Chapter 598 Rumors Spread

After Xie Shang's group left Zhushan Town, another group of people arrived. The leader was dressed in a black brocade robe with a jade belt around his waist, and rode a large chestnut horse.

Walking alongside him was Xie Minmin, dressed in a red outfit. She even gloated, "This is the world Xie Shang governs. It's a mess. He encountered a locust plague in his first year on the throne. I think the locust plague is the biggest punishment for him. Looking at Qingzhou like this, he must be in a terrible state."

Xie Yun sneered, "During Emperor Huijing's reign, the Great Zhou Dynasty was thrown into chaos by them. My grandmother and grandfather had long said that Xie Jing was not suitable to be emperor and were preparing to depose him. In the end, he still managed to kill my grandfather and seize the opportunity. It was Xie Jing's incompetence that made the world what it is today. If it were my father who ascended the throne..."

Xie Yun had heard his father say that the Cheng family was actually the first to oppose Xie Jing, but unfortunately, Duke Cheng died young, and Xie Jing instead married a daughter of the Cheng family as empress to silence many people.

Xie Jing made a brilliant move back then!

Xie Yun was the youngest son of Prince Kang. He was born and raised in the Northwest. He always emphasized that he was born at the wrong time. If he had been born ten years earlier, he would not have allowed Xie Jing to sit on the throne for decades.

At this moment, a plan suddenly came to him. Xie Shang had just ascended the throne and had already recovered the border regions, breaking the ceasefire agreement with the border. Even Heaven couldn't stand such a warlike emperor, so it sent down disasters as punishment. All these sins were caused by the emperor's warlike nature.

Once this public opinion gets out, let's see how Xie Shang explains himself to the world and to his ancestors.

Seven days later, Xie Shang and Jiang Fenghua traveled through the towns and villages within Qingzhou before arriving in Qingzhou City. Instead of going directly to the county magistrate, they planned to go directly to the prefect of Qingzhou.

It wasn't until they arrived in Qingzhou City that they experienced the vibrant atmosphere of everyday life. The city and the towns were completely different scenes. The streets were filled with the cries of vendors, and the shops on both sides of the street were dazzling and had everything imaginable.

The city of Qingzhou was unaffected by the locusts.

There were many soldiers patrolling the streets, and the defense at the city gate was very strict. Refugees were almost never allowed to enter the city. To enter, one had to pay silver. Xie Shang and Jiang Fenghua disguised themselves as a merchant caravan and also paid the toll.

After checking into the inn, Lin Feng returned with a furious expression.

Xie Shang asked him, "I sent you to find out what was going on, and you came back giving me this attitude."

Lin Feng said, "The restaurants and teahouses outside are spreading rumors, and it makes me so angry. I don't know who spread them, but I want to catch them and kill them."

Jiang Fenghua poured him a cup of tea: "Have some water, speak slowly. Your health is your own responsibility, don't get upset. What rumors are making you so angry?"

Lin Feng took a sip and drank it, then continued, “Some people say that the natural disaster in Qingzhou was a punishment from heaven for the emperor. These are all the will of heaven. Heaven is not happy with the new emperor’s ascension to the throne and released locusts as a warning.”

They say that the emperor encountered a locust plague in his first year on the throne, which symbolized dissatisfaction with the new emperor, because the emperor launched a war, tore up the agreement with the Hu people, occupied the border areas, and the people suffered terribly.

Some people say that locusts are sacred insects that cannot be killed and can only be worshipped. Their ancestors probably didn't even allow them to be worshipped every day, yet they are to worship locusts that have eaten all the grain. I think people who spread such rumors are out of their minds.

I've also heard that some people go to the fields to burn incense and paper money, hoping that the "divine insects" will be full and return to heaven. Some even saw people searching for food catching locusts to fill their bellies being beaten to death, claiming that their actions would offend the heavens, and that their families should pray and offer sacrifices to the locusts every day..."

Lin Feng rattled off a long speech, and Jiang Fenghua poured him another glass of water.

Xie Shang frowned and said in a deep voice, "It's another statement targeting the emperor. Who is it?"

Jiang Fenghua also sensed something was wrong and asked, "What does 'new emperor's ascension to the throne' mean? Hasn't the emperor always been your father? Why is it the first year of his ascension? Even if you're spreading rumors about locusts, the emperor isn't a new emperor!"

Lin Feng immediately covered his mouth; he was so angry he was completely confused. He looked in Xie Shang's direction.

Xie Shang stared coldly at Lin Feng, asking, "Why don't you think before you speak?"

Lin Feng was so angry that he didn't think of so many things.

Lin Feng continued, "They're all rumors, nothing but slander. Spreading rumors costs nothing; they can say whatever they want. I wonder which bastard fabricated these rumors. Of course, the Emperor didn't ascend the throne this year. He's been on the throne for decades. They don't even know when the Emperor ascended the throne, yet they dare to spread such gossip that could get them beheaded. I think they don't want to live."

Xie Shang said, "Some people are talking nonsense, making up stories, and spreading rumors. If we get really angry, we'll fall for their tricks. It seems that someone wants to use this natural disaster to deal with the royal family."

Jiang Fenghua narrowed her eyes slightly, "Is it really just made up?"

"Does Ruan Ruan also believe that this locust plague is God punishing the Emperor?"

“Of course I don’t believe such absurd claims. The locust outbreak in Qingzhou is related to this year’s climate. After the drought, the locusts multiplied rapidly, which led to the locust plague. There have been many locust plagues in history, and we will gradually accumulate experience to solve them. There are always more solutions than problems, and we will definitely overcome this difficulty,” Jiang Fenghua said.

“Ruan Ruan is well-read and understands things, but the common people don’t. When they suffer, they believe these rumors and blame the disaster on the royal family. Most people are ignorant and don’t care when the emperor ascended the throne. They only know that they have indeed suffered a disaster, and that the locusts eating their crops is God’s punishment. Someone is fabricating these rumors to frame the royal family.” Xie Shang continued, “At this time, even more people go to temples to pray to the gods. Even if they only have a little food left at home, they will take it to the temple to offer to the gods.”

Jiang Fenghua was successfully fooled by him. "Praying to gods and Buddhas is also a kind of spiritual sustenance for them. They only turn to Buddhas when they can't think of any other solutions. You are a prince of the royal family, so you should find a way to solve this problem as soon as possible."

"I will definitely stand up for the people."

Xie Shang's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he said to Lin Feng, "Go and investigate the prefect of Qingzhou immediately. What exactly is going on with them?"

At this moment, news also arrived from Shengjing City. Lin Feng took the secret letter from the guard and handed it to Xie Shang, saying, "Night Shadow sent someone to deliver this."

After Xie Shang opened the letter and read it, he thought to himself: So Su Qingqing was rescued by Prince Kang's men. How did Xiao Yu, who was staying in Shengjing, know this news? If it really is related to Prince Kang, what does he want to do by rescuing Su Qingqing?

Since Prince Kang was demoted to the Northwest, there has been no news of him. Qingzhou is located in the Northwest.

Xie Shang said, "I'll write a letter, Lin Feng, you have someone send it out."

He said to Jiang Fenghua, "Wait for me here. I will write a secret letter and give it to Lin Feng to send out to investigate the Northwest."

"You may go!" Jiang Fenghua didn't read his letter; it was probably a matter for the imperial court, and it wasn't appropriate for her to interfere.

She wondered to herself: I wonder if Bai Yuhan has returned to Jiangzhou yet?