Chapter 503: Long-legged handsome man

He didn't know the Great King had a diligent cousin; the Great King not only knew which Yang his maternal grandmother was, but also personally climbed over his family's wall.

Yang Fang, having figured it out, put on a thick coat and went out with his great-uncle; today is a tough battle.

He had imagined countless outcomes for this matter: maybe the young man of the Northern Border King has thin skin, gets annoyed and turns angry, harshly punishing protesters; or maybe he combines kindness and authority, using military threats on one side while sending people to persuade them to return?

No matter how he thought about it, he never imagined it would be like this.

How to put it? Even without saying colorful flags waving and drums thundering, it's pretty much the same!

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The Northern Border King's Manor's spacious South Plaza was bustling now; even the soldiers who usually patrolled the plaza had withdrawn to the gate towers and the base of the city walls, standing in neat rows. In place of them on the open ground of the plaza were newly set up stalls, dividing the vast plaza into many sections.

Looking closely at the many white canvas stalls, the white banners fluttering above them boldly read 'Northern Border Medical Bureau'……

Is this to keep the elderly from lingering? Or is it for quicker rescue?

Other areas are easier to identify: each has a tea stall, the water already boiled ahead of time, mist rising on the field, a lively, vibrant scene—nothing like the atmosphere of a sit‑in protest……

The Yang and Fang families, being from the same place, naturally knew each other; the two old men gathered, looking at this scene with expressions full of regret. Before yesterday, the plaza was off‑limits to idlers, orderly and well‑kept.

What's going on now? The Northern Border King is celebrating with the people, and even holding a medical‑themed event?

Yang Fang felt an inexplicable sense of relief; how to put it? He felt the outcome of this protest wouldn't be unbearable. Anyway, the current impression is that it won't turn into a major incident.

Right now, these gathered elders are complicated; if you say to move on, they'd likely follow the others' lead, being split into separate groups sitting apart, and if they just left outright they'd be unwilling.

Trying again another day would be useless; the whole Northern Border knows about this, and setting up such a stall again another day wouldn't be any trouble.

In the end, everyone looked at each other and decided to stick with the original plan.

Hundreds of people rushed in a clamor toward the gate of the Northern Border King's Manor; they didn't recklessly attack the manor, merely submitting a joint petition opposing the examination system, then sat on the ground in the plaza, declaring that as long as the Northern Border didn't clearly state it would abolish the examinations, they would not leave!

The Great King came out from the West Hua Gate and noticed that the scholar‑officials were particular; these people sitting in silent protest in the plaza were arranged perfectly neat, horizontal and vertical……

"Tsk tsk, those who don't know might think they're taking an outdoor exam! Sitting so neatly aligned, they don't even think to squeeze together; once they freeze through, they'll know how tough it is!" These people were sitting on the stone slabs of the plaza in the first month; who knows, they might be hoping to freeze a few to death to blame on the king!

Heh, this king cannot let them have their way!

Zhao Bao's heart sank halfway at the sight, "How can there be so many people? Your Highness, what can we do?"

The Great King straightened his robes, "What to do? Of course we join them—Yiguang brother saved me a spot!"

Zhao Bao:?

The Great King waved his hand, telling Zhao Bao and Ling Yin to go back; he had already seen Fang Yiguang.

"Your Highness, should we go to the former court and call for Mr. Xie?"

"No need, go ask for leave and say the king has business today and won't attend the morning court. Ah~ this king is really busy, unable to be in two places at once~"

Zhao Bao: ……

Zhao Bao went to ask for leave; Ling Yin wouldn't leave, so the Great King could only have him find a spot nearby to keep watch.

This guy is quite particular, he tiptoed over to Fang Yiguang's side, "Fang brother, I'm here~"

"How come you're only just arriving? Luckily I saved you a spot."

"I'm young, I can't get up~"—lounging in bed openly and proudly.

The Great King squatted down, pulled out the thing he'd been holding, tore open the wrapper and a fairly large cushion popped out. He checked his position against the person ahead and Fang Yiguang beside him, then slowly sat down, making sure everything was aligned.

It was a moisture‑proof latex cushion, with an embroidered cloth cover over it……

They were already in the front row here, and many people came to look. Old Man Fang glanced at him, saw he was young, too lazy to bother, and didn't say anything.

Only Fang Yiguang twitched the corner of his mouth and said, "Younger brother, you're quite particular."

The Great King whispered, "That's right—I'm restless and can't sit long; if I'm uncomfortable it's even worse." Not like you lot, willing to risk cold and even your lives just to cause trouble.

The Great King thought of their proud, heads‑high attitude; fortunately this king is merciful, even having the Medical Bureau moved here for you.

Having sat down, he glanced around and estimated there were over two hundred people, all dressed in proper scholar‑official attire—truly the gentry, no mistake. After sizing them up, he turned to Fang Yiguang to speak, asking how many of these people he knew. The Great King claimed he hardly ever went out, so he had no knowledge of these 'compatriots'.

Fang Yiguang quietly pointed out the people he knew; coincidentally, the two Yang elders were not far behind them to the rear‑left, and he subtly showed the Great King: "…the two in the second row behind you, left three and left four, are the renowned Hongnong Yang clan."

The Great King turned his head and saw at once a handsome young man in white robes, just like him even in the bitter cold; though seated, his stature was clearly not short, and he thought sourly, "This cousin of mine isn't bad‑looking either—just a notch below the hardworking Xie Tu."

"Hongnong Yang Fang is quite famous among the new generation. There's a saying going around: 'Southern Xie, Northern Yang'—the Southern Xie refers to the Xie family's Xie Tu, and the Northern Yang refers to Yang Fang."

The Great King blurted out, "This young lord will definitely be better‑looking than him!"

Fang Yiguang: "……It's not just about looks, you know."

The Great King: "What for? I'm not lacking either!"

Fang Yiguang: ……

At the time he thought the Great King's remark was just a child's inexplicable self‑esteem.

The Great King's court, which he leads, differs from that of Chang'an; he only convenes it after waking up fully rested in the morning, and no one is to interfere with sleep.

Today the officials came to work as usual, only to find that the South Hua Gate had changed; even the outskirts already had crowds of people who had heard the news and come to watch the excitement.

The Chancellor and Xie Yuan arrived one after another; the ministers blocked outside dismounted to look on. The Chancellor quickly took the joint protest petition, and Xie Yuan's head also swelled.

With the manor's entrance surrounded like this, the patrolling soldiers merely retreated to the gate and said nothing—surely the Great King must know about this by now? At this time he should already have risen.

Xie Yuan looked over carefully and saw that several Northern Border Medical Bureau stalls had been set up in advance; it was hard to put into words.

This matter is not simple.

He asked the night-duty physician who had delivered the joint letter, "Does His Highness know?"

The imperial physician shook his head. "I don't know. Steward Zhao said His Highness has something to do today and won't attend the early court."

In a moment, Lu Tong also arrived, poking his friend's shoulder from the side and saying, "Look, the one wearing the light moon‑white robe over there, heads together!"

Xie Yuan narrowed his eyes to look closely; good, although it was just a back view, he also recognized him!

That cheerful, looking‑left‑and‑right little back view had not a trace of the gloom of being blocked at the door.

He even happily joined in!

The Prime Minister also understood; today's liveliness, to say the Prince didn't participate is unbelievable. "We'll enter through the side gate and first see Zhao Bao."

Xie Yuan took a deep breath, glanced once more at the Prince sitting cross‑legged, then turned and left. All the way he wondered, how did this guy slip into the enemy's interior so smoothly?

Looking at the medical bureau's stall, it didn't look like the one just set up this morning.

Sure enough, upon seeing Zhao Bao he learned that the Prince had already infiltrated the protest organization's interior, knowing today's action three days ago.

Several big shots didn't know how to evaluate it; they immediately agreed to lie flat, just waiting to watch the Prince cause trouble. After ordering someone to constantly monitor the South Plaza, the Prime Minister told everyone to go about their own business—the Prince went on strike, but others couldn't.

The protesters sitting quietly on the plaza were mainly the elderly, yet after just an hour they were frozen through. Even if they had prepared and worn as much as possible, they underestimated the northern cold.

The Prince noticed that Fang Yiguang beside him was already shifting his buttocks without a sound, guessing he was freezing.

The plaza was paved entirely with stone slabs; ordinary people couldn't bear it unless they hid a piece of fur under their buttocks.

At that moment Dong Fu appeared, seeing that everyone was about equally frozen, he came out to state his position. When the Prince should have been considerate, he was indeed considerate, so he didn't ask Xie Yuan and Lu Tong to step forward.

The content was just the benefits of the examination system as reported in the newspaper, plus a mention of the current difficulties in the Northern Border; it's already time for reform. In short, the Prince disagrees with abolishing the examinations—where would everyone go back to then?

Of course, not going back also allows one to sit for the examination on the side; the Prince has temporarily set no age limit, so everyone can give it a try.

These aristocrats always think highly of themselves; on someone else's turf they could never learn to bow their heads overnight. These people also stuck out their necks threatening Dong Fu, saying they wouldn't leave unless the examinations were abolished, spouting threats left and right.

Dong Fu nodded after listening, "The examination schedule can't be changed, let alone abolished. You all are stubbornly misguided for the time being; trust that the Northern Border Prince will be tolerant."

After saying that, he pointed to the row of stern‑faced iron‑clad soldiers behind him, "But I advise everyone to mind their bounds—our Prince has no rule against killing aristocrats. I came late; I heard the Cui clan participated in the siege of the Southwest Army and was wiped out to a man—is that true?"

Having said that, he flicked his sleeve and walked away……walked away?!

…!

A bunch of old men were fuming, the Prince's troublemaker antics were a delight to watch. "Oh dear, this official has such a fine bearing—right, Brother Yiguang?"

Fang Yiguang was almost led astray by him, "……Look at their attitude—do you think we might really have offended the Northern Border Prince badly, causing a bloody ending?"

The Prince exclaimed in shock, "Don't you have thought of this before stirring up trouble?"

Fang Yiguang helplessly lowered his voice, "My grandfather said he wouldn't dare. But…have you heard the legends of the Northern Border Prince? After killing the Xiongnu he even crushed their bones and scattered their ashes—what wouldn't such a person dare to do?"

The Prince thought to himself, "Isn't this pretty clear?"

He changed the subject, "Are you cold? My back feels icy cold, chilling to the bone!"

Fang Yiguang shifted his buttocks again without a sound, trying to sit only halfway on the ground—it's really freezing!

"Cold, there's nothing to be done about it……"

The Prince gestured for him to look behind, "Yes, there is a way."

Fang Yiguang's eyes widened as some peddlers came up behind, swaggering straight into their solemn protest site.

"Selling hand warmers, heat pads~"

"Buy a heat pad, stick it on your clothes, it stays warm for three hours~"

"Sir, do you want a hand warmer? It contains charcoal, only one hundred taels!"

Fang Yiguang forgot his shock and blurted out, "One hundred taels? Why not just rob them?!"

The Prince retorted, "You just don't get it—market economics! In places of high demand, an exclusive business naturally costs a lot. Is one hundred taels cheap compared to your life? Anyway, I don't understand too many grand principles; this young master just wants to stay alive."

Having said that, he raised his hand and shouted to the peddler, "I want to buy!"

The peddler immediately ran over, "Sir, which would you like? We have hand warmers and heat pads; either way wards off the cold—don't let your young self freeze to death, it's not worth it~"

The Prince nodded frantically, "Of course! Give me one hand warmer, how do you apply this heat pad?" Half the plaza was watching him, and the Prince didn't care at all.

Indeed, all the old men were thinking, "Who knows whose kid this is—utterly embarrassing!"

The peddler had already shown the Prince how to use the heat pad, telling him to stick it on the outside of his inner garment; the Prince pulled open his collar and let the peddler stick one on the back of his neck.

After applying it, the peddler pressed down on the Prince's clothes, "Sir, wait a moment, it'll heat up right away."

The Prince thought the heat pad too small, so he bought another stack of ten, slipping two under his buttocks. The little peddler grinned broadly, and the Prince happily produced a two‑hundred‑tael banknote to settle the bill, earning the shopkeeper a decent commission.

The unbranded warm treasure that Bai Yang found for him sells at twenty taels per piece……

Having bought ten pieces, the Prince felt well off, slapping the warm treasures all over his body with a pat‑pat‑pat, and he didn't forget to shout to Fang Yiguang, "We've made full preparations so we can wage a protracted struggle against the Northern Border Prince's mansion and fight to the end! Oh dear, it's hot—how does this thing burn the skin when stuck to flesh?"

Fang Yiguang: "……achoo~"

The Prince generously lifted his outer robe, tore off a piece from his leg, and shoved it to Fang Yiguang, "Here, here, here—your body is the capital for undertaking affairs!"

Fang Yiguang: ……

He took it and, following the Prince's instructions, lifted his outer robe and felt around to stick it on his abdomen; shortly he discovered it really was heating up, the surprise on his face impossible to suppress—could it really be this miraculous?

The Prince had already begun his performance, constantly muttering about the heat, saying that heat pad was scorching, a perfectly adequate drag.

Having experienced the heat pad's marvel, Fang Yiguang disregarded his grandfather's objections, waved to summon the peddler, and bought a bundle of heat pads, giving half to his grandfather and forcibly applying them to the old man's neck and legs. His grandfather isn't young either, but anyway the scene is quickly turning into a farcical spectacle—better not let the old men freeze to death while protesting, or the loss would outweigh the gain.

With the two taking the lead, people kept coming to buy one after another; cold is hard to endure, let alone these pampered aristocrats.

The Prince had smoothly moved on to the next round of vendors, glancing at the tea stall; when they looked over, he waved covertly—pretending to have no silver three hundred taels—and the tea stall's assistant immediately came running in a quick little trot.