Chapter 111: Are you teaching me to be a tyrant?

Dongfang Qi felt a panic in his heart and was just about to speak when Xie Shouzheng continued to run his mouth: "Does this even need to be said? Isn't it because the two of you are uncle and sister-in-law? My Young Master is a gentleman and must be careful to avoid risks; he cannot sit in the carriage, so he can only sit outside, right? Young Master, I'm not wrong, am I?"

He looked at Dongfang Qi with a smiling face, looking for praise. If his tail hadn't been tucked away, it would definitely be wagging into a blur right now.

"Xiao Hui." Dongfang Qi waved his hand at him, signaling him to turn around.

"Ah? Why turn around?" Although he didn't understand, Xie Shouzheng still obediently turned around.

The next moment, Dongfang Qi kicked him in the butt: "It's just that you have too much to say, get lost!"

Xie Shouzheng, having received a kick, had no choice but to get on his own horse, feeling aggrieved.

Facing the morning light, the carriage, carrying hope, set off on the journey again.

On the way, Lin Qingyue asked Dongfang Qi: "Regarding the Red Jade matter, the mastermind is Duke Li. Do you think he can be convicted in the end?"

Dongfang Qi said: "This case has both human and material evidence, so logically, he can be convicted."

"Logically?" A lazy sneer came from the carriage, "So, there is still a high probability that it won't be according to logic, right?"

Dongfang Qi was silent for a moment, then said: "The Li family is a top-tier noble clan with overwhelming power. Duke Li is the head of the Li family, and his party members are spread throughout the court. Even Prince Li needs his full support to fight for power."

Lin Qingyue raised her eyebrows and smiled: "And so?"

Dongfang Qi said: "So, I guess they will probably abandon the car to save the commander. Li Duo is already dead, so maybe they will just let nature take its course and push all the blame onto Li Duo. But if Li Duo were not dead, they would probably find a side branch or a concubine's son from the family to take the blame."

Lin Qingyue asked again: "Is your father that easy to fool?"

Dongfang Qi said: "Even if Miao Dong is willing to testify, and even if the charge can be pinned on Duke Li, it's useless. Because they are the privileged class and are protected by privilege."

Lin Qingyue said sarcastically: "What a great privilege! Who gave this privilege? You, or your father?"

Dongfang Qi shook his head, his tone full of helplessness: "It is the entire class. It is a tacit understanding formed over thousands of years. They want to protect their own interests, so ordinary crimes cannot shake their foundation."

"Even if it were my father, if he insisted on imposing heavy penalties, then other noble clans—even families that didn't have a good relationship with the Li family in the past—would stand together to oppose the Imperial power."

"Because every family has things that cannot see the light of day; they want to maintain the interests of the entire class, so they absolutely will not allow the guillotine to fall."

"And my father, although he is the monarch of a country, he also needs the support of the noble clans behind him, otherwise it would be self-destruction."

When he said this, Dongfang Qi sighed deeply: "The noble clans have a thousand-year foundation, even longer than the history of Qi Guo. They have long been intertwined on this land, and pulling one hair affects the whole body. Therefore, such crimes can at most cause the Li family some setbacks; there is no way to pull them out by the roots."

"Doesn't sound like a big deal." Lin Qingyue laughed disdainfully.

Dongfang Qi said: "What, do you have a way?"

Lin Qingyue said: "What's difficult about this? Since those noble clans have all become malignant tumors, then eradicate them all. First, slaughter one family to warn the others. If it's ineffective, keep slaughtering! At worst, kill them all."

Dongfang Qi was amused by her: "You say it very easily, as if killing people is as simple as cutting grass."

Lin Qingyue said: "Isn't it simple? If you think it's difficult, it's because your strength is not strong enough; the strong won't be timid. Punish the guilty, why think so much?"

Dongfang Qi said: "Are you teaching me to be a tyrant?"

Lin Qingyue smiled: "That's right! If you can create a completely different world, what does it matter if you are a tyrant? What about the empty reputation of future generations? Whether I leave a bad name for ten thousand years or a good name for ten thousand generations, what does it have to do with me?"

Dongfang Qi shook his head and laughed softly: "You say it as if you have been a tyrant before."

Although he didn't quite agree with Lin Qingyue's statement, her open-mindedness, which was not constrained by worldly fame and fortune, was something he greatly admired.

For the next few days, they traveled north and finally arrived at the northern border of Qi Guo.

The northern border was vast, with green grass like a carpet, stretching as far as the eye could see. The sheep were like clouds, gathered together in groups. Even the wind that blew carried a free breath that made one feel open-minded.

As soon as Xie Shouzheng reached the grassland, the wildness in his blood awakened.

Taking advantage of the fact that there was no one around, he let out a howl and turned into a wolf, running back and forth on the grassland, startling the sheep into scattering and fleeing.

Dongfang Qi shouted from afar: "Xiao Hui, don't scatter the sheep, the herdsmen won't be able to find them!"

So, that gray shadow, fast as lightning, darted left and right on the grass, helping to gather the sheep back together.

A herdsman happened to ride up on a horse, saw it from afar, and couldn't help but praise: "What a good dog!"

Xiao Hui was so angry that he left the sheep and ran back, grumbling: "What kind of discernment is that, can't even tell a wolf from a dog, how unreasonable!"

Arriving here, it was only a few hours' journey from the Chiying Land.

Dongfang Qi suggested staying overnight at a nearby herdsman's house, and after resting well, set off again early tomorrow morning.

The herdsmen here were mostly simple and kind. Xie Shouzheng went to negotiate and soon borrowed a place to stay, and also drank fragrant milk tea and ate delicious roasted lamb.

After eating and drinking their fill, they took a walk on the grassland under the starry sky.

Because this was a residential area and he was afraid of being seen, Xie Shouzheng didn't dare to show his original form again—besides, it was troublesome to find a place to put on and take off clothes every time.

But he wasn't idle either; he ran in front alone, looking here and there, patrolling very seriously. Lest something suddenly jump out of the darkness to disturb the Crown Prince's mood.

Dongfang Qi didn't know what he was thinking, and was silent all the way.

Lin Qingyue asked him: "Are you afraid?"

It would be a lie to say he wasn't afraid.

On this journey, although he seemed open-minded and fearless. But tomorrow he would arrive at the Chiying Land; was his lost soul really there? Or what if he couldn't find it even if he was there?

Tonight, perhaps it was the last moment of peace.

He looked at the brilliant starry sky above and smiled faintly: "Although I have already prepared myself mentally, I am still a bit unwilling..."

Lin Qingyue nodded: "I understand, after all, you haven't married yet. It's a pity to die... How about I find you a partner and get you married first?"

Dongfang Qi was originally quite melancholy, but was suddenly stunned by these words: Where did her thoughts go again?

Lin Qingyue seemed to have become interested: "Just now while eating, the herdsman's daughter kept secretly looking at you; it's clear she is interested in you. That girl looks good and is of a suitable age. Otherwise, I'll help you propose?"

Dongfang Qi: "... No, no need."

He really couldn't understand why Lin Qingyue always wanted to play matchmaker for him. ===== CHAPTER 112 =====