Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

At dawn the next day, just as the sky was beginning to turn pale, the Fourth Prince rose early and sat in the spacious and magnificent hall, quietly awaiting everyone's arrival. His posture was as straight as a pine tree, his face was cold and majestic, and his eyes gleamed with a cold light like cold stars.

At that moment, a group of ministers in splendid attire slowly entered the hall. Upon seeing the Fourth Prince seated at the top, they involuntarily lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at the figure emanating such a powerful aura. Each of them walked cautiously, as if afraid to make even the slightest sound and disturb the supremely noble prince.

"Have you completed everything I asked you to do?" The Fourth Prince's icy voice suddenly came from above, blowing through everyone's heart like a cold wind.

The ministers quickly responded in unison, "Your Highness, we have conveyed all the information as instructed. At this moment, those invited are waiting respectfully outside the palace gate."

Hearing this, the Fourth Prince's anxious heart finally settled down a little. He nodded slightly, then spoke again, "In that case, quickly invite them all into the palace."

Upon hearing this, the servant standing nearby immediately responded respectfully. He then quickly walked to the door, reached out and forcefully pushed open the heavy vermilion door, and shouted loudly to the group of wealthy officials and gentry waiting outside, "My lords, please follow me into the mansion!"

A group of wealthy local gentry followed Xiao Si's footsteps closely, slowly entering the solemn and majestic hall. As soon as they entered, they felt a heavy and oppressive atmosphere. The hall was completely silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

In the center of the hall sat an imposing young man dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe. His gaze was sharp, his expression stern, and he exuded an air of authority that was undeniable without anger. On either side of him sat a row of ministers in various official uniforms. Each of these ministers wore a solemn expression, unsmiling, inspiring awe.

At this moment, the hearts of the wealthy and powerful were in turmoil—anxiety and unease pounding in their chests. They racked their brains, unable to fathom what transgression they had committed to deserve such a crucial meeting with the ministers. Though wealthy and wealthy, they couldn't solve all problems in a world where power reigned supreme. Compared to the officials who truly wielded the power of life and death, their wealth paled in insignificance. Only supreme power could bring them to dominion.

At this moment, Rong Xingshen, who was walking in front, had just stepped into the center of the hall when he knelt on his knees without hesitation and said in a trembling voice: "Greetings to all the gentlemen! I wish you all good health and happiness!" Before he finished speaking, the blind monk kneeling beside him stepped forward and whispered to Rong Xingshen: "This is the fourth prince of the current emperor. He is the chief referee of this tournament. You only need to pay your respects to the fourth prince." Rong Xingshen was shocked when he heard this. He kowtowed again and said in a trembling voice: "Greetings to the fourth prince!"

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince's expression remained as calm as water. He slowly said, "Everyone, please stand." His voice was steady and powerful, as if imbued with an irresistible majesty. After everyone stood up, the Fourth Prince continued bluntly, "To be honest, I have summoned you all here today because I do have an important matter that requires your assistance."

Upon hearing this, the wealthy gentry's hearts trembled violently, and their bodies shuddered involuntarily. They secretly wondered, was this asking for their help, or was it to take their lives? The Fourth Prince's polite words only filled them with fear and unease. However, seeing their reaction, the Fourth Prince said nothing more, but softened his tone slightly and said, "This year, the northwest has suffered a rare and severe drought, and the disaster is severe. The people are suffering terribly. Although the court has allocated silver for disaster relief, it will still take half a month for it to arrive. In the meantime, I implore you to lend a hand and help me overcome this difficult time."

As soon as the Fourth Prince finished speaking, he quietly stared at the crowd below, his eyes deep and firm, and he said nothing more. Now, after understanding the question raised by the Fourth Prince, everyone below suddenly knelt on the ground again, shouting in unison: "Your Highness, it's not that we don't want to help, but we are in deep trouble ourselves! The northwest is suffering from drought, and we are also short of food here. The food and daily life of the elderly and children in my family and the entire village all depend on this little ration to maintain. Now, we really have no surplus food to give, let alone give away extra food to help others. We hope that the court can understand our difficulties and not force us!" As they spoke, they kowtowed repeatedly, tearfully recounting their difficult situation, hoping to gain the understanding and tolerance of the Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince sat calmly in his chair, his expression as serene as water. His deep, piercing eyes narrowed slightly as he patiently listened to the cacophony of chatter. The voices rose and fell like a flock of noisy sparrows, but the Fourth Prince remained silent, sitting quietly, like a steady mountain.

Everyone chattered at once for a long time before the Fourth Prince finally opened his red lips and said, "Have you finished speaking? If so, may I have a word?" His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty. The originally noisy crowd instantly fell silent, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the noble Fourth Prince.

The Fourth Prince looked around at the silent scene before him, his lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. He then spoke slowly, "I'm not unreasonable or unaware of your difficulties. But the country is in dire straits right now, and we truly need your help. However... since that's the case, I naturally won't ask for your food for nothing. How about this? We erect stone memorial archways in every village and county, clearly and explicitly recording the amount donated by each person. As for the person with the highest donation recorded on the memorial archway, he will be ranked first, and I, the Prince, will personally write a commendation in my name to present to him. What do you all think?"

These words, like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, stirred up a thousand waves. Everyone was stunned for a moment, then their faces lit up with uncontrollable excitement. This was the Fourth Prince's own handwritten commendation! Receiving this honor, whether passed down through generations or displayed before future generations, would be an unparalleled honor and immense prestige. This kind of honor couldn't be easily purchased with money.

At that moment, a trembling yet resolute voice suddenly rang out from the crowd: "I am willing to donate twenty dan of grain!" The speaker was a white-haired, hunched old man. He raised his hand with great effort, his eyes filled with determination and enthusiasm. People around him glanced over, casting admiring glances at this venerable old man.

This old man was a renowned landowner in the county, possessing a vast estate. Not only did he own hundreds of acres of fertile farmland, but countless hilltops were also planted with lush, fruit-bearing fruit trees. Now in his twilight years, he lived comfortably, but material abundance could hardly fill the spiritual void. His only desire was to leave behind a lasting legacy. After all, such elusive fame could not be easily purchased with money.

At this moment, the letter of commendation written by the Fourth Prince was like a brilliant ray of light, instantly illuminating the old man's deep desire and pursuit of honor. Faced with such a rare opportunity, how could he not rush to it?

After a moment's reflection, the people around them seemed to understand the stakes involved, and they all rushed to express their opinions. The pot-bellied man, beaming with pride, shouted, "I'm willing to donate 100 dan of grain!" As he finished his words, the atmosphere intensified. Not to be outdone, the other wealthy households eagerly signed up, expressing their willingness to contribute. For a moment, the scene was bustling with activity, and everyone's face was filled with enthusiasm and generosity.

Seeing this scene, the Fourth Prince couldn't help but feel relieved. He turned with a smile and whispered to the guard beside him, "Go quickly and record the detailed amounts of food and water that everyone is preparing to donate in a book. Once everything is ready, we will erect a stone tablet here and inscribe the amounts donated by each donor. This stone tablet will then stand on the side of the bustling Fuhui Street for passersby to stop and admire. This way, everyone passing by will know how much these wealthy local families care about the people, and how they generously donated large amounts of food to help the country overcome its difficulties without hesitation when faced with crisis. I believe their kind deeds will become a legend, passed down through the ages."

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but wonder. If they gave too little, it would feel inappropriate and stingy; but if they gave too much, they would feel like they were being taken advantage of, as if they were being taken advantage of, and might even draw ridicule and mockery. Thus, they remained stuck in this awkward stalemate.

The Fourth Prince saw all of this clearly, but he didn't expose their thoughts outright. He simply smiled and said cheerfully, "Don't worry about this matter. It doesn't really matter how much you contribute; it all depends on your personal willingness. Just do what you can according to your own circumstances!"

Despite the Fourth Prince's words of comfort, those who had originally intended to donate less still felt a little guilty. After all, the eye-catching stone tablet was right there. If they donated too little, wouldn't it be embarrassing if it was recorded and made public? So, after much hesitation, they all added a little to their original donations.