Just when these imperial relatives called the people “contemptible commoners,” they were likely to anger their master.

“His Majesty regards the people as his own flesh and blood, yet you have such great arrogance, calling the people contemptible commoners. I wonder whose banner you’re waving to give yourself such authority?”

Xiao Rongyan spoke very softly, his tone not heavy, yet it frightened these clan relatives into immediately kowtowing and claiming they dared not.

“City-defending general, step forward and speak…” Xiao Rongyan glanced at these clan relatives, his gaze falling on those behind.

The city-defending general hurriedly stepped forward and said: “Reporting… reporting to the Regent Prince, initially, the court issued an order saying that with an epidemic raging in our Yan nation and medicinal materials being precious, they could not be sent to Great Zhou’s cities. But this Zhu Chengru secretly collaborated with the enemy and committed treason, sending the medicinal materials that even our Liyi was lacking to Anshun City, therefore…”

“What fucking bullshit!”

Before the city-defending general could finish, Yue Quanyong, kneeling in the back, couldn’t help but spit and curse in front of Xiao Rongyan, unable to contain himself any longer.

Xiao Rongyan looked toward Yue Quanyong and quickly remembered him: “You are… from Xie Xun’s army.”

After Yue Quanyong paid respects to Xiao Rongyan, he said: “Reporting to the Regent Prince, this subordinate was sent to deliver medicinal materials to Liyi!”

“You tell me…” Xiao Rongyan looked at Yue Quanyong.

“Reporting to the Regent Prince, this Zhu Chengru is a physician in Liyi City who saved many people during this great epidemic. Later…” Yue Quanyong looked toward those imperial relatives, “These imperial relatives deliberately had several merchants unknowingly use teacups that infected people had used, bringing the epidemic to Anshun City! This caused Anshun City to also experience the epidemic. Zhu Chengru’s in-laws lived in Anshun City, so Zhu Chengru sent medicine to his in-laws once. It was just this once… knowing that the epidemic came from a banquet hosted by these clan members, he understood the connection and sent medicinal herbs from his pharmacy to Anshun City! The court order forbidding medicinal herbs from being sent to the Great Zhou cities only came after that. This Zhu Chengru was not knowingly breaking the law!”

“You’re talking nonsense!” The clan members turned and pointed at Yue Quanyong’s nose, cursing: “Clearly, the court order came first, and Zhu Chengru violated the order and secretly communicated with the enemy afterward! You weren’t even in our Liyi City at the time – where do you get such confident claims? You know nothing yet speak so recklessly!”

“You’re the one speaking recklessly! I, Old Yue, never lie! If the Regent Prince doesn’t believe me, he can ask the pharmacy assistants, or personally interrogate that physician called Zhu Chengru! See whether the court order came first, or whether Zhu Chengru violated the command first!” Yue Quanyong ignored those clan members and only kowtowed to Xiao Rongyan: “Regarding deliberately having unknowing Yan merchants get infected and enter Anshun City, the city-defending soldiers can all testify. Even this subordinate has heard those city-defending soldiers mention it many times. Moreover, when people mention that physician, who doesn’t praise him as a benevolent healer!”

“According to the city-defending soldiers, later when one of those infected Yan merchants returned from Anshun City and wanted to enter the city, it was these clan relatives who sent people to the city gates to stop them, saying those merchants had used teacups that infected people had used and must already be infected, just not showing symptoms yet, so they couldn’t be allowed into the city! They also gave that merchant two choices… either go to the treatment center, or go to Anshun City! It was precisely because of this… that Zhu Chengru hurriedly sent medicinal materials to Anshun City!”

“You… you’re making malicious accusations!” Those imperial relatives turned their heads to glare fiercely at Yue Quanyong, their eyes blazing with fury: “General Yue, exactly how much silver did the Zhu family give you to slander imperial relatives for the sake of a treasonous collaborator? Or… are you in league with that Zhu Chengru! All traitors collaborating with the enemy! You can’t wait for our Yan nation to lose this national wager so you can become Great Zhou citizens!”

“Regent Prince!” Yue Quanyong didn’t even want to speak with those imperial relatives, showing a desperate attitude: “I, Yue Quanyong, swear and curse here – if I have spoken even one false word, may heaven make me… make my whole family contract the epidemic and die terrible deaths!”

One imperial relative glared hatefully at Yue Quanyong, gritting his teeth: “Anyone can swear! These ethereal things… can they be used as solid evidence? This is simply ridiculous! Then, in the future, when officials judge cases… just swear an oath and that’s it! What need is there for human testimony or physical evidence?”

“You…” Although Yue Quanyong wasn’t afraid of the imperial relatives, he was still rendered speechless by this argument. He again paid respects to Xiao Rongyan, patting his chest and saying: “If the Regent Prince doesn’t believe me, you can certainly send people to investigate among the city-defending soldiers! If I, Yue Quanyong, have spoken even half a false word, I’ll share the same crime as Zhu Chengru – you can chop off my head!”

Yue Quanyong was a military man with some courage. Seeing that the city-defending general kept his head down and trembling throughout, he didn’t drag the general into this. If something happened, he would take responsibility alone. Although he looked down on the general for being so cowardly as a military officer, there was no need to implicate another person, so Yue Quanyong didn’t force the city-defending general to immediately speak the truth.

Not seeing the Regent Prince take a stance, Yue Quanyong felt that since he had already offended this group of imperial relatives, he might as well offend them more thoroughly, so he said: “Besides, saying anyone can swear, saying these are ethereal things – how come we don’t see you swearing with your whole families that if you speak falsely, you won’t die good deaths?”

“You ignorant brute, you’re not worthy of speaking with us imperial relatives! You understand nothing – talking to you dirties my mouth!” One imperial relative raised his head to look at Xiao Rongyan: “Regent Prince, please see clearly! Several people are wholeheartedly devoted to the Yan nation. We are all the Yan nation’s imperial relatives, all surnamed Murong. Naturally, we don’t want to hand over our family’s rivers and mountains to others. We dare to swear… everything we’ve done is for Yan Nation to win the national wager. If we speak even half a false word, may we be struck by lightning and die terrible deaths! Regent Prince… several people didn’t want to speak of this only because we didn’t want people to think we were seeking credit!”

“Yes, Regent Prince, the magistrate’s memorial requesting merit for us was probably not for the epidemic matter, but because of the efforts we made for our Yan nation to win the national wager agreement!” Saying this, that imperial relative looked toward the magistrate.

The magistrate immediately kowtowed in agreement.

Because of Yue Quanyong’s interference, it inspired quick wit in one of the imperial relatives, who managed to explain away the magistrate’s request for merit on their behalf. After all, they weren’t making things difficult for their people, but were helping the already disadvantaged Yan nation win the national wager against the Great Zhou. Moreover, what they did was effective. Even if the Regent Prince was angry, he wouldn’t severely punish them – this was what these imperial relatives all thought.

Xiao Rongyan slammed his teacup heavily on the table: “Requesting merit? How is it… that you and the magistrate both think what you did was very right?”

“This official dare not!” The magistrate immediately kowtowed.