Chapter 609

Because the manor hosting this Spring Sacrifice is some distance from Shang Jing, Crown Prince Bai Xiaosheng set out with the civil and military officials in the morning, and after a bumpy ride arrived at the manor in the suburbs, it was already afternoon.

Following past custom, before sunset Bai Xiaosheng would lead the civil and military officials to the fields to hold the Spring Sacrifice.

Today Bai Xiaosheng wore a plain white long robe embroidered with azure dragon patterns.

On his head he wore the seven‑beam crown symbolizing the Crown Prince's noble status.

A eunuch presented, with both hands, a shovel wrapped in red cloth, respectfully placing it before Bai Xiaosheng.

Bai Xiaosheng took the shovel, turned slightly sideways, and looking at Xiao Yin behind him smiled softly: "Imperial Uncle, shall I take it?"

Xiao Yin nodded.

Having received Xiao Yin's approval, Bai Xiaosheng then dared to pick up the shovel and walk toward the field ahead.

For once he took up this shovel, it meant he was acting in the Son of Heaven's stead.

Conducting the Spring Sacrifice also demonstrated the further consolidation of the Crown Prince's political standing.

He was the Regent Prince promoted by Xiao Yin himself, so naturally taking up this shovel symbolizing power meant he had to gauge Xiao Yin's expression.

Seeing Xiao Yin's approval, Bai Xiaosheng then took the shovel and walked to the very center of the field.

Behind him, the civil and military officials all bowed and stood in place.

The Vice Minister of Rites in charge of rituals loudly recited the prayer.

At the time when the afternoon sun was fiercest, the weather was fine; the intense light showered on everyone, giving a warm, melting sensation.

Bai Xiaosheng picked up the shovel, gave it a swing, dug a few times in the field, then handed the shovel to the Ritual Officer beside him before slowly turning back.

He had just taken a few steps when suddenly several civil officials fell to their knees with a thud before Bai Xiaosheng.

"Your Highness! We officials have something to say!"

These civil officials had always been obscure in court, low‑ranking, merely minor functionaries.

Now they suddenly stepped forward, causing everyone around to feel astonished.

Xiao Yin's face showed some displeasure; originally, after Bai Xiaosheng finished this ritual he would have free time to go out and play with Gu Jiu Ling.

He hadn't expected that at this moment a civil official would step forward again, and he wondered whether these officials had gone mad.

One after another, they were just stirring up trouble for no reason.

Facing so many people, with court officials and commoners alike watching, it would be improper to rebuke them now; Bai Xiaosheng spoke calmly: "What is it, esteemed officials, that you speak of?"

Those officials hurriedly bowed and kowtowed: "Today's Spring Sacrifice, may it bless our Southern Qi state with peace and prosperity, and abundant harvests."

"But we also have grievances; we implore the Crown Prince to uphold justice for us."

Bai Xiaosheng's brows knit tightly; these pedantic scholars didn't even consider what occasion this was—why hadn't they spoken earlier in the Hall of Nurturing Heart, and now, with so many watching, how could he back down?

Before, he had still hoped to cooperate with the civil officials to turn the tide, or at least escape Xiao Yin's control.

Now looking at these people, not a single one is insignificant.

Bai Xiaosheng steeled himself, looked at them, and said slowly: "Let's keep it brief—tell me what grievance you have, how to deal with it, and we can discuss it after the Spring Sacrifice when we return to the capital."

Those people knew Bai Xiaosheng was just brushing them off; they would not let him go, kneeling before him and kowtowing heavily: "Your Highness, we earnestly beg you to investigate the wrongful case of the legitimate eldest son of the Lin family in the Duke of An Guo's Manor, Lin Jingyuan."

The three characters "Lin Jingyuan" spoken by these people caused a sudden intake of breath all around.

Everyone says Lin Jingyuan killed his own teacher, then while fleeing to Jiangnan he jumped into the river and drowned—how can a wrongful case be brought up now?

Bai Xiaosheng's eyebrows rose slightly as he glanced at Xiao Yin, who stood silently with downcast eyes.

His mind shifted slightly; he turned to face the several civil officials before him and said: "Absurd! The Lin family said the eldest son drowned himself—how can a wrongful case appear now?"

"How many cases do you lot keep stirring up again and again? Please, Your Highness, investigate clearly!"

Those civil officials hurriedly flung themselves to the ground, kowtowing: "Please, Your Highness, investigate clearly!"

"The body of Master Lin lies not far away in the public cemetery; it happens that the Crown Prince is holding the Spring Sacrifice right here, not far off. If you order the coroner to bring the body from the cemetery, Your Highness will see at once that although everyone says Master Lin drowned, his chest bears a large hole pierced by a sharp weapon."

The surroundings instantly erupted in an uproar.

A flash of anger crossed Bai Xiaosheng's face; he gritted his teeth and coldly laughed: "Fine, you even had the corpse prepared in advance? Today is my first time presiding over the Spring Sacrifice, and you stir up this nonsense! Seize them! Drag them away!"

"Your Highness! Your Highness, are you really going to encourage the treacherous villains at court to do evil, making us officials feel chilled to the bone?"

"Moreover, the late emperor of the previous dynasty, when holding the Spring Sacrifice, had also handled a wrongful case that occurred on a manor."

"Back then the common folk praised it unanimously, and it has been passed down through the ages; therefore, resolving a wrongful case together with the Spring Sacrifice is an age‑old precedent that does not conflict with the festival."

"If the late emperor could do that, how can the sagacious Crown Prince possibly fail to do so?"

The leading civil official burst into loud wails, leaving Bai Xiaosheng momentarily unable to back down.

If he were to forcibly take these people away and let the case drop, the surrounding commoners would all be watching eagerly.

Earlier there had been rumors that Xiao Yin had sent assassins to kill Lin Jingyuan.

Now this matter keeps growing, seemingly unstoppable; Bai Xiaosheng instinctively glanced at the cold‑faced Xiao Yin beside him and whispered: "Imperial Uncle, look at this…"

Xiao Yin's brows knit tightly; he hadn't expected that, despite his strong crackdown on civil officials in Shang Jing, someone would still dare to come forward.

Xiao Yin snorted coldly: "The plan for the year lies in spring; if idle folk ruin the Spring Sacrifice, they are grave criminals of our Southern Qi—drag them away!"

Xiao Yin waved his hand, and the guards behind him walked toward the civil officials kneeling on the ground.

The civil officials around stood up one after another: "Prince Rui, why go to such lengths? Are you not going to let anyone speak?"

"Furthermore, the late emperor had also, during the Spring Sacrifice, cleared wrongful cases for the common folk—how can it not be allowed now? We refuse to submit!"

"Yes, yes, we refuse to submit! The grievance of Master Lin's death— the Prince originally pursued him to extermination, yet now his death is murky; how can the Prince expect to convince everyone?"

Xiao Yin laughed loudly and said, "Wronged? A scoundrel who harms his own teacher—what is there to be wronged about?."

"How? You all step out, now you want to rebel? Do you really think this king is a soft persimmon, to be kneaded by you? Guards! Seize every one of them!"

"Wait!" Suddenly an old man slowly walked out.