Chapter 864: If This Oath Is Broken, Heaven and Earth Will Not Tolerate It

Cai Tong lowered his head.

Xiao Ze fell silent with a gloomy expression, and the others also remained mute.

Lin Jiang withdrew his hand, looked at Xiao Ze: "You say you came to reclaim your homeland; may I ask, how many troops did you bring?"

Xiao Ze shook his head and said calmly, "Not a single soldier was brought, but …"

"Oh—" Lin Jiang elongated his voice, cutting him off, "So you're just here to look around."

"Mr. Cai told me you smashed several hundred thousand taels of silver in Jiangzhou to seize the Red‑haired Barbarians' goods."

"But what does that have to do with us?"

"You are royal relatives, with money and capability; I believe that."

"But you stay here for a few days, wander around, eat here and there—what good is that?"

"You pack up and leave; what about us?"

"Don't we still have to endure our days under the Red‑haired Barbarians' whips?"

Cai Tong, seeing him become more agitated, hurriedly interjected, "Lin Jiazhang, the Seventh Prince does not mean that …"

"Then what does he mean?" Lin Jiang's complexion darkened completely.

"Five years ago, the sugarcane tax rose from ten‑out‑of‑two to ten‑out‑of‑four."

"That year, the rainy season arrived early, the sugarcane rotted at the roots, and the harvest was less than half of previous years."

"My second brother paid the tax, gave the remaining rations to his wife and children, and survived each day on sugarcane husks and wild vegetables, for several whole months!"

"One day, while bending over to cut sugarcane in the field, he never stood up again."

His gaze swept over each of their faces: "He starved to death, exhausted to death! That year, how many people fell like him, unable to rise—do you know?"

Xiao Ze felt a pang in his heart and let out a long sigh.

Lin Jiang's gaze fell on the tabletop, his voice lowered: "Three years ago, Relanzhecheng needed repairs; my younger brother was conscripted, surviving on a bowl of thin porridge a day, working from dawn till dusk."

"He collapsed from fatigue, fell from the castle, broke both legs, and was covered in lacerations."

"I carried him back home; after only three days, he breathed his last."

"That time, over a thousand strong youths were conscripted from each regiment, and only half returned in one piece."

A moment of silence fell under the thatched hut.

Feng Zhou, who had known hardship, heard this and his eyes flashed with tears; the others were left speechless.

From deep within the sugarcane field came Tuan Tuan's crisp, clear laughter.

Lin Jiang lifted his head and stared at Xiao Ze again: "Thirty‑eight years."

"We have waited thirty‑eight years and never received a single soldier from the Imperial Court."

"What came instead were taxes heavier each year, and whips harsher each year."

He lifted the bowl, drained the water in one gulp, then slammed the bowl onto the table with a bang: "I think you should finish your tour and leave."

"Without firearms or cannons, yet you come here claiming to reclaim the homeland?"

He hummed, picked up the short knife beside him: "I still have work to do; I have no time to listen to your jokes here. I'm leaving."

Everyone fell silent; Lin Jiang's words were the hard truth. They had endured thirty‑eight years of such severe suffering and no longer trusted the Imperial Court.

After a long while, Xiao Ze slowly spoke: "Lin Jiazhang, what you said is very true."

Lin Jiang's hand paused slightly.

Xiao Ze offered no defense, speaking earnestly: "The Imperial Court arrived too late."

Lin Jiang jerked his head up, looking at him in disbelief.

Xiao Ze did not dodge his gaze, continuing: "It's been thirty‑eight years; the Imperial Court should have arrived long ago, yet it lingered, causing you to suffer these crimes here for so many years."

He paused: "The Imperial Court owes you an apology."

Lin Jiang's eyes flickered, and Cai Tong's widened; after all, he is a prince! How could he admit the Imperial Court's fault in front of others?

Xiao Ze stood, lifted the large teapot missing its spout, and poured a full bowl of water into his coarse pottery cup.

He carried the bowl, walked out of the thatched hut, and came to the edge of the sugarcane field.

Everyone stood, their gazes tightly following him.

Xiao Ze cupped the bowl with both hands, slowly bent down, and sprinkled the water inch by inch onto the ground.

The water seeped into the soil, leaving a small dark damp patch.

"I substitute water for wine," Xiao Ze said hoarsely, "to sacrifice for all the civilians who have died at the hands of the Red‑haired Barbarians over these thirty‑eight years."

"No one previously remembered their names; today, I, Xiao Ze, will record them."

Cai Tong's lips trembled slightly, Lin Jiang gripped the short‑knife's hilt tightly, the blue veins on the back of his hand slightly bulging.

Xiao Ze raised his right hand toward the sky, his back straight: "I, Xiao Ze, Seventh Prince of the Fiery Nation."

"Today, here, I swear to the heavens, that we will drive the Red‑haired Barbarians out of this land and grant the people a peaceful, prosperous era!"

"If this oath is broken, heaven and earth will not tolerate it!"

As soon as the words fell, sugarcane leaves rustled, and Tuan Tuan emerged from the stalks, still clutching a timid little girl.

Xiao Er pushed aside the sugarcane leaves and followed closely behind the two.

Tuan Tuan's little face flushed as she ran, spotting Xiao Ze at the field's edge: "Third Elder Brother! What are you doing here?"

She grabbed the little girl's hand, ran to Xiao Ze, and with a treasure‑like upward tilt of her face said, "Look! I've met a big sister!"

Xiao Ze looked down: "Isn't that the girl who sold sugarcane juice at the market that day? Why are you here alone? Where's your mother?"

The little girl gave no reply, shyly stepping half a pace back behind Tuan Tuan.

Tuan Tuan turned and said to her, "Don't be afraid, this is my Third Elder Brother; he's a good person!"

After speaking, she grabbed the little girl and ran to the square table, stretching her arm to the teapot on it: "I'm thirsty! Are you thirsty?"

A hint of surprise appeared on Lin Jiang's face.

Xiao Er stepped forward a few steps, picked up the teapot, poured two bowls of water, gave one bowl to Tuan Tuan, and gently pushed the other bowl toward the little girl.

Tuan Tuan lifted the bowl and gulped it down, glug-glug, while the little girl, also parched, cupped the bowl, burying her small face in it, and began drinking sip by sip.

Xiao Ningxun said, "Drink slowly, don't choke."

"I know!" Tuan Tuan finished the water, wiped her mouth, picked up the teapot and filled a bowl to the brim, then held it out to Xiao Er: "Uncle Er, you drink too!"

Xiao Er felt warm inside, drank the bowl of water in one gulp, and set the empty bowl back on the table.

Xiao Ze walked over and said, "Tuan Tuan, where are Luo Zhenjiang and Lu Qi?"

"Helping Auntie fetch things!"

Xiao Ningchen asked, "Which auntie?"

Xiao Ningyuan glanced toward the sugarcane field and said, "They're back."

Only saw the sugarcane leaves shake wildly, Luo Zhenjiang burst out first, holding a hen.

Feng Zhou laughed: "Luo Zhenjiang, where did you catch that chicken?"

Luo Zhenjiang gave him a sideways glance: "Tuan Tuan asked us to help carry it—how could I dare not to?"

Right after him came Lu Qi, left hand carrying a basket of greens, right hand holding a basket of eggs, walking carefully lest he jostle the eggs and break them.

Behind them followed a woman in her thirties, the little girl's mother.

She hurried into the pavilion, picked up the teapot and filled the bowl in front of Lin Jiang, drained it in one go, and shouted at Lin Jiang, "Big brother!"