Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 538 - 484: Conflict

Chapter 538: Chapter 484: Conflict
As Prince Yue, Li Hui had seen countless occasions of thousands bowing before him.
For instance, there was the triennial winter solstice ceremony to worship Heaven. Members of the Royal Family, civil and military officials, and the good people of Chang’an would all face southeast to welcome the sun. They offered sacrifices, praying for favorable winds, timely rains, and for the nation and its people to be at peace.
There were also times he accompanied his father to inspect military camps. The battle-hardened soldiers, still enveloped by an intense aura of death, would kneel on one knee, shouting "Long live!" in unison.
Or, like the recent trip to Taihao Mountain for spiritual cultivation, Haotian believers from different nations and regions knelt at the foot of the towering mountain, prostrating step by step as they moved forward to pay tribute to it.
Compared to those scenes, these common people of Taiyuan Prefecture kneeling on the ground lacked distinguished status, notable military achievements, or resources. Compared to the Cultivators he kept as Tributes in his Prince Manor, they could be said to be as feeble as ants.
But at this very moment, standing atop the high tower in the biting autumn wind, looking down upon the densely packed heads of those bowing on the ground, Li Hui, for some reason, felt an emotion he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Fear.
Not only did he feel this way, but Li Leqing, Qiu Feng, the Taiyuan Prefecture Governor, and all the officials present on the tower turned pale and speechless.
"Do you all seek death?!"
The military officer at the entrance of the Governor Mansion instinctively took half a step back. But then he realized that the Prince, Princess, and governor were watching him from the tower above. He had to steel himself and shout, "Surrounding the State Mansion Residence is tantamount to rebellion! At the least, you’ll be exiled thousands of miles, bringing calamity upon your descendants. At worst, you’ll be beheaded as a public example! Think carefully! Don’t ruin your own children’s lives!"
"Folk do not fear death, so how can it be used to threaten them?"
A village elder with reddened eyes looked up, shouting, "Surrounding the Governor Mansion is a capital offense under the Yu Law, yet staying at home is just silently waiting to die of disease. All we are doing is seeking a way to live!"
"A way to live, a way to live! Staying at home and not running around aimlessly is the way to live!"
The military officer stood on the stairs, his broadsword pointing down at the stone bricks, and shouted loudly, "You must trust the court! Don’t cause trouble for the court! Don’t be rioters or troublemakers!"
"What defines a rioter?"
A scholar replied with a bitter laugh, "When we obediently stayed at home as the officials ordered when the city was sealed, we weren’t rioters. When we responded to the newspaper’s call to actively contain the plague, and donated money and goods, we weren’t rioters. And now, just by kneeling in front of the Governor Mansion without causing any destruction or arson, we are labeled as rioters? Our descendants are doomed?"
Before the military officer could reply, the same scholar continued, "Relatives of the officials within the city secretly packed their bags yesterday, ready to retreat with those with power at any moment. Sir Shangguan, can you also be taken away? If not, what exactly are you staying here so dutifully to protect?"
Not only was the military officer lost for words, but even the soldiers by his side looked at each other uneasily, their faces showing hesitation. The broadswords they had drawn were subconsciously lowered.
Li Hui’s palm unconsciously tightened, leaving an imprint in the wooden windowsill.
CREAK.
The Taiyuan Governor wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and softly whispered, "This official will go take a look."
He then hurried down the tower with a few people.
Passing through the courtyard, he walked out of the main gate and stood beside the military officer. He took a deep breath and declared loudly, "My fellow fathers and elders, I am the Taiyuan Governor. Please open your eyes and do not be deceived by treacherous individuals and Evil! I guarantee with my life and property that all these things—whether the leaflets circulated before, the recent Plague Demon Talisman, or the rumor spreading these past two days that officials like myself will retreat and abandon the common people—are concocted by malicious individuals! Their intent is to create chaos in Taiyuan Prefecture and harm even more of its people!"
"Lies!"
The governor’s words were ruthlessly interrupted by a woman dressed in flamboyant attire who stood up and exclaimed, "I am the Brothel Madam of Yilv House in the city. Last night, I overheard servants from the Governor Mansion come to Yilv House to seek the singer Du Jiu Niang. They said that at this time today, most of the officials from the Governor Mansion would be looking for an opportunity to flee Taiyuan Prefecture with the Prince and Princess. Du Jiu Niang, along with other mistresses of the governor, have now been secretly taken to a residence, changed into Maid Uniforms, ready to leave the city with them. Folks, he’d rather take his singer-mistresses out of the city than spend a bit more effort saving us, the common people."
His deception laid bare, the Taiyuan Governor’s complexion changed. He stomped his foot and rebuked, "Nonsense, this is slander! Someone, seize this lying Brothel Madam for me!"
"..."
The soldiers by the governor’s side looked at each other, and not a single one obeyed his command to step forward.
"What are you all dazed for? Do you also want to rebel?"
Thinking that the Prince was watching him from the tower above, the governor, in a fury of impatience, bellowed, "One hundred strings of coins, no, one thousand strings! I’ll give one thousand strings for you to take her away!"
"Governor,"
One of the young soldiers bravely greeted him with a cupped fist and said, "I don’t want money. I just want to know, can you take me with you when you leave the city?"
"You..."
The governor was so angry he could not utter another word, his trembling finger pointing at the soldier, suspended in mid-air.
"We only ask to see Mr. Li once!"
The first village elder to speak rose from the ground and loudly said, "Why is it that the Blood Sore, Water Poison affliction, and malaria were so swiftly dealt with by his medications, yet this time the plague drags on for so long? We just want an explanation."
Another Confucian Scholar stood up, "Indeed! We followed Mr. Li’s instructions to seal the city. But now, every family cries, every household wails, and even the court has abandoned us. We just want justice!"