Three days later, the people of Jingyang City suddenly found that there were many unfamiliar faces around them.

At first, the common people thought that the envoys from the two countries came for the cause of peace, but they soon found out that they were wrong.

Suddenly, more and more people started making trouble.

For example, a small stall was suddenly overturned; an inn suddenly caught fire; someone poisoned the well of a wealthy family, killing more than half the residents; the number of thieves on the street suddenly increased several times...

These are just small things!

What’s outrageous is that within two days, more than a dozen murders occurred in Jingyang City!

For a time, the whole city was in an uproar and people were in panic!

Who is causing trouble?

Lord Fei, the prefect in charge of public security in Jingyang City, was overwhelmed. Even the constables in his office were insufficiently staffed and simply couldn't handle the situation. The situation had far exceeded his capabilities, so he had no choice but to go to the palace to see the emperor!

Baili Tang was well-informed. He knew about this matter and had an idea in mind. However, he still had to listen to the prefect's advice on how to deal with it.

Even a blind man could see that it was those two countries behind the scenes. Especially the Kingdom of Yue. Sima Chuchu, who had suffered heavy losses in Qinhe Prefecture not long ago, was out for revenge!

"Your Majesty, I believe we should strengthen controls on outsiders. Some of those disturbing public order are local unemployed vagrants, and they're most likely bribed. Furthermore, in these dozen or so murders, the victims were all killed by needles piercing their heads, likely due to husbands suffering from domestic discord! Clearly, they're trying to create a false impression!"

Baili Tang asked him to continue.

"It's like the world is misleading us into thinking that people in Jing Country are living in dire straits. Women are a vulnerable group, but they are driven by life's pressures, unable to bear it any longer, and kill their husbands to vent their anger. There's no evidence for these murders."

I believe that those behind the scenes are either spies from the enemy state who have long been lurking in Jingyang City or those who have recently arrived from elsewhere. They have bribed local ruffians and thieves to stir up trouble and create panic among the people.

Just strictly check restaurants, inns, and other places! They will definitely need to stay in these places. In addition, I hope Your Majesty can issue an order prohibiting ordinary houses from taking in foreigners, and those who violate the order will be punished. In this way, these people will have no choice but to stay in inns."

After hearing this, Baili Tang continued, "That's a good idea. But since they have spies lurking in Jingyang City for a long time, they must have disguised themselves as ordinary people and hidden everywhere. Jingyang City is too big, with a population of over 1.3 million. Even if only these newcomers visited these spies as relatives, it would be difficult for us to detect them."

Desperate times call for desperate measures. From today onwards, anyone caught stealing or robbing someone in public will have a finger chopped off on the spot.

If someone was causing trouble intentionally, only the troublemaker would be punished.

Anyone who has come to Jingyang City in the last three months, no matter who they are, will be charged ten times the price if they stay in an inn, eat at a restaurant, or spend money at a brothel or teahouse.

Since the people are no longer allowed to take them in, where will they go? No matter where they go, whoever dares to take them in will be in trouble. I understand they won't dare risk being exposed by seeking refuge with anyone, so they can only obediently pay this unjust fee.

As for those true outsiders from Jingguo, seeing that the situation is not good, nine out of ten will choose to leave this troubled place in the short term."

Lord Fei thought to himself: My idea is not bad, but it is still far inferior to your Majesty's idea.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures.

You are shameless, and His Majesty is even more shameless than you!

In the afternoon, the imperial edict was posted, and Baili Tang also sent tens of thousands of imperial guards to serve Lord Fei.

At first, some thieves didn't take it seriously and continued to do as they pleased. Eventually, they were caught and had their heads chopped off in the street.

After chopping off a finger from about four or five thieves, theft incidents almost disappeared.

Some people started the trouble, for example, someone went to buy steamed buns and said that the buns were not stuffed, and even deliberately overturned the other person's stall. As a result, this person was beaten with 50 sticks on the spot, leaving his skin and flesh exposed!

By the evening, these discordant events were almost gone.

At this time, many people found that the prices of inns and restaurants had increased! !

It’s not just a slight increase, but a tenfold increase!

This is a black shop!

Sima Chuchu was in the capital, and she was eating at a restaurant owned by one of their people. If the restaurant wasn't theirs, Sima Chuchu would have vomited blood—this meal, originally costing over twenty taels, had increased tenfold, costing over two hundred taels!

Some inn guests were so frightened that they checked out overnight. A night's stay cost over ten taels of silver, so they might as well just rob.

Initially, the owners of these restaurants and inns were worried that raising prices would scare away half of their customers, leading to unforeseen losses. However, they realized that even if 70% of the customers left, as long as the remaining 30% remained, they would still make a profit.

For example, originally there were ten guests staying in the hotel, and each of them was charged one tael. Now seven of them have left, and there are three left, so each of them is charged ten taels!

The key is, there is not enough work to do!

It’s impossible that all the guests staying in the inn now are spies, right?

Of course, there are also people like Liu Zhongqing who have just arrived in the capital and have to stay even if they don’t want to.

Because of this strong decree, the next day, the number of people on the street was nearly half of the number the day before. There were almost no more rioters. And with the Imperial Guards patrolling, those who weren't afraid of death were free to cause trouble!

Mr. Fei, there is still time to investigate the murder case of more than a dozen people!

Speaking of which, Lord Fei should thank the murderer, as it indirectly led to a decrease in the number of marital discord in Jingyang City.

With so much going on outside the palace, Baili Qinru's mother hasn't allowed her to leave the palace these past few days. Only Chao Man'er and Song Chi are handling the case. Erhu Ge can't just "do nothing" all day, right? He has to go back to the camp for training!

Song Chi wanted to go to the palace to see His Majesty the most. Although His Majesty was not involved in this case, his insights on the case were always so sharp. However, he was embarrassed to bother His Majesty again. His Majesty was busy with many things every day, and he couldn't afford to waste His Majesty's precious time because of a case.

Then I'd better go find Mr. Zhang. But Mr. Zhang was also busy—busy with his cultural career.

"I can't just look for others for help when I encounter a problem." Song Chi thought to himself, "I have to find a way to solve it myself!"

Chao Man'er was clueless and in a bad mood: "Song Chi, I'm hungry. Let's eat something first."

As soon as they entered the tavern, the owner asked them if they had just arrived in the capital recently. If so, they would have to pay ten times the price.

There happened to be a guest from Beidan Country in the store. After finishing his meal, he smashed the store in front of Song Chi and the others!

Chao Man'er, who feared nothing, immediately became furious: "What a guts you have!"