The rebellious grandson of Emperor Zhenguan of the Tang Dynasty: Please, Your Majesty, be called Cro

Chapter 102: Let's leave a legacy for these students from impoverished backgrounds.

Not only was Zheng Jingzhi's face grim, but even Zheng Renzhe looked surprised and uncertain.

He could understand every word Li Xiang said. But when they were put together, he couldn't make out what they meant: the mention of graves sounded like a threat.

But judging from the gratitude in his expression, it didn't seem to be fake.

His expression shifted several times, and finally he flicked his sleeve, saying, "I'd like to see if you'll still be so lazy when you're being tortured!"

After saying that, he led the resentful Zheng Jingzhi back to the carriage.

Li Xiang didn't mind at all; he was genuinely grateful to the Zheng family. Li Er, that scoundrel, was obsessed with his reputation; even if someone pointed a finger at him and insulted him, he'd rather die than submit.

What a price the Zheng family had to pay to exchange political favors for Li Er's decision to kill him!

Good people! Absolutely good people! When we get back, we must find their graves and burn some incense.

"Hmm? Old Sun, why are you looking at me like that?"

Li Xiang watched the departing figures of the Zheng father and son with gratitude in his eyes, almost saluting them. Turning his head, he bumped into Sun Fujia's strange gaze.

"Nothing." Sun Fujia strangely looked away.

This brat truly showed no fear whatsoever. His attitude towards the Zheng father and son didn't seem feigned either. Could he truly be a man of noble character, ready to die for his country?

"Could it be that you're jealous? Or, Old Sun, where are you planning to place the grave? Tell me first."

"Shall I offer you a few more incense sticks when I turn back?"

Sun Fujia's face darkened, and he turned his face away.

No, no, no, this madman spouting nonsense could never be a patriot—he must have misunderstood something.

I'll definitely give that brat a good scare later.

It was nearly noon when two officials from the Court of Judicial Review escorted Li Xiang, who was looking around anxiously, onto the high platform under the locust tree. Seeing that someone had arrived at the platform specifically used for executions, the crowd in the East Market slowly gathered around.

Li Xiang then discovered that a large crowd had already gathered below the platform. These people were dressed in simple clothes and official robes, and Song Shenzhi, Dong Jiming, and others were among them; they were all scholars from humble backgrounds.

There were also many unfamiliar scholars, presumably friends and associates of Song Shenzhi, Dong Jiming, and others. Several luxurious carriages were parked on the outskirts of the crowd, and from behind the open curtains, one could occasionally see pairs of resentful eyes cast towards them.

Those must all be members of powerful and influential families, right? For Li Er to issue an edict to kill his own brother, these families must have made tremendous concessions—they are all benefactors!

Thinking this, Li Xiang solemnly clasped his hands towards the carriages. Upon seeing this, the people in those carriages angrily slammed down their curtains.

Huh? I'm about to die, so why are they still so resentful?

Oh, I see. You thought you were being provoked, huh? Tsk, so petty.

"Your Highness!"

Seeing that Li Xiang had all the necessary shackles, leg irons, and mirrors, Song Shenzhi and the others were already reluctant to do so.

At this moment, Li Xiang was seen bowing to the crowd with his hands clasped, his expression calm and dignified.

"Your Highness, as a member of the royal family, has already shown us great kindness by causing us this undeserved imprisonment."

"Now that they are about to be humiliated on the execution platform, they still care about our feelings and comfort us—"

Among the group of scholars from humble backgrounds, some actually showed genuine emotion and shed tears.

"Hey, why is someone crying? Don't cry, don't cry, it's nothing." Li Xiang noticed that someone was crying, so he laughed and comforted them, "This is a case of getting what one desires, and for me, it is also a great joy! You should all congratulate me!"

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness's kindness is beyond our ability to repay!"

"Your Highness has suffered torture and humiliation for our sake! We...we truly do not know how to repay you!"

"Waaaaah—Your Highness!"

Li Xiang's words moved a group of poor people to tears.

First, Song Shenzhi and several other scholars who had followed Li Xiang to the Zhuque Gate to plead for the emperor knelt down and wept before Li Xiang. Then, the other poor students who had come with them also knelt down before Li Xiang to express their gratitude for his great kindness.

This aroused great suspicion among the crowd who were just there to watch the spectacle, and they all inquired about who was to be "executed" in the East Market that day.

When they heard that it was the grandson of the emperor who had spoken up for the poor and demanded reform of the imperial examination system at the Vermilion Bird Gate, even those commoners who had only wanted to watch the spectacle were moved.

"Who says royal children are all spoiled and selfish? This young prince truly cares for scholars and ordinary people like us!"

"To say it's an execution is an understatement; I think it's more likely a wrongful injustice! How could such a righteous young man be a criminal?"

"How pitiful! Kindness goes unrewarded! Those powerful officials are too ruthless. They've controlled their own official positions their whole lives, unable to bear seeing ordinary people rise up, forcing the emperor to punish the good Samaritan who saved their life!"

"To kill such a handsome young man, what a cruel heart! In my opinion, if all those noble gentlemen were dragged to the East Market and beheaded, nine out of ten would be innocent!"

A chorus of simple, heartfelt sighs rose and fell. The ordinary people who had initially watched the spectacle all put away their playful curiosity, their eyes now filled with only respect and regret.

"Father, this—"

Listening to the whispers of the people around the carriage talking about the execution platform, Zheng Jingzhi, behind the carriage curtain, felt extremely uncomfortable and couldn't help but tug at his father Zheng Renzhe's sleeve.

Zheng Renze's face was also very ugly. Listening to the spontaneous expressions of gratitude and grievances from these common people, he felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on his chest. A pent-up anger with nowhere to go burned, making his whole body stiff.

I came to watch the execution to vent my anger, but now I feel even more suffocated?

"you----"

Li Xiang raised his hand to call for everyone to stand up, but the more he did so, the more the scholars below the stage were overwhelmed with emotion and grief.

Song Shenzhi and a few others were particularly moved, their eyes filled with tears, and they almost choked up.

Although they knew the truth beforehand and understood that today's execution was not a real one, but rather a false alarm.

Even knowing the ending, seeing Li Xiang standing on the execution platform with the mirror on his back, bearing the humiliation for their poor family, still caused unbearable heartache.

If those who knew the inside story were like this, then those poor scholars who rushed over from the Vermilion Bird Gate upon hearing the news, completely unaware of the situation, were even more overwhelmed with emotion.

Thousands of scholars knelt and kowtowed, their cries echoing throughout the East Long Street.

Standing on the high platform, Li Xiang looked down at the sea of ​​scholars bowing their heads and weeping, and was slightly moved.

The so-called reform of the imperial examination system was nothing more than a convenient act done by someone seeking death.

Who would have thought that this opportunistic act would evoke such deep gratitude from these impoverished scholars!

Even though Li Xiang was filled with joy at the prospect of returning to the modern world, the atmosphere made him unconsciously abandon his usual playful demeanor, and his expression gradually became solemn.

This made the atmosphere on Xingtai even more tragic.

"I was wondering whether to express my aspirations with 'Ode to Limestone' before I die, or to leave behind four lines by Zhang Zai, make a big splash, and then gracefully exit the stage."

At that moment, looking at this group of sincere and pure students from impoverished families who were suffering from numerous constraints, his mind suddenly changed.

"Well then—since we're all leaving, let's leave one last 'legacy' for these students from underprivileged backgrounds."

Once he made up his mind, Li Xiang turned his head and looked solemnly at Sun Fujia beside him.

"Minister Sun, since I am about to die, may I?"

"Could you please present a memorial to the emperor?"