Chapter 998: Chapter 834: Suicide to Atone for One’s Crimes

Chen Zhao was burning with anxiety. He wanted to hurry back; his wife and children were surely still alive, and he had to go back and reunite with them.

But what did this Mr. Chen mean now? Did he expect him to carry him on his back?

Now that things had come to this, this Mr. Chen was actually thinking about those old pampered days?

"Chen Zhao, you go." Qian Hui Chun’s weak voice sounded. He slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze seemed to harden.

"I won’t survive. Even if I go back, you and I both know what’s waiting for me. You going alone will be much easier than taking me with you."

Then he suddenly sat up and began taking off his official uniform.

Chen Zhao was stunned. "My lord! What are you doing?"

"Take my official uniform and official seal back. They’ll believe you." Qian Hui Chun’s hands were trembling, and his breathing grew rapid.

Chen Zhao also knew that what Qian Hui Chun said was true. No matter what, the lord could not live, but what about those commoners?

"My lord! Are you just going to ignore those people? The future can wait for the future, but right now is when those commoners need you!"

Even if you are to die, you should wait until the aftermath is settled before dying! As an official of the court, how can you abandon the people?

"Chen Zhao, I am lacking in ability and already powerless in this matter. The court must have received the news by now and will certainly send an imperial envoy. As long as I die, the court might let my children go. They must still be alive; I cannot cut off my line!"

Qian Hui Chun’s face was covered in tears; he was utterly in despair. He had never imagined things would rot to this extent—heaven truly meant to destroy him!

He took off his official uniform and folded it neatly, then placed the official seal and Jade Pendant on top of it and stroked them lingeringly.

He had been in office for several decades; six years ago he had had no choice but to throw in with that man, and only then had his career started to soar.

To become Magistrate of Changtian Prefecture, he had paid no small price. He had thought that his official career would be smooth sailing afterward, but who would have thought such a disaster would occur.

"I have shamed the elders and villagers of Changtian Prefecture, and must use death to atone!" Qian Hui Chun looked at the continuous mountain range in the distance and yanked up the hem of his white inner garment. "Rip!"

Chen Zhao saw Qian Hui Chun tear a strip from his inner garment, then bite through his own forefinger and begin to write.

"In the Da Yan 69th Year, continuous heavy rains in Jiangnan caused the water level of the Tianya River to surge. I, the criminal official Qian Hui Chun, as Magistrate of Changtian Prefecture, failed to make proper preparations, resulting in the collapse of the river embankment downstream of the Tianya River near Changtian Prefecture, causing countless deaths and injuries among the commoners. I am incompetent, unworthy of the people, unworthy of the Emperor’s grace, and have committed such a grave wrong."

Tears soaked Qian Hui Chun’s gaunt face. He lifted his sleeve to wipe them away. This was his blood-written confession. With so many commoners dying in the river, how could he remain unmoved?

Besides, he still clung to a sliver of hope that the Emperor, in consideration of this confession, might show some leniency and spare his offspring’s lives.

Even if everything that had happened in Changtian Prefecture would be recorded in the annals of history, he, Qian Hui Chun, and this blood-written memorial would be reviled for generations. He had no other choice.

Chen Zhao’s expression grew grave. In this moment he suddenly felt that the lord was not so hateful after all.

"I know my crimes are beyond forgiveness, or else Heaven itself would not tolerate it. Thus, on the twenty-eighth day of the seventh month of the Da Yan 69th Year, I take my own life to atone! To inform the spirits of the dead commoners of Changtian Prefecture in heaven. — The criminal official Qian Hui Chun."

After writing this, Qian Hui Chun seemed to have exhausted all his strength. His hands trembled as he looked at the blood-written letter in his hand. Then he folded it and handed it to Chen Zhao beside him.

"You must deliver this blood-written memorial to Lord Imperial Envoy from the Capital, Chen Zhao. Go!" With that said, Qian Hui Chun turned to look to the side.

This place was at a high elevation; they were in a narrow cave. They had originally feared a wild beast attack, so they had found a spot by a cliff to guard against beasts.

"My lord! Is it really so serious? As long as you atone with merit, the Emperor will surely spare your life. Have you forgotten? Was that embankment collapse your fault? Even if you didn’t reinforce it beforehand, the problem lay with the river embankment itself, you..."

Qian Hui Chun looked back and gave a bitter smile. "Chen Zhao, even if the Emperor were willing to spare me, would those people spare me? With the breach this serious, they’ll do anything to protect themselves. One way or another, I cannot live. Better to die now with some dignity, at least so people won’t call me someone who clung to life out of fear of death."

As he spoke, there was a hint of grim resolve on Qian Hui Chun’s face.

Hearing this, Chen Zhao’s heart lurched, and he couldn’t help but start worrying about his own life. He pondered for a moment, intending to persuade him again.

Qian Hui Chun must not die; otherwise he himself would be in even greater danger than now.

As Qian Hui Chun’s trusted aide, back when they were reaping benefits, Chen Zhao had gotten his share too.

Even if, to those people, what he got was just a drop in the bucket, hardly worth mentioning,

they would still need a scapegoat. If Qian Hui Chun died, wouldn’t they have to pick him to take the blame?

It had to be said, Chen Zhao had been scared witless. Otherwise, with his rank, even if someone had to be held responsible, it would not be his turn—he didn’t have enough status.

But at this moment, how could Chen Zhao think of all that? The more he thought, the more frightened he became. No, Qian Hui Chun could not die.

Qian Hui Chun had already rushed out in a flash; with one step he went over the cliff’s edge, then shouted at the top of his lungs, "The criminal official Qian Hui Chun takes his own life here!"

"My lord! Don’t jump!" Chen Zhao looked up, only in time to catch a glimpse of that sweep of white hem.

He rushed to the edge of the cliff and looked down. In fact, this cliff was not bottomless; he could see the situation at the bottom right now.

Amid the jumble of rocks, a faint patch of white could be seen.

He glanced back at the official uniform and official seal lying on the ground, then at the blood-written memorial in his hand, feeling dazed.

Just two days ago he and the lord had been thinking about how to get out of here; today the lord had taken his own life to atone.

After lingering at the edge for a long while, Chen Zhao brushed back the hair the wind had mussed, picked up the official uniform and official seal from the ground, and finally walked off in the other direction.

...

"Waiter, pack more rabbit and donkey meat!" Silver and the others had eaten and drunk their fill and rested for half an hour before preparing to set off again.

Although time was pressing, people still needed rest, didn’t they? They had been riding day and night for three or four days straight; no one could endure that.

Ming Mo took out three taels of Silver from his breast, then rubbed his thigh. After so much riding, the insides of his thighs burned; the skin was probably rubbed raw.

"Young master, let’s go." Ming Yan and the others had packed all the food to go and exchanged a look with Silver.

Silver nodded and rose, walking out of the teahouse.

The four people at that table watched the three of them. Only when they saw them mount up and ride a stretch southward did they withdraw their gaze.

One of them lowered his voice and said, "Master, do you think those three might have the same goal as we do?"