"Ah? If that's the case, how can we survive? "
Everyone immediately panicked. Some of the more timid ones even covered their faces and cried on the spot.
"How did things turn out like this? At that time, we listened to County Magistrate Cheng's suggestion and went to the prince to petition. "
"But Magistrate Cheng has already pleaded for us. Now that such a big thing has happened in the city, Magistrate Cheng can't even protect himself. How can he take care of us?"
"Which son of a bitch injured His Highness?! Catch this person and hand him over. Maybe we can escape this disaster! "
"It was so chaotic at that time. No one saw who it was!"
"Let's look for him. Maybe he was the closest to Wang Ye at that time! Alas! Who is it? Come out and admit it yourself. Don't wait for others to find out! "
…
The commoners were in a mess. Before they could do anything, they had already started to fight among themselves.
They were really panicking, especially the commoners who went to participate in the petition but didn't get close to the inside. They felt more and more that they didn't want to.
A woman heard the commotion and gathered around. She cried, "We women and children didn't go to the petition that day. Will we be implicated?"
"Do you think this is a small matter? Besieging the yamen and injuring the only king with a different surname. If Your Majesty thinks we are rebelling, tell me, is this a big or small crime? I'm afraid our whole family will be beheaded! "
"Ah? No, no … "
"Why not? If we are all beheaded, the blood won't be washed away even if the river pours in! "
This statement was too frightening. All the commoners felt a chill run down their spines. The women cried even louder in fear. The men were so frightened that their hands and feet turned cold.
"Let's go back and pack up. We'll immediately escape with our families!"
"Yes, yes, let's escape quickly!"
Some people turned around and wanted to go home to pack up their belongings.
However, the few elders who had been silent for a long time said, "It's useless. If it's really a crime of rebellion, it's useless even if you escape to the ends of the world. When Your Majesty sends people to catch you, can you escape for the rest of your lives?"
These venerable elders were all people of virtue and prestige. They were quite dignified in front of everyone. Hearing his words, everyone fell into despair.
"No, we're innocent! We have to reason with County Magistrate Cheng! The county magistrate originally gave us the idea, but now His Majesty may want all of our lives. Is the county magistrate not taking responsibility for this? Does he think he can dismiss us with a simple plea? "
In desperation, some people immediately agreed.
Someone whispered, "Who knows if he's begging for mercy or not? Maybe he's begging for mercy for himself."
"The county magistrate's wife and children haven't appeared for a long time …"
"My third daughter-in-law's eldest niece's younger sister-in-law said that there aren't many people left in the yamen. The county magistrate's wife has long left."
"What? Sure enough, he was able to keep his composure and ran away with his wife and child! He wants us to be the scapegoat! "
"Let's go and find him!"
"Yes, let's go find him!"
…
In desperation, the commoners gathered at the yamen just like they did when they petitioned Pang Xiao.
Knowing that they were here to seek an explanation from County Magistrate Cheng, more and more people joined the crowd. Not long after, the yamen's entrance was completely surrounded.
Compared to the previous time, the citizens did not have any weapons in their hands, but their resentment was clearly heavier than the previous time.
County Magistrate Cheng heard the news and hurried to the door.
Seeing a large group of people surrounding him in front of the door, he could not help but frown, "What's the meaning of this?"
"Sir, it's been so many days. Is there any news from Your Majesty?" “
We've been on tenterhooks all day. We can't eat or sleep. We're just waiting for orders from our superiors. "
"Sir, didn't you say that you're pleading for mercy for us? Why hasn't Your Majesty issued a decree to pardon us?"
…
Looking at the anxious and resentful faces, Magistrate Cheng felt a sense of helplessness from the bottom of his heart.
These were the commoners. They only thought about their own gains and losses and would not consider the big picture. They were easily incited. Although they were smart, they were no match for their own selfish desires.
County Magistrate Cheng's silence made all the commoners agitated. In the crowd, there were already some hot-tempered young people cursing.
County Magistrate Cheng felt complicated after being cursed at. He thought about the 3,000 cavalrymen that Pang Xiao had stopped outside the city. It was said that Pang Xiao had paid for all the food and food that the people and horses had eaten. Pang Xiao had also been stabbed by the commoners, but he did not seek revenge. He was even willing to explain it to Governor Ma.
The most important thing was that County Magistrate Cheng knew that Pang Xiao had already pleaded for mercy for the commoners.
He was already somewhat reluctant to smear the reputation of such a righteous and considerate person behind his back.
That day, in order to achieve his goal, he incited the commoners' emotions and gradually planted a seed in their hearts. He made everyone think that Prince Zhongshun was a muddle-headed person who killed without batting an eyelid.
But now, County Magistrate Cheng actually felt regret.
If there were two or three generals like this in the imperial court, they could keep each other in check. How could Da Zhou not be able to protect its empire?
But County Magistrate Cheng knew that he would not be able to see such a scene in the future. He did not know if Your Majesty would listen to Pang Xiao's advice. But he knew that he would not be able to survive.
Perhaps it was because people on the verge of death spoke kindly. County Magistrate Cheng could not help but say: "This county has already explained the situation that day. Even if Your Majesty blames someone, he will only blame this county. He will not implicate anyone else. Also, as far as I know, Prince Zhongshun has already explained the situation to Governor Ma of the 3,000 Cavalrymen. Governor Ma and Prince Zhongshun have also sent a letter to Your Majesty, stating that you did not plan to rebel that day. Prince Zhongshun and Your Majesty are sworn brothers. Even if Your Majesty does not believe my words, Your Majesty will definitely believe Wang Ye's words. "
Everyone was extremely shocked.
"Your Majesty, you said that Prince Zhongshun also sent a letter to Your Majesty to plead on our behalf?"
"Your Majesty, please do not lie to us!"
County Magistrate Cheng saw the shocked expressions of the commoners and shook his head: "How could this county speak nonsense about such an important matter?"
A commoner said in a low voice: "From the looks of it, Prince Zhongshun is not a bad person!"
"We did not have a good impression of him in the past and misunderstood him!"
Seeing that the hostility in the crowd was no longer as strong, County Magistrate Cheng took two steps forward and slowly said: "Everyone, think about it. That day, you were misunderstood as a rebellion because you besieged the county yamen, right? Now that you are doing this, do you want to add another layer of sin? "
When the commoners heard this, their hearts trembled.
Wasn't that right! That day, they besieged the yamen. Now, they were besieging the yamen. Prince Zhongshun had already explained what happened that day, but today's matter was not. If Your Majesty were to find out, wouldn't they be accused of 'rebelling again'?
A dignified elder shouted: "Quickly, disperse, disperse. Don't crowd around here!"
"Yes, yes, yes. Disperse quickly. Don't cause a misunderstanding!"
The commoners turned around and dispersed.
At this moment, a fast horse suddenly rushed over from the end of the street. Behind the fast horse were more than ten men who were also riding horses. They looked like people from the Fifth Army Camp.
The commoners' voices were noisy and covered the sound of the horses' hooves hitting the ground.
County Magistrate Cheng stood on the red steps and saw the fast horse approaching quickly. The rider on the horse was wearing an iron-gray sunflower shirt. He immediately knew that someone from the palace had come!
Although County Magistrate Cheng had already mentally prepared himself, when he saw someone from the palace, his heart still thumped. His heartbeat rapidly accelerated, as though it was going to jump out of his chest.
Even so, County Magistrate Cheng's face was still very calm.
As the sound of the horse's hooves approached, County Magistrate Cheng straightened his back.
The commoners also noticed the newcomer. When they saw the clothes and the bag on the person's back, they all fell silent and retreated, making way for the person in front of the yamen.
The eunuch dismounted from his horse and quickly walked to the yamen. Behind him, the men from the five military camps dismounted from their horses as well, and formed two rows in an aggressive manner.
The eunuch loudly shouted: "Where is Lord Cheng?"
Seeing this attitude, the commoners' hearts turned cold.
County Magistrate Cheng said unhurriedly: "This humble official is Lord Cheng."
The eunuch raised his eyebrows and glanced at him. He immediately took out a bright yellow imperial edict. Without giving County Magistrate Cheng time to change his clothes and burn incense, he opened the imperial edict and loudly read:
"Lord Cheng, receive the imperial edict!"
"This humble official receives the imperial edict." Lord Cheng lifted his clothes and knelt.
The men from the Fifth Army Camp all knelt on the ground. The commoners also knelt on the ground.
The eunuch said: "By the will of the Heavens, the Emperor decrees: County Magistrate Cheng is incompetent in governing his subordinates. He harbors evil intentions and has disloyal intentions! He is to be stripped of his official position and handed over to the Ministry of Justice's prison to be sentenced to death! His family members are to be enslaved by the officials and sold off. This is the imperial edict! "
There was complete silence in front of the yamen. The commoners were scared out of their wits.
Your Majesty did not even interrogate County Magistrate Cheng. Instead, he directly arrested him and sentenced him to death!
What about them? Wouldn't they all have the same fate?
When County Magistrate Cheng heard the words' execution ', it was as if he had finally received a second shoe. Although he was afraid, he was more excited and relieved that his scheme had succeeded.
"This humble official obeys the imperial edict." County Magistrate Cheng calmly kowtowed.
The eunuch saw that he was so calm and did not appear to be panicking. He could not help but admire him.
The men from the Fifth Army Camp swarmed forward and arrested County Magistrate Cheng. Immediately after, people rushed into the yamen to arrest him.
The eunuch directly ordered people to bring County Magistrate Cheng into the yamen and lock him up.
The commoners watched anxiously as the eunuch and the others brought County Magistrate Cheng into the yamen. Then, the door of the yamen slammed shut in front of their eyes. Everyone was stunned.
"This … County Magistrate Cheng is going to be beheaded. We …"
"Your Majesty is going to let us off?"
The commoners were all in disbelief.
Immediately after, everyone heaved a sigh of relief.
There were even those with shallow eye sockets who were crying tears of joy.
"It's all thanks to Wang Ye for not holding a grudge against us!" An elderly person wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes emotionally.
"Wang Ye pleaded for mercy on our behalf. That's why Your Majesty is letting us off on his account."
"Wang Ye was hurt by us, but he was still willing to speak the truth. He did not take the opportunity to take revenge on us. I'm afraid we've misunderstood Prince Zhongshun. He's clearly an upright and upright man!"
The commoners in front of the yamen happily dispersed. They were anxious to go home.
They went to tell their families the good news.
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