Wen Panshi’s question was directed at everyone present.

Jingrong: “What? Do you wish for this prince to kill all of you?”

“…”

“If you want this prince’s hands stained with fresh blood, that’s not impossible. But Mr. Ji has pleaded on your behalf and vouched for you repeatedly. This prince has thought it through carefully and deliberated thoroughly. If this prince truly killed all of you, your hundred-thousand-strong army would certainly rebel, and the result would only be a loss outweighing any gain. Since that’s the case, it’s better to release you. This prince can even claim a favor, then wait until the case is investigated clearly before making a final judgment.”

Wen Panshi was somewhat surprised by these words, yet also very grateful.

He was a military general by nature and had always respected people like Jingrong.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly clasped his hands together and performed a bow.

“Prince Rong, this kindness from you, Wen will remember for a lifetime. As for the previous incident, please forgive us. If in the future you and I truly become enemies, Wen will not harm you in the slightest.”

“This prince truly hopes… that day will never come.”

Indeed!

If that day truly arrived, with two armies clashing in battle, those who would suffer would only be the common people.

Wen Panshi’s face grew somber, and he said nothing more.

That day, Jingrong gave the order to release everyone. The prison that had originally been packed like dumplings finally returned to its usual state.

The yamen was the same!

The yamen runners who were supposed to shout “Court is in session with authority” continued to do so, those who were supposed to guard the entrance still guarded the entrance, those who were supposed to patrol the streets continued patrolling…

Everything returned to the original appearance of Yu Prefecture.

The common people of Yu Prefecture neither spoke a word about it nor knew a thing.

However, the Si and Wen families remained sealed. Wen Panshi temporarily dismissed the troops under his command and moved with Madam Wen and little Xiyue into the residence where his son Wen Xian was staying.

They lived their days in harmonious joy.

The lost disaster relief silver was also found in the mountain cave and moved back to the courier station. But this time, it was guarded day and night by Jingrong’s people, sealed tight with no gaps, and no one could approach it.

But—

What should be done with this silver?

After Lang Bo secured the silver, he hurried to report to Jingrong. “Your Highness, now that the disaster relief silver has been recovered, should we distribute it to the common people? Or perhaps procure some supplies?”

That day when he infiltrated the Si family’s secret chamber and was captured, Lang Bo had indeed been injured. His face had been punched several times and was still bruised and purple. Fortunately, those people’s goal had been to lure Jingrong into a trap, so they hadn’t killed him at the time, only tied him up in the secret chamber. When Muruo went to dismantle the explosives, he rescued him.

After getting out, he had been following up on the disaster relief silver matter.

Hearing his report, Jingrong’s brows furrowed deeply as he pondered. “The recovery of the disaster relief silver absolutely cannot be made public. But keeping the silver stored at the courier station indefinitely isn’t appropriate either. Yet if we distribute the silver to the common people, the court will certainly find out.”

“Then what should be done with that silver?”

What should be done?

Jingrong also felt troubled.

He paced back and forth several times, his mind racing rapidly, trying to quickly devise a good solution.

“Ah!” His eyes lifted. “This prince has a good idea.”

“What idea?”

“You take some people, and after dark, secretly deliver the silver to those impoverished common people. Remember, absolutely do not leave any traces, and act quickly without being seen.”

Delivering it door to door!

This plan was indeed feasible!

Wouldn’t that be doing good deeds without leaving a name?

Lang Bo praised him. “Your Highness is still the clever one.”

“Alright, go handle it quickly. The faster the better.”

“Yes.” He was about to leave but then asked seriously, “Your Highness, this subordinate has one more matter to discuss.”

“Speak.”

“Your Highness came here this time to investigate the case of the missing disaster relief silver. But now, even though we’ve clearly solved it, we cannot make it public or report it to the court. If we conceal this case, then Your Highness… won’t you never be able to return to the capital?”

Hearing this, Jingrong’s expression grew somber.

After a long while—

“Since this decision has been made, this prince will not change his mind.”

“Your Highness…” Lang Bo wanted to persuade him further.

“Enough, don’t say anymore. This prince will draft a letter to the capital to inform Father Emperor that the disaster relief silver matter cannot be solved.”

Lang Bo had nothing more to say and could only sigh quietly.

As long as his prince reported truthfully, the Emperor would order him to return to the capital. But if His Highness was determined to conceal it, the road back to the capital would be extremely difficult.

Yet Jingrong always believed that sacrificing the small for the greater good was the mark of great talent.

That day, Jingrong immediately drafted a letter and dispatched someone to rush it to the capital at full speed.

Lang Bo also secretly led people to deliver silver door to door to the common people.

For a time, all the common people of Yu Prefecture County were spreading word that a deity had descended to save the masses, taking pity on them and bestowing life-saving silver to preserve their lives.

Some said it was the God of Wealth descending to earth to distribute silver.

Some said it was martial heroes robbing the rich to help the poor.

Some said it was sent by wealthy families.

Some said…

All sorts of chaotic versions circulated.

In any case, the stories spread vividly throughout wine shops, teahouses, gambling dens, and brothels… everywhere.

The storyteller at the teahouse described it even more fantastically.

He snapped open his folding fan and grabbed a peanut from beside him, tossing one into his mouth.

He began to narrate colorfully, “It’s said that on that night, a certain man woke in the middle of the night. Just as he opened his eyes, he saw a beam of light shoot in from outside the window. It was multicolored, radiating brilliantly! Then with a whoosh, a figure entered through the window. That person wore white robes and upturned boots, with hair flowing three thousand strands to a slender waist, almond eyes and cherry lips, willow-leaf eyebrows and a refined nose, with features so beautiful that a hundred charms could not compare. That person extended a hand, and a soft glow emanated from the fingertips. Pure white silver fell into that man’s hand. Weighing it, you could tell the silver was substantial! That was a living bodhisattva manifesting to save us common people of Yu Prefecture.”

Clap clap clap—

Everyone listening applauded.

Someone said, “I saw it too. It really was a female bodhisattva.”

“Yes, actually I also saw it at the time. That night I worked late and returned home. As soon as I pushed the door open, I saw a shadow flash by, and on the table was a package of silver.”

“That miraculous?”

“Indeed! I think it must be that Heaven saw our pitiable state and sent silver to relieve us.”

Everyone nodded repeatedly.

But then someone sighed and said, “Tell me, what’s the story with the disaster relief silver that the court sends down every year vanishing into thin air?”

“Who knows? In any case, they say when it arrived at the yamen, the boxes were all filled with stones, not a single piece of silver to be seen. If you ask me, there’s probably some shady business involved.”

Just as he finished speaking, that person’s head was struck hard by a folding fan.

The storyteller said, “You youngster, you really have no filter on your mouth. Whether the court’s disaster relief silver is lost or not, whether there’s shady business or not—is that something for us common people to discuss? You’d better not spout nonsense here, lest you be arrested and sent to the yamen for a beating with the punishment rod.”