Chapter 978

"Who are these people?"

"Hiss! The one on the far right is Commandant Zhang, responsible for overseeing the lawlessness in three counties. He is actually sitting so far to the side!"

"Next to him is Vice Prefect Lu. Last year, when his mother celebrated her birthday, I sent a calendar!"

"Isn't the one in the middle the Commandery Governor?"

"My heavens, in my entire life, let alone seeing them being questioned, I haven't even seen them once!"

"This is too crazy, they actually all came!"

"Isn't that nonsense? What kind of status does the Living Yama have! He said it himself: whoever doesn't come is guilty of a guilty conscience and will be severely punished. Who would dare not to come?"

For a time, the commoners discussed among themselves, and the sound was chaotic.

But while they discussed, they also looked toward one direction in unison, their faces showing expectation.

From officials above to commoners below, everyone was waiting for the same person...

"..."

Commandery Governor's Mansion.

"My Lord, everything is ready!"

"Officials from all over have arrived and have already entered the venue to wait!"

Zhao Da stepped forward and bowed to Gao Yang.

Gao Yang stood in the main hall and nodded faintly.

He opened his arms, and Shangguan Wan'er and Lu Luo personally dressed him in his official robes and fastened his belt.

A scarlet robe, extremely well-fitted, with square patches embroidered on the chest and back, on which a crane seemed ready to burst out of the clothing.

According to Da Qian rites and laws, a Da Qian County Magistrate could only wear cyan robes, and a Commandery Governor could only wear stone-cyan, embroidered with cloud swallows. Only those of the First Rank could wear scarlet robes. This was not just a difference in color, but a world of difference in status!

At this moment, everyone stared straight at Gao Yang. Shangguan Wan'er's beautiful eyes were filled with excitement; clearly, she knew what was about to happen.

"Wan'er?"

Gao Yang suddenly called out.

"Hm?"

Shangguan Wan'er stared at Gao Yang.

"If I were to say right now that the commotion is too big and I'm a bit scared, and how about we just hold a casual inquiry, what would you do?"

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Wan'er's face instantly turned black.

Tens of thousands of people had gathered, and commoners from every township and county were still pouring into Suiyang City. Such a commotion was simply beyond imagination!

If this turned out to be all thunder and no rain, it would be a massive joke!

But before Shangguan Wan'er could speak, Gao Yang smiled and said, "Hehe, I was just seeing that the atmosphere was too serious, so I was making a joke."

"Let's go!"

Gao Yang took a step, leading the way. The red official robe on his body fully displayed his majesty, and everyone followed closely behind him.

When they left the mansion.

Swish, swish, swish!

In every street and alley, pairs of eyes all looked over.

"Lord Gao!"

"The inquiry is about to start!"

It was unknown who shouted first, but immediately after, even the extremely crowded street was cleared by the commoners to make a wide path.

Soldiers in armor stepped forward, holding hands to form a human wall to let Gao Yang pass.

At this moment, ten thousand gazes struck toward Gao Yang's direction. Gao Yang looked up, and what met his eyes were pairs of scorching gazes.

The fire of the commoners had already started a prairie fire!

At this time.

In the distance, dozens of young women in green long dresses held various musical instruments; some played the pipa, some beat drums, some picked up bamboo flutes, some plucked strings, and some blew the xiao.

For a time, the melodious music sounded like high mountains and flowing water. The clever combination of various instruments made one's soul feel as if it had been cleansed.

Immediately after, dozens of young women opened their red lips in unison, and voices like orioles suddenly pierced the sky, spreading in all directions.

"As if transported there across the void, everything is blurry yet clear~~"

"In the world of a few seconds, sighing at the extraordinary meaning~~"

Gao Yang heard the singing, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled up.

Not bad, it hit the spot!

On the day of the political inquiry, listening to such a tune was just right.

Gao Yang took his steps, and against the backdrop of this singing, under the gaze of the entire city's commoners and officials from all over, he stepped onto the inquiry platform.

When he stepped onto the inquiry platform, looking far away, he only felt that he could not see the end; the commoners from all over were like dense ants, all watching him.

Those gazes were earnest!

Scorching!

And filled with the last bit of... hope in their hearts!

The officials from all over who were originally sitting, along with the twelve County Magistrates on the platform, the three Commandery Inspectors, as well as the Suiyang Commandery Commandant, Vice Prefect, and Commandery Governor, all stood up!

The next second.

Clatter!

Tens of thousands of commoners knelt down in unison, their voices echoing through the heavens.

"Commoners pay respects to the Imperial Envoy!"

"Commoners pay respects to the Imperial Envoy!"

The officials from all over also bent their waists one after another, almost to ninety degrees, "Your subordinates pay respects to the Imperial Envoy!"

This scene, for the impact on a person's heart, was absolutely devastating.

At this moment, Gao Yang truly knew why dragon slayers eventually became evil dragons; the taste of power was truly terrifying!

Gao Yang swept his gaze over the commoners of the city and said loudly, "Governance is righteousness. If one's own body is righteous, one can act without orders; if one's own body is not righteous, even with orders, they will not be followed."

"Those who are officials should be concerned with what the people worry about, and I must think of it; what the people hope for, I must carry out!" ===== CHAPTER 980 =====