The number one rebel of the Great Wu

Just as the envoys were about to explain, Lord Feng cupped his hands and said with an extremely unpleasant expression.

"Your Highness, I have received a report that someone has caused a disturbance at the post station..."

Lord Feng was originally a member of the Crown Prince's faction, so naturally he dared not disobey his master.

But the matter was too serious, involving envoys from two countries, so he could only resort to this method and ask the Crown Prince to come up with a reason.

Upon hearing this, Crown Prince Xiao Lie glared angrily, pointing to his face covered in bruises.

"This prince has been beaten to this state!"

"Can't you see who's right and who's wrong?"

"If you really don't believe me, you can ask the people behind you; they've been watching all along."

"Was it I, the Crown Prince, who brought people to the embassy to cause trouble, or did they initiate the conflict?"

These are all words that Chen Changgeng taught him.

Now, Xiao Lie roared out his anger, which made it seem sincere and heartfelt.

Prefect Feng dared not utter a sound and could only look at the people behind him.

The people immediately realized what was happening and began to distort the truth in unison.

After all, if the Crown Prince really came to cause trouble, it was because he was "encouraged" by them.

If a real investigation were conducted, no one would be able to escape involvement!

"Yes, yes, I understand."

"Guards... seize these envoys and take them to prison."

"I...I will immediately report to the Ministry of Rites and request a decision."

On the way back home.

Although Crown Prince Xiao Lie had also suffered some superficial injuries, he felt extremely relieved at that moment.

Especially with the crowd following behind him, waving flags and shouting, he felt like he was floating on air, as if he were about to fly to the sky.

As for the matter of Consort Ling asking him to help save Narcissus, he had long forgotten about it.

When faced with the allure of power, women are nothing!

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Crown Prince's residence, Xiao Lie delivered another impassioned speech.

The people still felt it wasn't enough, so they voluntarily brought vegetables, eggs, and other items, piling them up to overflowing at the entrance of the Crown Prince's residence.

Although Crown Prince Xiao Lie was somewhat disgusted, he still accepted it with a grin.

He even instructed Steward Lin to use these dishes for dinner that night, so that he could taste the flavor of public opinion!

……

Half an hour later.

In the Imperial Garden.

Emperor Xiao Jingtian of the Great Wudang Dynasty, having just finished dealing with state affairs, brought his entourage to the Imperial Garden to relax.

Suddenly, a eunuch rushed in recklessly.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"

Xiao Jingtian turned around, his expression indifferent.

"What's the matter that you're so panicked?"

"The Crown Prince... him!"

Xiao Jingtian frowned.

"The Crown Prince stormed into the embassy's residence and beat up the Di and Japanese envoys!"

Xiao Jingtian was stunned, almost doubting that he was hallucinating.

"What? Say that again!"

"Let's start from the beginning!"

"Yes, sir!"

"After the incident, Lord Feng arrested several commoners and only managed to get information from them after torturing them."

"It was when the Crown Prince left the palace today that he encountered several families of commoners who had been harmed by the envoys, who were filing complaints in the street."

"In a fit of rage, the Crown Prince stormed into the embassy's guesthouse and assaulted the envoys from both countries!"

"When it was time for him to return to his residence, the people lined the streets to see him off and even presented him with many gifts!"

Xiao Jingtian's lips twitched noticeably, clearly wanting to laugh, but he held it in.

"How are the envoys from both countries? Has anyone been killed?"

"No...no one was killed."

"It was the Di envoy who threw a tantrum at the Ministry of Rites, clamoring that he would report back to his leader and launch a war!"

By this point, the young eunuch was already covered in sweat.

Xiao Jingtian deliberately flung his hand away forcefully.

"That damned brat! I've already confined him to his quarters, and he still dares to cause such a huge mess!"

"Wang Fuchen, Jin Chuan, what do you two think I should do with the Crown Prince this time?"

The two people standing not far away are the current prime ministers of the Great Wu Dynasty, who jointly assist in governing the country.

"In my humble opinion, the Crown Prince's actions are in accordance with the will of the people. Since he has already won their approval, he should not be severely punished, otherwise he will lose their support. Instead, the Crown Prince should be rewarded and the news should be announced to the world to show the Emperor's benevolence."

Wang Fuchen immediately bowed in response.

"Prime Minister Jin, what do you think?"

Xiao Jingtian neither agreed nor disagreed, but instead turned to look at Jin Chuan.

"Recently, the envoys of the two countries have been arrogant and domineering in the capital, and there have been frequent acts of bullying and tyranny. Your Majesty did not want to disturb the joy of Your Majesty's birthday banquet, so this matter has been kept quiet."

"The Crown Prince's actions were reckless and detrimental to the nation's dignity. Moreover, they nearly sparked a national conflict, which was entirely inappropriate."

"Therefore, I believe that we should first appease the envoys of both countries, and then punish the Crown Prince as a warning to others."

Jin Chuan also cupped his hands in response.

Xiao Jingtian gave a soft "hmm" and paced around a few times.

"What you both say makes sense."

"Your Highness, this matter has both advantages and disadvantages. We should reward and punish accordingly, so as not to dampen the people's spirits, but also to give face to the envoys of both countries."

"The draft edict states that the Crown Prince's understanding of the people's plight and his efforts to redress their grievances are commendable, but his methods are too extreme and need further refinement."

"Immediately lift the Crown Prince's confinement order and order him to go out more, observe the people's conditions, and learn the ways of governing the world and being a person."

"At the same time, severely punish him by deducting three years' salary and send him to the Ministry of Rites to apologize to the envoys of both countries."

"My lord, I obey your order!"

……

Prince's Mansion.

"Imperial edict has arrived!"

"By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Crown Prince shall investigate the people's plight..."

"Your subject obeys the decree!"

The eunuch, beaming, placed the imperial edict in Xiao Lie's hands and immediately offered his congratulations.

"Your Highness, you've really made a name for yourself this time."

"Now the news has spread throughout the palace, and everyone is praising your good name!"

"However, you will need to go to the Ministry of Rites later to apologize to the envoys of both countries. After dinner, His Majesty would also like to see you."

Upon hearing that his confinement had indeed been lifted, Xiao Lie was overjoyed, but the thought that he would have to apologize later made his face fall.

"What?! You actually expect me, the Crown Prince, to go and apologize!"

He's very concerned about saving face, so naturally he didn't want to do something like bowing down and apologizing.

"Oh dear, it's not your place to apologize. You are the future emperor of our Great Wu Dynasty. Your face is the face of our Great Wu Dynasty."

"You only need to show your face, make a show of it, and the matter of bowing and apologizing will be handled by officials from the Ministry of Rites."

"Yes, yes."

"Hey, what are you all standing there for? Quickly give the eunuch two hundred taels of silver!"

That flattery hit the nail on the head.

Xiao Lie immediately beamed with joy and waved his hand.

"By the way, please remind your father-in-law to take back the vegetables and radishes that the people gave us today."

"These are all good things, which I, the Crown Prince, earned myself through these injuries!"

The old man's face darkened slightly, but he could only force a smile and continue.

Fortunately, they managed to give him two hundred taels of silver. Otherwise, if he had come to deliver an imperial decree and returned with only a few pounds of cabbage and radishes, he would have been laughed at to death!

"Come here, someone, bring me Xiao Gengzi."

"Just as he said, Father has indeed lifted my confinement."

"I never imagined in my life that things could be done this way. It's so satisfying, so liberating, and so cathartic!"

"Today, I, the Crown Prince, will bestow upon her a fine reward!"

Shen Qingci was also sitting to the side at this moment. After hearing the imperial edict, the heavy weight that had been hanging over her heart finally lifted.

He immediately smiled and offered a reminder.

"Your Highness, you're going to the palace later, haven't you forgotten something?"

Xiao Lie was slightly taken aback, then immediately slapped his forehead.

"Yes, this Crown Prince still needs to learn a lot from Xiao Gengzi."

"How should I deal with Father Emperor when we meet later?"

After what happened today, Xiao Lie was completely convinced of Chen Changgeng's abilities.

He secretly resolved that from now on he would obey Chen Changgeng's every word without question!