The commoners did not understand why the Eighth Prince, who had committed such a heinous crime, had been brought to the execution ground with the blade held to his neck, yet the Emperor had suddenly issued a pardon. The outside did not know about what had happened in the palace. They only knew that the Sheng Palace had become lively once more. The things that had been taken out of the palace were all sent back, and there were even more rewards. That day, they had heard the head eunuch announce the list of gifts at the entrance of the Sheng Palace. Just based on the things that the Emperor had bestowed, it sounded like there were even more things in the Sheng Palace, and they were even better.
The commoners did not understand why this was happening, and they all complained; however, they did not dare speak out on the streets. They could only hide in their own homes and sulk. The people living in the East, West, and South were a bit better. After all, they were bystanders, and they did not have as much of an understanding. However, the poor people living in the northern part of the city were unhappy. They lived in the houses built by the Imperial Palace Yu, and they used the daily necessities provided by the Royal Consort Yu. Every day, they would curse the Eighth Prince three times. At the same time, they would curse Emperor Tianwu as well.
Presently, the commoners in the northern part of the city had an unwritten rule. When they met, they would curse the Emperor, the Eighth Prince, and the court together before saying anything else. As for the matter of cursing, no one was allowed to report it. If anyone leaked this matter, even if the commoners in the northern part of the city risked being executed, they would tear the traitor apart.
But what was the point of just cursing? The imperial decree had been issued by the Emperor. In the past, they had dared to use cabbages to smash the gates of the Sheng Palace, but no matter what, they did not dare to smash the gates of the Imperial Palace. Everyone understood that this would be treated as a traitor, and they would be executed on the spot.
As for the Eighth Prince, Xuantian Mo, he was currently resting in the palace, leisurely recovering from his illness. He had suffered a bit while on death row, especially his legs, which had become ill. Emperor Tianwu was very distressed by this and was extremely vexed. He called for all the imperial physicians in the palace to take turns to treat his "most beloved son." In the end, it was decided that Sun Qi would be in charge of treating the Eighth Prince's injuries, and Emperor Tianwu left Sun Qi in the Sheng Palace, having him watch over the Eighth Prince at all times. He could not be careless for even a moment.
Sun Qi's medical skills were still good. At the very least, to be able to be chosen by Song Kang, he was not an ordinary doctor. With him treating Xuantian Mo, Xuantian Mo's leg had become much better. However, the medicine that Sun Qi had specifically requested was from Hundred Herb Hall. This meant that the people of the Sheng Palace had to frequently go to Hundred Herb Hall to buy medicine. In regards to this, Hundred Herb Hall did not like it at first, but the Eighth Prince had an imperial order, so Hundred Herb Hall had no choice but to comply.
Yao Xuan personally went to Feng Yu Heng to talk about this matter, asking Feng Yu Heng how they should handle it. After Feng Yu Heng heard this, she only said: "Give him medicine. Give him as much as he wants, but you must ask him for money. How much money should be, increase it by ten times. It's up to him whether he wants to buy it or not."
In reality, not to mention ten times, even if it was twenty times, Xuantian Mo would still buy it. After all, good medicine from Hundred Herb Hall was hard to find. This was a principle that everyone understood.
After around ten days, Xuantian Mo's leg had become much better. It was just a bit of rheumatism, but it did not affect his ability to walk. It was about to be the new year. The first thing that Xuantian Mo did after he was able to get out of bed was to have people prepare money to compensate the poor people in the northern part of the city. He also had people prepare new year goods.
In regards to this, no one had any objections. The Sheng Palace's side proceeded very smoothly. In just a single day, they had prepared the money and new year goods. However, the palace's staff had a different opinion. They said to Xuantian Mo: "Last time, it was because of the food that was sent that caused the problem. This time, it would be best if your Highness did not send any new year goods, right? It would be better to convert those things into money. Those lowly people are still the happiest when they see money. "
Xuantian Mo thought about it and felt that this was the case. Thus he listened to his staff and returned the new year goods, exchanging them for money. This time, he personally led his guards to the northern part of the city to deliver the money. It was only when he saw the newly built residences in the northern part of the city that the hatred in his heart surged forth once more. Who knew that he had come up with a plan to bring Zhu Kongshan to the capital to restore his reputation, but in the end, it had become a wedding dress for Xuan Tianming and Feng Yu Heng. He had worked hard for half of the winter; however, he could not compare to the other side's work in just a few days. With just a bit of money, they had been able to obtain such a good reputation. They had even left behind so many residences in the northern part of the city that would continue to exist.
Now, he found these residences to be an eyesore. He hated that he could not have these residences torn down on the spot. Since it was the northern part of the city, it needed to have the appearance of the northern part of the city. These lowly people should be living in dilapidated temples. They should be wearing worn-out clothes. In fact, a few of them would freeze to death every day. But what was the current situation? If lowly people were able to live in good residences, would they still be considered lowly people?
But these thoughts only lingered in his mind. On the surface, Xuantian Mo still had to put on an appearance of being a good person. After all, he had come here today for the sake of doing his best to restore some of his reputation. Although Emperor Tianwu was already doing his best to protect him, there were still things that needed to be done outside. Just the emperor's help was not enough. Only those who had the hearts of the people could obtain the world. He understood this reasoning.
Upon arriving in the northern part of the city, Xuantian Mo got out of his imperial carriage. Leading a group of guards with money, he knocked on each door. When the people opened their doors, they saw that it was actually the Eighth Prince who had been cursed hundreds of times every day. For a while, they did not know how they should face him. After all, he was a prince. Cursing him behind his back was fine, but it would not be good to curse him to his face. But to have them accept Xuantian Mo's money like this, the people felt a little awkward. What kind of money was this? What kind of money was this? Was it hush money? If they accepted it, would they not have to go against their conscience and say that the Eighth Prince was good in the future? Or would they have to swallow all of their previous dissatisfaction?
The people felt that if they swallowed it back, they would most likely suffer from internal injuries, thus none of them accepted the money. They all walked out of their homes and stood in the streets of the northern part of the city, calmly watching this scene. They were all guessing what sort of play this harmful prince was going to put on today.
More and more people came out of the streets. Everyone that had been in their homes came out, and there was a sea of people standing in the streets. Xuantian Mo saw that the people did not accept the money and knew that these lowly people were definitely still estranged from him. He did his best to put on a pleasant expression and very helplessly said to the citizens: "I know what you're thinking, and I know that you've definitely cursed I a thousand times in your hearts. But what I want to say is that His Majesty has already made a clear decision regarding the large number of deaths in the northern part of the city. Everything was done by Zhu Kongshan and the Zhu family. They changed Her Highness Consort Yuanshu's winter clothes and added a large amount of poison to the porridge. This was what caused the tragedy in the northern part of the city. Now, the entire Zhu family has been executed. This can be considered as paying for the lives of the citizens that died. I came today in hopes that your lives would be a little better. That's why I have prepared some money for each family. I hope that everyone can accept I's kind intentions. "
He had pushed the matter onto Zhu Kongshan. This was something that could not be criticized because this matter was done by Zhu Kongshan to begin with. What he had said was the truth. But it was this sort of truth that nobody in the northern part of the city was willing to believe. In fact, when they heard that he had pushed the blame onto Zhu Kongshan and that the entire Zhu family had been executed, the poor people in the northern part of the city became furious. Those that did not dare oppose the Eighth Prince at first began to throw caution to the wind. Either way, because of the matter with Hundred Herb Hall, it was not as if they had not beaten this person in the streets.
Thus giving money was originally a good thing; however, in the end, it became the Eighth Prince being surrounded and beaten by all of the citizens in the northern part of the city.
Xuantian Mo was scared witless. He never thought that the citizens would be so emotional. He had thought that money could resolve everything; however, who knew that it really would not work on this matter. While being surrounded, the guards threw away the money in their hands in order to protect him. The money was scattered on the ground, and it was snatched by the people. Unfortunately, the people were not snatching it to spend. Instead, they were snatching it to throw at him. Large pieces of money were thrown at Xuantian Mo's head. In just a few hits, two large bumps appeared on his head.
The guards did everything they could to protect him and retreat. In fact, they did not even hesitate to pull out their swords. Only then did they manage to scare away some of the more timid citizens, and they finally managed to clear a path. Xuantian Mo fled back to the imperial carriage in a very sorry state. The driver quickly drove the carriage and only let out a sigh of relief after driving for a long time.
Xuantian Mo was truly depressed to the extreme. He just could not understand. These lowly people did not even want the money. What exactly were they thinking?
But the guard at his side reminded him: "Your Highness, the money was also left behind by them."
Xuantian Mo was stunned then recalled how he had just been hit on the head with money. With this thought, the bumps on his head hurt even more. He angrily kicked the guard: "You can't even keep an eye on the money. What did I raise you for?"
The imperial carriage sped along and finally left the northern part of the city. When they arrived at the bustling streets, Xuantian Mo's heart finally relaxed. It was considered safe here. The lowly people in the northern part of the city would not chase them here. Damn it, he had finally recovered his leg, but he did not think that he would hurt his head again.
On the bustling streets, the imperial carriage moved very slowly. After a while, it even stopped. Xuantian Mo asked with dissatisfaction: "Why did we stop?"
The driver outside said: "Replying to Your Highness, we have encountered the carriage from the Yuan Palace. Should we let them pass first?"
King Yuan was the second prince. Normally, as the younger brother, Xuantian Mo should give way. If this was in the past, the driver would have given way without even asking. But the present was different from the past. His Highness could hold his head up high, and he was a favored person in front of the Emperor. The second prince had never competed, and he did not have many achievements in court. This made the Sheng Palace's driver believe that the current eighth prince no longer needed to follow the principle of brother first and brother second.
After the driver asked this question, before Xuantian Mo could reply, a crisp voice came from outside, "The Sheng Palace's carriage? Is eighth uncle inside? "
Xuantian Mo could recognize this voice. It was his eldest nephew, Xuan Feiyu. Thinking about it, it was the end of the year. Xuan Feiyu was studying in Xiao Zhou. Shouldn't he have returned? No matter what was said, he still doted on this nephew. Just as he was about to get up and lift the curtain to speak, he looked at his own sorry state and felt that he did not have any face in front of a child. Thus, he simply waved his hand at the guard, indicating that he was not present and sending Xuan Feiyu away.
When he heard the Yuan Palace's carriage slowly pass by his own imperial carriage, a thought suddenly appeared in Xuantian Mo's mind …
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