Pang Xiao’s voice this time wasn’t very loud, but every word was forceful and powerful, domineeringly piercing Governor Yang’s eardrums.
“Being an official in one region—is it only for fame, fortune, and benefits? When His Majesty originally led us to overthrow the foolish and tyrannical rule of the Northern Ji Kingdom, it wasn’t for selfish desires, but for the people of the realm. Governor Yang is no dull person. Since you have aspirations, why not start by doing some things for the common people?”
Governor Yang felt unconvinced by Pang Xiao in his heart, but after today’s confrontation, Governor Yang had fully recognized the formidable nature of the person before him. He had publicly humiliated him, yet now wanted him to beg for his help in calming the situation. Even now, though he was reprimanding him, these words were also helping him save face before the people.
This face-saving, he truly needed.
Therefore, Governor Yang shamefully covered his face and wept, sighing: “How could this official not wish for the people under his governance to suffer less? But with natural disasters and man-made calamities continuing year after year—even a clever wife cannot cook without rice!”
Pang Xiao narrowed his eyes.
Governor Yang’s words were beautifully spoken, absolving himself completely while shifting blame to the times, indirectly pushing responsibility onto the current emperor.
Pang Xiao didn’t care about Li Qitian, but he cared about the people’s suffering. His primary task in coming to the south was to maintain stability. Once war or popular uprising occurred, it would ultimately be the common people who suffered. Now that public resentment was finally calmed, it couldn’t be stirred up again by Governor Yang’s evasive words.
Pang Xiao turned to face everyone, smiling consolingly: “Alright, fellow townspeople, don’t be sad anymore. Look, Governor Yang has heard everyone’s voices. Arranging housing, arranging work for everyone, ensuring everyone’s safety, severely punishing Gao Wenyao—Governor Yang has agreed to all of this! Let’s have Governor Yang say a few words, shall we?”
Pang Xiao stepped aside, handing the scene over to Governor Yang.
Governor Yang coughed. When had he agreed to any of this? This was clearly Pang Xiao agreeing on his behalf. But things had reached this point—Governor Yang had no other option. To prevent these desperate people from causing more trouble, he could only grit his teeth and accept, raising both hands to signal for everyone to quiet down.
“This prefecture is not someone who doesn’t understand the people’s hardships. In fact, even if you hadn’t come seeking Gao Wenyao today, this prefecture had long been displeased with his perverse actions. The reason for not punishing him severely was due to insufficient evidence in the previous period, so investigation took a long time before implementation could proceed. This prefecture was planning to deal with him after thorough investigation, never expecting you all to act first.”
Governor Yang wrinkled his nose—the smell of horse dung on his face was truly too pungent, but he could only endure it for now, wanting only a quick resolution to divert the people’s attention elsewhere.
Magistrate Gao was pressed to the ground. Just hearing Pang Xiao wanting to deal with him had already frightened him considerably, though he still harbored a thread of hope. Because Governor Yang had spoken with him and knew someone was backing him, surely Governor Yang wouldn’t willingly offend those behind him.
But now Governor Yang was clearly going to use him to silence public opinion!
Magistrate Gao struggled anxiously, shouting: “My Lord! You cannot do this, I am…”
“Gag his mouth and take him away!”
“Yes!”
The attendants who had been beaten by refugees for so long had been holding back their anger. If not for Magistrate Gao causing such trouble, why would they have to suffer alongside Governor Yang? Moreover, Magistrate Gao was normally arrogant—even his subordinates rarely didn’t find him annoying, only maintaining harmony on ordinary days.
Everyone immediately obeyed, grabbed a handful of mud to stuff in Magistrate Gao’s mouth, twisted his arms behind his back, and lifted him up.
Magistrate Gao struggled desperately, spitting to expel the mud from his mouth, wanting to defend himself loudly. But Governor Yang was determined to use him as a scapegoat—how could he give him a chance to argue?
“Magistrate Gao treats human life as grass—the evidence is conclusive. Take him away for immediate execution!” Governor Yang declared righteously with a flourish of his sleeves, as if he weren’t covered in filth but wearing official robes in court.
“Good! Good! Governor Yang is wise!”
The people stood stunned for a moment, then immediately jumped up cheering loudly. The cheers of nearly a thousand people made the surrounding residences hum in resonance. This was the first time they, as the lowest level of common people, had risked their lives to struggle and achieved the result they wanted.
No matter how much resentment Governor Yang felt inside, facing the people in such a state, he couldn’t help but show some pride. His heart felt as if it had eaten honey, temporarily forgetting even the stench on his face.
Qin Yining watched quietly for a while, then couldn’t help but quietly step forward to stand beside Pang Xiao.
With Pang Xiao’s exceptional senses, he naturally noticed from Qin Yining’s first step. When she reached his side, he immediately grasped her cool fingers with his large hand, holding them tightly.
Though he didn’t turn to look at her, maintaining a serious expression while watching ahead with satisfaction, his hand was warm and dry, occasionally playfully tickling Qin Yining’s palm, making her unable to suppress quiet laughter.
The two stood together before the Pingnan Army and elite Tiger Guards, their warm appearance inspiring warmth and envy in those who saw them.
Standing in the corner and deeply affected, Yuchi Yan stared blankly at Qin Yining’s profile, momentarily feeling an impulse to flee in shame.
What was called complete defeat? This was exactly his situation. He had lost empire and throne, lost family, lost popular support—he couldn’t even obtain one young woman’s heart.
Seeing Yuchi Yan standing dazedly, only staring at Qin Yining with an expression of deep dejection, Gu Shixiong’s disappointment grew even greater. At such a critical juncture, shouldn’t the most important thing be the bigger picture? How could he still have the mood to think about women?
Gu Shixiong shook his head in frustration. Rivers and mountains may change, but human nature is hard to alter. Unless his obsession was completely ended, as long as he saw the Qin woman, the position of empire and state in Yuchi Yan’s heart would immediately retreat.
Just as both were lost in thought, people at the street corner were tensely surging toward one direction.
There, Magistrate Gao had been forced to kneel on the ground while an executioner raised his ghost-head blade high. As Magistrate Gao trembled violently and shook his head repeatedly, the blade came down with a vicious chop.
Fresh blood splattered on the white wall opposite—precisely the back courtyard wall of the Gao residence. The warm scarlet liquid melted the thin layer of snow on the ground, and the round head rolled aside with a gurgling sound.
The Gao family servants who had been climbing ladders to peer over the courtyard wall were frightened by this scene into screaming and tumbling down from their ladders.
“Terrible! Terrible! Master has been beheaded!”
The servants frantically rushed inside to report.
Upon hearing this, Lady Gao rolled her eyes back and fainted.
No matter how chaotic the Gao household became, they absolutely dared not open the main gate to argue with Governor Yang and the people.
Everyone had finally vented their resentment, cheering one after another. Their joy was boiling, as if they had obtained the world’s most precious treasure. The sounds of celebration formed a stark contrast with the wailing from within the Gao residence.
Governor Yang then ordered his people to arrange meals for the people—no one was running the soup kitchen now, but they couldn’t let these common people go hungry on New Year’s Eve, or it might cause public dissatisfaction and more trouble, possibly worse than the current situation.
Seeing Governor Yang arranging everything methodically, Qin Yining quietly tickled Pang Xiao’s palm.
Pang Xiao’s large hand immediately gripped hers, and he bowed farewell to Governor Yang: “Governor Yang, farewell.”
Governor Yang turned around, his mouth twitching.
Clearly unauthorized in mobilizing troops into the city, not only could he not memorialize to impeach him, he had to thank him instead. Moreover, thinking carefully, the conditions he had agreed to weren’t his willing choice at all—clearly wherever Pang Xiao pointed, he had to strike.
Being used yet having to thank the person—this feeling simply couldn’t be expressed in words.
“Thank you for Your Highness’s assistance. Safe travels, Your Highness.”
“Governor Yang, stay well.”
Pang Xiao turned to embrace Qin Yining’s waist, placed her on the horse’s back, then lightly leaped to sit behind her. The Pingnan Army and elite Tiger Guards all mounted their horses as well.
Seeing Pang Xiao about to lead his troops away, the refugees shouted loudly: “Thank you, Your Highness! Good people receive good rewards…”
Good person?
Governor Yang was so angry his nose went crooked. With a long face, he turned to order his subordinates: “You all, quickly set up the soup kitchen first. Purchase the grain immediately.”
After speaking, he hurried away.
No help for it—covered in filth with horse dung all over his face, he’d probably need to scrub off a layer of skin before feeling comfortable.
Watching this farce from beginning to end, Gu Shixiong never saw the results he had schemed so hard to achieve. The frustration and anger in his heart were nearly boiling.
“That Pang fellow—is it really good luck or good planning?”
On the way back, Gu Shixiong couldn’t help but quietly ask himself.
Yuchi Yan was immersed in melancholy emotions. Suddenly hearing Gu Shixiong’s voice, he was startled. After a long moment, he pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders, buried his face in the white fox fur collar, and said quietly: “I suppose it really is that kind of luck.” He chuckled softly again. “His luck is actually all in the Qin woman. I suppose if he didn’t know the Qin woman was there, he wouldn’t have come either.”
“The Qin woman, the Qin woman—why does Your Highness always think about the Qin woman?” Gu Shixiong was quite angry at Yuchi Yan’s lack of progress, but couldn’t lose his temper. He could only suppress his anger and say quietly: “If he came to find the Qin woman, why bring so many troops? If this matter is related to the Qin woman, I believe the husband and wife coordinated together.”
Yuchi Yan stared blankly at Gu Shixiong as his confused thoughts gradually became clear.
“So this incident was very likely that Pang fellow’s doing?”
Gu Shixiong nodded and said gravely: “When things aren’t clear, just analyze who benefits most from the incident’s occurrence and you’ll understand. Think about it—after causing such a big incident, that Pang fellow’s appearance not only solved the problem but made those common people view him differently. What enormous benefits did he gain?”
“That makes sense.” Yuchi Yan said gravely: “That Pang fellow was previously a demon-like figure in our Great Yan. When people mentioned him, none weren’t afraid—even the country’s fall was because he led troops to besiege the city.”
“But look at the common people now? Who still curses him?” Gu Shixiong sighed regretfully: “This time, he seized the opportunity to establish firm footing in the former capital. He not only showed his capabilities but also bought popular support. We schemed so much, yet he’s the one who benefited! Still don’t know how to explain this to the Big Boss!”
Upon hearing the three words “Big Boss,” Yuchi Yan also nervously furrowed his brows.