“Life is what you make of it. You can’t expect something for nothing. When you face great difficulties, you should unite and help each other to get through them. But what did you do? You listened to rumors and gathered a crowd to cause trouble. If it weren’t for the Crown Prince here today, but some hot-tempered person instead, do you think what your fate would be?”

"He would be beheaded, his blood would splatter on the spot, why impose such absurd and baseless accusations on the Crown Prince? You insult him, and he doesn't talk back; you hit him, and he doesn't fight back. Tell me, has there ever been a Crown Prince like this in history? He is the Crown Prince, the heir apparent of the country, and what are you? Commoners! He loves you so much, what more could you ask for? Are you only satisfied if you live under torture?"

Everyone had lost their reason due to fear and provocation. After hearing Zhao Shu's words, they all felt that they made a lot of sense. At the same time, a sense of lingering fear rose in their hearts. They had actually wanted to burn the crown prince to death.

However, some people were still worried, waving the iron block in their hand and saying, "How do you explain this?"

How do you explain the divine right of kings? Can you say it's false? That's impossible; the ruling class wouldn't allow it. Can you say it's true? That's also impossible.

"Let me see this." She had just placed it down ruthlessly yet gently, which lessened the people's fear. Coupled with a sense of shame, she handed the iron block to Zhao Shu.

There were five or six pieces in total, each with a few lines of text. After carefully reading them, Zhao Shuzai had to give Zhao Bi a thumbs up. The story he made up wasn't that profound, probably because he didn't have time to prepare it. It was very easy to understand and catchy, and its purpose was to incite the people to cause trouble.

The story is roughly about how the prince was a wolf demon in his previous life, who was hunted down by the people, and he is here in this life to seek revenge...

This simple story elevates the fear in the hearts of people suffering from floods and plagues to its peak, making them believe that by burning the demon to death, they can save their own lives.

Fueled by anger and fear, they had long forgotten how the Crown Prince had worked tirelessly to control the floods and how genuinely loved the people as his own children.

"This isn't about the Crown Prince. If the 'Yi' in the name above is the Crown Prince, then why did Heaven make him the Prince of Dayong? Is Heaven dissatisfied with everyone? If Heaven is dissatisfied with everyone, then everyone should flee to the ends of the earth and burn all those whose names contain the character 'Yi'—it's all the same as death. What do you all think?"

Sure enough, it was more effective to talk about Heaven. Heaven is the ruler, all-powerful, and it's impossible that it couldn't have discovered the wolf demon's scheme. If the prince really is a monster, then Heaven is displeased with them.

No, no, no, that won't happen.

Immediately, everyone fell silent, their faces filled with shame and self-reproach. "This humble subject knows his sins and begs Your Highness to punish him." Realizing their mistake, everyone knelt down and kowtowed in the floodwaters.

"Fellow villagers, don't believe it. Heaven won't be appeased unless the prince is burned to death." The man lying on the ground, unwilling to give up, continued to provoke.

Zhao Shu gave him a cold look. Su Xiu understood and snapped his neck with a sharp, clear sound.

This is an example to scare others.

At this moment, the Crown Prince gently pulled Zhao Shu to his side and asked in a low voice, "Ah Jun, you understand medicine, tell me the truth, can the plague be cured?" Historically, the plague was incurable, and every time it occurred, a large number of people would die.

One death wipes out an entire village; this is no exaggeration.

Zhao Shu replied in a heavy, low voice, "Death is certain, but it won't be too serious. I need Physician Peng. Crown Prince, are you afraid?"

"Don't worry, Ah Jun, hurry back to the capital. Your health is weak." He is the Crown Prince, so naturally he must stand with his people.

"No need, I have plenty of remedies. As long as we take proper precautions, it won't be too serious." Zhao Shu now just wants to know if Zhao Bi's group has the lung type, glandular type, skin type, throat type, or something else...

Oh right, she can't control it, but that's okay. Since she likes to spread viruses so much, she'll have to let them experience it for themselves.

The Crown Prince trusted Zhao Shu completely; if she said it wouldn't be too serious, then it definitely wouldn't be too serious.

Having organized his thoughts, he raised his voice and said, "Fellow villagers, those who have homes, please go home. If your homes have been destroyed, the imperial court will set up temporary tents. Don't worry, the imperial court will not abandon you. I will definitely get through this difficult time with you."

"This humble subject thanks Your Highness, thanks Your Highness." The common people did not hear the conversation between Zhao Shu and the Crown Prince, but when faced with a major event, they still habitually hoped that the court could do something. At this moment, they stopped causing trouble and obediently went home. Those who had no home also waited quietly for the court to make arrangements.

Chen Jianbo and the others who were peeking from behind the gate of the government office breathed a long sigh of relief. He was ready to fight his way out, but thankfully it didn't come to that.

After the crowd dispersed, Zhao Shu and the Crown Prince entered the government office, and everyone immediately gathered in the front hall to discuss the matter.

“If it were simply a case of a dam breaking down and a plague breaking out, I would consider it a natural disaster. But now I believe there must be someone manipulating things behind the scenes,” Yan Shiren said.

It's foolish to be so eager to destroy the crown prince. The claim of him being a demon is completely unnecessary; it's superfluous and only exposes a flaw in the argument.

The person behind this is really stupid.

The crowd exchanged glances, each already guessing a name: Yan Shiren. As a royalist, he knew the princes were fiercely fighting, and Zhao Shu and the Crown Prince didn't hide anything from him, but he didn't really want to get involved in the struggle for the throne. However, at this moment, he changed his mind.

If Zhao Bi were to ascend the throne, the world would be plunged into another tyrant!

"Have the city and villages been locked down?" Wei Tingsi asked Chen Jianbo.

Chen Jianbo, being the commander of Jiangnan Prefecture, was naturally capable of handling affairs. He nodded and said, "Sealed off."

"With the outbreak of the plague, some people will inevitably leave. Find this beast at all costs." Zhao Shu was filled with murderous intent, as if the fire could not be extinguished without slaughtering the entire city.

"Yes." Chen Jianbo felt bitter. The Jiangnan region, which he had worked so hard to govern, was riddled with holes again after just one major conflict.

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