Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 853 - 831: Hallucination
Mr. Gu was very pleased to know that Xie Jue had awakened. Now that external threats are disturbing us and people are anxious, they all rely on Xie Jue to take charge. Their pillar has awakened, so the chaotic situation can be stabilized. An official from Honglu Temple felt Mr. Gu was too optimistic. He said with lingering fear, "Have you forgotten that in his rage, the Prince killed everyone in the Priest Court? That was an act of venting anger. While the High Priest was guilty, provoking conflict, most priests acted on orders and were helpless. They did not deserve to die!"
Civil officials and military officers are different. Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and others didn’t feel it was inappropriate for Xie Jue to kill all the priests in a fit of anger. The Ningzhou Iron Cavalry treats military orders like mountains and won’t question them. However, civil officials are different. They have lived peaceful lives without killing. The most brutal scene they’ve seen is the execution of serious criminals at the market gate of the noon city. It’s inevitable they have compassion, and Mr. Gu also feels Xie Jue’s act of killing so many would provoke criticism. But he won’t discuss anything behind the scenes, nor will he talk to others. He’s more worried that this act will make the world perceive Xie Jue as tyrannical, worrying about Xie Jue’s reputation being damaged.
"You are in Sannan Royal Palace, trapped for days, your supplies nearly depleted, and yet you still have the heart to argue for those priests. It would be better to skip a meal and save some rations for the soldiers," Mr. Gu unceremoniously admonished.
The official looked embarrassed, afraid to speak. Mr. Gu warned, "In the future, if you dare discuss the Prince behind his back again, you might as well stop wearing your official hat. After Sannan is returned, you’ll be sent to govern Sannan." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"Your humble servant recognizes the mistake and dares not do it again."
Mr. Gu sneered inwardly. See, when it doesn’t involve one’s own interests or pain, anyone can mourn and be a good person. But what about when it does?
What was wrong with the Prince killing the priests?
Keeping those people for spreading rumors? Weren’t the people outside the palace gate incited by the priests, trying to trap them inside the palace? Can he pity the priests to be executed, but not pity the three hundred iron cavalry who died in the chaos?
Incomprehensible!
At dawn, Xie Jue was already prepared. Except for his paler complexion, he appeared no different, dressed in a moon-white wide-sleeved robe, his long hair untied, only held by a blue hairband that dangled to his waist, giving off a cold and ethereal air. Mr. Gu hadn’t seen Xie Jue without a crown for quite some time. After a brief pause, he quickly approached, "The Prince is severely injured and should rest well. We can still hold up within the palace."
"No worries!" Xie Jue knew that during his coma, internal affairs relied solely on Mr. Gu, "You haven’t slept for three days, go rest first."
Mr. Gu had no need to report anything to Xie Jue, as Ying Yi had already relayed it. Xie Jue took Ying Yi to the North Palace Gate, where Lin Xiao, Zhang Boxin, and others were confronting the people.
When he ascended the palace gate, daylight was beginning to break. Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin quickly came up to salute. Wherever Xie Jue went, the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry was silent, with only the noise from outside the palace gate breaking the silence.
Han Ziqi and Princess X had been suspended on the palace gate for an entire night, utterly exhausted. At first, they reasoned with Lin Xiao, but now, weak and frail, they couldn’t utter a single word. The privileged-to-pampered Princess X was painfully hanging, with her consciousness somewhat scattered, seeing double of the distant scene. Xie Jue stood on the palace gate facing the people surrounding it, without a trace of emotion in his eyes. Lin Xiao and Zhang Boxin feared Xie Jue might give an order to forcefully break out, resulting in a direct confrontation with the people.
It would be beyond the expression ’blood flows like a river.’
Sannan’s Forbidden Army was all dosed with Soft Muscle Powder, trapped inside the palace. Lin Xiao initially considered letting the Forbidden Army out of the palace to avoid wasting food. But considering the people were surrounding the Royal Palace, releasing the Forbidden Army would be akin to giving the people a weapon. Thus, he could only poison them, imprisoning them in a palace and having someone supervise, ensuring they don’t starve to death.
"Prince, Han Ziqi has spoken to the people, but they don’t listen. They insist that you directly address them. Before the incident, the High Priest spread rumors outside the palace. Now Sannan’s citizens believe you killed King of Sannan and forced the High Priest to death, inciting public outrage. We cannot confront them directly, so we are forced into this standoff," Lin Xiao briefly explained, not daring to mention the lewd scandals the people were spreading between Xie Jue and Fang Chuning.
During these few days, it’s likely already spread to the borders. Lin Xiao can only imagine the reaction of the border army hearing the rumors, especially since the Marshal is Marshal Fang.
