Chapter 424 Governing the World with Filial Piety
"I have come here today specifically for you and your son."
Shen Ruzhi said coldly, "You disregard human life and harm the people. Do you know your crime?"
"Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! It's all my fault, but Your Majesty, you saw Li Chongxin behead my son in the street."
"Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have often spoken of governing the world with benevolence and righteousness, and with filial piety. Now that someone has tried to assassinate my son, does Your Majesty intend to protect this murderer?"
"You corrupt official, your son deserves to die. Don't make things difficult for His Majesty."
"Once I kill you, I will naturally be at His Majesty's disposal."
Shen Ruzhi hadn't expected Zheng Tong to be so audacious, daring to shout at her face. He really thought he was the real emperor after being a local tyrant for so many years.
Shen Ruzhi refused to listen to Zheng Tong's nonsense any longer, saying, "I don't even need to hear your case."
“Commander Li is eliminating a scourge for the country, so he should only be promoted and given a higher rank. What wrong have you done?”
After speaking, Shen Ruzhi addressed the surrounding people, saying, "I came here incognito today because I heard that this corrupt official is mistreating the people."
"I promise here today that if there are any more corrupt officials like this in the future, all of them can be executed, and I will not hold any of you accountable."
"Your Majesty is wise, Your Majesty is wise..."
The people began to shout, and Zheng Tong was so frightened by the shouts that he knelt down on the ground. After the shouts subsided, Zheng Tong still tried to argue.
Shen Ruzhi gave him no chance whatsoever.
“Zheng Tong, the magistrate of Taohua County, was strangled in the local area. After his family property was used to compensate the families, all the remaining property was confiscated and used for the development of Taohua County.”
No sooner had Shen Ruzhi finished speaking than Zheng Tong drew a dagger from his sleeve and stabbed at her, saying, "No one can kill me."
"No one can control me, I am the emperor of this Peach Blossom County."
"You all have to listen to me."
Zheng Tong lunged forward like a madman, but before his bodyguards could react, Jiang Wan Ning kicked him away.
The guards captured the man.
Shen Ruzhi drew a long sword from the waist of a nearby guard and pierced Zheng Tong's heart with it.
Zheng Tong stared wide-eyed, blood trickling from the corner of his lips, before collapsing to the ground in disbelief.
Shen Ruzhi raised her hand, and the guard took the sword from her hand and stepped aside.
"From now on, I will make incognito visits to different places every month, and I will also send imperial envoys there," Shen Ruzhi said to everyone.
"If there are any more corrupt officials like Zheng Tong, you can go to the capital. I will set up an office in the capital specifically to accept those who come to the capital to file complaints, and I will protect your safety throughout the process."
"Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is wise!"
Upon hearing this, the people shouted in unison.
Shen Ruzhi then said to Li Chongxin, "The reason I didn't step forward at first was to see what you would do."
"Today I ask you, if I were to hand over Peach Blossom County to you, would you be willing to work hard for the people of Peach Blossom County?"
Li Chongxin had never imagined that the Emperor would come to Peach Blossom County in person. He was stunned for a moment, then immediately came to his senses and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this humble official will certainly do his utmost."
“Okay,” Shen Ruzhi said.
"In that case, I will entrust the remaining affairs of Peach Blossom County to you."
"yes."
Shen Ruzhi and Jiang Wanning were preparing to leave.
Li Chongxin suddenly called out, "Princess Langya."
Jiang Wanning turned to look at Li Chongxin, "What's wrong, Lord Li?"
"Thank you, Your Highness." Li Chongxin's eyes were sincere as he bowed deeply.
Jiang Wan Ning smiled and said, "If you should thank someone, you should thank Niannian. She likes you a lot."
"Lord Li, work hard so that you can see Niannian often when you become an official in the court." Jiang Wanning knew about Li Chongxin's feelings for Shen Runian.
When they were in the village, he treated Shen Runian as his own child.
The reluctance and sadness in one's eyes when parting cannot be faked.
Li Chongxin felt a glimmer of hope. "Thank you. I will certainly live up to the expectations of the Emperor and the Princess."
Jiang Wanning and Shen Ruzhi toured several surrounding towns before returning to the capital.
Upon arriving in Beijing,
Someone came to report, "Your Majesty, the Princess Consort of Langya."
Seeing the anxious look on the person's face, Jiang Wan Ning asked, "What happened?"
The young eunuch wiped the sweat from his brow. "Your Highness, it's Miss Haitang. She just fainted."
"Has the imperial physician been summoned to examine the patient?"
"This servant was just about to go find the imperial physician when I ran into His Majesty and the Princess Consort."
"I'll go take a look first," Jiang Wanning said.
“I’ll go with you.” Shen Ruzhi took two steps forward. She never referred to herself as ‘朕’ (the imperial “I”) in front of Jiang Wan Ning.
The two hurried to Haitang's house.
When Mo Ran saw the newcomer, she was about to stand up from the bedside to greet him, but Shen Ruzhi waved her hand to indicate that it was not necessary. Jiang Wan Ning then sat down on the bedside.
He pulled one of Haitang's arms out of the blanket and began to take her pulse.
Mo Ran looked anxious. Just a moment ago, Haitang was talking to her, but the next moment she fainted.
"Your Highness, during the time you were away, Haitang couldn't eat at first, and she can't even bear to smell the foods she used to love."
After Mo Ran finished speaking, he looked at Jiang Wan Ning with her eyes closed and her brows furrowed as she took her pulse. He didn't dare to say anything more, afraid of disturbing her.
After taking her pulse, Jiang Wan Ning covered herself with the blanket again.
She stood up and looked at Mo Ran, "What did you do to Haitang?"
Mo Ran panicked and knelt down with a thud. "Your Highness, please understand, how could I dare to do anything detrimental to Haitang?"
"Even if it means my death, I would rather Haitang suffer no pain."
Seeing Jiang Wan Ning's furrowed brows, Shen Ruzhi felt a pang of worry. "Ning Ning, what happened?"
How is Haitang doing now?
Jiang Wan Ning still frowned, looking at Mo Ran, "Strange, you didn't do anything to Hai Tang, so whose child is Hai Tang carrying?"
"This subordinate truly does not know... Your Majesty, Your Highness, what did you say?" Mo Ran looked up in a daze.
Shen Ruzhi then understood.
He looked at Mo Ran with a mischievous grin, "You little rascal, Mo Ran, you actually secretly went with Haitang..."
Mo Ran's ears turned red, and she lowered her head, unsure of what to say.
Jiang Wan Ning, however, adopted a superior demeanor and said, "Tell me."
"What are you going to do now?"
I've been so busy lately that I didn't even know they'd been together for so long...
Since things have come to this, she naturally has to stand up for Haitang.
"Your Highness, Your Majesty, things aren't as you think. I didn't..."
Mo Ran stammered as he finished recounting what had happened that day, “Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely take responsibility for Haitang.”
"Once we return to Dongling, I will immediately propose to Haitang."
"I have accumulated quite a bit of influence by Your Highness's side over the years. Your Highness, please rest assured, I will definitely treat Haitang well."
"I will definitely not let her suffer any injustice."
Mo Ran sincerely said a lot to Jiang Wan Ning and Shen Ru Zhi. Jiang Wan Ning was happy inside, but she still maintained a solemn expression on her face.
"If you ever dare to betray Haitang in the future, I will never forgive you."
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