The weather was sunny and the people were enthusiastic.
Even though the road led to the government office, Qi Chengjun felt as if there was an invisible monster at the end of the road, its mouth agape, quietly waiting for him to walk into its trap.
Especially at times like these, the urge to escape that fills my mind and heart grows stronger.
But below the steps are the enthusiastic crowds; does he really dare to turn around and leave?
Qi Chengjun's expression remained unchanged as he led his guards forward step by step, his initial light steps gradually becoming increasingly difficult to take.
The road that had been cleared away had closed up again at some point.
Qi Chengjun's voice of persuasion was drowned out by the crowd, and everyone seemed happy to be able to see the upright and just official up close.
The unexpected happened at this time.
A commoner seemed to have had his foot stepped on, and suddenly let out a shrill scream.
He kept pushing forward uncontrollably, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control.
The already crowded people quickly became completely disorderly.
Before the screams could even spread, a large number of people collapsed.
The guards reacted quickly, trying to pull Qi Chengjun forward while shouting, "Officers, quickly go and call the officers to maintain order!"
"There's a doctor! Quickly, call a doctor!"
"No pushing or shoving, no running around!"
But no matter how hard the guards shouted, the situation was out of control.
The people who were being squeezed and trampled were panicked and just wanted to get away from there as soon as possible. No one listened to what others were saying or cared about what others were doing.
escape!
Run!
If you don't run away now, you'll be the next one to be pushed to the ground and trampled!
What do you do when there are people all around you and there's no way out?
Then push others; once they fall, the path will be cleared.
Qi Chengjun's official robes were being tugged, and his hair ornaments were being pulled off; his gentle and refined image was completely gone.
His desperate shouts went unheard.
Even the bodyguards themselves were in dire need of protection, let alone Qi Chengjun.
The group had only walked a few steps when the entire street went out of control, with screams, curses, and cries echoing everywhere.
On the second floor of the inn next door, a window was quietly opened a crack, and a person looking at the chaotic scene below couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Although it wasn't very quiet, it was still drowned out by the clamor of voices.
He pointed at a panicked commoner and said, "Look at this man. Just a moment ago he was shouting fervently, 'Lord Qi, you absolutely mustn't get sick.' But the moment his own life was threatened, he almost tore Lord Qi's clothes to shreds."
Another person leaned forward and peeked out, and sure enough, it was true.
Someone was pushing him from behind, and someone was holding his legs. He couldn't move, but he was swaying precariously. He could only desperately tear at Qi Chengjun's clothes, trying to keep himself from falling.
Once you fall, you may not be able to get back up.
The other man couldn't help but burst into laughter: "So, what's with Qi Chengjun's talk of popular support! Does he think he's safe just because he's always under the watchful eyes of the people?"
"Little did they know, these ordinary people are sometimes the most dangerous."
Just like now.
Don't they know that Qi Chengjun is an upright and just official, and that he stood with their relatives and friends through thick and thin when the epidemic struck?
They know.
But so what!
In this situation, who cares who Qi Chengjun is!
The man burst into another hearty laugh: "That's right, absolutely right!"
"Qi Chengjun dared to incite the people of an entire prefecture to oppose His Highness. He should be taught who truly rules the Jiangnan region."
The other person quickly shushed, "This isn't Jiangzhou, so be careful what you say."
Should we be cautious?
The two exchanged a glance; there was absolutely no need!
Because the scene downstairs was chaotic again.
Qi Chengjun's guards helped him take two difficult steps forward, then grabbed his shoulders, pushed off with their feet, and tried to fly towards the roof next to them.
The man scoffed, "You wish!"
"Bring me a bow and arrows!"
Everyone else took out a bow and arrow, and this person took it, nocked it, and shot the arrow. The action was so smooth and fast that no one had any time to react.
The arrow pierced the air, seemingly heading towards an uninhabited area, but in reality, it blocked the path of the guards leading Qi Chengjun.
The guard's momentum was thwarted, and the breath he had been holding onto dissipated, his once light body suddenly becoming heavy.
He didn't even have time to look at the people below him. He forcefully threw Qi Chengjun upwards, hoping that Qi Chengjun would land safely on the roof.
He himself fell heavily and was quickly swallowed up by the crowd.
As Qi Chengjun watched the guard disappear, he was filled with grief and fear. Before he could vent any of his emotions, another arrow came flying at him. He had no way to dodge it. The arrow pierced straight into his arrowhead and took him half a step back.
"Someone fired an arrow!"
Someone roared, and the already chaotic street became even more chaotic, with the screams of the people almost echoing through the sky.
The once clear sky now seemed shrouded in a bloody mist.
Looking at the panicked faces of the people, Qi Chengjun couldn't help but recall the words that the King of Chu had left behind when he departed: "You all just wait and see."
He had assumed that the King of Chu would besiege Huizhou, or at least place it under siege, or continue to assassinate him.
But he never expected that the King of Chu would incite the people...
Perhaps it wasn't incitement; these people were simply entrusted by their father to look after them.
He closed his eyes, wondering if he would be able to leave this world safely.
If they can't get out, can Tian Er sense something is wrong with Houhu from his action of selecting it from the map?
The chaos in the street lasted for about fifteen minutes before the constables, having received the news, arrived from afar. The head constable nearly broke his gong with his fists pounded: "The doctor is here! Please stay where you are and do not push or trample, or you will all be thrown into jail!"
Upon hearing the word "prison," the previously agitated and pushing crowd suddenly froze as if someone had struck an acupoint, remaining completely still.
They didn't even dare to move their eyes, for fear of being seen and arrested by the constables.
However, after only two shouts, the situation was completely under control.
Only when all that could be heard from below were cries of pain did Qi Chengjun slowly sit up.
His face, already pale from his injuries, became completely bloodless in that instant.
Of the hundreds of civilians, only a handful are still able to stand safely.
But he couldn't say anything, couldn't blame anyone, and even had to take full responsibility for all the trouble this incident brought.
These people are like this because of him...
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