Qin Yining’s composure infected everyone around her. Pang Xiao’s originally somewhat irritated mood also calmed down at this moment.

Pang Xiao stepped forward first to stand at the gate, with Qin Yining following closely behind. The Elite Tiger Guards and Silver Mask agents positioned themselves protectively around Pang Xiao and Qin Yining respectively.

The area in front of the government office was illuminated bright as daylight by the torches in the people’s hands, allowing Qin Yining to clearly see the angry expressions on everyone’s faces.

By visual estimate, there were over a thousand of these people, each holding weapons in their hands, standing only a few steps away from them. If these people surged forward together, Qin Yining truly didn’t believe the hundred or so men Pang Xiao had brought could hold them back.

Actually, Qin Yining’s heart was somewhat panicked too. When encountering danger, she couldn’t possibly feel nothing at all, especially with so many people staring at her with angry eyes as if they wanted to flay her alive. For Qin Yining, who was extremely perceptive to danger and hostility, this moment felt like having knives scraped across her body.

But reason prevailed. At this critical juncture, neither she nor Pang Xiao could panic. If they panicked and became afraid, what would happen to their subordinates? Should they advance or retreat? If these people retreated, the consequences would be unthinkable—even with martial arts skills, one could be trampled to pulp in such a sea of people.

The people had been gathering and shouting in front of the government office for some time. Now seeing people come out, they unanimously fell silent.

Someone in the crowd shouted loudly: “Prince Zhongshun has come out!”

Confirming that Prince Zhongshun had emerged, the people began talking angrily all at once.

Pang Xiao couldn’t hear clearly, so he raised his hand to quiet them down. With an amiable smile on his face, he said peacefully: “Fellow villagers, everyone gathering together today to see this Prince must have encountered some difficult matter. Please rest assured—whatever problems there are, this Prince has come out now, so everyone can speak freely. As long as the requests are reasonable and don’t violate national law, this Prince will help resolve them all!”

When facing angry people, the best approach was appeasement. First, as a military general and the War God Prince famous throughout the nation, Pang Xiao’s blade could only be directed at enemies and invaders of Great Zhou, but never at his own people. Second, the current disparity in numbers was too great. Although Pang Xiao was confident he could protect Qin Yining and carve out a bloody path, once he actually killed common people, the resulting consequences would be almost catastrophic for them.

If innocent people were truly killed and the matter spread, it would not only give Li Qitian reason to prosecute him, but also destroy all the image and reputation he and Qin Yining had painstakingly built, turning heroic fame into infamy.

He and Qin Yining were already going all-in—they couldn’t afford even half a step backward or any mistakes.

Therefore, Pang Xiao tried to lower his stance as much as possible, making himself appear increasingly close to the people, only hoping to resolve the current situation smoothly.

Seeing that Prince Zhongshun was actually so gentle and reasonable, the people couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.

Then someone boldly shouted loudly: “We won’t go build the imperial mausoleum! You give us a written guarantee!”

“Right!” Once one person spoke, others immediately chimed in: “You give us a written guarantee! Just write that from now on when building the imperial mausoleum, no conscripted workers will be taken from our Danfu County, and we’ll disperse immediately!”

Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao’s expression gradually darkened.

“Are you all here about the conscripted workers matter?”

“Right! We just won’t go build the imperial mausoleum!”

Pang Xiao said gravely: “Building the imperial mausoleum is His Majesty’s decree. Although this Prince appears to be a supervising official, this Prince only has supervisory authority. The matter of conscripting workers is not something this Prince alone can decide. Moreover, this Prince saw in the records that when going to build the imperial mausoleum, conscripted workers have good food and lodging, eat meat every few days, and even live better than at home. Why do you all resist so strongly? Furthermore, Danfu County’s conscription of four thousand workers is His Majesty’s decree—a golden-tongued imperial edict. Danfu County gathering so many people to defy the imperial edict—are you planning rebellion?”

“Bah! What bullshit!” Someone in the crowd shouted angrily: “What good food and lodging, what eating meat! Are you trying to fool us as if we know nothing!”

“Exactly! Last time building the imperial mausoleum, three thousand workers were conscripted, but fewer than four hundred returned alive!”

“We common people may be poor, but we’re all born of fathers and mothers. Are those conscripted workers without families, not human beings but livestock for you court officials to harm at will!”

…

These words stirred up the emotions of all the people present. The cursing voices of the people in front of the government office shook the heavens.

Seeing this scene, Pang Xiao knew someone in the crowd was inciting emotions among the people. But what they said—that three thousand workers were conscripted yet only four hundred returned alive—this was indeed true! Yet this information wasn’t in the records he had seen!

From the people’s perspective, Pang Xiao felt deeply sorry for them. Danfu County had a large population and much farmland, but conscripting three thousand workers meant every household had to send strong men. In the end, only four hundred returned alive—nearly every family in the county must have been in mourning!

Such a scene would be even more heart-wrenching than a plague, because plagues were beyond human control, but deaths from conscripted labor were caused by the court!

However, from his own perspective, Pang Xiao was indeed wronged. Before this, he had no knowledge of the situation and couldn’t even imagine such incidents had occurred during imperial mausoleum construction. It seemed the people behind this were inciting the people’s emotions to destroy him!

While Pang Xiao’s mind raced through countless thoughts, someone in the crowd was already crying out loudly.

“Don’t believe those lies from the court! I’m one of the conscripted workers who was lucky enough to return alive. Building the imperial mausoleum is simply not work for humans! The officials embezzled our food and supplies—meal after meal was watery gruel so thin you could see your reflection, not a single solid meal in over ten days. We slept less than two hours each day before being blindfolded and forced to work. Those who refused or moved too slowly got a beating with whips. Undernourished, cold, and sleep-deprived—how could the work site not be dangerous? Even in famine years, digging grass roots at home would be much better than going to build the imperial mausoleum!”

This person’s description of the conditions at that time caused others to voice their agreement.

The cursing that had weakened slightly erupted again like water poured into hot oil. Not only was the court cursed, but Pang Xiao, the prince responsible for building the imperial mausoleum, and even all of Pang Xiao’s family members were cursed by the people using the crudest vulgar language, insulting eighteen generations of ancestors, especially female elders—the curses were simply unbearable to hear.

With the opponents having superior numbers and momentum, Pang Xiao and Qin Yining could never out-shout them in an argument.

Pang Xiao shouted loudly: “Quiet! Everyone be quiet! Are you here today to solve problems or to rebel? If you continue cursing, even if you have reason, you’ll end up being unreasonable! Everyone be quiet!”

Many people nearby, hearing that Pang Xiao’s words made sense, quieted down. After all, no one wanted to be labeled as rebels and then be righteously suppressed by the court.

Most people came to take this risk for their families’ interests and safety, forced by desperation.

Unfortunately, there were those in the crowd specifically inciting the atmosphere, deliberately twisting Pang Xiao’s words.

“Bah! Lackey! You won’t handle our affairs, yet you want to threaten us? We have so many people—are we supposed to fear you? Even if this matter reaches His Majesty, we’re the ones in the right! Give us a written guarantee now, promising never to conscript workers from Danfu County again, and we’ll disperse immediately! Otherwise, we’ll simply kill you corrupt officials today!”

“Right! Kill the corrupt officials! Live peaceful lives from now on!”

“Our entire county has mobilized—what can the court do to us? Isn’t there a saying that the law doesn’t punish the masses!”

…

Most people had a herd mentality. In such great matters, when someone advocated, others immediately responded. If someone in the crowd had said “the Prince is innocent” at this moment, they would immediately think that this prince had just taken office as supervising official, and the previous imperial mausoleum wasn’t built by him.

But those targeting Pang Xiao had prepared well in advance, determined to incite the people’s anger.

The people’s anger was stirred up, and with their large numbers—every family in the entire county had sent people—they didn’t believe the court could behead everyone in the entire county!

Thinking of this, the people all threw caution to the wind. Some hot-headed young men raised sickles and charged forward: “Kill the corrupt officials!”

The palace guards immediately drew their weapons and blocked the government office entrance.

Seeing court officials draw their blades with cold gleaming edges pointed directly at these people, the people felt both panicked and angry.

The common people charging forward were knocked to the ground with sword hilts.

Tang Xiu strode to the perimeter and drew a line on the ground. As an Elite Tiger Guard who had truly killed in battle and seen blood, when serious, his imposing aura was not to be underestimated.

“Listen clearly! His Highness has no intention of harming innocents. If you commit insubordination and attack the government office, you’ll all be charged with treason! Those who cross this line—death!”

Tang Xiu used his loudest voice and strongest presence. People nearby were even left with ringing ears from the shock.

Many people quieted down, fear growing in their hearts.

But the ringleaders wouldn’t give up.

Immediately several men grabbed pickaxes, shovels, door bars, and similar weapons, cursing as they charged forward.

“I don’t believe it! You really dare to cut down your grandfather!”

“We have so many people—kill us all if you can!”

These people completely ignored the weapons in the palace guards’ hands and swung their tools in wide arcs, charging into the government office.

Tang Xiu looked at Pang Xiao with great difficulty.

Pang Xiao gestured and shook his head, ordering everyone to absolutely not harm the people’s lives.

Tang Xiu had no choice but to step forward and knock out each of the leading men.

These men were all tall and strong, yet they were down in just a few moves.

Nearby people all witnessed the palace guards’ prowess and timidly began thinking of retreat.

But people at the back of the crowd deliberately pushed forward, shouting loudly: “Murder! Prince Zhongshun is publicly committing violence and killing people! He dares kill our family’s young men—let’s charge and beat them to death!”