Chapter 125

Chapter 125

Han Zhang's proposal was bold, risky—even a slight misstep could lead to disastrous consequences.

But the massive benefits at stake genuinely tempted the Crown Prince.

Because Han Zhang's saying, "Those who win the people's hearts win the world," was indeed a timeless truth. If the plan succeeded, he would not only gain the people's support but also go down in history!

The outcome was simply too enticing.

Moreover, the Crown Prince desperately needed this popular support to cement his position as Crown Prince.

Although his father currently favored him, even personally clearing the path and grooming him as the true successor—

But history is full of crown princes who were favored early on only to be deposed later.

He didn't dare gamble that his father's favor would last forever.

He could only seize the opportunity while his father still indulged him, building up his political capital to turn his position as Crown Prince into an unassailable fortress, so he wouldn't repeat the bloody lessons of history.

After mulling it over, the Crown Prince summoned his advisors for deliberation.

After much agonizing debate, and after dispatching men to verify that Han Zhang's claims were accurate, the Crown Prince finally bit the bullet and decided to go through with it!

That day, at the execution grounds on North Street in the capital.

Just as the Xiao River villagers were tied to the execution stakes, faces ashen, waiting to be burned alive—

The Crown Prince came galloping in, covered in dust, shouting urgently: "Stop! Hold the execution—"

The crowd turned to see who it was.

"Who does he think he is? Daring to interrupt an execution!"

"Is he here to save those demons? No way—these people are cursed, steeped in sin! If we don't burn them, they'll bring disaster on all of us."

"Look at that robe... it bears the coiled dragon python pattern! That's the Crown Prince's robe—he's the Crown Prince!"

The capital's residents were used to seeing nobles pass by, and while they might not be skilled at much else, they were sharp at identifying rank by clothing. Soon, someone shouted out the Crown Prince's identity.

Sure enough.

The official presiding over the execution recognized the arrival and immediately rose to bow: "Your subordinate Yang Pan greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness live ten thousand years. May I ask why Your Highness has come to the execution grounds?"

His manner was respectful, but his tone was clearly displeased.

Because he was one of the Fifth Prince's men, and dealing with these cursed villagers was the Fifth Prince's political achievement.

If things went wrong, the Fifth Prince would definitely take it out on him, and the Crown Prince was clearly here to cause trouble. No wonder he wasn't happy.

And the Crown Prince had no time to waste on this small fry.

"I'm here for these wrongfully accused people!"

The Crown Prince looked toward the Xiao River villagers on the execution frames, with a look of deep compassion and righteousness on his face, and announced loudly to the crowd:

"Good people! I know rumors of 'curses' have been spreading and causing panic. But heaven's way is clear—a nation must be governed by benevolence, by law, by hard evidence! Not by superstition and tall tales to decide who lives and who dies."

"I personally took my guards and physicians to Xiao River Village to investigate. This isn't a curse—it's a rare disease!"

"I am the Crown Prince of Zhao, and I bear responsibility for all the people under heaven. I will never allow a single innocent person to die because of rumors and fear."

"Lord Yang, I order you to stop the execution at once and send these villagers back to the imperial prison for a retrial by the Three Judicial Departments!"

Hearing this—

The Xiao River villagers on the execution grounds were overjoyed and grateful, as if grabbing a lifeline, and immediately began crying and begging.

"Your Highness, please see the truth! This commoner is truly innocent..."

"Please, Your Highness, save my child—he's barely a year old, what crime could he have committed..."

"Boo-hoo... please, Your Highness, do right by this commoner..."

The onlookers also started to have doubts.

"Wait, really? These people are sick, not cursed?"

"But what kind of illness makes people look like monsters—and the whole village, no less?"

"But the Crown Prince investigated personally—would he lie?"

"But the eminent monks of Golden Light Temple clearly said it was a curse..."

Lord Yang's face also darkened.

Because whether the villagers were actually demons didn't matter—what mattered was that this case was investigated and handled by the Fifth Prince. If the Crown Prince overturned the case, especially on the grounds that innocents were wrongly accused—

Then the Fifth Prince would be seen as killing innocents and framing them—his reputation would be completely destroyed!

That couldn't be allowed to happen.

Lord Yang quickly stepped forward to argue: "Your Highness is mistaken! When it comes to curses, it's better to believe than to doubt. This was personally determined by the eminent monks of Golden Light Temple—the state-protecting temple's word can't be wrong!"

"If this were really an illness, why have these villagers suffered for years without getting treatment? When the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review looked into this case, they even called in imperial physicians to make a diagnosis. These villagers are certainly not ill—they are cursed demons."

"Your Highness's compassion is understandable, but you must not, out of a moment of softness, listen to some quack doctor and spare demons, inviting heaven's wrath!"

"These people are steeped in sin and cursed! If we don't punish them to appease heaven, and heaven's fury falls on all of us—what then, Your Highness?!"

Lord Yang had a silver tongue, and in just a few sentences, he turned the Golden Light Temple monks against the Crown Prince.

The eminent monk from Golden Light Temple immediately stepped forward and nodded: "Amitabha. Lord Yang speaks sense. Your Highness's benevolence is admirable, but it should not be shown to the wicked."

In truth, they had no choice but to speak up—if the curse story was overturned, wouldn't these eminent monks also be questioned?

Golden Light Temple, as the state-protecting temple, had a special status, and the Crown Prince didn't want to offend it.

But the Xiao River case had to be overturned today, no matter what it took.

So the Crown Prince refused to be led around by the nose. He flat-out lied and bellowed angrily:

"You fake monks dare to show your faces! I've already been to Golden Light Temple to check—the temple never sent anyone down the mountain, and they know nothing about evil spirits or curses in Xiao River Village!"

"You've been using Golden Light Temple's name to swindle people and frame innocent citizens—your crimes deserve death. Guards! Arrest them and throw them in jail pending trial!"

With that, the guards behind him moved in quickly to grab them.

"Mmph?!?!!!"

The monks were gagged, their eyes wide with shock. They had never imagined that the Crown Prince, known for his upright and proper demeanor, could so brazenly spin lies out of thin air. Before they could even protest, they were dragged away.

Lord Yang, thrown off by the Crown Prince's audacious stunt, cut in, "Your Highness, you cannot treat the monks this way—"

"Monks? Lord Yang, these are nothing but frauds. Do not be deceived by them any longer."

The Crown Prince refused to listen, with a look of feigned anguish as he made his declaration.

Lord Yang: ...

He'd never realized the Crown Prince could be this shameless.

Stuck with no other choice, Lord Yang gritted his teeth and said, "But this case has already been reviewed by the Ministry of Justice, and His Majesty has approved the execution. I am merely carrying out my orders. An execution is a grave matter of state. Without an imperial edict from His Majesty, how can it be halted on a whim?"

"May I ask if Your Highness has brought an imperial decree?"

The Crown Prince replied bluntly, "I have no edict."

No edict, and he still dares to act this bold?

Lord Yang perked up, hoping to hang a charge on the Crown Prince for this.

But before he could speak, the Crown Prince, looking every bit the righteous man, raised his hands to the sky and declared with theatrical fervor:

"But I am willing, for the sake of these people, to strike the Justice Drum and take our plea straight to the throne!"

At this, the crowd burst into murmurs.

"What? The Crown Prince is willing to strike the Justice Drum for these condemned people?"

"The Justice Drum was established by Taizu. Commoners with grievances may strike it to take their grievances straight to the emperor, but a prince striking the drum on behalf of others—that's unheard of!"

"By law, whoever strikes the Justice Drum, regardless of status, must first receive twenty lashes. Even the Crown Prince is not exempt..."

"His Highness, as the Crown Prince, is willing to take a beating for these condemned people. Could they actually be innocent?"

The Crown Prince, stooping to endure the cane for the people's sake, was truly awe-inspiring and moving.

Even Lord Yang didn't know what to say.

Having cemented his noble image, the Crown Prince wasted no more time with him and directly ordered his guards, "Keep an eye on the execution grounds. Without my command, no one is to proceed with the execution."

"I'm off to strike the drum now!"

With that, he dismounted and flicked his sleeves.

Then, letting the crowd follow, he walked step by step to the Meridian Gate, picked up the drumstick, and gave the Justice Drum a mighty strike.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The drum's deep, booming sound rolled through the imperial city like thunder.

The drum's echo spoke for the wronged, leaving no room to turn back.

The guard stationed at the drum went pale, trembling as he approached: "Your... Your Highness... by law, whoever strikes the drum must take twenty strokes... you... you..."

This was the Crown Prince, after all. How could he raise a hand to him?!

The Crown Prince did not make it difficult for him. He calmly took off his coiled-dragon jade pendant, shed his outer robe, and said solemnly, "Follow the law as it dictates. Don't let my position hold you back."

The guard had no choice but to steel himself and carry out the punishment.

Though he pulled his punches, the Crown Prince, accustomed to a life of luxury, had never endured such suffering.

Thus, with each dull thud of the board, the Crown Prince quickly went pale with pain, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The eunuch at his side couldn't help but weep, "Why put yourself through this, Your Highness?"

The Crown Prince, cursing inwardly at the pain, managed a bitter smile on his face: "As the Crown Prince, if I cannot plead for the people, who else can they turn to?"

"If today we burn those afflicted by illness as demons, what if this sickness were to fall upon any of you in the future?"

"If taking these twenty strokes can spare countless innocent lives—then it's worth it!"

These words were truly moving.

The commoners who had followed to watch were soon overcome with tears of emotion.

"The Crown Prince is truly righteous..."

"His Highness is right. If it is truly an illness, being burned as a demon would be a grave injustice."

"Indeed, if we treat illness as a curse or demon, today it is Xiaohe Village, but tomorrow, who knows if it might be you or me?"

It was that last line that struck a chord with everyone.

Especially the villagers from the neighboring villages to Xiaohe Village—if it were truly a disease rather than a mere curse, they would certainly be the first to catch it.

They did not want to be burned either, so it was better to let the Crown Prince investigate further.

If the Crown Prince was willing to risk his own flesh and blood to plead for commoners like them, they should support him too!