Feng Yu Heng did a rough count. Of the people kneeling on the ground, there were less than ten officials from Dashun that had come to celebrate the birthday. Including their family members, the majority of them could not be saved.
One person crawled forward a few steps and said while wiping away tears: "This guilty official is the prefect of Hai Zhou. I fear that my lowly name will sully your Highness and imperial daughter's ears, so it's fine not to mention it. Coming to the North this time was indeed to curry favor with Duan Mu An Guo. It was in hopes that I would be able to take another step forward in my official position. However, who knew that Duan Mu An Guo would have the ambition of a wolf and would actually seek refuge with Qian Zhou. Our actions of bribing immediately became treason. The twists and turns in this matter were caused by our own actions, and we cannot live. We originally thought that we would not be able to escape; however, who knew that your Highness and imperial daughter would go all out to save us. You actually dug us out from the ground. The grace of being reborn will never be repaid. We are willing to use the rest of our lives to atone for our sins. This guilty official is willing to remain in the North and help the North recover its former vitality! "
With him leading the way, all of the officials expressed their willingness to work for Dashun.
Xuan Tianming nodded and did not respond to these officials. Instead, he faced the citizens of Song Zhou and loudly said: "I will say something fair. In truth, who is in charge of the citizens? Whether the three northern provinces belong to Qian Zhou or Dashun, there is no real meaning to the citizens. If it belongs to Qian Zhou, you will still be living here. If it belongs to Dashun, you will still be unable to see his Majesty every day. Dividing the country into administrative areas is a matter for the court. What is truly related to you is whether or not you can live better lives. Whoever can allow you to live better lives is the ruler that you should support the most. "
His words caused the citizens to think deeply. Everyone immediately fell silent and did not speak with one another. All of their attention was focused on Xuan Tianming. Their minds were also thinking about what he had said.
As for Xuan Tianming, he had not finished speaking, as he continued: "In the past 100 years, Dashun's greatest mistake was trusting the Duan Mu family's rule over the North, especially Duan Mu An Guo. He instilled in you the idea that Qian Zhou was your root, making you feel that Qian Zhou was good, making you feel that your roots were in Qian Zhou. But in fact, your roots are here, in this land. This land has not been moved, nor has it been moved. You have lived here for generations. What has changed from before? On the other hand, it's Duan Mu An Guo who uses the benefits of tax relief to force you to send your daughters who have not yet reached marriageable age into the Winter Palace. Either they die or endure the humiliation to survive. What you don't know is that for over a hundred years, Dashun has been exempted from all your taxes! "
These words immediately caused another uproar. The Dashun officials in the crowd, including Zhao Tianqi, began to help Xuan Tianming explain the good policies that Dashun had given to the North. It was only now that the people of Song Zhou came to a sudden realization. It turned out that they had all been tricked by Duan Mu An Guo. With this deception, he had deceived many generations.
Among the citizens, an old man was the first to react. He came forward, trembling as he knelt on the ground, loudly saying: "Asking His Ninth Highness to uphold justice for the people of the North. Asking His Ninth Highness to give us the stable life that we deserve!"
Stabilizing the country and bringing peace to the people, the soldiers had fought hard for the hearts of the people. At this moment, even Feng Yu Heng became emotional.
She half raised her head and looked at Xuan Tianming. She saw that the side profile outlined by the golden mask was so proud and determined. His eyes were like stars, piercing through the wind and snow, giving people unlimited confidence.
Xuan Tianming said: "Dashun will not give up on any of its citizens. Regardless of whether they are rich or poor, happy or suffering, as long as their hearts are with Dashun, Dashun will not let them fall into the abyss of suffering." After he said this, he looked around the crowd. In the end, his gaze stopped at the prefect of Guan Zhou, Zhao Tian Qi. He then loudly said: "Zhao Tian Qi, come forward to receive your conferment!"
Zhao Tian Qi's spirit was shaken. Taking a few steps forward, he knelt on the ground with a "thump", "This official, Zhao Tian Qi, is present!"
Xuan Tianming said: "Zhao Tian Qi, I have been ordered by His Majesty to personally lead an expedition to Qian Zhou in the North. In this place, I have absolute authority to lead and manage matters. The appointment and dismissal of officials in the North is also within the scope of I's responsibilities. Duan Mu An Guo has betrayed the country, and his position as the commander of the North has been officially removed. He is wanted by the world, his assets confiscated, and his entire family executed. From this day forward, I confer upon you the title of commander of the North. I hope that you can put the people first, petition for the people, protect the people and love the people. Do not let down I's love for talent. When Qian Zhou is pacified and I return to the capital, I will personally request for you to be conferred an imperial edict to confirm your name. "
Zhao Tian Qi's eyes filled with hot tears. Kowtowing to the ground, he did not care about his status and began to sob.
It had been over ten years. He had watched as the North was in chaos under Duan Mu An Guo's rule. He had watched as the Dashun court's policies for the North were not implemented by Duan Mu An Guo. To Zhao Tian Qi, who was filled with ambition and wanted to make a name for himself in Guan Zhou, this was a fatal blow.
Over the past ten years, he had sent memorials to the court more than once; however, they were all intercepted by Duan Mu An Guo's people. Slowly, he stopped sending memorials. Instead, he secretly made a record for Duan Mu An Guo, recording all of the Dashun officials that went to and fro the North.
This day had finally arrived for Zhao Tian Qi. He promised Xuan Tianming and promised all of the citizens of the North: "I, Zhao Tian Qi, will dedicate my life to the North. I will not fail in this life."
Xuan Tianming's army remained in Song Zhou City for another five days. The soldiers set up camp outside the city and helped the citizens repair the buildings that had been damaged by the battle. At the same time, they sent all of the gold and silver that had been excavated from the Winter Palace to the prefect's office. Zhao Tian Qi led people to record it and distribute it to the citizens.
Xuan Tianming and Feng Yu Heng used these few days to understand the large underground palace that Duan Mu An Guo had dug up using Qian Zhou's wealth. At the same time, they began to repair the city's defenses.
The troops that had been left in Guan Zhou also began to arrive. On this day, Feng Yu Heng was walking down the street and unknowingly arrived at the entrance of the Fu manor. In the past, although the Fu manor could not be considered to be of particularly high status, it still had a courtyard, a wall and a proper entrance. It was not large, but it was still a proper household.
But now, the main entrance had been cut down, and half of the courtyard's wall had collapsed. There were clear signs of fire inside. Upon entering the courtyard, the main hall had been burned beyond recognition.
Wang Chuan followed at her side and helplessly said: "The soldiers are still repairing the damaged buildings. They have not yet reached this side, but it will be in the next two days." She asked Feng Yu Heng: "Young miss, do you want to go in and take a look? That Fu Ya girl returned home early this morning. Huang Quan is with her. "
Feng Yu Heng was stunned, "She returned home?" Over the past few days, there had been many things happening in the military camp, and there were many injured people. She really did not have the time to go and see Fu Ya. Now that she heard that Fu Ya was inside, she quickly went in.
The Fu family's front courtyard was severely damaged, but the back rooms were still fine. When Feng Yu Heng walked in, she saw Huang Quan standing in front of a small room. Seeing Feng Yu Heng arrive, she quickly ran forward and whispered: "It seems to be the Fu family's ancestral hall inside. This servant heard Fu Ya crying inside."
Feng Yu Heng sighed and walked forward. She knocked on the door and said: "Fu Ya, can I go in?"
It was quiet inside for a while before Fu Ya's voice sounded: "The door is not locked. Come in."
Feng Yu Heng pushed open the door and entered. The smell of sandalwood assailed her nostrils. When she looked up, she saw that there were indeed several memorial tablets on the table.
She glanced at Fu Ya, and then she walked forward with light steps. She lit up three sticks of incense and bowed three times towards the memorial tablet before inserting the incense into the incense burner. Only then did she turn around and say to Fu Ya, "I'm sorry. In the end, it was me who didn't think things through and made the wrong arrangements. That's why I've implicated you and your family. I don't know how to make it up to you. If you're willing, when the army returns to the capital, I can bring you to the capital and take good care of you. "
Fu Ya looked at the girl in front of her. She had heard that the other party was the Dashun Dynasty's famous Princess Ji An. Although the two of them looked the same, their statuses were thousands of li apart.
The two of them looked at each other in a daze. Even Feng Yu Heng had a question mark in her heart. Could there really be two people who looked so similar in this world?
"Fu Ya." She called out to her again, "Consider my suggestion."
Fu Ya revealed a bitter smile, "This matter cannot be blamed on you. This was my family's choice. Even without you, I would still have entered the Illusory Hall and had an eighty percent chance of being chosen to enter the Winter Palace. Then, with Duanmu Guoan's escape and the Winter Palace's sinking, I might have already died underground. How could I stand here today and burn incense for my parents and ancestors? It might have been my parents who had to send off their children. With my mother's body, how could she endure this kind of blow? In the end, she would have also died. Speaking of this, I should thank you. "
This Fu Ya was an open-minded person. She told Feng Yu Heng: "Imperial daughter, there is no need to feel guilty. You are my family's benefactor. If you really want to help me, then have someone help me repair my house and courtyard. Then give me some money. I want to buy a good coffin for my parents."
Feng Yu Heng's nose turned sour and she turned her head away. After a while, she turned back and reached into her sleeve. She quickly pulled out a small bundle from her space. "There are some silver ingots here. Take them first. I do have banknotes here, but the North is under Duanmu Guoan's control. None of the banks are able to exchange with the capital. Even if I give them to you, you won't be able to use them. Take these for now. When you return to the prefect's manor with Huang Quan later, I will give you some more. "
Fu Ya looked at the small bundle of money in her hand and quickly shook her head, saying: "There's no need to give any more. This is enough."
Feng Yu Heng gently patted the back of her hand, "Just treat it as doing this to make me feel a little better." As she spoke, she took out something from her sleeve, and under Fu Ya's puzzled gaze, she pulled her to a nearby table and sat down. "I see that you and I are so alike, and I feel a sense of closeness from the bottom of my heart. Please fulfill my wish of being an elder sister this time. Come, I'll trim your nails for you."
Fu Ya's nails had not been trimmed for many days, and they had become a little long. She felt embarrassed and wanted to pull her hand back; however, Feng Yu Heng held it tightly. In addition to this, Fu Ya was also very curious about the trimming tool, thus she did not refuse. She began to carefully examine the process of trimming her nails.
Even after all ten of her fingers were trimmed, she repeatedly sighed: "Is this something from the capital? It's really good. "
She was only focused on being shocked by the wonders of the nail clipper, but she did not notice that Feng Yu Heng had removed half of the nails and placed them into her sleeve.
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