At the street corner, Qin Yining wore an ink-azure brocade cloak with a matching Guanyin hood, hiding half her face in shadow. Seeing Chief Historian Gao actually using Pang Xiao’s identity to frighten people, she couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
Probably only someone so shameless could raise a scoundrel like Young Master Gao.
While Qin Yining could still keep her composure, the several people beside her couldn’t stand it, all gritting their teeth and cursing Chief Historian Gao along with the refugees.
The common people who had been momentarily stunned by Chief Historian Gao’s mention of Pang Xiao finally came to their senses, and the cursing resumed. This time, those who still dared to curse were all hot-tempered men with a sense of justice.
“You corrupt official, release Benefactor Qian and Benefactor Lu! Release the old madam who did good deeds before!”
“You don’t care whether we live or die, yet you won’t let others care about our lives either—what kind of natural law is this!”
“Your house is decorated with lights and festoons, you eat and drink well, but did you ever think that people in our families might starve to death or freeze to death!”
“Release the benefactors!”
…
Someone took the lead in shouting, drawing everyone’s attention. They had come for the matter of food in the first place. Just cursing Chief Historian Gao wouldn’t achieve their purpose—they needed to make demands and force Chief Historian Gao to comply!
The common people all shouted loudly, and even those timid refugees who had been frightened earlier now joined in, demanding that Chief Historian Gao release the prisoners.
Nearly a thousand people each expressed their views, mostly shouting angrily. Such a “quarreling” scene was unprecedented for Qin Yining.
Beside Qin Yining, both Jingzhe and Shopkeeper Zhong had fallen silent.
Shopkeeper Zhong watched Chief Historian Gao’s face turn pale from being shouted at by so many common people, couldn’t help shaking his head and saying in a low voice: “No wonder there’s a saying that water can carry a boat but can also overturn it. With just a thousand people, there’s already such a shocking scene. What if all the people under Heaven were dissatisfied? They wouldn’t need to do anything—just one sentence from each person could shock someone to death.”
Qin Yining shook her head: “The principle is correct, but the prerequisite is that all the people under Heaven have a common purpose. And what could make everyone have a common purpose? Naturally, it’s common interests.”
She gently raised her hand, the sable fur collar swaying in the wind, making the black sable fur appear bright and glossy. “If everyone today hadn’t come for a common purpose, if everyone had their own little schemes, they wouldn’t be able to work together so harmoniously.”
This wasn’t belittling the refugees’ righteousness and sense of justice, but rather the most simple and obvious human nature.
People are all selfish and self-preserving. If it didn’t involve matters closely related to their own survival, how could they possibly stand up for others, practically risking their own lives?
Shopkeeper Zhong was stunned, then shook his head with a bitter smile: “Your Highness speaks truly. If Your Highness hadn’t used clever schemes to make all these events occur at the optimal time, the situation created might not have this level of pressure.”
Because if Qin Yining hadn’t intervened at the right moment, relying solely on that group of angry common people, they probably wouldn’t be as angry as they were now, nor would they have gathered in one place. Perhaps seeing signs of trouble brewing, they would have already shrunk their necks and hidden away.
Therefore, that over a thousand people could now gather in one place for the same purpose was truly admirable to Shopkeeper Zhong, Jingzhe, and the others.
The Princess had always been this wise, always able to guide everyone on what to do next at the most crucial moments. She could always find the essence of matters within complex situations, thus thinking of better methods to resolve all difficulties.
While they spoke, Chief Historian Gao had already argued more and more fiercely with the common people, even drawing his sword in confrontation.
The refugees were frightened into momentary silence by Chief Historian Gao’s action of drawing his sword.
However, the leading refugee had clearly been provoked to show his mettle. Disregarding Chief Historian Gao’s sword pointing at him, he still shouted loudly: “We originally didn’t come here wanting to harm innocent people. We’re not like you—we don’t have your baseness to randomly kill innocents!”
“Exactly right. We only want you to release the innocent people! Not only do you refuse, but you point a sword at us. Just because someone has a sword, does that mean they don’t need to be reasonable!”
“You dare try me first!” Chief Historian Gao viciously brandished the sword in his hand.
The threatened refugee was no pushover either, immediately sticking out his neck: “Go ahead and cut! If you kill me, naturally someone will avenge me! I can’t survive anyway. Even if I’m not killed here by you, I’ll starve to death or freeze to death tomorrow! Dying now would actually be cleaner!”
The refugees behind heard this and became furious, all pointing at Chief Historian Gao and roaring: “You dare!”
Though everyone’s voices were chaotic, when all were staring at him with threatening eyes, Chief Historian Gao’s heart still felt some fear.
His talk of killing was just to frighten these people, hoping to scare them away.
He hadn’t expected that these refugees, usually quiet and docile as rabbits, who wouldn’t dare say “no” even if he slapped any of them and would slink away weakly, today weren’t even afraid of death!
If he actually harmed anyone, the next moment his home would be breached, his wife, children, and several concubines would likely face assault from the rioters, and his vast wealth would be looted clean. The consequences would be unthinkable.
Just as the refugees grew increasingly agitated and the women, children, and servants in the Gao residence trembled like leaves in a storm, Chief Historian Gao suddenly cleverly thought of a coping strategy.
“This matter wasn’t my decision in the first place. I’m just a chief historian, merely following orders. None of this was my idea! Even if you block my gate here, it’s useless!”
The refugees were stunned and momentarily didn’t know what to say.
Seeing the scene quiet down with the situation seemingly easing, Chief Historian Gao breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had found the right approach.
Chief Historian Gao continued shouting: “I usually act for the court. Though strict, I handle affairs impartially. Arresting people isn’t based on my preferences, but arresting those who are truly guilty. Those I arrest have all violated Great Zhou’s laws. Must every person who enforces the law impartially still face your reproach!”
Everyone looked at each other.
Qin Yining narrowed her eyes and said with a low laugh: “It seems we underestimated him. His sophistry actually sounds quite reasonable.”
Both Shopkeeper Zhong and Jingzhe’s faces showed contempt. They exchanged glances, and Jingzhe immediately gave a meaningful look toward someone in the crowd.
“We don’t believe you! You’re clearly shirking responsibility! Seeing our strength in numbers, you’re afraid and want to push all the blame onto others to fool us—no way!
“You mean someone instructed you, that everything was done by officials higher than you! Have him come out—we want to confront that official and ask why he arrested good people!”
This statement made all the illiterate refugees nod frequently.
Everyone echoed: “Right, bring out your big official, we want to ask him!”
Chief Historian Gao’s face turned completely dark.
He hadn’t expected these people to be so hard to fool. Find his superior? Could he actually summon Governor Yang?
Seeing Chief Historian Gao standing there like a wooden post, unwilling to say another word, someone else took the lead in cursing: “You’re clearly just trying to shirk responsibility and fool us first! Release Benefactor Qian! Release the benefactors who did good deeds!”
This person roared while vigorously waving his fist. Such an inspiring action stirred everyone’s heroic spirit, and they all began shouting along.
The area in front of the Gao residence, which had been quiet for just a moment, became chaotic again, and the refugees began crowding toward Chief Historian Gao’s direction. Some angry refugees standing further back, unable to reach Chief Historian Gao, turned and charged directly toward the nearby prefectural yamen.
While the disturbance occurred here, the prefectural yamen had already tightly closed its main gate, with only a few constables pressing their ears against the door panels to listen to the commotion outside. Now that the refugees not only hadn’t been pacified but were actually charging directly at the prefectural yamen, all the constables panicked, cursing Chief Historian Gao for wickedly shifting all the blame onto them. They hurried to find tools to brace the door, fearing the main gate would be breached by the refugees.
The thousand-plus refugees split into two groups—one arguing with Chief Historian Gao, the other directly attempting to break through the prefectural yamen’s main gate.
Everyone’s roars shook the heavens. Not to mention what those in the Gao residence thought hearing this, just Qin Yining standing at the street corner watching the entire scene could feel deep shock, her heart pounding along with the surging crowd.
Everything was developing according to Qin Yining’s plan, but actually she felt no joy, only worry as she broke out in a cold sweat for these poor people. She feared casualties—if anyone lost their life because of this, it would be her sin, and her conscience would be troubled.
Just then, urgent horse hooves suddenly sounded from the street corner.
A constable was seen racing over at full gallop, shouting at Chief Historian Gao from a distance: “Governor Yang orders the immediate release of Qian Gui!”
At this moment Chief Historian Gao held his sword horizontally, the blade nearly swinging toward the common people. Suddenly hearing this shout, not only the common people but Chief Historian Gao himself was stunned.
The bright sword edge stopped in place, emanating flashing cold light. Chief Historian Gao’s eyes nearly split as he suddenly looked toward the mounted constable.
The common people also turned around to look at the messenger.
That person felt uncomfortable being stared at by everyone and shouted loudly: “Gao Wenliang! Are you going to openly defy orders! His Lordship the Governor is kind and upright, truly a good official who thinks wholeheartedly for the people. But you—for selfish desires you splash dirty water on His Lordship the Governor! For thus slandering a court official, His Lordship the Governor will certainly report this to higher authorities!”
“You! When did I slander His Lordship the Governor! You…”
“Why don’t you quickly go release the prisoner! Are you still trying to delay!”
Chief Historian Gao was rebuked until his dignity was completely lost, but at this moment he couldn’t care about dignity. He could only first placate Governor Yang’s people, get through this crisis, then go apologize to His Lordship the Governor later.
Thinking of this, Chief Historian Gao immediately ordered his subordinates with a dark face: “Why haven’t you released Qian Gui! Move quickly!”