A piece of Japanese incense

I rolled my eyes to the sky, and I felt a little irritated. Tsk! I raised my chin slightly, slowly smoothed the hair on my temples, and said word by word:

"Oh! If you think so, I can't help it. My grandparents really love me too much. Even if I can't get married, it's only five times the head tax. Is it expensive? How can it be expensive? It's been the same price for so many years. Don't talk nonsense with your eyes open. Sometimes you should look for your own reasons and reflect on whether you have worked hard and whether your salary has increased. Isn't it that your family hasn't increased? Or is it that the Marquis's Mansion really can't afford the taxes, so they are anxious to marry off all the daughters?"

"You!" Fang Sinian's face turned red and his brows were tightly furrowed as if he could pinch a fly to death.

The corners of his mouth twitched, and his teeth clenched tightly, making a clattering sound. His whole body was like a taut bowstring, and he suddenly threw the file in his hand to the ground, and the papers flew everywhere, like the embodiment of his anger.

I pursed my lips and returned to the crown prince. He had his hands on his knees with his fingertips slightly bent, as if he was controlling an invisible force.

He stared at me with deep and calm eyes: "Why, are you done talking? Are you going to sue? Or not?"

"Of course! Do you accept this petition from the Crown Prince or not?"

The moment the corners of his mouth slightly raised, a barely perceptible light flashed in his eyes, and he raised his eyebrows and looked at his uncle: "Sir, Bai Fan is bullying the market and disturbing public order. According to our country's laws, how should he be dealt with?"

My uncle bowed his head and said: "He should be detained for two months and flogged 100 times. If he intentionally damaged property and the amount was huge..."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince! My mansion is willing to bear all of Miss Zhi's losses, and will repay like for like, with equal compensation. In addition, we will also fully cover the medical expenses for the injured. I hope you can give my cousin a chance to reform!" Fang Sinian hurried forward and interrupted anxiously.

Feng Zhiyu said in a serious tone: "Minister Bai is a loyal and virtuous minister, but his son has bad behavior. If he is not punished, it may be difficult to appease the public anger."

I nodded vigorously in agreement: "Grandson, you are wise! Bai Xuan is a man with deep scheming and despicable behavior. He is really hateful! Everyone present has been oppressed and bullied by him and is miserable. I beg you, Grandson, to make a decision for us!"

I deliberately raised the volume, and Yu Tuan was the first to speak, calling out loudly: "Grandson, please be merciful! Please give us justice!"

It was like lighting a fuse, igniting public anger in an instant. People rushed to tell their grievances, and together with the people outside the yamen, their voices rose one after another, converging into an irresistible energy.

Lord Xin was furious: "How dare you! You bunch of wicked slaves! You are committing treason and suing an official. It's like a son killing his father! I have done my best for you. Come, arrest them all and put them in jail. Flog them thirty times! No one should be left out!"

The Crown Prince and the Prince sat leisurely, just leaning back in their seats, sipping tea and discussing philosophy. My heart was in a turmoil, with an uncontrollable rage, like an enraged lion.

I suddenly felt depressed. Facing those tortured people, they were indifferent. In their world, every choice was to consolidate their own power, not the long-term stability of the country and the happiness and well-being of the people. I felt that it was useless to fight, and cast my eyes on the people under the scorching sun:

An old woman's hands were like dry branches, her skin close to her bones, veins winding on the back of her hands, her body leaning forward slightly, it seemed that even supporting her own weight had become a little difficult. Her eyes looked through the crowd and cast here. I remembered her complaint. Her daughter was sold to the Bai family by her husband's family and her whereabouts are still unknown.

A mother put one hand on her child's head to block the glaring sunlight, and with the other hand she swung her sleeves, trying to create a bit of coolness in the windless air. The skin on the child's cheeks was tight and flushed, and he squinted his eyes, curiously and slightly fearfully watching his grandson who was drinking tea comfortably. His lips were tightly pursed, and the dry lip lines became more obvious. He would lick his lips from time to time.

Mr. Li stood like a statue. He was supported by two people, one on each side. His lips were slightly pursed, and sweat flowed down his forehead like a stream, dripping on the hot ground and evaporating instantly, leaving a series of invisible traces. Although the sun cut every inch of his skin like a sharp blade, his posture remained straight, without a trace of wavering or yielding.

I roared in rage, "Wait! Lord Xin! The Crown Prince and His Royal Highness are both here, why do you need to interfere?"

"How dare you! How arrogant! You are so stern, but you are just relying on the power of your father and grandfather to act recklessly. Your Highness, I think this girl has ulterior motives. Could it be that Lord Yuanfu wants to win people's hearts by this?..." Fang Sinian fanned the flames.

(The reason why Fang Sinian favors Bai Fan, apart from family affection, is probably related to the identity of Bai Fan's father, the Minister of War. In order to avoid suspicion, the Crown Prince cannot be too partial. The Crown Prince and Prince Yun have been at odds for a long time, so the Crown Prince and the Crown Prince are naturally at odds with each other. The Crown Prince took this opportunity to suppress the Crown Prince. Isn't this a good time?)

After thinking quickly, I stepped forward to the prince's ear and lowered my voice, saying, "Prince, you are well-educated, so you naturally understand the truth that water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it! Although the resentment is not about the size, what is terrible is that people's hearts are turning away. Looking at the situation today, the angry people are like a flood waiting to be released. Once the dam is broken, they will pour into the hall unstoppably. If you share the same breath and fate with the people at this time, think about what the people think, worry about what the people worry about, and solve the problems of the people, then 'the people will return to you, and the water will flow down, and who can stop it?'"

Fang Sinian pointed at my nose and said sarcastically, "Zhi Yihe! You are really as shameless as the rumors say. You dared to seduce the crown prince in public. You are really immoral!"

(Oh my goodness, you can accuse me of seducing you by whispering a few words? Wouldn’t touching me be the same as me taking off my clothes and flirting in public?)

I was too lazy to pay attention to his ridicule, and said coldly: "Young Marquis, you should eat less salt. You have nothing to do. If you love to educate people, why don't you ask the emperor for a teaching position. I think you don't need to be the prince's companion. Wouldn't it be better to teach knowledge like the top scholar?"

I turned my gaze to my cousin, who was standing to one side, holding the case file with his slender fingers, tapping it intermittently, as if thinking about something.

Feng Zhiyu smiled noncommittally, tapping the rim of the white jade cup with his bony index finger.

"Forget it, it's time to stop joking. Ayu, I don't think there is much suspense in this matter. Lord Xin is experienced and sophisticated, why not let him take care of the aftermath? We should return to the palace as soon as possible to report to the emperor. We still have to learn riding and archery at 3 p.m." Feng Zhiyan slowly stood up from his seat, his hands gently sliding across the folds of his coat, smoothing out every irregularity on the lapel.