Chapter 726: Knowing Guilt

The Prince of Prince Pingyuan declared his intention to abolish the slave system.

Everyone present failed to understand.

The two chief officials, Minister Yu Yu Yunqiu and Ao Ao Shuangqian, exchanged a glance, pondering what abolishing the slave system might mean.

Will slaves no longer be called slaves?

What should they be called instead?

Or perhaps slaves can no longer be bought and sold freely?

Is this new city governor planning to raise taxes?

Li Qi also realized they likely didn't understand, so he had his "Three-Headed Lan Qiao Yi" explain clearly:

"All ministers, scholars, and commoners shall submit their slave registers to His Royal Highness. From this day forward, all slaves shall be granted commoner status, free to stay or leave without interference.

All matters in Xiao City shall henceforth be handled by the Prince of Prince Pingyuan; those with objections may seek his judgment."

Now the meaning was clear.

Every minister and scholar stood stunned.

Commoners were also terrified—they too owned slaves, though in limited numbers; apart from a few wealthy merchants and magnates, most commoner households had only three or five slaves.

A scholar's household might have over a dozen slaves; slightly affluent scholars kept hundreds.

Ministers were even worse off—men like Yu Yu Yunqiu and Ao Ao Shuangqian had so many slaves they couldn't count them; without slaves, they didn't know how to live, and they couldn't imagine what Xiao City would become.

Even more shocked than them was Lan Qiao Yi.

Lan Qiao Yi tried to rush downstairs, but Nian Nian Shangyou could barely hold him back.

"This is ancestral law! We cannot break ancestral law! Such words cannot come from my mouth!"

"My lord, pretend you never said it—it wasn't you who said it!"

"He staged this whole farce, and now it's pinned on me! Get out of my way!"

Lan Qiao Yi shoved and pushed, and even Nian Nian Shangyou couldn't hold him.

"Fine then, my lord, I'll step aside—go ahead."

Nian Nian Shangyou moved aside.

Lan Qiao Yi walked to the first floor, reached for the door, then pulled his hand back.

He couldn't go out—once he did, everything would be ruined.

Even if he went out now, he couldn't clear his name, and there'd be no turning back.

Shouts and curses came from outside the pavilion.

"Slaves are my private property—why must I hand them over? Who will compensate me?"

"Xiao City is the former capital of Da Shang—why hand it over? Is the Imperial Cabinet mad?"

"What is he, anyway? A peasant from Pulu Province—Pulu people are born slaves. What right does he have to be a prince?"

"If His Majesty were still alive, he'd never let this arrogance stand!"

"Everyone, go home—today's just listening to frogs croak!"

Lan Qiao Yi stood on the first floor for a moment, then returned to the second floor and said to Nian Nian Shangyou: "They still seem fond of that fake king."

Nian Nian Shangyou spat: "This is all Li Qi's fault—his reckless actions have enraged everyone, forcing them to dig up old grievances."

"No," Lan Qiao Yi stared at the grand hall—the "Three-Headed Lan Qiao Yi" outside showed no flaw—"many scholars joined the shouting too. A scholar dared mention the fake king right before the Grand Secretary. This proves the old grievances weren't just stirred today—they've been buried in their hearts all along."

Nian Nian Shangyou said: "Your Excellency, I think this is just momentary outrage…"

Lan Qiao Yi shook his head: "Outrage, yes—but not momentary. Perhaps this isn't a bad thing."

Nian Nian Shangyou didn't know how to respond.

Isn't this a bad thing? Is Lord Lan Qiao out of his mind?

Lan Qiao Yi wasn't delirious—he calmed down: "I haven't been to Xiao Capital in too many years. People once told me Xiao City and Chaoge weren't aligned. Now I see they were right.

Good. Let them fight Li Qi first—I'll see what Xiao City is truly made of. Whoever wins, I'll be the one to net them all."

…

Minister Yu Yu Yunqiu flexed his jaws and glanced at Ao Ao Shuangqian.

Ao Ao Shuangqian lightly tapped his left pincer hand.

Together, they bowed deeply to Li Li Banfeng, then left the imperial palace without a word.

These two had governed Xiao City for years; once they left, everyone else followed. Soon, the imperial palace stood empty.

Though their demeanor was respectful, they were making one thing clear: in Xiao City, they still held power. The Prince of Prince Pingyuan's decree to abolish slavery was empty talk.

When everyone had gone, Lan Qiao Yi stepped out of the pavilion, offered no comment on the ceremony, and merely bade Li Li Banfeng farewell: "The rewards promised to Your Royal Highness have all been delivered. My lord and I must return to Chaoge."

Li Li Banfeng paused: "Leaving so soon—is that wise?"

Lan Qiao Yi's face was expressionless; Nian Nian Shangyou smirked inwardly.

Now you think it's unwise? You want Lord Lan Qiao to stabilize the situation for you?

Why should Lord Lan Qiao help you? Where's that arrogance you showed before?

Li Li Banfeng added: "I think you should stay a little longer."

Lan Qiao Yi said nothing.

Nian Nian Shangyou bowed: "Your Royal Highness, Chaoge has many affairs awaiting our lord's attention. Delaying too long may expose weaknesses—harmful to both sides."

Li Li Banfeng frowned: "Your leaving now harms me too. You haven't paid the full reward—do you think you can just walk away?"

Nian Nian Shangyou blinked: "Not fully paid?"

Li Li Banfeng said: "What do you think? We agreed on twenty new plots—you gave me only ten deeds. Where are the other ten?"

Nian Nian Shangyou had forgotten: "Your Highness, could you please wait a moment? You know our altar was damaged—collecting twenty plots at once is impossible. Give us two more days—we'll deliver them all."

Li Li Banfeng was generous: "I won't refuse a delay—write a promissory note, clearly stating principal and interest."

Nian Nian Shangyou pursed his lips: "Interest… too?"

Li Li Banfeng sighed: "Out of our friendship, I'll waive interest—just charge a late fee. Ten days overdue, add one more deed."

Nian Nian Shangyou panicked: "One deed every ten days? That's too much—"

Lan Qiao Yi said: "Fine. I accept. I'll write the note immediately."

Since their lord agreed, Nian Nian Shangyou had nothing to say.

Li Li Banfeng took the note and asked: "You arranged the ceremony, but you haven't told me where the three weapons are."

Nian Nian Shangyou led Li Li Banfeng to Jinghe Palace, opened a hidden door on the floor, and entered an underground chamber.

Inside stood an old-fashioned radio.

In the outer provinces, radios were rare; people remembered only palm-sized or brick-sized models. Only the elderly recalled how large floor-standing radios were.

Li Li Banfeng had seen a floor-standing radio—in Wu Laotai's room—bigger than a stage's professional speaker.

This radio was nearly identical in size; Li Li Banfeng stood beside it, only a head taller.

He turned the switch—only static came out. No matter how he tuned it, no program came through.

Nian Nian Shangyou explained: "I installed this first-rank weapon, but like the one in Tianyi City, I only set it up—I don't know how to use it. Your Royal Highness must study it yourself."

"Studying isn't the problem," Li Li Banfeng turned off the radio. "The key is—is this even a first-rank weapon? Don't try to fool me with junk."

Lan Qiao Yi said: "Even if Your Highness distrusts me, can you distrust the deeds?"

Leaving Jinghe Palace, they went to Wanan Palace. Nian Nian Shangyou opened a hidden chamber beneath the hall, where a table held an old grandfather clock.

Nian Nian Shangyou said: "Your Royal Highness, this clock is also a first-rank weapon."

Li Li Banfeng touched the clock—his hand came away dusty. He opened the clock door and pulled a key from beneath the pendulum.

Most young people in the outer provinces didn't know what this key was for—but Li Li Banfeng knew: it was for winding the clock's mainspring.

He inserted the key into the winding hole, turned it fully, then pushed the pendulum—the clock ticked to life.

Minutes passed, and nothing changed. Nian Nian Shangyou opened his mouth to explain, but Li Li Banfeng waved him off: "No need. You don't know how this weapon works."

Nian Nian Shangyou smiled humbly: "Your Royal Highness sees clearly. I truly don't know."

Bound by the deeds, Li Li Banfeng wasn't overly worried—he'd let the Blood-Stained Pendulum and this clock talk later; they might get along well.

Leaving Wufu Palace, Li Li Banfeng asked Nian Nian Shangyou: "Is the third weapon underground too?"

Nian Nian Shangyou blinked: "Your Highness, we've already given you three weapons—the fourth is the Dragonbone Waterwheel, in Tianyi City. You've seen it."

"Nonsense!" Li Li Banfeng lifted his hat brim. "That waterwheel belongs to Tianyi City. Since Tianyi City is mine, the waterwheel can't be counted separately!"

Nian Nian Shangyou blinked his fish-like eyes: "But… but the waterwheel truly is a first-rank weapon. It wasn't originally in Tianyi City—I placed it there myself…"

Lan Qiao Yi cut him off.

Don't argue with Li Qi now—the more you explain, the worse it gets.

But some things must be clarified. Lan Qiao Yi said: "The two weapons you've seen, though in Xiao City, were placed here by my two brothers specifically for Your Royal Highness—they cannot count as part of Xiao City's inheritance."

Li Li Banfeng said: "So you mean they were just moved here? Then why is the grandfather clock covered in dust?"

Nian Nian Shangyou quickly waved his hands: "I truly don't know. When I installed the clock, Minister Xie specifically ordered me not to clean it."

Li Li Banfeng nodded: "Fine, I'll accept that. Where's the third weapon?"

Nian Nian Shangyou looked at Lan Qiao Yi.

Lan Qiao Yi frowned: "Why look at me? Is it there or not? Answer the prince!"

Nian Nian Shangyou now understood—Lan Qiao Yi wanted to escape Xiao City as soon as possible.

"Your Highness, this way! The third weapon isn't underground."

Nian Nian Shangyou led Li Li Banfeng to the Office of Ceremonial, entering a small room.

The room was tiny—barely five or six square meters—holding a bamboo mat, a square table, and two wooden benches.

This was a eunuch's quarters.

Li Li Banfeng looked at Nian Nian Shangyou and said, "Where's the first-class weapon?"

Nian Nian Shangyou pointed at the Eight Immortals table: "Your Highness, take a look."

"Is this table also a weapon?"

Nian Nian Shangyou bowed low and said, "First-class weapon, genuine and unquestionable."

Li Li Banfeng pressed against the Eight Immortals table, listening for a long time; he sensed some spiritual quality, but heard not a single sound.

More importantly, he couldn't imagine how this Eight Immortals table could be used in battle.

After the three first-class weapons were explained, Li Li Banfeng asked Nian Nian Shangyou: "Are there any other first-class weapons in the Imperial City?"

"None left." Nian Nian Shangyou's catfish face remained utterly expressionless.

Li Li Banfeng didn't press further. Nian Nian Shangyou took Lan Qiao Yi aboard a merchant ship and left Xao City.

Walking into the Imperial Garden, Li Li Banfeng used the Linked Chamber Technique to summon his wife, and the two sat together on a rock garden to admire the flowers.

Learning that Li Li Banfeng intended to abolish the slave system, his wife grew worried: "My dear husband, the slave system in Shang State has lasted for countless years—no single decree can abolish it. Your haste may provoke the nobles of Xao City against you."

Li Li Banfeng shook his head. "The nobles aren't the main concern."

Hearing this, the phonograph grew even more anxious: "Don't underestimate them, my lord. The ministers and scholar-officials have held power in Xao City for generations—their roots run deep, their methods countless. You must be extremely cautious."

"I don't underestimate them. I know they're hard to deal with." Li Li Banfeng paused, then summoned twelve shadows.

These twelve shadows were all from the Earthly Branches—they possessed the Yu Zhaixiu talent and were hard to detect.

Li Li Banfeng instructed: "Li Banfeng Zi through Li Banfeng Shen, each of you patrol one city layer. If you encounter any slave trying to flee his master, bring him to the Imperial City—I'll house them first."

"Li Banfeng You, Li Banfeng Xu, Li Banfeng Hai—you three cover the first three layers, which are vast. Help each other out. If anything unusual happens elsewhere, respond immediately."

Once the Earthly Branch shadows were dispatched, Li Li Banfeng summoned the Heavenly Stems: "Quickly familiarize yourselves with the Imperial City—map out all traps and secret passages, devise defense strategies, and prepare for a brutal fight."

Once the Heavenly Stems shadows were sent out, Li Li Banfeng and his wife studied the three first-class weapons together.

…

Minister Yu Yu Yunqiu returned home, drank a few gloomy cups of wine, and his son Yu Yu Daoquan, brewing wine beside him, offered two words of comfort: "Father, don't fret. A common lowborn spouting nonsense—how could it be taken seriously?"

Yu Yu Yunqiu glanced at Yu Yu Daoquan. He had over thirty sons; Yu Yu Daoquan wasn't the legitimate heir, and Yu Yu Yunqiu usually paid him little mind.

But today's crisis was unprecedented—only Yu Yu Daoquan dared to mention it. Perhaps he might actually accomplish something.

Yu Yu Yunqiu thought for a moment, then gave Yu Yu Daoquan two pointers: "I didn't take Li Qi's words seriously—but I fear others might."

Yu Yu Daoquan said, "You mean the Ao family—you're afraid they'll side with Li Qi?"

Yu Yu Yunqiu shook his head with a bitter smile: "Your insight is still lacking. Ao Ao Shuangqian and I have battled our entire lives. Though I despise his character, I've never doubted his spirit."

"He'd never side with Li Qi. But within our own household, someone might actually believe Li Qi's words."

Hearing this, Yu Yu Daoquan understood: "Father, I'll gather men immediately and settle matters within the household."

Yu Yu Yunqiu owned over three thousand slaves—some served in the mansion, some tilled fields, some worked in shops.

The servants in the mansion dared not act. Those tilling fields were too far from the city and hadn't heard the news of abolition. Only those working in shops had begun to think.

Yu Yu Yunqiu operated a porcelain shop in the third layer. At night, the shopkeeper closed up, and the workers went home to rest—but the slaves had to stay inside, chained to the door, forbidden to step a single foot outside.

There were thirty-eight slaves in the shop, all crammed into one shed to sleep. Around the hour of Chou, one slave named "Bei" quietly woke and nudged the slave beside him.

That slave was named "Shun." He hadn't slept—he'd been waiting for Bei to wake him.

The two headed toward the shed's exit, when the slave sleeping beside it, "Gong," suddenly sat up: "Where are you going?"

Among the slaves, Gong was the oldest and most experienced—every slave feared him.

Shun quickly explained: "We're going to urinate together."

"Aren't there chamber pots?" Gong extended a leg, pointing to the bucket in the corner. "Isn't that big enough for both of you?"

Bei replied: "We're not just urinating—we're also defecating. Don't want to stink up the rest of you."

Gong stared at them for a moment: "Defecating together? What a coincidence?"

Bei answered: "We ate something bad tonight—both of us feel sick."

Gong sneered: "Tomorrow you won't eat at all. Starve for a day—you won't feel sick anymore."

Bei and Shun said nothing more, lowered their heads, and hurried out of the shed toward the latrine.

The two had planned to climb out of the porcelain shop tonight and flee beyond the city, hiding in a forest.

If the city lord kept his word, they'd return to work. If not, they'd live as wild men in the woods.

At the latrine, Bei and Shun dragged two stones from a pile of clay. They'd hidden three stones there—but one was gone.

The walls of Neizhou were high, and slaves wore iron shackles. Two stacked stones weren't enough to scale the wall.

Shun whispered: "Let's call it off tonight. Try again tomorrow."

Bei swayed his body: "No. By tomorrow, the city lord's words might be worthless—we won't even get past the gates."

Shun lowered his head: "I'm afraid we won't get out tonight either. This city lord's just blowing smoke. If we're caught after escaping, we're dead. At least now we're still alive!"

Bei glanced at the distant shed, jingling his iron shackles: "Is this even living? Beaten with whips from dawn to dusk, working harder than beasts, eating worse than beasts, dying in the shed when you can't go on—this is your whole life?"

"I heard some slaves escaped to the forests, built their own houses, farmed their own land, fed themselves, even married. That's living."

"Those are just rumors. Who's ever seen a slave who fled to the mountains? Who knows if it's true? I've also heard all slaves who leave the city die outside."

"Only trying will tell. The day before yesterday, Xiao Mo spilled a bowl of soup for the young master and was beaten to death. You know that's true, right? Can our lives get any worse than this?"

Bei's words convinced Shun: "Fine. Wait here—I'll go find another stone."

"Hurry back!"

Shun left. Bei waited beneath the wall. After a long while, he saw someone approaching with a torch.

Bei panicked, lunging for the latrine—but it was too late.

A guard stepped forward, thrust his spear through Bei's body, pinning him to the ground.

Behind the guard stood Yu Yu Daoquan.

Behind Yu Yu Daoquan stood Gong, the oldest slave in the porcelain shop.

Gong told Yu Yu Daoquan: "Young Master, I knew right away these two had plans. Sneaking out in the middle of the night to defecate together? They meant to flee."

Bei denied it, writhing on the ground: "We didn't plan to run—we just needed to defecate!"

"Lies!" Gong roared, pointing to the stones by the wall. "Where did these come from? Do you think I can't see through your schemes? Wasn't one stone missing? I took it for you!"

"You ungrateful wretches—did your masters deprive you of food or drink? You listen to this lowborn's heresy and dare betray your masters? Are you even human? Where's Shun? Where is he?"

Bei shouted: "We never planned to run! Shun's already back in the shed!"

He shouted loudly—for Shun's sake.

Shun hadn't returned to the shed. He'd hidden behind the kiln. Hearing Bei's cry, he bolted for the shed.

Yu Yu Daoquan drew his knife and slashed twice across Bei's face: "Li Qi says one word, and you actually believe him? You're alive today only because my family spared your life. What use is a traitor like you?"

"Young Master, I'm innocent! I'm innocent!" Bei begged.

Yu Yu Daoquan ordered: "Beat him to death with clubs."

Shun escaped back to the shed, curled up, trembling, not daring to move.

He could hear Bei's screams—each one clear, each one piercing.

…

Bei's corpse was hung outside the porcelain shop. Li Banfeng Zi happened to pass by, pressed against the wall, watching.

Yu Yu Daoquan sent for his father. Yu Yu Yunqiu arrived, listened to Yu Yu Daoquan's account.

Yu Yu Yunqiu nodded repeatedly: "Well done. Reward him. Tomorrow, assign him a shop in the third layer to manage."

Yu Yu Daoquan thanked him, then added: "The slave Gong performed great service—please grant him a reward."

Gong knelt nearby, not daring to breathe.

Yu Yu Yunqiu glanced at the slave Gong: "Normally, he'd deserve a reward. But now Li Qi is using slaves as a political tool—granting rewards would be inappropriate. This deed will be recorded for now."

Those words—"recorded for now"—moved Gong to tears. He prostrated himself, pounding his head against the ground.

Yu Yu Yunqiu added: "Hang this corpse at the shop for one day, then display it at every shop—let the slaves see what becomes of such traitors."

Yu Yu Daoquan replied: "Yes."

Yu Yu Yunqiu said: "I suspect more slaves will try to flee."

Yu Yu Daoquan immediately understood: "Father, I'll inspect other shops."

Yu Yu Yunqiu returned to the eighth layer to rest. Yu Yu Daoquan led men to check other shops. The Yu family had many businesses in the third layer. At a silk shop, they saw several men approaching.

These men hunched over, with long beards, hopping as they walked—like shrimp.

They carried weapons—no one knew whose guards they were.

Were they from the Ao family?

Yu Yu Daoquan stepped forward to greet them—but noticed their scent was odd.

They didn't smell of Ao family shrimp. Instead, they carried the sweet fragrance of cantaloupe.

"Who are you…"

Before he finished speaking, one guard swung an iron club and smashed it into Yu Yu Daoquan's leg.

CRACK!

Yu Yu Daoquan's leg broke. He collapsed to his knees.

"You—!" Yu Yu Daoquan screamed in agony. His guards rushed forward, clashing with the cantaloupe men.

The two sides were evenly matched. Li Banfeng Yi said: "This petty mess—you had to use these cantaloupe men? Useless trash."

Li Li Banfeng replied: "You're useful? Then go."

Li Banfeng Yi actually went. He walked through the crowd—and every guard beside Yu Yu Daoquan fell.

"Lock them up!" Li Banfeng Yi ordered. The cantaloupe men bound Yu Yu Daoquan and his guards, dragging them to the Imperial City.

That night, passersby saw Yu Yu Daoquan being arrested and rushed to inform the Yu family. Yu Yu Yunqiu, upon hearing the news, immediately went to the Imperial City to demand his son's release.

The imperial palace gates were tightly closed, and Li Li Banfeng refused to see him.

Yu Yu Yunqiu wanted to force his way in, but he did not know Li Qi's true strength; even last night's band of shrimp-men had left him baffled as to their origin.

With no other choice, he returned to the imperial palace the next day and waited at the gate for Li Qi.

Just before noon, Li Qi emerged, and Yu Yu Daoquan emerged with him.

The nobles and scholars were summoned and gathered before the palace gates.

Yu Yu Daoquan, covered in wounds, along with over a dozen guards, were pinned to the ground.

Yu Yu Yunqiu stepped forward to protest, but Li Li Banfeng glanced at him.

That glance sent a shiver down Yu Yu Yunqiu's spine, leaving him speechless.

Li Li Banfeng asked Yu Yu Daoquan: "You have taken human lives as if they were grass—do you acknowledge your crime?"

Yu Yu Daoquan shouted: "My slaves are my private property; I have the right to dispose of them as I see fit."

Li Li Banfeng said: "I declared yesterday that the slave system has been abolished. You openly defy my order—do you acknowledge your crime?"

Yu Yu Daoquan shouted again: "I am not guilty! Which household in Xiaocheng does not own slaves? On what grounds do you condemn me?"

"Then you refuse to plead guilty," Li Li Banfeng nodded slightly, then pronounced judgment: "Beat to death. Expose the corpse for three days."

PS: Li Banfeng, a fierce battle is coming!