Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Acting as Heaven's Envoy in Jiangdong Prefecture (Part 3)

Outside the Qiushui Restaurant, Feng Lan looked incredulous and somewhat surprised as he said, "Master, I 

never expected Qiu Ping Tian to be so kind-hearted." 

It was completely different from what people had said.

If it weren't for the Qiushui Resturant taking in these refugees, Zhaoyang City would probably be in complete 

chaos!

Looking at the crowded people and the temporary tents set up outside the restaurant, Si Cang Qing's eyes flashed 

with a hint of unusualness. Is he really kind-hearted? Feng Lan is still a bit naive; could Qiu Ping Tian really be 

such a simple and good-natured person, managing to turn a declining family into the richest merchant in the 

world in just ten years? This time, his actions are probably not so simple!

However... Si Cang Qing still held a certain degree of admiration in his heart. Whether it was Qi Ping Tian's 

methods and achievements, or his performance during this flood disaster, even though the other party had their 

own calculations, they were still much more astute than those merchants who took advantage of the situation. 

Such a person is worth recruiting as a subordinate.

Since Qiu Ping Tian happens to be here, and his plan is about to be implemented, it seems it's time to meet him! 

"Lan, we will stay at Qiushui Restaurant," Si Cang Qing decided.

"But," Feng Lan hesitated slightly as she looked at the crowded refugees inside and outside the Qiushui 

Restaurant, "given this situation, there probably isn't any space left in the Qiushui Restaurant, right..."

Si Cang Qing thought about it and realized that Feng Lan's words made sense.

"Let's go to Lu Huan." Forget it, there's no rush for this moment.

At that moment, the refugees on the street erupted into chaos, followed by curses and cries, creating a scene of 

disorder. Si Cang Qing and his companion were walking on the road, and several times they were nearly pushed 

aside by the crowd.

"What's going on?" Si Cang Qing frowned slightly and gracefully leaped to the side. 

"Master, let me go investigate!" Feng Lan said, then quickly dove into the crowd. After a while, he returned in a 

fluster from the jostling crowd, his clothes and hair in disarray.

"How?" 

Feng Lan casually adjusted his clothes, his expression slightly somber. "Master, ahead is Caishikou, where Chen 

Jiufan is personally overseeing the execution of the dozens of ringleaders of the rioting refugees..."

"Now?" Si Cang Qing frowned. That Chen Jiufan was truly useless! If those people were really executed, it 

would definitely incite public anger. With the limited military force of the local government here, they wouldn't 

be able to stop the chaos caused by the refugees.

"Lan, Xiang, Mo, Zi, go to the execution ground!"

The other three people appeared silently in front of Si Cang Qing, dressed in black and with their faces covered 

by black hoods.

"Master," Feng Lan was surprised. It wasn't what he thought. "Just go like this?"

"Mm." Si Cang Qing nodded. Liu Yi estimated it would take another day or two for him to arrive. Originally, they 

planned to wait for him to come before addressing the issue of the refugee rebellion, but given the current 

situation…

The sky is lightly shrouded in dark clouds, and the sunlight is somewhat sparse.

Caishikou, the originally empty space, now has thirty or forty people kneeling, some are strong men, and others 

are cultured young men. Outside the area, the refugees are crowding towards this place, but they are being 

blocked by heavily armed soldiers.

The man in his forties sitting in the middle of the upper seat, dressed in a blue official robe, was none other than 

the current governor of Jiangdong Prefecture, Chen Jiufan. Squinting at the crowded refugees and then glancing 

at the sky, Chen Jiufan tugged at the corner of his mouth and said to the crowd with a serious expression: "I am 

Chen Jiufan, the governor of Jiangdong Prefecture. Today, in accordance with the laws of the Canghuan Kingdom,

I will publicly execute these criminals who have caused chaos and looted the granaries. If anyone makes a 

commotion or disturbs the execution ground, I will also arrest them and punish them for the same crime!"

The drum suddenly sounded, and Chen Jiufan picked up the wooden token, threw it to the ground, and shouted 

loudly, "The time has come, go..."

Before the words were finished, four figures in black suddenly descended from the sky. Their movements were 

so swift that they were almost invisible. In the blink of an eye, the large knives in the hands of the soldiers who 

were about to carry out the execution were all knocked to the ground with a "clang."

The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned.

Chen Jiufan stood up quickly and said in shock, "The bold gangster dares to openly rob the execution ground. 

Come on!"

Immediately, hundreds of officers and soldiers poured out from around the execution ground, all holding weapons 

and aiming at the four people standing in the center of the execution ground.

For a moment, except for the sound of the soldiers' footsteps, the entire audience fell silent, staring blankly at the 

scene before them.

Looking coldly at Chen Jiufan above, Si Cang Qing moved neither fast nor slow, took off his hat, and said, 

"Chen Jiufan, you have some nerve, daring to be so audacious in front of this palace!"

The voice was faint, spreading throughout the entire Caishikou market.

Taking off his hat, Si Cang Qing's long hair suddenly fell loose, dancing with the wind, and on his forehead 

bloomed a brilliant red lotus. Upon seeing this, Chen Jiufan's expression immediately changed, his lips trembling,

"You, you..."

"Bold," Feng Lan said in a deep voice, "you dare not kneel and pay your respects upon seeing His Highness the 

Crown Prince!"

Chen Jiufan immediately knelt down, crawling over here, "Your Highness, I did not know the Crown Prince had 

arrived. Please forgive me, Your Highness..."

Staring blankly at the scene before them, the refugees and onlookers outside only realized Si Cang Qing's identity 

after seeing the mark on his forehead: the Scarlet Lotus Heavenly Seal! This is the symbol of the current crown 

prince, possessed by no one else and impersonated by no one.

Immediately, everyone knelt down, their voices echoing through the skies, "Paying respects to His Highness 

the Crown Prince, long live His Highness, long live, long live!"

"Get up!" Si Cang Qing said lightly, but just as Chen Jiufan was about to rise, he added, "Did this palace say you 

could get up?"

"Your Highness, spare my life!" Even though he hadn't had any private encounters with Si Cang Qing over 

the past year, he had personally witnessed this prince's methods. Because of this, he had greatly restrained his 

own behavior over the past year, living in constant fear.

Although he knew that the imperial envoy accompanied by the Crown Prince had come to inspect, he didn't 

expect it to be so soon... Si Cang Qing glanced at Chen Jiufan, who was trembling on the ground, and then 

looked around at the nearly a hundred people in handcuffs and shackles on the execution ground without saying 

a word.

◇Cang Huan◇Seven Palaces◇

Chen Jiufan knelt with his head bowed, cold sweat dripping down his face and falling to the ground. 

"Your Highness, Your Highness..." 

"Your Highness, please decide!"

There was chaos outside the venue, and the crowds crowded towards the execution ground layer by layer. They 

wanted to rush forward, but were blocked by numerous officers and soldiers.

Si Cang Qing slowly walked up to a prisoner. Although the man's clothes were tattered and dirty, they could not 

hide his extraordinary demeanor. "Why did you rob the official grain?"

The man was taken aback for a moment, then raised his head to stare directly at Si Cang Qing, showing no fear. 

"The flood of Nanjing has affected millions. Now that refugees are pouring into Zhaoyang City, the government 

not only fails to find ways to settle them but also colludes with those merchants, causing prices to soar and them 

to reap huge profits. The grain stored in the granaries is the result of decades of hard work by the common people. 

There are starving corpses both inside and outside the city, yet the officials indulge in revelry every night. If we 

don't forcibly seize the granaries, the refugees will have no choice but to face death.”

Si Cang Qing looked at the person's anger and concern with indifference, "Who are you?"

Just now, after inspecting the key criminals in the entire venue, Si Cang Qing had a clear understanding in his 

heart. Previously, they had forcefully seized official grain, and the arrangements were dense. Most of the 

dozens of key criminals present were strong men, relying solely on brute force; only this person carried a 

strong scholarly aura.

The man, neither arrogant nor humble, said, "I am Mo Qingjue, the son of Mo Qu, a gentleman from Liuxian 

County in Jiangdong." He continued, "Your Highness, with your benevolent heart, personally visiting the 

flood-stricken areas, it is not a pity that Qingjue has violated the law and deserves death; but Qing Jue I beg you 

boldly, Your Highness to help these one million refugees, and the people will never forget Your Highness’s 

kindness!”

Mo Qingjue's words momentarily silenced the crowd outside, all of them eagerly watching Si Cang Qing.

Si Cang Qing looked at Feng Lan.

Feng Lan understood and smiled slightly, addressing the crowd, "Dear villagers, today His Royal Highness 

the Crown Prince is visiting Jiangdong in disguise, specifically to address the recent flood disaster. Please remain 

calm; His Highness will ensure that you are well taken care of and provide you with a new home!"

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your wisdom!" In an instant, the previously crowded refugees all knelt down 

again.

Feng Lan walked up to the soldiers, his expression stern. "You receive royal salaries and should fulfill your 

duties, alleviating the people's worries. Yet now, you assist tyranny," he said, glancing at Chen Jiufan, whose 

body trembled slightly. Feng Lan's tone was cold. "As soldiers, your weapons should be aimed at the enemy, 

not the people of Canghuan Kingdom!"

All the soldiers immediately put down their weapons and knelt down, "Your Highness, spare us!" 

Si Cang Qing had been watching calmly, but then Feng Lan walked up to him, "Master..."

With eyes that showed no hint of concealing his admiration, Si Cang Qing nodded and said to the soldiers: "This 

time, this palace will let you off. Don't let it happen again." Glancing at the prisoners, he added, "Release 

them all!"

The criminals hurriedly bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness, for sparing our lives."

Si Cang Qing walked up to the execution platform, scanning the entire area. His voice was slow yet penetrating, 

"The Nanjing flood has displaced the people, and the Jiangdong government has failed in its duties. Not only 

have they not properly resettled the refugees, but they have also colluded with external forces, leading to the 

chaos of the refugees."

Looking at the dozens of people who had already shed their shackles, "You have tested the law with your bodies, 

challenged the authority of our nation, and should be dealt with according to the law. However, considering your 

benevolence and concern for the people, this palace will spare you from the death penalty. But You can't escape 

the crime of living, Do you accept this?”

"The guilty people are convinced!"

"Very well," Si Cang Qing turned around and addressed the refugees still kneeling on the ground, "Everyone, 

get up. This time, due to the flood, our court has not done its job well, causing the people to suffer."

"Proclaim the decree of this palace, lift the blockade of Zhaoyang City, open the granaries of Jiangdong 

Prefecture, release official grain, and aid the refugees! Merchants who take advantage of the situation to inflate 

prices and profit from the national disaster are unkind and unvirtuous, and should be punished. This palace 

orders the merchants of grain, cloth, oil, and salt to donate rice and clothing to help the people."

"This surge in prices is entirely due to the price gouging of rice. Grain, cloth, oil, and salt are essential to people's 

livelihoods; This palace hereby announces that starting today, the prices of these four commodities will be 

regulated by the court. If any merchants are found colluding to manipulate prices again, they will be dealt with 

according to national law!"

"You dozens of people," Si Cang Qing looked at the dozens who led the refugee rebellion, "This palace has said 

before that you cannot escape the punishment of your crimes. Since you committed these acts for the sake of 

the people, today this palace will allow you to atone for your sins by serving the people."

"Dozens of you will help the government and lead the refugees to set up temporary tents outside the city, manage 

them in separate areas, and calm the unrest."

"As for the shortage of grain, cloth, oil, and salt, this palace will transfer them from the other twelve prefectures. 

You don't have to worry. We should restore people's livelihood as soon as possible."

As soon as Si Cang Qing's decree was announced, the entire venue erupted in cheers, filled with joy and laughter, 

with some even moved to tears!

Handing the pre-prepared memorial to Feng Lan, Si Cang Qing added, "Other resettlement measures will be 

posted by the government in the streets and alleys. This palace hopes everyone will work together to rebuild their 

homes!"

After a long time, the people gradually calmed down and shouted in a chaotic chorus, "Your Highness, the Crown 

Prince, is wise!" "Thank you, Your Highness!"

Without saying more, Si Cang finally lowered his head, looking at Chen Jiufan, who had been kneeling on the 

ground, ignored by the side, in silence.

"Your Highness, please show mercy..." Si Cang Qing's recent actions made Chen Jiufan feel something was 

wrong. At this moment, he was already flustered and at a loss, babbling nonsensically, "Spare me, spare my life." 

In response, all he heard, apart from the joyful laughter of the people, was the heavy sense of oppression above 

his head.

Just when Chen Jiufan was in despair, Si Cang Qing suddenly spoke up, not pursuing anything further, "Take me 

to the post station!"

Since his identity has already been exposed, he naturally cannot go to Lu Huan anymore.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness!" Chen Jiufan was taken aback, then overjoyed, quickly getting 

up and moving forward with slightly unsteady legs, "Your Highness, please follow me!"

Those gathered refugees, under Feng Lan's arrangement, have been leaving one after another with the soldiers. 

The sky is gradually clearing.

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