What’s the Use of Chapter 106?
Wei Mingliang was sitting below Xiao Jingfan and also keenly noticed this change.
He couldn't say what had changed exactly, but two words suddenly popped up in his mind: danger.
His intuition made him look at the Emperor of Sheng who was sitting at the top of the table. The faint smile in his eyes gradually disappeared, revealing a look of scrutiny and assessment.
The young emperor was angry, and extremely furious.
Just because of an unjust case, a few operas or the people’s misunderstanding of the Dengwen Drum?
No, that's not right!
He must have overlooked something.
Wei Mingliang lowered his eyes and looked away, then reached out to pick up a piece of plum-shaped pastry on the long table, put it to his lips and chewed it bit by bit.
What exactly did he overlook?
On the other side, Chu Liuzheng was complaining and when he thought of his own home, he became very angry.
[No matter how beneficial the emperor's decrees are, they're useless if they don't reach the people. If we had to pay all those strange taxes back then, why would my family have been so poor and unable to survive? Why would I have sold myself into the palace just to keep my family alive?]
My precious youth has been wasted in this cannibalistic palace!
Chu Liuzheng gritted his teeth, wishing that the tyrant would suddenly show his power and arrest all the corrupt officials who had made up excuses.
Nowadays, corrupt officials are rampant, and the people have no recourse to appeal because of their mutual protection. Opera is a good outlet for this.
After witnessing so many elaborate circuses like these, and being misled by officials with ulterior motives through rumors, wouldn't the people have become convinced that filing a complaint with the emperor would result in torture and then exile?
If you strike the drum for public opinion, you'll be tortured and exiled; if you don't, you can endure and still get by. When you're surrounded by voices like "forget it," "just be patient," "the people shouldn't fight the officials," and "the emperor won't interfere in the affairs of the common people," who can still muster the courage to strike the drum for public opinion?
[Furthermore, there are those who are obstructing and deliberately misleading. In the long run, won't the bridge of face-to-face communication between the emperor and the people across different social classes be broken?]
Chu Liuzheng couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
[Except for the founding emperor, the successor to the throne was born a prince, honored with wealth and surrounded by brocade. The place they spent most of their time was the imperial palace, followed by the capital. When they traveled, they were escorted by guards and cleared the way. Everywhere they looked was brocade. How could they empathize with the suffering of the common people?]
The tyrant is indeed diligent, working tirelessly every day toward a sudden death from overwork. But what is the result? The emperor is far away, his ears blocked, his eyes blindfolded, his hands and feet barely responsive. No matter how hard his brain works, what good is it except for premature death from exhaustion?
The anger surging in Xiao Jingfan's chest suddenly stopped, and these four words kept echoing in his mind - what's the use?
At this moment, Zhao Yue, who had been stunned by Xiao Jingfan's question, began to answer, "My father once saw a man trying to strike the drum to report his actions. The guards threatened him, and he, overcome with fear, picked up the drumstick. But before he could even strike the drum, he was taken away by a lightly armored guard and never returned."
"Not only has my father seen this, but when I was helping him and my mother sell pancakes, I also heard from many customers that they had also seen people trying to beat the drum to report the incident but were taken away by the guards. Their relatives and friends never saw them again."
"so……"
Do you believe in cold official documents or the reality you see with your own eyes?
The vast majority of people would choose the latter.
Zhao Yue's voice softened. "Everyone thinks what's played in operas and told by officials and their relatives is true."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingfan clenched the Bodhi beads tightly, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged, making his slender jade-like hands look a little ferocious.
"Oh!"
A sneer escaped from the corner of his lips. It was the first time he discovered that when people were angry to a certain extent, they would laugh.
His inexplicable smile made everyone look over.
Some people were trembling with fear, some were suspicious and inquiring, and Chu Liuzheng was full of confusion.
[The werewolf sister's complaint has exposed the secrets of the Dengwengu to the tyrant. Shouldn't the tyrant be furious and send people to investigate thoroughly? What's with all that sudden laughter? It's terrifying, giving me goosebumps.]
If his hand was not injured, Chu Liuzheng would definitely rub his arm.
Xiao Jingfan ignored this inner voice and slowly put the Bodhi beads back on his wrist, while at the same time sinking the surging anger and murderous intent into the depths of his heart.
The ice is three feet thick, and it didn't freeze overnight. One step! One step! Come on!
When he raised his eyes again, his gaze had returned to calm, and his tone was normal: "Tell me about the injustice of your parents."
"Oh, okay."
Unexpectedly, the topic changed so quickly. Zhao Yue responded in a daze. Then, remembering that the person in front of her was the emperor, she leaned forward and kowtowed, thinking that courtesy was the best policy. "Your Majesty, I am Zhao Yue, a commoner. My father is Zhao Shan, and my mother is..."
She had repeated these words in her mind countless times. She spoke clearly, logically, and at a moderate speed.
Everyone listened quietly. As she spoke, many people's expressions changed, some showed sympathy, while others showed indifference.
"...My parents died tragically. I had no way to appeal, and I couldn't sleep at night. With nowhere else to turn, I pretended to be friendly with Li Youcai, hacked his son to death, and injured him and the servants. I escaped from the Li Mansion and was fortunately rescued by Princess Yujin."
"Killing someone means paying with one's life. I know I am wrong, and I do not wish to defend myself. I am willing to plead guilty. However, my parents' injustice is as great as the vengeance of the people. I beg Your Majesty to act on their behalf and severely punish the evildoers and corrupt officials!"
At the end, thinking of her parents who were beaten to death, Zhao Yue couldn't help but burst into tears, her voice choked with sobs.
The jade pendant was also crying silently.
Just hearing the description was enough to make one feel horrified, not to mention that Xiaoyue had experienced it herself, which made her feel even more distressed.
Her sister grew up, but also suffered.
Before Xiao Jingfan could vent his anger, Princess Gaochang was already so enraged that she put down her wine jug and slammed the table in indignation: "How can you take human life so lightly! Such evildoers deserve severe punishment!"
The action of slamming the table was so fast that the maid behind her had no time to stop her and could only close her eyes in grief.
"Ka--"
With a crisp sound, the long table made of chicken-wing wood in front of Princess Gaochang slowly cracked and broke into two pieces.
The cups, bowls and plates fell to the ground with a crackling sound, hitting everyone's sensitive nerves hard.
Yuzhui and Zhao Yue:? !!
The two were so shocked that they forgot to cry.
Others: !!!
His eyes almost popped out.
[Wow~ It really is the Hercules Princess, the system never lied to me!]
Xiao Jingfan, who was also surprised, froze in surprise. What princess?
If the Hercules Princess were to arm wrestle the Tyrant, the Tyrant would lose, right? They say that strength determines the throne of a family. Hmm... the Tyrant should be thankful he's an Emperor. The Hercules Princess probably wouldn't dare to hit him.
Xiao Jingfan: "..."
"It's the loose end of this table, not my princess's." The maid skillfully and hurriedly tried to make amends for her princess, selectively ignoring the split handprint on the table. She pointed to the center with conviction, "Look, there was a crack!"
Princess Gaochang agreed skillfully: "Yes, there was a crack to begin with. It has nothing to do with me. I am not very strong at all."
Everyone: “…”
There's a crack there, that's the pattern of the wenge wood, okay?!
Also, what does "not very strong at all" mean? Do you dare to be a little more subtle?
Xiao Jingfan took a deep breath calmly, then calmly ordered: "Change the long table for Princess Aida."
It's just that she's a little stronger, why isn't he surprised, not at all... No way! What the hell is this princess?!
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