Naturally, the executioner could sense this gaze as well. But the execution area had long since been surrounded on all sides by military officers and soldiers, and aside from Lian Zhigao, everyone else she could see kept their distance, and the bright glare of the sun stung her eyes so she couldn't open them fully. Never mind, the executioner thought; she was acting for the Emperor, and the Emperor was acting for the heavens. Even if there truly was someone who held a grudge against her for this, the heavens would bless and protect her. The angle of the shadow on the sundial slowly turned, and the surroundings of the execution area gradually went from a clamour to calm. Xie Qianbing, wearing official's attire, sat upright in a high position, and unexpectedly was somewhat distracted as she watched this scene. In a moment, when the stick in her hand fell to the ground, the blade in the executioner's hand would fall heavily as well. With merely a wave of her hand, she could s...