Chapter 111 Are you teaching me to be a tyrant?

Dongfang Qi panicked and was about to speak when Xie Shouzheng continued to talk: "Is there any need to say this? It's because you two are uncle and sister-in-law. My master is a gentleman and should be careful to avoid suspicion. If he can't sit in the car, then he can only sit outside. Master, am I right?"

He looked up at Dongfang Qi with a smiling face, as if asking for praise. If his tail had not been tucked away, he would have definitely shaken out a shadow at this moment.

"Xiao Hui." Dongfang Qi waved at him, signaling him to turn around.

"Ah? Why do I have to turn around?" Although he didn't understand, Xie Shouzheng still turned around obediently.

The next moment, Dongfangqi kicked him on the butt: "You just seem to talk too much, why don't you get out of here!"

After being kicked, Xie Shouzheng had no choice but to get on his horse with a wronged look on his face.

Facing the morning light, the carriage, carrying hope, set off again on its journey.

On the way, Lin Qingyue asked Dongfang Qi, "The mastermind behind the Hongyu incident was Duke Li. Do you think he can be convicted in the end?"

Dongfang Qidao said, "This case has both witnesses and evidence. Logically, it can be converted into a conviction."

"Normal?" A woman's lazy sneer echoed from the carriage. "So, there's a high probability that something will go against common sense?"

Dongfang Qi was silent for a moment before he spoke, "The Li family is a top-tier clan with immense power. Duke Li is the head of the Li family, and he has loyalists throughout the court. Even Prince Li needs his full support to fight for power."

Lin Qingyue raised her eyebrows and smiled: "So?"

Dongfang Qi said, "So, I suspect they'll sacrifice the rook to save the king. Since Li Duo is dead, they might just let it slide and push all the blame onto him. But if Li Duo wasn't dead, they'd probably find a branch of the family or a bastard to take the blame."

Lin Qingyue asked again, "Is your father so easily fooled?"

Dongfang Qidao said, "Even if Miao Dong is willing to identify him, even if the crime can be pinned on Duke Li, it will be useless because they are from the powerful and privileged class and are protected by their privileges."

Lin Qingyue sarcastically said, "What a great privilege! Who gave you this privilege? You, or your father?"

Dongfang Qi shook his head, his tone filled with helplessness. "It's the entire class. It's a tacit understanding formed over thousands of years. They have to protect their own rights, so ordinary crimes cannot shake their foundation."

"Even if my father insists on imposing a severe punishment, then the other noble families—even those that once had bad relations with the Li family—will stand together to resist the imperial power."

"Because every family has its own shameful aspects, they want to protect the interests of the entire class and will never allow the guillotine to fall."

"Although my father is the emperor of a country, he still needs the support of the nobles. Otherwise, he will destroy his own country."

At this point, Dongfang Qi sighed deeply. "The aristocratic families have a thousand-year-old foundation, even older than the history of Qi. They've long been deeply entwined in this land, and a single move can affect the entire land. Therefore, such a crime can only cause the Li family some setbacks at best, but it won't eradicate them completely."

"It doesn't sound like a big deal." Lin Qingyue smiled disdainfully.

Dongfang Qi said: "Why, do you have a solution?"

Lin Qingyue said, "What's so difficult about this? Since those noble families have all become a cancer, let's eradicate them all. Kill one family first to serve as a warning to the others. If that doesn't work, continue the slaughter! At worst, we can just kill them all."

Dongfang Qi was amused by her: "You said it so easily, as if killing people is as easy as mowing the grass."

Lin Qingyue said, "Isn't it simple? If you find it difficult, then it means you're not strong enough. Only the strong will not be timid. The guilty will be punished. Why think so much?"

Dongfang Qi said, "Are you teaching me to be a tyrant?"

Lin Qingyue smiled. "That's right! If I can create a completely different world, what's wrong with being a tyrant? What does false reputation in the future matter? Whether I'm infamous for eternity or famous for eternity, what does it matter to me?"

Dongfang Qi shook his head and chuckled, "You speak as if you were once a tyrant."

Although he didn't quite agree with Lin Qingyue's statement, he admired her open-mindedness and her unwillingness to be bound by worldly fame and fortune.

Over the next few days, they traveled northward and finally arrived at the northern border of Qi.

The northern border is vast, with endless green grass stretching as far as the eye can see. Flocks of sheep gather like clouds. Even the wind carries a refreshing breath of freedom.

As soon as Xie Shouzheng arrived on the grassland, the wildness in his blood awakened.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, he howled and turned into a wolf, running back and forth on the grassland, scaring the sheep into running away in all directions.

Dongfangqi shouted from afar, "Xiaohui, don't scatter the flock of sheep, or the herdsmen won't be able to find them!"

Then, the gray shadow like a gust of wind jumped left and right on the grass, helping to gather the flock back.

A shepherd happened to be riding along, and seeing the dog from a distance, he could not help but praise it, saying, "What a good dog!"

Little Gray was so angry that he abandoned the flock and ran back, cursing: "What kind of eyesight is this? You can't even tell the difference between a wolf and a dog. How ridiculous!"

Once we get here, it’s only a few hours’ journey to the Red Shadow Land.

Dongfangqi suggested staying overnight at a nearby herdsman's house, resting up, and setting off early the next morning.

Most of the herdsmen here are simple and kind. Xie Shouzheng went to negotiate and soon rented a place to stay. He also drank fragrant milk tea and ate delicious roasted lamb.

After eating and drinking, we took a walk on the grassland under the starry sky.

Since this was a residential area, Xie Shouzheng didn't dare to show his true form for fear of being seen - besides, it was quite troublesome to find a place to dress and undress every time.

But he was not idle either, running alone in front, looking here and there, patrolling very seriously, so as not to let anything suddenly jump out of the darkness and disturb His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's interest.

Dongfang Qi was silent all the way, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Lin Qingyue asked him, "Are you scared?"

It would be a lie to say I'm not afraid.

He seemed open-minded and fearless along the way, but tomorrow he would arrive at the Land of Red Shadow. Was his lost soul there? Or was it impossible to find it even there?

Tonight may be the last moment of peace.

He looked at the bright starry sky and smiled faintly: "Although I have made mental preparations, I still feel a little unwilling..."

Lin Qingyue nodded: "I understand. After all, you haven't married yet. It would be a shame to die... How about I find you a partner and get you married first?"

Dongfang Qi was originally feeling quite disappointed, but was suddenly stunned by these words: What was she thinking about now?

Lin Qingyue seemed to be in high spirits. "Just now, while we were eating, the herdsman's daughter kept secretly looking at you. It's obvious that she's interested in you. That girl is pretty and the right age. How about I help you find a husband?"

Dongfang Qi: "...No, that's not necessary."

I really don't understand why Lin Qingyue always wants to match him up with someone.