Countless people craned their necks, straining to read the characters on the long banner: “Today at 3 PM, we invite all citizens to denounce the villain.”
After reading it, the crowd exchanged puzzled glances.
What did this mean? Which villain were they supposed to denounce?
Suddenly, someone shouted, “It must be the villain who drove Mrs. Li to her death!”
The crowd immediately stirred with excitement.
Who was seeking justice for Mrs. Li?
The actor on the ladder unfurled another long banner, displaying three large characters: “Prince Yan’s Manor.”
The onlookers instantly erupted into a frenzy.
It was Prince Yan’s people—this was utterly unexpected!
People discussed animatedly, their voices rising from a low murmur to a crescendo.
Long Dan leaned close to Yu Jin, grinning, “Master, by this afternoon, this place will likely be packed with people.”
“That’s perfect,” Yu Jin said with a smile playing on his lips.
Truth be told, he had learned the tactic of using banners to attract public attention from A Si.
The method might be old-fashioned, but it was effective.
News of Yu Jin’s public display quickly reached Emperor Jingming’s ears.
The Emperor was dumbfounded. After a long while, he sighed, “Only Seventh Brother, with his thick skin, could pull off something like this. Anyone else experiencing such an incident would want to hide it and silence all witnesses. Yet Seventh Brother does the opposite, deliberately making it known throughout the city…”
Pan Hai didn’t dare comment and simply smiled in agreement.
Prince Yan’s strategy of doing the unexpected was clever.
Given how quickly gossip spread among the common folk in the capital, everyone would know soon enough. No matter how Prince Yan’s wife’s cousin was sentenced, people wouldn’t believe it and would only spread more unfavorable rumors about Prince Yan’s Manor.
Laying everything out in the open and letting the entire city witness the fate of Prince Yan’s wife’s relative was the best way to nip the problem in the bud.
In the end, people might even praise the Prince and Princess for not shielding their relatives.
“When Prince Yan finishes dealing with this matter, summon him to the palace. I want to give him a good scolding for this outrageous behavior.”
The Emperor wondered how lively the public denunciation would be in the afternoon. It was a pity he couldn’t witness it personally.
Pan Hai silently rolled his eyes.
The Emperor was being disingenuous again.
“By the way, Your Majesty, the banner calling for the denunciation of the villain is hung on a five-zhang-high ladder. If we climb to a high building, we might be able to see it…”
Emperor Jingming’s eyes lit up, but he quickly resumed a serious expression. “What’s so interesting about a banner?”
Pan Hai lowered his head.
A moment later, Emperor Jingming stood up and walked out with his hands behind his back. “Reading memorials for too long can be stifling. Let’s go out for some fresh air.”
Pan Hai thought to himself, “Serving a master who says one thing and means another is exhausting.”
Just as noon arrived, Long Dan came to inspect the site one last time and nearly dropped his jaw in shock.
Yu Jin was taking a short rest in his study when Long Dan entered with an odd expression. He glanced at him and asked, “What’s the matter?”
Long Dan replied with a mix of amusement and exasperation, “Master, we should hurry over there. If we wait any longer, we might not be able to squeeze through.”
“Is it that crowded?”
“Saying it’s packed like sardines would be an understatement. There are even people sitting in the trees by the roadside…”
Yu Jin thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s start from the Imperial Guards’ office.”
It would take about half an hour to walk from the Imperial Guards’ office to the incident site. Considering the situation, Yu Jin set out an hour early.
Cousin Dou was brought out under the escort of the Imperial Guards.
Han Ran’s expression was somewhat complex as he said, “Your Highness, with such a large and chaotic crowd, we must be wary of people throwing things that might accidentally kill someone…”
“Thank you for the reminder, Commander Han.” Yu Jin smiled in gratitude and nodded to Long Dan.
Long Dan raised his hand, and immediately the sound of gongs rang out.
Many people poked their heads out to look.
Han Ran, standing in front of the office, contorted his expression.
It was unprecedented to have gongs and drums in front of the Imperial Guards’ office.
As the procession moved forward, more and more people followed behind.
Cousin Dou, wearing shackles, had a numb expression as he endured the treatment of having rotten cabbage stalks thrown at him along the way.
“They’re here, they’re here!”
The crowd that had been waiting for a long time instantly erupted.
“Is that the lecher who drove Mrs. Li to her death?”
“Yes, that’s him!”
Immediately, countless rotten cabbage leaves, rotten eggs, and old straw sandals flew through the air.
The people had prepared these items long ago, just waiting for this moment.
As veterans of countless public spectacles, the common folk of the capital knew the rules well. For instance, hard objects like stones couldn’t be thrown, as causing deaths would create trouble for everyone involved.
The procession stopped beside the fluttering banner.
Long Dan jumped onto a table and shouted, “I am a guard from Prince Yan’s Manor. We have brought the lecher who used our Princess’s name to harass virtuous women. Neighbors, don’t hold back—throw as many rotten cabbage leaves as you like. Just be careful not to injure him too badly, as the officers still need to escort him to Lingnan for land reclamation…”
The crowd of onlookers fell silent, then burst into discussions.
“Escorted to Lingnan? Isn’t that exile?”
“Is exile necessary for this?”
In Great Zhou, there weren’t many death row inmates. Most serious offenders were exiled to serve in the military. Although Cousin Dou’s crime of publicly harassing a virtuous woman and driving her to death was serious, in the people’s understanding, it didn’t warrant exile.
The reason was simple: young nobles harassing virtuous women was a common sight. If such actions resulted in exile, there wouldn’t be enough officers to escort all the criminals.
Someone in the crowd shouted, “You say he’s being exiled, but who knows if you’ll secretly release him later?”
After a brief silence, numerous voices echoed in agreement: “That’s right, are you just fooling us?”
Suddenly, a man rushed forward, his hair disheveled and his expression fierce: “You beast, give me back my wife’s life!”
“It’s Li Dalang!”
Two people quickly restrained Li Dalang on either side: “Dalang, don’t be rash. It’s not worth getting yourself in trouble for someone like him. Didn’t you hear? The officials have sentenced this lecher to exile—”
Li Dalang spat forcefully: “Pah! The officials protect their own. How can we trust what they say? Everyone knows that Prince Yan’s Manor is just putting on a show now. They’ll secretly release him later, and my wife will have died for nothing…”
As he spoke, he burst into loud, sorrowful wails.
His painful, mournful cries silenced the crowd, who quietly watched the interaction between Li Dalang and Cousin Dou in the distance.
A tall young man, somewhere between adolescence and adulthood, approached Li Dalang.
His appearance was as refined as orchids and jade, instantly attracting countless gazes.
Li Dalang’s sobs paused for a moment as the pearl-like young man raised his voice: “I am Prince Yan.”
The scene fell silent.
“Brother, do you not believe this lecher will be exiled?”
Li Dalang stared warily at Yu Jin, saying nothing.
For ordinary people, a figure like a prince was as distant as clouds in the sky, utterly unreachable.
Yu Jin cupped his hands towards Li Dalang: “This prince invites you to accompany the officers in escorting the criminal. You can witness with your own eyes as this man is exiled to Lingnan.”
He paused briefly, then continued: “This prince will also gift you a thousand taels of silver as compensation for your troubles.”