Chapter 241: Useless Things

Lady Wenli stood in the center of the courtyard, preparing to burn the mice. They were trapped in an iron cage, beneath which lay kindling soaked in oil. A single spark would ignite it all. The guards formed a circle around the scene, silently watching the mice. Initially, they resented the rodents for making them work half the night. But upon learning Lady Wenli's plan to burn the mice alive, a different emotion surfaced—they began to feel sorry for the creatures. Especially the guards who knew the origin of the mice. They had personally picked them up from the docks, placed them in the sealed benches, and transported them to the lab. Although they didn't know how the mice returned, they felt the animals were not at fault. If not for being brought here, the mice would still be happily living in their own country. "Ma'am, burning them alive is too cruel," one guard couldn't help but say. "And the smell will be unbearable." Lady Wenli insisted, "No, I must see these failures die bef