Chapter 416: First Volume, Chapter 416: The Ocean of the People

First Volume, Chapter 416: The Ocean of the People

Savior of the masses? That's absurd!

Qin Feng quickly helped the old man up, gently brushed the dust off his knees, and grinned: "You're already this old—I can't possibly accept your bow. As for being a savior, that's pure nonsense. Come on, get up, let's keep going—your ox cart is surprisingly comfortable."

The old man was utterly stunned, nodded like a pounding pestle, and scrambled onto the ox cart.

Qin Feng and Jing Qianying also climbed aboard in turn.

As they passed the Minister of War, he still asked: "Young Master, the Sage sent us to meet you—why not ride in our carriage?"

Qin Feng simply lay down on the hay pile, waving his hand: "No need. I only did what was my duty—no need for such a grand reception. Go about your own business, don't bother with me."

The three ministers exchanged glances and reluctantly led their entourage, silently following behind the ox cart.

Meanwhile, the County Magistrate of Fuyun hurried over to the ox cart and shoved two silver ingots into the old man's hands—twenty taels in total.

"Delivering Young Master Qin to Beijing is a great service to us."

The old man had never seen so much money—he felt the silver ingots were scorching hot, and stammered in awe: "I dare not accept such a gift! Delivering Young Master Qin is already my fortune."

The County Magistrate glared at him: "Just take it, stop talking so much! I'll have an official escort you home afterward."

Jing Qianying smiled slightly: "Take it. This journey to Beijing isn't on your way—you've gone out of your way at your age. This is just compensation for your trouble."

The old man reluctantly accepted the silver, thinking today was truly ancestral luck—delivering Young Master Qin to Beijing, and now getting this much money. Just these twenty taels would feed his family for over a decade.

Instantly, the old man straightened his back, feeling more proud than he ever had in his life.

At dusk, Jingdu City slowly came into view.

As the city grew clearer, Qin Feng stretched out with great relief, thinking finally home, finally some rest. But the moment he thought that, a roar of cheers erupted.

Qin Feng frowned and turned toward the sound—thousands lined the City Wall.

On the wall stood dense ranks of soldiers; below, the streets teemed with civilians.

"Look! Young Master Qin is back!"

With that scream, the entire capital seemed to erupt.

Both civilians and soldiers alike turned red with excitement, staring fixedly at Qin Feng on the hay pile.

"It really is Young Master Qin! Wonderful! Just seven days ago, I thought he'd likely perish on this mission—who knew he'd crush the Northern Border rebellion so swiftly? Young Master Qin is truly our greatest general of Shedynasty!"

"That's not all! How could a petty rebel like Huang Cheng possibly require Young Master Qin's personal attention? He went north to face the Di's Sanggan Army!"

"Stop shouting—you don't know what you're talking about! Just spreading rumors!"

"My cousin works in the Ministry of War—he says Young Master Qin signed a military command before leaving Beijing: to crush Huang Cheng's bandits within ten days. An impossible task—once you subtract travel time, he had only four days to suppress them. Yet he returned in seven days—meaning he destroyed Huang Cheng in just one day! As for the Sanggan Army, they colluded with Huang Cheng, planning to ambush Beixi County—guess what happened?"

Amid the crowd's ecstatic gaze, the man who claimed insider knowledge puffed up with pride, lifting his chin high.

"The Sanggan Army never even saw Young Master Qin's face—they were slaughtered, thrown into chaos, abandoned their helmets and armor, ha ha ha!"

At these words, the crowd erupted again.

Over the years, the people of Beijing had heard nothing but bad news from the Northern Border—defeats, sieges, desperation. All of them carried a heavy burden.

Now, they felt their spirits lifted at last.

At that moment, a boy pointed at the ox cart and cried out: "Look! Why is Young Master Qin returning to Beijing on an ox cart?"

Instantly, public outrage surged.

Countless civilians shouted angrily.

"Unthinkable! Young Master Qin has brought glory to our nation, crushed rebels and secured peace—he is our greatest hero of this generation! Returning to Beijing, he doesn't even get a procession of flowers and banners? At least he should be escorted by a carriage! Yet he rides an ox cart? A farmer's ox cart? Is this how Shedynasty treats its heroes?"

"Exactly! This will crush the people's hearts!"

The crowd surged toward the ox cart, shouting at the soldiers, demanding answers.

Seeing order about to collapse, the accompanying Minister of War rushed forward and shouted an explanation.

"Fellow citizens, don't misunderstand—Young Master Qin rides the ox cart because he's traveled a thousand li, exhausted and worn out. Look—behind the ox cart are several carriages."

With the Minister's explanation, the civilian resentment gradually subsided.

The crowd's gazes grew even hotter.

"So it's true!"

"Hah! No wonder Young Master Qin doesn't care for pomp."

"Right! At his current status, even an Imperial Prince must treat him with respect. Even a Nine Rank County Magistrate needs a grand escort when traveling. Yet Young Master Qin lives so frugally—it's truly admirable."

"Learn from this—that's how an official should behave!"

"Hey, Young Master Qin isn't an official."

Seeing the people so fiercely defend Qin Feng, the accompanying officials broke into cold sweat—this public sentiment was no good omen.

After all, this was Beijing, the imperial heartland—even if Qin Feng meant no harm, the Sage might still grow suspicious.

In Heaven, only one man may be adored by the masses—and that man must be the Sage.

Anyone else? That's a threat to the throne—overwhelming merit, overshadowing the sovereign!

The Minister of War quickly warned: "Young Master, you should ask the people to disperse."

Qin Feng understood the Minister's meaning perfectly—but with so many people here, so wildly enthusiastic, if he showed himself, he'd be instantly drowned in an ocean of the populace.

Qin Feng had no desire to invite such "trouble."

So he simply buried himself deeper in the hay pile—let whoever wants to, come find him.

As the ox cart slowly rolled toward the Qin Residence, it seemed the entire capital poured into the streets, surrounding and escorting Qin Feng home.

Jing Qianying leaned over and teased: "Feng'er, do you know how long it's been since Beijing saw such a commotion?"

Qin Feng lay buried in the hay, only his two eyes visible—he feared if he showed even a sliver of himself, the crowd would drag him out, hoist him up, toss him high—he was already half broken, couldn't take any more of this.

"What's this got to do with me? I'm already riding an ox cart—how much more low-key can I get?"

Sensing the resentment in Qin Feng's tone, Jing Qianying couldn't help smiling: "You're low-key, alright—but this spectacle? Even the Sage's procession couldn't match it."