Chapter 598 - 596: No, It Can’t Be You

Chapter 598: Chapter 596: No, It Can’t Be You

’Last night, in a hazy state, I dreamt I saw... two wintergourds?’

Aaron Sinclair gently tapped his temple and muttered to himself, "Two wintergourds? What the hell? What a weird dream."

He had seen the wintergourds sprout long, slender arms and legs, with hands that were just two-pronged claws. The gourds had eyes and mouths, could talk, and looked just like wintergourds that had come to life.

Shaking his head slightly, Aaron Sinclair found himself amused by his own dream. ’Where in the world would you ever find something so bizarre?’

Just then, the butler’s voice came from outside the door.

"Young Master, are you awake?"

Hearing the voice, Aaron Sinclair lifted his gaze to the door.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open. He glanced over and saw the butler enter first, followed by two young maids. They held trays on which clothing was neatly arranged.

The butler stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Young Master, these are the clothes the Princess Consort asked me to bring. The Princess Consort said that red would be a suitable color for you today. It’s auspicious and festive, and it can ward off ill fortune to ensure your future is smooth and happy."

The butler’s words registered clearly.

’Mother says I should wear red today, for luck and celebration.’ Aaron Sinclair’s gaze fell upon the clothes in the maid’s hands, and he blushed. ’My mother worries so much. It doesn’t matter what I wear. She didn’t have to go to all this trouble.’

"Mother worries too much. I’m a grown man now. I can wear anything," he said with a touch of pride, but he couldn’t stop the corners of his lips from turning up in a slight smile.

"Quick, bring it here so I can try it on."

The two maids stepped forward.

"Young Master, allow us to help you change."

Aaron Sinclair sat on the edge of the bed, his left hand resting on his thigh. He lifted his gaze slightly, looking from the butler to the two maids.

"Leave the clothes here. You may all withdraw."

"As you command."

The maids placed the clothes on the bed beside him and respectfully withdrew.

The butler spoke up. "Young Master, you have been refusing the maids’ assistance these past few days. Are you displeased with them? Shall I arrange for others?"

Aaron Sinclair waved his hand dismissively.

"That’s not necessary. They are doing a fine job."

"I simply do not like people getting too close."

The butler said no more, only offering a slight bow.

"Then I will take my leave. Please call for me if you need anything, Young Master."

Once the butler and the others had left, Aaron Sinclair was alone in the room.

Remembering he was going to the market square to see the spectacle, Aaron Sinclair immediately stood up and changed into the clothes his mother had prepared for him.

Once he was fully dressed, with a green jade pendant tied at his waist, he stood before the mirror to take a look. He was very satisfied with the outfit. After washing up, he went to his mother’s courtyard for a light breakfast, then left the mansion with two guards.

Early that morning, notices had been posted throughout the city. The Emperor had listed every one of Caleb Jacobs’s crimes for all the world to see. Crowds of people gathered beneath the proclamations, their voices rising in anger.

"He deserves to die! A man like that should be executed!"

"The real tragedy is what happened to General Donovan, who fought and died for our country."

"That Caleb Jacobs... The nerve of that man! To poison an official of The Imperial Court, steal his identity, and then brazenly treat the General’s Mansion as his own home. He’s absolutely shameless!"

"Exactly..." a man spat in disgust.

"Look at the notice! He didn’t just poison the General and steal his identity. When the Warden of the North’s son went missing all those years ago, it turns out *he* was the one who kidnapped him! What kind of feud could possibly lead to that? That’s the Princely Heir! How could he dare?"

"He must have the courage of a demon, right? Look, it says later that Caleb Jacobs, fearing exposure, even sent assassins to kill the Princely Heir and silence him for good. Heavens! Every single one of these crimes is a capital offense."

Just then, someone shouted.

"Brother Lawson! Brother Morgan! Let’s hurry over there!"

"They’re parading the villain who poisoned the General through the streets! Let’s go grab a good spot!"

There was never a shortage of crowds when it came to a spectacle.

On the way to the execution grounds, the Jacobs family was dressed in tattered prison garbs. Their bodies were covered in bloody, still-weeping wounds. They were barefoot, weighed down by heavy shackles on their hands and feet.

A barrage of rotten vegetables and eggs was hurled at their heads and bodies. The air was filled with the cheers and curses of the crowd.

"Murderer! Go to hell!"

"Pay for our General’s life!"

"Caleb Jacobs, you old dog! You deserve to die!"

A rotten egg smashed on Caleb Jacobs’s head, and a foul stench filled his nostrils.

As they were marched through the streets, Caleb Jacobs and Mrs. Dawson’s hair was a mess, their faces ashen with despair. A stumbling Arthur Jacobs followed beside them—the whole family, all present and accounted for.

As for his concubines, their crimes did not warrant death. They were instead sold into slavery by The Magistracy early that morning. They were originally meant to be beheaded alongside the family; to have escaped with their lives was considered a great mercy.

The children of these concubines, not being Caleb Jacobs’s biological offspring, were not included in the familial punishment and were thus spared death. They had two fates: follow their mothers into slavery or be claimed by their respective biological fathers. However, due to their association with the crime, any father wishing to claim his child had to first endure twenty strokes of the cane and pay a fine of fifty taels of silver. Otherwise, the children would have no choice but to be enslaved with their mothers.

Fortunately, the concubines’ lovers proved to be men of character. They went to The Magistracy early in the morning, endured the caning, and reclaimed their children. Their backsides were beaten raw for their efforts. Still, even as they were being carried away, they didn’t forget to send people to inquire where the children’s mothers had been sold, so they could buy them back.

When Caleb Jacobs learned that the bastards born of those sluts had been reclaimed by their real fathers, his eyes went red with fury. He continued to curse them the entire way, even as rotten eggs and vegetables rained down on him.

When he was finally forced onto the execution platform, Caleb Jacobs slammed his shackled hands against the ground before him.

"Sluts... They’re all faithless sluts!"

"Why should their children be allowed to live?! I won’t accept it! Those bastards are my daughters in name—they should be beheaded with me! And those unfaithful sluts who slept with other men! They were my concubines! They should be buried with me, die with me! Why are they spared?! It’s not fair!"

Forced onto the execution platform, Caleb Jacobs became frenzied with fear and couldn’t stop screaming. He cursed the heavens and the earth, railing against the injustice of it all.

Seeing him screaming, the Executioner seated above barked, "Insolence! This is an execution ground, not a place for your hysterics! Men, gag him!"

"Yes, sir!"

Down in the crowd below the platform, Aaron Sinclair stood in a corner. He looked up slightly, his gaze fixed on The Jacobs kneeling on the execution platform in the market square.

"They brought this upon themselves."

Someone approached from his side. A guard handed him the tanghulu he had just bought.

"Young Master, I’ve brought the tanghulu."