaw clenched as he spoke, voice low and dangerous.

"You won’t speak another word to her."

Su Feng only smirked, eyes filled with madness.

"Why? Afraid she’ll know what she almost became?"

The room fell silent.

Prosecutor Han’s voice cut through the tension like a knife.

"General Mo," he said, bowing slightly, "shall we begin the formal charges?"

Mo Ying didn’t look away from Su Feng as he answered.

"Yes. Start."

Lin Xu swallowed, her mind spinning.

She had known Mo Ying was bringing her here to see the truth...

But she didn’t know it would hit this hard.

She didn’t know Su Feng... had fallen this deep into darkness.

And now, standing behind Mo Ying, watching Su Feng kneel in chains, she finally understood:

Tonight wasn’t just about justice.

It was about ending everything that could have destroyed her.

Before Prosecutor Han could continue, hurried footsteps echoed from the entrance.

An eunuch in bright gold-and-green robes rushed inside, holding a long scroll with both hands.

"His Majesty’s decree!" he announced loudly.

Everyone in the hall froze.

Then, one by one, all the officials and guards fell to their knees.

"Long live His Majesty!"

Even the prisoners were forced down... guards pushed their backs until they knelt in a strict line. Su Feng gritted his teeth but couldn’t fight it.

Lin Xu quickly knelt too, and Mo Ying lowered himself beside her, steady and respectful.

The eunuch unrolled the scroll slowly, his voice ringing clear:

"By order of the Son of Heaven, ruler of the Xuen Empire, may this decree be heard by all present."

The hall went silent.

Only the eunuch’s voice echoed.

"First: It has come to my knowledge that the Fifth Princess, long missing since childhood, was used as bait to expose the hidden crimes of the black market slave trade."

Lin Xu lowered her head, heart tight.

"Second: General Mo Ying, through swift judgment and unwavering loyalty, uncovered corruption that reaches far into the empire. His courage has brought shame to dangerous men who believed they could hide behind wealth and titles."

The ministers nodded, none daring to speak.

"Third: Lin Xu, a concubine, was said to have partaken in the implementation of this justice."

Lin Xu looked up slightly... shocked.

The eunuch continued:

"By this decree, His Majesty bestows upon Lin Xu the honorary title Lady of Virtue and Courage. Her name shall be written in the records for her bravery in speaking the truth."

Lin Xu’s breath tightened. She never imagined the emperor would even know her name.

Mo Ying glanced at her, a small, soft warmth in his eyes.

But the eunuch wasn’t done.

"Fourth: The Su family, including Su Feng, has been found guilty of child trafficking, slave trading, illegal imprisonment, and conspiracy against the safety of the imperial princess."

Su Feng’s head snapped up, anger burning in his eyes.

"Wait...!"

A guard struck the back of his head, forcing him down again.

The eunuch raised his voice, reading the emperor’s final words:

"Such sins cannot be forgiven."

Every guard in the room stood straighter.

"Therefore, by imperial command, the entire Su household shall be stripped of their titles, their properties seized, and..."

The eunuch took a breath.

"...all involved members are sentenced to death."

The words crashed over the hall like thunder.

Lin Xu’s fingers shook.

Su Feng’s face twisted in disbelief and rage.

"No...! NO! You can’t...!"

Guards grabbed his arms, slamming him fully to the floor.

The eunuch read the last lines:

"Justice shall be served tonight. The people shall know the empire will not tolerate such evil. General Mo Ying is ordered to carry out this judgment immediately."

Then he rolled up the scroll, bowed deeply, and stepped aside.

No one moved.

The air felt heavy... final... irreversible.

Mo Ying slowly stood and looked at Prosecutor Han.

"Begin the execution arrangements," he commanded.

Lin Xu stayed kneeling, staring at the floor as Su Feng’s screams echoed through the hall.

Tonight... everything ended.