Chapter 116

These days Shen Tianxing has been living quite well, and he also learned about the funny incident involving two princes and two royal sons.

If they knew that Xun Yu's talent for statecraft gathered popular support and improved internal administration—including farming and breeding, boosting everything by 50%—they'd probably vomit blood.

Furthermore, Wen Zhengming's skill is teaching without discrimination; basically, anyone who has listened to his lectures can to some extent tell right from wrong, understand principles, and has a certain learning foundation.

Thus, the people of Leiming City are basically of the highest quality; they wouldn't abandon proper work for a small gain—not even the elderly and old beggars, who, when idle, would bring food and tea to the soldiers repairing the city walls and building houses.

Serious matters haven't been settled; I suppose they'll soon be desperate, and there will be good drama to watch. Or rather, our governor really has a way—he judges people accurately.

Old Man Yang, that's a bit harsh to say; how can a dignified prince and prince be called 'desperate dog jumping over a wall'? It should be said they have no way out.

The old and the young, while talking, burst into laughter; at the same time, a messenger ran in, dropped to one knee, and respectfully reported.

Report to the governor: something happened—a self-proclaimed eldest son of Prince Fu, a little prince, forcibly took a civilian woman and killed her husband; he has now been captured by the city guard, please come and handle it.

Shen Tianxing didn't expect this to happen so quickly; indeed, there are some bad apples in the Imperial Family, perfect for giving these four a lesson by killing a chicken to scare the monkeys.

Let's go, Old Man Yang, let's go see; for openly abducting a civilian woman and killing someone, we should castrate him on the street and then behead him as a warning.

That's a good idea, let's go.

Yang Tieqiang was obviously somewhat angry; as a member of the Imperial Family, even if you're a wastrel or unlearned, it's not a big deal, but to openly abduct a civilian woman and kill her husband—that's truly deserving of death.

You riffraff, stop! If anyone dares to throw things at me again, when my father arrives, I'll make sure you die without a burial place.

With his hands and feet pinned down, the little prince lying on the ground roared in anger; after being beaten when first captured, he was also pelted with vegetable leaves and rotten eggs, and even stones were thrown.

What little prince? Even if I came, openly abducting a civilian woman and killing someone is unacceptable; this is the rule set by our governor—even the emperor, if he breaks the law, will be beheaded as a warning.

That's right, the governor of Leiming City is supreme; his rules are the rules, and anyone who violates the law should be dealt with according to the law.

Someone like him who openly abducts a civilian woman and kills someone should be beheaded outright—no talk of prince or not, even if the emperor came, it'd be the same.

The populace was stirred up; not far away, Prince Fu watched, wanting to go over but daring not to—should he choose to kill his son? That would win the people's hearts!

But after all, it's his son; is it just abducting a civilian woman and killing someone that big a deal? Previously, a single sentence could settle it, but now it's become a major trouble.

Sixth Royal Uncle, stop looking; today we must give these people an explanation, otherwise we won't be able to stand in Leiming City from now on.

I also know Sixth Royal Uncle can't bear to lose his cousin, but he indeed committed a capital crime; now he's on Shen Tianxing's turf, and to win the people's support he will definitely kill his cousin—better we uphold righteousness and destroy kin, at least we can gain a good reputation.

The Fifth Prince was very calm, also knowing that when such a thing happens, the quickest and most decisive way to survive is to cut off one's arm; losing a little prince is no big deal, but losing the people's hearts would render all previous efforts wasted.

Of course, what they did before was actually useless, but precisely because it was useless, we must not let the situation get worse.

Old Five, are you crazy? That's the paternal uncle's own son, our own cousin; no matter how great his mistake, we must protect him.

What does it matter how many of these riffraff die? The world is ours; even if this is Shen Tianxing's turf, so what? We are princes, the two royal uncles are princes—does he dare kill us?

The Third Prince has been a bit aloof lately; he's been doing very well in Leiming City, basically not participating in all the things Old Wu and the others did, taking silver, bringing his subordinates to the pleasure quarters to listen to music, find girls, and chat about life.

After drinking too much, the girls coax a few words and his identity slips out; once his identity is known, the girls will surely flatter and fawn over him, leaving the Third Prince somewhat at a loss.

That's right, they're just dead commoners—what's the big deal? Come on, drive away the onlookers and help me snatch the little prince back.

When these four entered the city, they actually brought several hundred people, many of whom were their original guards; of course, their martial ability wasn't great, otherwise they wouldn't have been allowed in.

Yes, Prince!

These guards have been doing fairly well lately; although they haven't done any evil in Leiming City, they've been rather arrogant and overbearing. This time the prince orders them, they can finally put on a good show and vent their pent-up energy!

Make way, make way for me, and you guys hurry up and release our little prince, or else today you'll regret it—you're incredibly bold, daring to seize our little prince? You don't want to live, do you?

A group of guards shoved and shoved the people, knocking many down, then rushed into the crowd, encircling the city patrol's veteran soldiers; the leader even shouted angrily.

Royal brother, royal uncles, are you crazy? If you keep doing this, how will we ever stand in Leiming City? I'm afraid even Leizhou won't have a place for us.

The Fifth Prince appeared anxious on the surface, but inwardly he was delighted; as he spoke, he quickly rushed over, about to loudly rebuke the three guards, but the surrounded veteran soldiers, without a word, drew their blades and charged, launching a fierce assault.

The people retreated one after another, yet each cheered; this scene startled the Fifth Prince who had just rushed forward, causing him to retreat hastily, continually swallowing his saliva.

Damn it, you dare kill the guards of His Highness the Prince and the royal uncles? Is this rebellion? Come, kill them all!

The Third Prince flew into a rage, immediately issuing an order for the remaining guards to charge forward, intending to strike at the veteran army; unfortunately, the veteran soldiers are each of the strength of a commander of a thousand, while these guards are only of the strength of a lieutenant of a hundred.

The veteran soldiers showed no fear, drawing their blades to meet the challenge; at this moment, countless people made way, and Shen Tianxing and Yang Tieqiang slowly walked toward the veteran soldiers, Shen Tianxing's calm voice also sounding.

Third Prince, have you forgotten this is Leiming City? You're no different from ordinary folk; do you really have the gall to try to kill the governor?

This is what kind of damned little prince, right? Openly abducting a civilian woman and killing someone—since that's the case, you should first pickle him. Execute him by slow slicing execution right here, let everyone see; whoever breaks the law should accept the due punishment.