Zhao Zheng's gaze swept across everyone's faces. All he saw was astonishment and disbelief. Based on their reactions, it was impossible to tell who the traitor was.
The people present all moved away from each other and looked at their companions suspiciously. The atmosphere immediately became tense.
After an unknown period of time, an imperial censor finally broke the silence. He asked with a pale face, "Your Highness, the guards of Feng Province have surrounded this place. What should we do?"
Zhao Zheng also knew that this wasn't the time to catch the traitor. If they continued to suspect the traitor, they would be in a mess before the enemy moved.
No matter who the spy planted by Zhao Yi was, the most important thing at this moment was to calm this matter down. This matter was very sensitive. Before he reached an agreement with his father emperor, it wouldn't be good for them if this matter was blown up.
The person he sent to deliver the report this morning had probably just left Feng Province. Even if it was urgent, it would take at least half a month for him to make a round trip.
"Let's go!"
Zhao Zheng waved his hand and walked out of the door. The imperial censors followed closely behind him.
Outside the relay station, the door opened and several figures walked out. The provincial governor of Feng Province cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness."
"Official Zhou, there's no need to be so polite." A smile appeared on Zhao Zheng's face as he said, "I don't know where Official Zhou heard the rumor. Everyone here is an imperial censor, an official appointed by the imperial court. We all serve the country wholeheartedly. How could there be someone with ulterior motives who wants to mess up the foundation of our Qi Kingdom? It's just a misunderstanding."
As a prince of a country, when did he speak so submissively to an insignificant provincial governor? Zhao Zheng had a smile on his face, but the anger in his heart was almost uncontrollable.
Provincial Governor Zhou also smiled and said, "It's okay, it's okay. Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we will know after investigating …"
Zhao Zheng was startled. His gaze gradually turned cold as he asked, "How do you want to investigate?"
Provincial Governor Zhou pointed to the imperial censors behind him and said, "Capture a few people and interrogate them. This concerns the continuation of our Qi Kingdom. I believe Your Highness won't mind using a little punishment, right?"
"How dare you!"
Zhao Zheng could no longer conceal his anger. He turned around and walked into the relay station, coldly saying, "I am right here. Come in if you have the guts!"
"What are we going in for?" Provincial Governor Zhou was startled. He turned around and waved his hand, saying, "Guard properly. Other than the First Prince, don't let anyone out!"
On a horse at the back, Zhao Yi looked at the tightly shut door of the relay station. He turned his horse around and disappeared behind the many guards.
Inside the relay station, Zhao Zheng, who had flipped the table, smashed the chair as well. He angrily said, "Send a letter to the capital. Say that the Third Prince, Zhao Yi, has colluded with the Provincial Governor of Feng Province to imprison I and the other Imperial Censors. They are plotting a rebellion!"
Outside the relay station, the Provincial Governor of Feng Province handed an urgent letter to the person behind him and said, "The First Imperial Prince is working together with the Supervising Imperial Censor to carry out the law of subjugation. The Provincial Governor of Feng Province does not dare to act rashly. Everything is left to the Son of Heaven to decide!"
…
…
The security of Feng Province had improved over the past two days. At least, there were no incidents of soldiers randomly arresting people on the streets. The commoners were slightly relieved.
At first, they were curious and surprised by the sudden change. However, the dense crowd of people outside the relay station was not just for show. Soon, the commoners knew what had happened.
The Third Imperial Prince and the Provincial Governor led the guards to surround the relay station. Other than the First Imperial Prince and a few others, none of the officials from the capital were allowed to come out. Even the 500 personal guards of the First Imperial Prince didn't dare to act rashly under the pressure of the guards.
Because of this, they naturally couldn't go everywhere to investigate the officials of Feng Province.
In the past few days, the First Imperial Prince had led the Supervising Imperial Censor to arrest some corrupt officials. At first, people thought that he was really thinking about the commoners. Later on, they realized that these people had come to oppose the Third Imperial Prince. They had stirred up trouble in Feng Province, causing chaos in Feng Province and the neighboring counties. The local officials and commoners had been suppressing their anger. In the past two days, they had finally vented their anger.
When Li Yi walked back from the market with a chicken and a fish in his hands, he deeply felt the joy in the hearts of the people of Feng Province. Just now, when he bought the fish, the peddler had casually erased the 10 copper coins. It should be known that a few days ago, Li Yi had seen him arguing with an auntie who was buying vegetables for half an hour over a copper coin.
How could there be such senseless people in the world? They had argued for so long over a copper coin. His legs were sore from watching them from the side.
However, the reaction of the commoners in the city still surprised him.
What surprised him was that … this level was not enough at all!
If this method was really implemented in the Qi Kingdom, all the rich people would be lords in the future. They wouldn't have to go to jail if they killed someone. All they had to do was pay. If they saw an innocent woman on the street, they could just rob her and pay the money. He had no lack of money. In this way, his previous dream could be realized quickly …
Although the First Imperial Prince was not a fool, the Silver System that he had written to the First Imperial Prince was not a fool. In fact, even if this system was really implemented, ordinary people would still be sentenced to death if they killed someone. Those who raped an innocent woman would at least be exiled. Only officials who had made small mistakes could use this method to escape punishment … However, the commoners didn't know about this!
The commoners had always been a very fragile group. If you said that the First Imperial Prince was going to implement the Silver System and that they could escape punishment by paying the money, they would think that the First Imperial Prince was not going to let poor people like them live. If the commoners knew about this, Feng Province would be in an uproar.
The uproar hadn't happened yet, which meant that the commoners didn't know about it.
This was Zhao Yi's fault.
He had worked so hard to build bridges and roads for him. He couldn't just stay at home and do nothing. It was so disappointing that he needed him to remind him about this kind of thing!
The extremely intelligent Third Imperial Prince couldn't even be compared to a storyteller in his brothel …
…
…
It was late at night in King Feng's Mansion.
The Third Prince, Zhao Yi, a scholar in green, an old monk with white hair and a beard, and a middle-aged monk with an iron rod in his hand stood in front of a door somewhere. There was a dagger stuck in the door, and there was a piece of paper on the dagger. There were words on the paper.
The scholar in green frowned and turned to ask, "Your Royal Highness, this …"
Zhao Yi pointed to the back and said, "When I returned to my room, it was already stuck in the door."
The monk with the iron rod reminded him, "Be careful. It might be a trap."
"I don't think so."
Zhao Yi shook his head. A similar situation appeared in his mind. Just as he was about to reach out, the monk was one step ahead of him. He slowly pulled out the dagger, took the piece of paper, and walked into the brightly lit room.
The others followed him in.
Zhao Yi walked over and asked, "What's written on the paper?"
The old monk, who was walking in front, poked his head out to take a look and said, "Preventing the people's mouths is more important than blocking a river. If you don't beat a drowning dog now, what are you waiting for?"
"Preventing the people's mouths is more important than blocking a river?" The middle-aged monk frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
The middle-aged scholar waved his fan and said, "This is from 'The Language of Zhou'. There's a saying in the 'Language of Guoyu': 'Preventing the people's mouths is more important than blocking a river. If a river is blocked and collapses, many people will be hurt, and the people are the same.' Therefore, for the people, it is to prevent the people from opening their mouths to discuss the affairs of the court. This is even more serious than blocking the river and causing a flood. Therefore, the person who controls the flood must clear the river and let the water flow smoothly. The person who controls the people should also allow the people to speak freely. "
The monk with the iron rod nodded and looked at him again. He asked, "If you don't beat a drowning dog now, what are you waiting for? Is this also what the 'Language of Guoyu' says?"
"…"
"I understand."
The pondering expression on Zhao Yi's face disappeared and he suddenly smiled. He cupped his hands toward the window and said, "Thank you, Brother Li, for enlightening me. I understand."
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