Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

After several days of hard work, Li Ruoyue and Luzhu finally finished making all the medicine they needed. In the following days, they had a lot of free time, so they decided to walk around and enjoy the surrounding scenery.

That day, they wandered to the northwest. Spring here was truly breathtakingly beautiful! Leaving the city, they were greeted by the boundless, vast expanse of grassland. A jewel-blue sky teemed with snow-white clouds, seemingly within reach. Against this azure sky, the lush green grass resembled a vast ocean, undulating and undulating under the gentle breeze, like a dynamic painting.

The grass is dotted with vibrant, colorful spring flowers. Some hide coyly among the green grass, revealing only a hint of their smile; others burst forth boldly, showcasing their alluring beauty. Their vibrant colors range from fiery red to rosy pink to white as snow. The interplay of their radiance fills the meadow with vibrant energy, as if imbued with endless vitality.

Baili Xi unhesitatingly took all the medicines Li Ruoyue had prepared and administered them one by one, strictly following his instructions. Simultaneously, the Fourth Prince decisively issued orders, recruiting doctors with extensive experience and expertise in treating animals. Furthermore, even the elderly, long-time residents of this vast grassland, with years of life experience and practical experience, were summoned. Working together, pooling their wisdom, they meticulously and responsibly began the investigation, step by step.

While they couldn't be perfect or leave out any mistakes, everyone did their best to ensure that the tasks within their reach were flawless and meticulous. Naturally, there were good and bad people among the many involved. Some worked selflessly, hoping to make their hometown more beautiful and livable. However, we shouldn't overlook the many treacherous individuals who harbored ulterior motives and sought to exploit this opportunity for personal gain.

In this turbulent and tense time, profiteering merchants and unscrupulous individuals seeking to profit from the nation's misfortune were not uncommon. Despite their cautious and secretive actions, they ultimately could not escape the Fourth Prince's scrutiny. He was well aware of the suffering these individuals' actions inflicted on the people, and so he secretly deployed trusted subordinates to monitor every move within the city.

At this moment of panic, the poor people, who had suffered injustice and were filled with grievances, heard that the Fourth Prince was here, as if they had grasped at a last straw. Desperate and determined, they quietly arrived at the gates of the Protectorate under the cover of night. Upon reaching the gate, everyone shouted in unison, "Unjust!" The sound resounded through the night, filled with endless grief and resentment.

However, coming here to file a complaint now was indeed somewhat inappropriate. After all, the Protectorate was an important place and could not be arbitrarily disturbed. But these aggrieved people had no other recourse but to fight tooth and nail, hoping to attract the attention of the Fourth Prince and obtain justice for themselves.

Upon hearing the shouting, the local guards at the Protectorate's gate rushed forward to drive them away. One of the guards shouted angrily at an elderly man in the crowd, "Go away! Old man, don't you know where this is? How dare you cause trouble here? Get out of here! If you disturb the nobles inside, none of you will be able to bear the consequences! Since this is your first offense, leave immediately!" He then raised his whip and threatened to strike him.

Just as the whip was about to mercilessly strike the old man, a furious shout resounded through the air: "Stop!" This sudden shout was like a bolt from the blue, startling everyone present. Immediately, everyone turned their gazes in the direction of the sound.

A young man walked briskly towards them, his physique slender and his steps steady. He wore a strangely shaped demon sword at his waist, which swayed slightly as he walked, flashing a chilling light that captivated the heart. Looking up, the young man was dressed in neat, clean clothes. While not fancy, they appeared quite respectable.

The guard, who had been brandishing his whip aggressively, paused at the rebuke and looked up at the uninvited visitor. Seeing that the newcomer was only a young boy, a trace of disdain crossed his face. He then spoke coldly, "Who do you think you are? How dare you make such a noise here? Don't you know where this place is? I'm merely giving this ignorant, ignorant old fellow a lesson!" He then glared fiercely at the trembling old man.

The young man's previously calm face trembled slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed across his inky black and bright eyes. Then, his long, handsome eyebrows furrowed tightly, as if expressing inner dissatisfaction and doubt.

Then, the young man quickly turned his head, his gaze fixed on the elderly man standing nearby. His eyes were as sharp as a sword, as if he could see through him. At the same time, he opened his mouth and demanded loudly in a slightly hoarse voice, "Wife, why did you trespass into the county government office? Don't you know that doing so is a capital offense?"

Upon hearing this, the old man's face instantly turned pale, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably. His knees gave way, and he fell to the ground with a thud, then began to kowtow desperately to the young man. The sound of "bang, bang, bang" continued, each one hitting the hard ground with a force that moved one's heart to pity.

However, the young man remained unmoved. He frowned slightly, quickly stepped forward, stretched out his hands, and firmly supported the kowtowed old man. He said anxiously, "Old man, please stop kowtowing to me! If there's anything, we can talk about it slowly. There's no need for such a grand ceremony."

The old man raised his head, looked at the young man in front of him with tears on his face, and said with a sob: "Master, I have been wronged so badly! I was just kneeling at the door of the county government office to cry out for justice, and I didn't want to break in. But my family is poor and I have nowhere to seek justice. I have no other choice but to do this. Please, Master, see through this and clear my name!" After that, he lowered his head again and kept sobbing.

The tall, handsome young man stood there quietly, his gaze fixed on the old man sobbing softly before him. His previously cold expression, upon seeing the old man's grief, a ripple of emotion crept into his heart, and a hint of humanity seemed to begin to soften. He frowned slightly and said softly, "Old man, please tell me what injustice you have suffered. I'd like to see if I can clear your name!"

Hearing this, the old man felt like he had grabbed a lifeline and quickly wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeves. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his excitement. After a little adjustment, he slowly began to tell the young man his story.

It turned out that the old man's name was Chen Mao, and his family lived in Shilipo Village, about ten miles away from here. The village was located on a small earthen slope. Although it was not big, the villagers lived a simple and peaceful life.

Chen Mao's wife tragically passed away during childbirth, leaving him to raise their son alone. For years, he played both father and mother, caring for the child day and night, a difficult task. Fortunately, his efforts paid off, and his son eventually grew up and found a wife. He thought he had finally accomplished all the important things in life and could enjoy his retirement in peace, but then a sudden disaster struck this already troubled family: a terrible plague broke out in the village!

Faced with this ruthless epidemic, Chen Mao and his family fought tooth and nail to survive. After countless days and nights of hard struggle, they finally managed to pull through. However, just when Chen Mao thought all the suffering was over, new troubles arose...

This early spring should have been a time of hope and vitality, but for me, an old man, it was the beginning of a nightmare. That day, the sun was shining brightly, the breeze was gentle, and I was happily herding my flock of over thirty sturdy sheep. Suddenly, a group of ferocious and unreasonable officials appeared before us.

Without a word, they pointed at my flock, shouting, "These sheep are sick!" Before I could even begin to protest, they pounced on me like hungry wolves, driving my flock without a word. I tried to intervene, but they beat me up, leaving me bruised and dizzy. My son, seeing this, rushed forward to protect me and the sheep, but was beaten by the merciless gang, only to have his leg broken. He remains bedridden to this day, unable to get up.

Even more heartbreaking is that my daughter-in-law, who was two months pregnant at the time, suffered a miscarriage due to the shock of this sudden incident. She now cries all day long and her health is deteriorating.

Today, I come here to implore you, Your Excellency, to take a closer look! My flock of over thirty sheep is plump and healthy, so how could they possibly be sick? I've been raising sheep for years; if there truly was an epidemic, wouldn't I be aware of it? It's clear these officials are exploiting this situation, using their power for personal gain, and taking away my family's only livelihood!

Now, my son is seriously injured and bedridden, and we've lost our flock, our source of income. Without income, how will our family survive? This is simply forcing us into despair and hopelessness! Master, please stand up for me and severely punish these lawless villains. Give me justice!