Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 568 Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

At the temple gate, the refugees had forgotten their fear and rushed into the temple to look inside. The imperial guards did not stop them, letting the refugees crowd at the entrance, staring with curious eyes at this rare sight, wondering what these usually pampered and arrogant wealthy people were up to.

Murong Fu walked to the temple's veranda and beckoned to Tong Guan. Tong Guan obeyed and relayed the order to the guard captain: "Sir, Commander Murong has instructed that the people be allowed to enter the temple to view the exhibits!"

The leading imperial guard nodded and ordered the soldiers, "Make way and let the people into the temple to see!"

The two rows of imperial guards at the gate parted to make way, and a beggar leading them, with four cloth bags hanging from his clothes, waved and said, "My good friends, come along, come along, and see what a good show these grown men are putting on for us poor folks!"

With someone taking the lead, the previously hesitant disaster victims surged in and watched from a distance.

The wealthy families were already on edge after Murong Fu's grand act of "serving guests with empty bowls," and now with so many disaster victims watching, they felt even more ashamed and embarrassed, like plucked chickens thrown into the public eye.

Murong Fu loudly urged the food, "What's wrong? Is the food not good? Eat it, eat it!"

Murong Fu coldly swept his gaze across the crowd, releasing a palpable killing intent. Master Yue and the other wealthy men trembled as they picked up their chopsticks, making empty gestures as they picked up food from their empty bowls and tried to put it in their mouths, their teeth moving in a mocking manner, displaying their grotesque behavior.

The refugees burst into laughter upon seeing the hostile expressions of the wealthy families. The wealthy families felt even more ashamed, and sweat beaded on their foreheads.

Murong Fu walked around with his six-foot-long sword, urging the wealthy families to eat and drink, making them feel as if they had attended more than a dozen banquets hosted by Empress Lü, their legs as weak as dough.

By this time, the sun was high in the sky and beginning to set in the west, and most of the day had passed. From dawn till dusk, the wealthy family had spent most of the day eating at this bizarre feast, without eating a single grain of rice or drinking a drop of water. Their stomachs were burning with hunger, and they were being stared at by a group of ragged disaster victims with the eyes of someone watching a monkey show. They wished there was a crack in the ground for them to crawl into. The wealthy family members, who were used to being high and mighty, dared not be angry or speak out.

Murong Fu snapped his fingers, and two Imperial Guards dragged in a fat human figure—it was described as human because the person had been beaten so badly that his features were almost unrecognizable, and could only be identified as a person by his outline.

The two imperial guards threw the man upside down on the ground, then bowed to Murong Fu and reported back.

Everyone stared in horror as the figure thrown to the ground like a dead dog was none other than Prefect Huang. Prefect Huang was a far cry from his usual imposing self. Dressed in prison garb, his lower body was mangled from beatings, and his teeth were shattered by an iron ruler; he was barely recognizable as human.

Murong Fu frowned and deliberately scolded, "Can't you see I'm entertaining guests? Why bring this fellow up now? Drag him away, he's in the way!"

A member of the Imperial Guard clasped his hands and said, “Reporting to Your Excellency, the traitor’s crimes are irrefutable, but he has refused to confess. After several days of interrogation, I have finally managed to get him to confess. He has admitted to his treason and signed the confession. I have come to report this to Your Excellency.”

Murong Fu frowned and said, "Considering that you've been honest in your work, I won't punish you this time. Just be more careful next time!"

Murong Fu laughed and said, "You may be wondering why Master Huang, who used to be so domineering, has fallen to this state. Although our dynasty respects civil officials, the court also has strict laws. The crime of treason is unforgivable! This traitor colluded with mountain bandits to plot an attack on the prefecture and attempt to overthrow the country. I have already investigated the traitor's whereabouts, the evidence is conclusive, and the rebellion has been exposed. I will escort him to the capital to be executed after I have dealt with the disaster in this prefecture and returned to report to the capital."

"As for whether this thief has any accomplices in this prefecture, and how many accomplices there are, it is still under investigation. Once I have ascertained the truth, I will surely wipe out all of this thief's henchmen and restore order to this prefecture!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked and trembled, not daring to speak: Murong Fu's meaning was already very clear: treason, and accomplices! This imperial envoy of the court, who could even torture a dignified fifth-rank prefect until he was mostly dead, could crush them, these wealthy people without official rank, more easily than crushing an ant.

In an instant, their so-called powerful connections in the court seemed utterly insignificant. Murong Fu laughed, "We've gone off-topic again. You promised to treat us, but my subordinates are clueless and brought out this disappointing stuff. Don't worry about it. Let's continue eating and drinking!"

The wealthy families felt that this moment was even more unbearable than the rest of their lives.

Tong Guan led a line of porters, carrying dozens of loads of thin porridge, and arrived.

The aroma of rice filled the air. These ordinary foods, which were usually looked down upon by the wealthy, had become incredibly precious, yet unattainable.

Dozens of imperial guards stood in the open space in front, distributing porridge to the refugees. The refugees who received the porridge drank it down in large gulps, and the sound of them eating filled the open space. By then, it was already dark.

The wealthy guests, who had been tormented all day, were now starving and sweating profusely.

Murong Fu smiled and asked, "Would you all like something else to eat?"

A wealthy man, his lips parched, said, "Please, sir, grant me a bowl of water."

Murong Fu asked, "Water? How about porridge?"

The wealthy family members beamed with joy: "Great! That's wonderful!"

Murong Fu ordered, "Bring up a load of porridge!"

Two imperial guards carried another load of porridge into the temple.

The wealthy men all picked up the large bowls in front of them.

Just as Murong Fu was about to speak, Tong Guan stepped forward and handed him a letter. Murong Fu unfolded it, his expression changed, and he slammed his hand on the table, causing the solid wood table to shatter into countless flying fragments.

Murong Fu pointed and said, "Men, seize this traitor! Execute him!"

Two fierce-looking imperial guards followed the direction Murong Fu pointed, and like eagles grabbing chicks, they pinned Yue Yuanwai down.

Before Master Yue could utter a sound, the knife fell swiftly, separating Master Yue's head from his body.

The wealthy family members were shocked. Several people dropped and broke the bowls they were holding, and many of them knelt down because their knees buckled.

Murong Fu waved his hand and said, "Everyone, do not panic. I just received a reliable secret report that this thief was in league with mountain bandits, intending to attack the city from within and without. Therefore, I have beheaded this thief to prevent any further trouble. Everyone, do not panic."