After hearing her gossip, all the civil and military officials went crazy.

Chapter 104 A Self-Directed and Self-Acted Act of Loving the People

Crown Prince: Chu Chu still cares about this, no wonder so many people like her.

Gu Wangyan: No, it doesn't count. He often secretly took half of the spoils of war and handed over the other half, and the emperor knew but didn't say anything.

Fang Lingchu had no idea what the others were thinking, and chatted with the system the whole way.

They soon arrived at the Song residence.

A large crowd of people had already gathered at the entrance of the Song residence.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince arrive, they quickly made way for him.

At the same time, he said to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, they've arrived. I wonder what General Song did wrong to warrant the confiscation of his property?"

Citizen 2: "That's right, General Song was such a good person, and he was good to us ordinary people too. How could such a good person be killed!"

Citizen 3: "Your Highness, you must investigate this thoroughly and give General Song justice. He has definitely been wronged."

Fang Lingchu heard all sorts of voices from the common people pleading for Song Xiaoyu.

Fang Lingchu asked curiously, "Guagua, what's going on? So many people are pleading for Song Xiaoyu, what did he do?"

The common people: Lord Fang is going to be a gossipmonger again. Could it be that the Song family has really done something?

Just as the others who didn't know Fang Lingchu were about to ask who to talk to...

My throat feels like it's locked by something, and I can't open my mouth no matter what I do; all I can do is 'ah ah ah'.

They even started to experience difficulty breathing, and everyone quickly dismissed the thought.

Fang Lingchu didn't notice everyone's little actions and quietly listened to the system's juicy gossip.

【What else could it be? Song Xiaoyu is very good at winning people's hearts. The things he orchestrated and acted out made the people feel he was a good general.】

Others: What do you mean by self-directed and self-acted?
Crown Prince: There is still water inside.

Fang Lingchu asked, "What are you staging? Is it distributing porridge at the door or something else?"

The system said: "For example, when Madam Song went to the door to distribute porridge, General Song ordered his men to pretend to be bandits and rob her."

Then they go to save the people, so that the people will feel that they are cared for.

For example, there was a woman who was taken by the Prince of An. Song Xiaoyu led his men to find her and bring her home, where they found a beautiful woman who was not afraid of power.

Actually, it was Song Xiaoyu who recommended her to the Prince of An, and then he went to save the girl. Later, the girl died. The reason she died was that Song Xiaoyu secretly gave her to the Prince of An and arranged for a death row inmate to take her place.

There are many such officials, but the common people don't know this and assume he is a good official who serves the country and its people.

Common people: ? ? ? ? ? Is that so?
Among these people, several owed the Song family a debt of gratitude because of this situation.

Madam Song just sent them a message, asking them, the common people, to plead for their lives and save their family.

What could these common people do? But thinking of the kindness the Song family had shown them in the past, they were all prepared to die and plead with the Crown Prince.

I never expected to get this result; it was all a lie.

As if oblivious to the devastating impact of her previous words, the system continued: "[Host, do you see that young man in the crowd, dressed in tattered clothes, but who's fairly good-looking?]" Fang Lingchu glanced at him furtively, then quickly turned back and asked, "Yes, I see him. What's wrong with him?"

The system said: "That person's name is Wu Yuhao. His father was a failed scholar, and although his mother wasn't from a prominent family, she was skilled in embroidery. His sister was also very beautiful, but unfortunately, she got involved with Song Xiaoyu's younger brother, and then their family was destroyed."

Fang Lingchu asked with some surprise, "Why did your family perish? Don't you understand?"

The system said: "Actually, it's very simple! Wu Yuhao is a very smart person. He passed the imperial examination at the age of 5 and became a scholar at the age of 14. Meanwhile, Song Xiaoyu's younger brother is already 20 years old and is still a good-for-nothing who lives off his brother's glory. Of course, he's jealous."

How could a mere commoner be smarter than him? So, in order to drag Wu Yuhao into the mire, he devised a plan where the Prince of An saw Wu Yuhao's sister, and then proceeded to take things by force and robbery, killing her father, causing her mother to die of anger, and causing her sister to die in her sleep.

Then Song Xiaoyu's younger brother pretended to comfort Wu Yuhao and plead for justice for him. Although he didn't succeed in the end, Wu Yuhao offended the prince for his sake, and the two became friends.

Wu Yuhao couldn't afford to go to school, so Song Xiaoyu's younger brother made him write poems for him to use. Later, he became a somewhat famous literary talent. Isn't that ironic?

After hearing what the system said, Fang Lingchu didn't know what to say.

This phrase, "the game of power," means that those with money and power can manipulate the true feelings of ordinary people at will.

You think he's condescending to be your friend, but in reality, he's the devil who pushed you into the abyss.

I don't doubt that there are some aristocratic children who genuinely want to make friends, but how could most people possibly look up to someone like you who comes from a humble background?
Sigh! I don't know what to say. In this society with its clear class distinctions, how could aristocratic children possibly lower themselves to befriend commoners? It's all just manipulation and premeditated schemes.

After listening to Fang Lingchu and the system's words, Wu Yuhao clenched his fists so tightly they cracked. No wonder he felt so strange.

Ever since he met Song Feicai, his family has been in trouble. At first, he thought he was being overly sensitive and suspicious of someone who had comforted him after his parents and sister died.

He even provided himself with a place to stay and allowed himself to continue reading and writing poetry. It turns out that everything he did was for himself.

The deaths of her parents, the humiliation of her younger sister—it all started with herself.

If I weren't so outstanding, would my parents still be alive?

Wu Yuhao instantly fell into a state of mental exhaustion, his whole being seemed to have been ripped out of its soul, leaving him dazed and confused.

Sensing Fang Lingchu's bad mood, the system suddenly had a mischievous urge and continued, "[You can't handle this, host? I'll tell you what's even more explosive. Do you want to hear it?]"

When Fang Ling first heard that there were even more bizarre things, she immediately lost the feeling she had before.

【What? Tell me about it.】

The system continued: "[There's a handsome man by the window in the first restaurant to your right.]"

Fang Lingchu tiptoed over to look, but saw nothing.

[Can't you see? Don't you know I'm short?]

The system coughed and said, "Then let's not look at it, I'll tell you!"

Ji Jingqi, aged 20, is the most handsome man in the capital, second only to the Crown Prince and Gu Wangyan. His father is a minor official of the eighth rank in the Ministry of Revenue, his sister married a man of equal social standing, and his family is harmonious. His father has no concubines, and his parents are loving. Although he is not as outstanding as Zhang Gang and others, he can still pass the imperial examination with flying colors if he participates in the examination.

Unfortunately, he caught the eye of the Prince of Yan's heir, and Song Xiaoyu, in order to climb the social ladder, resorted to his old tricks, framing the Ji family for embezzlement and executing the entire family. Even his married sister's family was not spared.

Ji Jingqi, who had initially seemed indifferent, instantly lost her smile upon hearing about her family's situation.

(End of this chapter)