Prince Lian?
Feng Yu Heng looked at Ban Zou with an inquiring gaze.
Ban Zou shook his head to express that he did not know, but after thinking a bit, he told her: "The current ruler of Qian Zhou is fighting for the throne. He only has one elder sister, eldest princess Kang Yi. The other brothers are all born of the same father but different mothers. Put plainly, they are former enemies. Every country and every dynasty has its battles for the throne. The battle in Qian Zhou that lasted for over a decade was even more intense. Over ten of the previous emperor's sons died in the battle for the throne. Including the current ruler, there are less than five remaining sons, and they have all been conferred the title of prince. "
Feng Yu Heng nodded, "Speaking like this, this Prince Lian is a member of Qian Zhou's imperial family. He is the ruler's cousin."
"That should be the case."
While the two spoke, the servant standing in the carriage spoke up once more, directly asking the bearded man: "You're not going to celebrate lord Duan Mu's birthday. Instead, you've gathered so many people to block the road. What is the matter?" Her words were very impolite, but the bearded man did not mind in the slightest.
He respectfully replied: "These are all Dashun officials that tried to escape. Lord Duan Mu has ordered for them to all be executed."
"Executed?" The servant frowned, "So many people are to be executed?"
The bearded man nodded and said: "That's right. Lord Duan Mu said that rather than persuading people with weak wills, it would be better to kill them." While saying this, he looked at the surrounding officials and citizens and added: "These people are the same. If they know what's good for them, they'll stay. If they don't, they'll be killed."
The servant shook her head upon hearing this, but it was not good for her to say anything. She simply turned around and returned to the carriage. Not long later, she came back out; however, she said to the bearded man: "His Highness Prince Lian said that tomorrow will be new year's eve. After that, it will be new year's eve. Today is the end of the year. Moreover, his Highness does not like to see blood. That's why you can all disperse. Just find a place to lock these people up. After the new year's celebration, his Highness will return to Qian Zhou. You can do as you please. "
The bearded man did not hesitate in the slightest upon hearing this, immediately nodding and agreeing. Even if he had been calling him lord Duan Mu earlier, now that the prince of Qian Zhou had spoken, he did not even think about it before throwing lord Duan Mu to the back of his mind. If someone did not know better, they would truly believe that this person was a general from Qian Zhou.
However, it was also good that they agreed. At least they wouldn't discover any large-scale bloody incidents. Everyone was rejoicing. Those who had narrowly escaped death saw the executioner's hands leave one after another. Their tensed nerves relaxed, and more than half of them fainted.
The bearded man hurriedly ordered people to drag them away. After the square was cleaned up, he asked the girl with the lantern, "Is Your Highness satisfied?"
The servant nodded, "Just do as you're told. After all, this is a matter for your Dashun. Qian Zhou will not care."
The bearded man immediately said: "Now that the North has already submitted to Qian Zhou, we are one family. Dashun is the outsider."
The servant giggled and nodded, saying: "That's right. The three northern provinces were originally part of my Qian Zhou's territory, but they were forcefully taken away by Dashun. But don't rush. It will belong to whoever it belongs to. Sooner or later, Qian Zhou will snatch it back. "
Just as she said this, suddenly, a somewhat feminine voice came from inside the carriage. It was neither a man nor a woman, but it was very pleasant to the ears. That voice said: "Zi 'er, don't speak nonsense. When has Qian Zhou's matters ever been decided by you."
Upon hearing this, the originally arrogant servant immediately turned around and kneeled in front of the carriage, saying: "Your Highness, please forgive me. It was this servant that misspoke."
"Un." The voice faintly said: "After returning to Qian Zhou, kneel on the ice for three days."
"Yes." The servant received her punishment and did not complain in the slightest. After standing up, she said to the bearded man: "We will be going to lord Duan Mu's Winter Palace. Have them all move aside."
Upon hearing this, the bearded man quickly cleared a path large enough for the carriage to pass through. The wolf horse gently stomped its hooves once more, slowly passing through the crowd.
Feng Yu Heng happened to be in the first row, and the carriage brushed past her. She could immediately feel the cold coming from the carriage.
She did not know if it was because of her mind, but she felt that the carriage seemed to have paused for a moment when it passed by her. In just an instant, it returned to normal. She then heard the feminine voice faintly say: "The North is still too hot. Giving this sort of place to Dashun is quite good. Why bother taking it back?" Following this was a quiet sigh that could not be heard.
It was just that this sigh did not contain much emotion. Instead, it contained a bit of teasing. To him, the North was nothing more than a plaything that he could do without. He did not care about it.
Dang!
The sound of the gong rang out once more, filling the air. The earlier feeling of shock came once more. Everyone was stunned, as though they were made out of clay.
This time, Feng Yu Heng and Ban Zou were prepared long ago. They were not confused by the sound of the gong, but the sound of the gong still sounded very loud.
She began to think to herself. If just one gong could produce this sort of effect, what would happen if many were sounded at the same time? If this sort of gong sound appeared on the battlefield, would Dashun's soldiers be able to withstand it?
While she was thinking, a few breaths passed before everyone finally managed to recover. They were all covered in a cold sweat. There were some that began to discuss what sort of person Prince Lian was. There were also some that began to worry about the officials that had been escorted away. They did not know when the next execution would be. Of course, the people were more worried about themselves. In a place like the North, life and death were nothing more than a single thought from Duan Mu An Guo. It was too frightening.
At this time, the bearded man had a smug look on his face as he loudly said: "Do you see it. That's his Highness Prince Lian from Qian Zhou. Aside from the current Emperor, Prince Lian is our Qian Zhou's most powerful prince. Not only does he control the military, he also controls six of Qian Zhou's provinces. This year, his Highness Prince Lian personally came to the North. This is our North's good fortune! "
Everyone was shocked. This person's words already considered himself to be someone from Qian Zhou. He had already placed the North within Qian Zhou's sphere of influence. It no longer had anything to do with Dashun.
"Alright, you can all go back! His Highness Prince Lian is right. The end of the year is indeed not suitable for bloodshed. This general will go and report to lord Duan Mu. Thinking about it, lord must also think this way. Disperse, disperse! "
After he finished speaking, he waved his hand and led the servants to chase after Prince Lian's carriage. Feng Yu Heng followed the crowd back while asking Ban Zou: "I know that there are quite a few people in the three northern provinces that are of Qian Zhou's blood, but what is the proportion? How many pure Dashun people are there? "
Ban Zou furrowed his brow and thought for a bit then shook his head, "It's hard to say. It's most likely that there aren't any. Of course, that's aside from the Duan Mu family. Apparently, when the three northern provinces were conquered by the ancestor, he left behind a group of soldiers to be stationed there for a long period of time. Those soldiers also brought their families over and settled down here. But in the end, there are many citizens and few soldiers. It's fine for one or two generations, but when it comes to the third generation, they begin to marry people from Qian Zhou. Like this, even if the later generations are half Dashun, they are gradually assimilated. Even the Duan Mu family is the same. The third prince's birth mother is half Qian Zhou. She was Duan Mu An Guo's wife from Qian Zhou. "
Feng Yu Heng looked quite helpless. In truth, if this matter was truly investigated to the root, it would be Dashun that had forcefully invaded the three northern provinces. It was such that the people of Qian Zhou who shared the same blood were split in two. Qian Zhou wanting to take back the heart of the North was the same reasoning as the modern era wanting to take back their lost land. Who was right and who was wrong, how should it be judged?
But Dashun was not the modern era. Before Hua Xia's people had settled down, human society needed to coexist with stability and invasions. This was an era that revered heroes. Peace was nothing more than an illusion. Chaos was the foundation of peace.
Countless people endured the heavy snow and struggled to walk back. One of the madams from Dashun complained: "He actually set up a Winter Palace. Is he afraid that people will not know of his ambitions?"
The man at her side covered her mouth and fiercely shouted: "If you don't want to die, shut your mouth!"
The madam also lost her temper, slapping his hand away and raising her voice: "What are you afraid of? Didn't that bearded man already leave? Could it be that you won't allow people to speak? Now that it's like this, who knows when the executioner's knife will be pressed against our necks. I already told you not to come, not to come, but you wouldn't listen. Now that something has happened, you want to drag me and my daughter down with you. "
The man could not refute this and let out a long sigh. To the side, another official heard this and could not help but interject, saying: "Fortunately, they brought their daughter. If they brought their son, wouldn't they have ended their line?"
Another person said: "So what if they didn't bring them? If they stay in Dashun, they'll die sooner or later. Although we were forced, we did come here on our own. Moreover, do you know what kind of rumors that Duan Mu An Guo will spread? What will he say about us? "
With just a few words, the people felt a chill run down their spines.
Feng Yu Heng wanted to ask what exactly the "Winter Palace" was. At this time, she saw two citizens from Song Zhou standing in front of a bun shop to the north of the street. One of them held two large boxes of pastries and handed them to the other. At the same time, he said: "Your family's Mei Yi will be sent into the palace after the new year. In the future, if she becomes favored, your family will also benefit. Old brother Wang, when that time comes, don't forget about us. "
"Hah! That's easy to say! " The person that received the gift replied with a red face: "Your family's daughter will be of age in another two years. When that time comes, we will be able to enjoy the good fortune together!"
Feng Yu Heng was puzzled, "Sent into the palace? His Majesty is still choosing a concubine? "
Ban Zou snorted coldly, "Our Majesty did not choose, but this side did."
"This side?" She was puzzled, "Qian Zhou's ruler? He even chose Song Zhou to choose a concubine? "
Ban Zou shook his head, "What ruler of Qian Zhou. It's that Duan Mu An Guo. The so-called Winter Palace is a small imperial palace that he built for himself in Song Zhou. Apparently, in that Winter Palace, he is known as the Great King. All of the girls in the three northern provinces that have reached the age of 13 will be sent into the Winter Palace for him to choose from. Only those that are not chosen will be allowed to marry on their own. "
"What?" Feng Yu Heng was extremely shocked, "This is no different from the Emperor choosing a concubine!" Duan Mu An Guo was actually arrogant to such a degree?
Just as she was feeling shocked, a girl suddenly rushed out of a shop on the side of the street. While running, she loudly said: "I don't want to go into the palace! Even if you beat me to death, I don't want to go into the palace! I don't know what you're talking about. Don't look for me! "
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
