However, Gu Chaobei's family, having no blood relation to them and having been harmed by their clan, watched with the detachment of bystanders, their emotions unmoved.
Gu Laohan and Gu Laoda, as accomplices who knew of the crime but reported nothing, were sentenced to death by beheading. The rest of the Gu family members were to be banished to the frontier, exiled for a thousand miles.
Upon hearing the verdict, Gu Laohan and Gu Laoda were completely terrified, collapsing to the ground and fainting.
Grandma Gu, however, dared not wail and curse the injustice of the judgment as she usually would, nor did she dare to curse Gu Laoliu's family.
She had suffered enough in prison to understand that no matter how stubborn and fierce she was, there were people in this world even more stubborn and fierce than her.
If she dared to roar in court, she would surely face dire consequences.
She was even relieved that she had not been sentenced to death.
Husband and wife are like birds of the same forest, scattering when disaster strikes. Towards Gu Laohan, amidst her relief at having saved her life, she could only offer sympathy and regret.
Her mind was already working, figuring out how to scheme against her son and daughter-in-law so that she could live longer on the road of exile.
After the sentencing, the executions were carried out immediately.
A murmur swept through the crowd, who, enduring hunger and cold, had gathered to witness this most thrilling moment.
The executioner raised his executioner's sword, muttering incantations to the kneeling prisoners, essentially saying that they had committed crimes that violated the law, that the authorities were taking their lives, and that he was merely carrying out the law; may they have a good reincarnation and not seek him out.
With the recitation complete, the executioner brought down his blade, and heads rolled.
The scene was too gruesome. Gu Chaobei covered his daughter's eyes with his sleeve, and Hu Lanfang covered Mi Guo's eyes, preventing her from watching.
Aside from the spectators, the Gu family members also witnessed the execution. They were so frightened that they dared not even cry out, lest the wrath of the officials fall upon them.
Gu Xiaohua was so cold that her blood felt frozen, yet she seemed to see a glaring, unwelcome sight.
She slightly raised her head from her kneeling position and saw, on a high platform not far away, Gu Qingcheng, clad in a warm cotton coat, looking healthy and radiant, even mingling in the VIP section.
Occasionally, figures in ornate clothing would approach the pavilion to greet their family.
Gu Xiaohua recognized that in the pavilion, besides Gu Qingcheng, were her sixth uncle and sixth aunt, and beside them, a strange young boy who looked somewhat familiar but whose identity she couldn't place.
A myriad of emotions surged through Gu Xiaohua's heart. Seeing Gu Qingcheng so smug, she blamed the day that Old Master Gu was so troublesome and Daoist Zhang's lengthy shamanic rituals for not burying Gu Qingcheng in time.
Otherwise, even if someone came to rescue Gu Qingcheng, they would only be able to retrieve a corpse.
Gu Xiaohua suddenly understood that Gu Qingcheng's rescue, and the reason her uncle and grandfather were to be beheaded, likely had something to do with Gu Qingcheng's family.
She wondered what incredible luck they had stumbled upon, that this formerly weak and incompetent family had suddenly transformed into people of consequence.
Gu Xiaohua felt as if someone were scratching at her heart; it was an unbearable feeling.
Gu Qingcheng also saw Gu Xiaohua.
She knelt among a group of prisoners, inconspicuous. Recalling Gu Xiaohua's taunts when she was about to be buried alive, and remembering that Gu Xiaohua was one of those who had betrayed her, Gu Qingcheng withdrew her gaze and continued watching the execution.
After the executions, the crowd dispersed, buzzing with discussion.
Gu Chaobei naturally went to pay his respects to Prince Xia, thanking him for saving his daughter's life.
After taking his leave, Gu Chaobei intended to return home immediately. However, he happened to see people from the Charity Hall arriving to handle the aftermath. He gave them one tael of silver, asking them to procure two mats, wrap up Gu Laohan and Gu Laoda, and bury them in a pit to prevent their bodies from being exposed to the elements.
The weather seemed to grow colder, and their family had no desire to linger. They were preparing to return.
Gu Qingcheng remembered the people of Taoyuan Village and casually mentioned, "I wonder if the village chief is still in Pukou Village."
Gu Chaobei replied, "Steward Zheng mentioned that the people of Taoyuan Village were not involved in this matter and their restrictions have been lifted. They might already be planning to leave."
Hu Lanfang chuckled, "Do you two think the villagers are quite pitiful and want to go see them?"
Father and daughter were silent.
Hu Lanfang said, "I knew you two would think that way. If you want to go, then go. Just don't let it become a lingering concern."
Mi Guo remained silent, sitting obediently to the side.
Gu Chaobei then instructed the coachman to change their itinerary and head towards Pukou Village.
Upon arriving outside Pukou Village, they found that the people of Taoyuan Village had not yet left. They were still lodging outside Pukou Village, living in makeshift straw huts. Every household had a fire in front of their huts for warmth, shivering from the cold.
As the Gu family of four alighted from the carriage, they attracted attention.
Gu Chaobei and his wife were immediately surrounded by villagers, who spoke to them with curiosity about their life in Jinsha City, given their well-kept appearance.
"Sister Qingcheng, is that you?"
A young man, wrapped in at least seven or eight layers of clothing but still shivering, approached them.
Gu Qingcheng looked up and exclaimed, "Oh, isn't this Da Hu Ge?"
"Da Hu Ge, your hands are frozen black."
Gu Qingcheng remembered Zhang Dahhu's effort in giving her wild kiwis and asked with concern.
"Alas, it's the cold. We don't have enough cotton-padded clothes at home, so we've put on all our summer clothes. One more layer means more warmth," Zhang Dahhu said with a shy smile.
Gu Qingcheng, wearing a peach-pink padded jacket, her fair face flushed with a rosy glow, looked like the pampered daughter of a wealthy family.
Zhang Dahhu felt a sense of reverence and stepped back. He hadn't bathed in so long, and his unwashed smell might offend Qingcheng.
Seeing Zhang Dahhu like this, Gu Qingcheng felt a pang of sympathy.
Just then, she suddenly heard a prompt from the system:
"Helping the people of Taoyuan Village overcome the current famine and cold, restarting the southern refugee route. Mission complete. Reward: 50,000 system points."
Well, what a surprise, the system could actively issue missions!
Gu Qingcheng had always felt that she should do something for the villagers. Receiving this main mission, her heart filled with joy. If she obtained 50,000 points, she could get the speedboat.
How to complete the main mission?
Gu Qingcheng asked, "Brother Zhang, where is the village chief? Can you take me to him?"
Gu Chaobei and Hu Lanfang were engrossed in conversation with the enthusiastic villagers.
While there were indeed bad people among the Taoyuan villagers, most were ordinary folk who were not fundamentally evil, nor would they commit further heinous acts.
Seeing the Gu family looking prosperous and well-off, they all came forward to inquire about their well-being, eager to learn where the Gu family had found their fortune and if they could help them.
Gu Qingcheng let her parents speak with the villagers. It would be impolite to interrupt them abruptly at this moment.
Zhang Dahhu took her to find the village chief.
On the way, Gu Qingcheng casually handed Zhang Dahhu two hot meat buns, urging him to eat them quickly.