The Slender Waist-Chapter 704 - 508: Dying with Eyes Open

The firewood was stacked, and Li Sangruo and Yuan Shuo were bound side by side, hands tied behind their backs, looking like two disheveled rice dumplings—one large and one small.

Li Zongxun took a torch from the Soldier’s hand and slowly walked to the side of the battlement to look down.

"Pei Jue, observe closely. I will also give you a quarter of an hour to consider! After the quarter of an hour, once the torch burns out, it will be the end."

Li Zongxun did not reveal Pei Jue’s true identity in front of the Soldiers of both armies, nor did he dare to touch upon the relationship between Li Sangruo and himself...

In front of so many people, Pei Jue could not possibly admit his identity as the remnant of the Xie Family.

The moment he admits he is Xie Xian’s son, his status in Dajin would be affected; at the very least, he would no longer be the legitimate descendant of the founding Pei Family.

This was the secret Pei Jue vowed to protect with his life.

Therefore, he knew that Pei Jue would not acknowledge his ancestors at this moment, let alone recognize any sister in front of the Soldiers of both armies.

What he was betting on was Pei Jue’s reluctance, his inability to let go...

Above the city tower, the wind grew stronger.

The torch burned brighter and fiercer, as if it could go out at any moment.

Below the city tower, the Soldiers held their sharp blades, ready and waiting, just awaiting the commander’s order.

Silence, tension.

Both sides faced off, each watching the other like wild beasts,

as though they were both searching for even a hint of weakness in the enemy...

It seemed to last only a moment, yet also like a long winter’s day had passed, when Pei Jue’s hand slowly drew the Biyong Sword and forcefully pointed it towards the sky.

"To the attack!"

He did not wait for Li Zongxun’s quarter of an hour, nor did he take another look at Li Sangruo and Yuan Shuo who were bound to the firewood stack. With an emotionless face and voice as cold as ice, he took the lead and charged forward.

Inspired by him, the Northern Yong Army roared loudly and surged forward. The disrupted rhythm of their assault reformed and flowed once more. Fueled by Li Zongxun’s ruthless act, the Soldiers’ offensive grew even fiercer, and the desire to take the city became more urgent.

"Wah——"

The piercing cry of the child tore through the sky, reaching the ears of both sides immersed in fierce battle.

Yuan Shuo wept.

This toddler, who had been Emperor for two years, had learned countless principles of sovereignty but had not enjoyed a single day of ease and never imagined that he would be tied to the top of the city wall, to be burned alive...

He looked at Li Zongxun approaching with the torch, weeping loudly, crying out against his fate.

The primal, hysterical cries seemed to tear apart his chest, his pupils dilating with fear.

"Prince of Yonghuai save me... I won’t be Emperor, I’ll never be Emperor again... Prince of Yonghuai, save me..."

Li Zongxun sneered in irritation.

"Quiet! No one can save you!" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"You are not the Emperor anymore, keep shouting and I will be the first to burn you."

Yuan Shuo clamped his mouth shut tightly, tears uncontrollably streaming down...

Li Zongxun gave a cold smile, stepped over Yuan Shuo, and walked towards Li Sangruo.

"Elder has to let younger go first, so you shall die first."

Li Zongxun was gambling, playing a game of brinkmanship.

He did not believe that Pei Jue would really disregard flesh and blood ties.

But Pei Jue was cunning, without being pushed to the brink, he would not easily concede...

"No... don’t come over here. Don’t come here!" Li Sangruo, looking at the torch raised in his hand and her clothes soaked in tung oil sticking to her skin, shook uncontrollably as if she were sieving chaff.

Her eyes reddened.

Tears streamed down.

Mucus bubbles burst forth.

With disheveled hair, disregarding decorum, she pleaded loudly, wishing she could kneel before Li Zongxun.

"Father, all that I said before was unintentional. I am your daughter raised by you, I respect you, I listen to you, I am your daughter... Father, father..."

Li Zongxun remained silent.

He held the torch, pressing ever closer.

The fear in Li Sangruo’s eyes reached an extreme.

"I don’t want to be burned alive, father, for the sake of our father-daughter relationship... you, please give me a quick death, I beg you... please grant me a swift end."

She would rather die quickly than be burned alive on this city tower, in front of Pei Jue.

She did not know the pain of being burned alive.

But she remembered vividly the burnt bodies of the Palace Attendants who perished in the Xingqing Palace fire years ago, their features beyond recognition, their charred bodies curled up like shrimp, a sight horrifying to behold.

Li Zongxun’s eyes were cold.

"No need to plead with me, you should appeal to him, to your beloved brother..."

"No, he’s not, I, I’m not... I am your daughter, ah, father..."

Li Sangruo spoke incoherently, the blood rushing to her head making her thoughts chaotic beyond measure. The despair of impending death made her tremble uncontrollably, her row of teeth making a ghastly and eerie sound.

"Father, oh father..."

"Father, oh..."

Li Zongxun gave a cold smile, and while glancing meaningfully towards the soldiers below the tower, he shouted loudly.