Duke Kaiyang's face turned ashen at Jiang Chengyi's words. He staggered back a step, and the young man beside him quickly steadied him.
'How... How could I possibly atone for that vile slave's crime!'
'A baseborn murdering a free citizen is a heinous crime! For an ordinary murder, the culprit would only be beheaded. But for a case like this, the punishment is death by a thousand cuts!'
'Marquis Wei Qi's words were harsh, but it was true—he had no standing whatsoever to take that vile slave back!'
'Whether he was dead or alive, the crime that vile slave committed could not simply be wiped clean!'
'But I have to take him back! At the very least, I need to confirm if he's really dead.'
Duke Kaiyang couldn't help but stare at the lifeless man being carried by the guards. With difficulty, he asked, "Marquis, are you certain that vile slave is dead?"
"I killed him with my own hands. How could I not be certain?"
