Qin Yining narrowed her eyes slightly and suddenly said, “Look at those men beating gongs and shouting – they don’t seem like people from the yamen.”

Ji Yun was startled and quickly leaned out to look as instructed.

“Indeed, as you say, they look very unfamiliar.” Ji Yun was puzzled and inexplicably nervous.

After all, they had lived in Huichuan County for several months. Pang Xiao’s identity was special, so naturally they had considerable contact with the yamen. Even if they didn’t recognize every single clerk, they were very familiar with them all. But these people before them were all complete strangers, and they weren’t wearing official uniforms, yet they claimed to be conveying the court’s words.

Qin Yining said, “Since that’s the case, let’s not move for now. Let’s quietly listen for news first. No one should act rashly.”

“Yes, please rest assured.” Liao Zhibing and the others all nodded, their hearts also becoming tense.

This time coming to Huichuan, the entire county seat seemed to exude an indescribable strangeness everywhere.

Several people prepared to depart at any moment, then quietly stayed in Qin Yining and Ji Yun’s room waiting for news. In such times, gathering together was naturally safer.

Soon after, more people on the street beat gongs and shouted loudly, “Everyone gather at the large square on the east side! The court has urgent matters to announce! All fellow townspeople must go! No one may delay!”

Qin Yining exchanged glances with the others. “If the court had news, it wouldn’t need such fanfare. Posting a notice would naturally have people go look, and literate people would read it aloud. But this time it seems they’re determined to get everyone in the county to go to the eastern square.”

“You’re right. I have the same feeling. Should we wait a bit longer?”

“I’m afraid if we don’t go, eventually someone will come to check. If they discover we refused to go, that would draw attention instead.”

Everyone was momentarily undecided. Without Qin Yining speaking, no one moved.

When people on the street again beat gongs and roared, and began forcing some families’ unwilling women and children to also go to the square, Qin Yining stood up and said, “I’m afraid we can’t avoid this. Let’s go have a look while we can.”

Everyone knew they couldn’t avoid it, so they had no choice but to follow Qin Yining downstairs.

Once on the street, the group perfectly blended into the crowd of ordinary people heading east. Fortunately, they had made sufficient preparations before coming, and when disguised as common people, none of them stood out, allowing them to blend perfectly into the crowd.

Soon, the group followed the crowd to the square.

Looking around, at least most of the county’s people had come.

Behind them, many more women and children seemed to be urged toward this direction.

Qin Yining said puzzledly, “Indeed, not a single clerk in sight.”

“Yes.” Jingzhe said quietly, “Master, this situation looks wrong.”

Liao Zhibing also said, “It’s more like someone has controlled the yamen people and called all the people here to do something.”

After all, Huichuan County was where the imperial tombs were located – the position was far too sensitive. Anyone wanting to target Li Qitian, when unable to reach Li Qitian himself, seeing how much he treasured the imperial tombs, who wouldn’t think of targeting the imperial tombs?

Qin Yining said gravely, “Don’t be hasty. Let’s not act rashly first. Just hide in the crowd for now.”

The people who had come voluntarily had already packed the square so tightly that not even water could leak through. Many of those who came later were reluctant and unwilling – some cursed the court in low voices for causing trouble again, saying they should think about how to feed the people instead of having such idle time. Others cursed those messenger men for being bullies, treating people too harshly.

Qin Yining felt like she had fallen into a beehive, surrounded by buzzing sounds.

However, soon she had no time to concern herself with these matters.

Because she saw a familiar figure in the distance climbing onto the temporarily erected high platform in front of the square.

The people around her naturally saw as well. Ji Yun lowered her voice, “It’s Lu Heng!”

Qin Yining’s expression immediately became grave.

Lu Heng was no longer the local county magistrate. What was he planning to do by gathering people here in the court’s name!

Lu Heng had at least served as county magistrate in Huichuan County, so quite a few people among the populace recognized him. Not only were the people around Qin Yining surprised, but the common people were also completely baffled.

“Didn’t Lord Lu stop being county magistrate? Why isn’t Lord Lu here when announcing court matters?”

With the first person having doubts, there came a second and third. Such discussions spread like ripples in water. Many people whispered among themselves, speculating about what the court wanted to do now.

Those who didn’t know the situation just assumed Lu Heng had been assigned by the Emperor to serve elsewhere.

But Qin Yining and her group felt heavy-hearted.

This time, Lu Heng was probably openly showing his hand for a confrontation with Li Qitian.

Recently, the Lu family had been weakened to pieces. Although Lu Heng had taken the Lu family’s main core forces when he fled, such a huge family was constantly being trampled underfoot at this time – how could Lu Heng be reconciled to this?

Combining Lu Heng’s personality with his recent actions and the situation of disaster victims everywhere, Qin Yining’s heart trembled several times as she murmured:

“He’s probably going to rebel.”

Ji Yun and Jingzhe beside her heard most clearly. For a moment, both felt their hands and feet turn ice-cold, not knowing how to react.

They had personally witnessed the fall of a dynasty in Great Yan, and knew all too well how many people had risen up in rebellion against the tyrant of those days, only to end in failure.

Ordinary people acted without method, but someone like Lu Heng – deeply scheming and well-versed in military strategy – was entirely different. What he planned to do in Huichuan County was already laid bare before them.

“Fellow townspeople! All fellow townspeople!” At this time, Lu Heng on the high platform exerted all his strength to shout loudly, “Gathering you all here today was Lu’s idea. For delaying everyone’s time, Lu truly feels terrible about it.”

“But the unjust wrongs and abuse that the Lu family has suffered must be aired at this opportunity. Please listen to what I have to say.”

Though there were many people in the square, at this moment everyone focused on Lu Heng. His phrase “the Lu family’s unjust wrongs” successfully aroused their curiosity, and everyone quieted down to listen to Lu Heng’s words.

“As everyone knows, the Lu family is a century-old prestigious clan. Tracing back, even before the Northern Ji Kingdom established its dynasty, our Lu family was already a major local clan.

“Over these years, the world has been in great chaos and people cannot make a living. The reason the Lu family pledged loyalty to the Emperor was to end the chaotic times and give all people a stable life.

“But look, everyone – what exactly has the Emperor done with the silver that our Lu family provided in support?

“Having silver, he refuses to find ways to sell grain to the common people, but single-mindedly wants to build imperial tombs! In the Emperor’s heart, his posthumous glory is even more important than the lives of all the people in the realm!”

Lu Heng took a deep breath and continued shouting at the top of his voice, “I truly cannot bear the Emperor’s actions. When persuasion proved fruitless and the Emperor remained obstinately self-willed, in his anger he even killed all my family members, old and young! Such a huge Lu family now has almost no one left!”