The Qin Dynasty entered the game with love.

Ying Ji returned to her carriage, and Yuan Ge brought her some food, but the woman was in a bad mood, so she decided to go for a walk by herself.

Fortunately, Ying Ji had changed her clothes neatly for the trip. She wore a Hanfu-style outfit with Martin boots, which made her look out of place yet somehow in harmony with the world.

Upon seeing Lord Danyang emerge, the head of the guards hurriedly stepped forward and reported, "Lord Danyang, some commoners are performing a religious ceremony ahead. I fear there may be a mob. Should I drive these people away?"

Ying Ji shook her head: "Since we're just killing time anyway, let's go take a look and experience the local customs and culture."

The head of the guards bowed and accepted the order, while Ying Ji sat in the single-person rocking carriage, admiring the surrounding scenery.

As we approached a river mouth, we saw thick black smoke and a group of ignorant people kneeling and worshipping something. The closer we got, the loud shouts of the sorcerer performing rituals on the high platform came into view.

"I now offer sacrifices to the river god, hoping for favorable weather and abundant harvests this year."

Ying Ji curled her lip in disdain, thinking what a scoundrel. But the audience below the stage didn't think so. They had witnessed the magic of the sorcerer, who could fish out divination coins from a pot of boiling oil.

He can even turn stones into gold; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a god.

Originally, Ying Ji only wanted to teach this sorcerer a lesson by throwing him into the canal repair work. However, she was surprised to see that these people had tied up a well-worn boy to a high platform surrounded by firewood.

The sorcerer was still gesturing something, as if performing a ritual, when finally he swept his whisk across the ground and said, "The time has come, release."

Then all the people below lit their torches and threw them onto the platform, as if this would bring good weather and a bountiful harvest next year.

Ying Ji waved her hand, and a dark figure quickly dispersed the burning firewood on the platform and appeared on the platform.

The sudden appearance of the figure startled the crowd, who shouted, "Who are you? We are offering sacrifices to the river god. Are you trying to disturb the river god's desire to use the offerings? Do you want to die?"

"Get down here, or we'll burn you alive with us."

"He's alone, but we're a group of people. What are we afraid of? Let's go!"

A crowd swarmed over, but Yuan Tiangang was not afraid. He immobilized all the people and threw them aside.

The remaining women trembled in fear. Seeing that things were not going well, the sorcerer tried to sneak away, but a stone hit his pressure point, and he could only remain in a running posture, stuck in place.

Ying Ji then appeared in the public eye.

“I am the eldest princess of Qin. You lowly commoners are disregarding Qin law by initiating human sacrifice. Summon the magistrate of this county and impose an additional tax on all villages that participated in the human sacrifice. Those who cannot pay will have to build the Zheng Guo Canal for a year.”

The village head was already weeping uncontrollably, shouting loudly, "The Qin state is tyrannical! The Qin state is tyrannical! Our village is burdened with heavy taxes, and many old and young people have already starved to death. Now we are only praying for good weather and a bountiful harvest next year. What is wrong with that? What is wrong with that?"

Han Fei appeared at the right moment beside Ying Ji: "According to Qin law, all sacrifices can only be made with livestock and fruits, and human sacrifices are not allowed. Anyone who makes a human sacrifice will have their entire clan exterminated. Princess, please don't pity me. It's just a matter of increasing taxes, which is a light punishment."

The village head stopped crying immediately, but continued to shout that it was unfair.

The other villagers are truly pitiful. The human sacrifice was because they couldn't afford to provide livestock, but the people who were sacrificed deserved it.

Ying Ji walked up to the high platform and saw the untied boy slumped on the ground, his silver hair scattered messily around him, his body covered in bruises, and his clothes... well, if you could call them clothes, they were just tattered rags draped over his body.

Ying Ji looked the boy over and over, her eyes filled with pity. She placed her hand on the top of his head and rubbed it gently. "Do you want to come with me?"

The silver-haired boy had never been treated so gently before. When the hand appeared, he couldn't help but shrink back, but the gentle head pat made him a little stunned.

He glanced up furtively and saw a scene he would never forget, and a question arose in his mind—"Is this God?"

The boy shifted his gaze to the faces of his relatives, who were all trembling with fear. For some reason, he felt a strange sense of happiness.

He stood up and followed behind Ying Ji.

Seeing this, Yuan Ge took the child away, but the child refused to leave and insisted on following behind Ying Ji.

It was only when Ying Ji told him to follow that he obediently followed.

After disposing of the offerings, Ying Ji turned her gaze to the group of people. The village head, whose clothing was noticeably more complete than that of the surrounding commoners, stood out conspicuously.

Ying Ji glanced at it and knew how to resolve this matter quickly: "Human sacrifice is a matter of great importance and cannot be downplayed or ignored. Li Zheng was involved in this matter and led the way in breaking the law. He should be executed immediately."

The rest of the people who worked on the canal for a year were paraded through the county town for a day. If any human sacrifice occurred in that area, all the villages would be held jointly liable.

The village head immediately cried out, "It wasn't me! It wasn't me! I didn't mean to do this! I was wrong! Why kill me instead of the common people? I'm the village head!"

But at this moment, the villagers dared not say a word. They hadn't seen that important figure directly about to kill the village head. Besides, no one would die in a year of canal construction, so whether the village head lived or died was none of their business.

The guards arrested the village head, tied the villagers together with ropes, paraded them through the streets, and told the story around the city gates of Shangjun County. Finally, the village head was beheaded on the street.

Parading someone through the streets isn't a serious offense, but it's humiliating. Unfortunately, the guards were ordered to show their faces, and whoever didn't would be the first to stand in line.

One by one, ashamed, they ran back to the village on the day they were released, vowing never to perform human sacrifices again. Seeing how shameful it was and how they would be laughed at by their neighbors, the other people's thoughts were also extinguished.

After all, there were living examples right around them. Human sacrifice was shameful. When it was discovered, two villages were punished together and disgraced in the county town. The person who died was the only village head.

This completely eradicated the bad habits. The former petty leaders were most afraid of getting involved, and the common people were also afraid of losing face. If a secret human sacrifice was discovered, no one would dare to marry or be married to anyone in their lifetime.

Han Fei did not understand Ying Ji's actions, but he found that they were an effective solution to the problem of human sacrifice.

It's common for people to break the law knowingly, especially farmers who are barely literate. They're easy to fool, and losing face is the punishment. Executing the village head is the only way to ensure supervision. How clever!

Ying Ji wandered around Pei County in history. Although the place was small and the environment was poor, it had talented people!

As I walked, I saw the Goubuli sign and my eyes lit up – it was Fan Kuai.

Upon closer inspection, a middle-aged man was shouting: "Goubuli, Goubuli, esteemed guests, would you like to try our dog meat?"

Ying Ji couldn't accept eating dog meat. Thinking of the restrictions on eating meat in ancient times, she sighed and wondered how many dogs died at this dog meat stall every day.

"May I have your name."

The middle-aged man's smile froze, and he suddenly broke out in a cold sweat for some reason: "My lord, our name is Fan Hui. I wonder where we have offended you."

The man thought for a moment, then took out several pieces of solid dog meat from the pot and pushed them in front of Ying Ji.

"These are all raised by us. If they have done anything wrong, please be lenient and forgive us."

Before Ying Ji could speak, a child appeared behind her and shouted, "Dad, what are you doing? It's always like this. We're almost out of food, and you're still giving meat to others."

Turning her head, she saw a burly teenager glaring angrily at Ying Ji: "What are you looking at? My dad is doing his business properly, don't even think about eating for free."

Fan Hui, furious, slapped the brat on the head: "Apologize, don't disturb the important person. It's a blessing for us if the important person likes our dog meat."

Fan Kuai spat a mouthful of phlegm onto the ground: "What kind of good fortune is this? Even a dog wouldn't want it."

Upon seeing this, Ying Ji threw out a golden melon seed, and Fan Kuai's expression changed rapidly.

“My lord, my lord! Father, it’s real gold! Mother’s medicine is here. My lord, what would you like to eat? I’ll pack it up for you. Our dog meat is the best in Pei County.”

He didn't think the boy was worldly; he had gone through all sorts of hardships in the orphanage, and he was the same way: "Then let's wrap you up. What's your name?"

Fan Kuai grinned, showing his big teeth: "I am none other than Master Fan Kuai, the one who never changes his name or surname."

Before she could finish speaking, her father slapped her so hard she flew far away. Ying Ji watched with amusement, finding the Fan family quite amusing.

"I'm just passing through and would like to spend a few days here. You'll be my tour guide, and I'll give you a golden melon seed afterwards."

Before Fan Kuai could speak, Fan Hui immediately agreed: "My son is so lucky, so lucky. It's a blessing that such a noble person has taken a liking to Fan Kuai. He's free lately, so I'll have him come to see you tomorrow."

Ying Ji nodded, no longer worried about the person running away, and went straight back to the inn.