Chapter 1 A Glimpse into the People's Lives

After leaving the Ministry of Appointments, Jiang Chen did not immediately return to the palace.

Having finally gotten out, he intended to personally investigate the lives of the common people and see how they were really living, and also to hear what kind of reputation he, the emperor, had.

The group first went to Meng Qi's residence to disguise themselves.

After changing into inconspicuous clothing, they escorted Jiang Chen to the most bustling street market in the imperial capital.

It was dusk, and the people had finished their day's work. They gathered near the corner tower of the market, listening to storytellers recount interesting tales from all over the land.

*Clack!*

With a slap of the gavel, the storyteller's face was filled with righteous indignation as he declared loudly:

"Last time, we spoke of the tyrannical despot who single-handedly made decisions and raided homes throughout the night!"

"He ordered Consort Shu's wicked brother to barge into the residences of court officials, beheading hundreds on the spot, sparing not even the old, the weak, women, or children!"

"His methods were cruel, and his evil deeds were monstrous, yet not a single civil or military official dared to speak out! And after carrying out this tragedy, this tyrant even took Lady Liu, the widow of the former censor, into the palace!"

"Hehe, can you guess what this tyrant did to Lady Liu?"

"How would we common folk know about the emperor's affairs? But since the emperor is cruel and lecherous, I doubt he did anything good!"

"That's right, that's right! The tyrant is licentious, forcibly taking Lady Liu into the palace; he probably wants to do something improper..."

"Hey, storyteller, hurry up and tell us! What happens next?"

A group of listeners urged anxiously, clearly waiting for the main act of the 'palace scandal.'

The storyteller built up suspense, then excitedly embellished the story of Jiang Chen and Liu Huiyin.

The slightly erotic tale kept the tea drinkers engrossed, and such scenes were not uncommon in the city's marketplaces.

While the people were immersed in the palace secrets, outside the small building, Xu Changqing, Meng Qi, and the others guarding Jiang Chen looked rather strange, their heroic faces flushed red, glancing at Jiang Chen with hesitant expressions.

"Your...Young Master, these commoners are really audacious! Should this old servant send someone to thoroughly investigate this matter?" Feng Jin whispered.

Jiang Chen smiled and shook his head, walking towards the main entrance of the small building while jokingly saying:

"It's fine, it's just a small matter, not worth making a fuss over."

"Besides, this storyteller's eloquence is indeed quite good, making even I feel a bit intrigued...Let's go in and listen, and enjoy ourselves with the people!"

Upon hearing this, Feng Jin and the others were immediately dumbfounded.

Being, being slandered like this, and His Majesty isn't angry? He even wants to go in and listen?!

Recalling Jiang Chen's past decisiveness and how he demanded the lives of officials at the slightest disagreement, they wondered if they were dreaming.

Wasn't His Majesty being a little too tolerant of these lowlifes?

While grumbling inwardly, they guarded Jiang Chen and followed him into the teahouse.

Just as they settled down and ordered fruit platters and pastries, a roar from a corner plunged the lively teahouse into silence!

"You stinking woman, pay up!"

"If you dare delay any longer, I'll sell you to a brothel to pay off the debt!"

The speaker was a burly man with a face full of橫肉 (héng ròu, excess flesh).

He was short in stature, wore black short-sleeved clothing, and had a short knife at his waist, accompanied by three or four lackeys.

Surrounded and threatened by them was the pipa girl in the teahouse, who was responsible for accompanying the storyteller and occasionally performing on stage.

"Fifth Master, the money my husband owed, this, this humble one has already paid it back...You, how could you..."

"Paid back? When? Is there any written proof? With no evidence, what nonsense are you spouting with this master?"

The black-clad man said, taking out a deed from his pocket and unfolding it.

He spread it out in front of the pipa girl with a disdainful expression, saying: "Look clearly, your husband borrowed at an interest rate of eight percent!"

"The money you got from selling the house is only enough to pay the interest; you still owe the principal!"

Looking at Zhao Wu's smug face, as if he had her completely under his control, despair filled the woman's eyes.

Her husband had been seriously ill, exhausting their savings, and she had no choice but to borrow money from Zhao Wu.

But at the time, the agreed-upon interest rate was clearly two percent, but later, she didn't know why it had become eight percent. She went to the yamen to file a complaint, but no one would listen, and she was even warned that Zhao Wu had someone powerful backing him who she couldn't afford to offend.

With no way to seek help, she could only accept her fate and sell everything she could at home, but now these people were coming to collect the debt again...What, what could she use to pay it back?!

Seeing the woman's silence, Zhao Wu's face revealed a smug, lewd smile: "Little lady, don't struggle! This Fifth Master knows you can't come up with this money."

"If you don't want to be sold to a brothel, then obediently listen and follow Master Zhang; you'll eat spicy food and drink fine wine, and have endless blessings in the future!"

As he spoke, the dark-faced man reached out to grab the woman, looking as if he was going to forcibly abduct her.

The pipa girl was filled with shame and anger, bitterly exclaiming: "You, in broad daylight! Under the Emperor's very nose! You dare to forcibly seize a virtuous woman! Is there still justice in this world?"

"Justice? Haha! Little lady, you're really making this Fifth Master laugh!"

"The county magistrate is not as effective as the current official in charge. In this imperial capital, what Master Zhang says is justice!"

After mocking her a few times, Zhao Wu waved his hand and said: "Do it, tie this little lady up and take her back to report!"

Hearing this, the pipa girl's pretty face turned pale, and tears streamed down her face.

Her pleading gaze swept around, but those who met her hopeful eyes all lowered their heads, remaining silent.

They also had families, and they couldn't afford to offend Zhao Wu and Master Zhang.

The silent rejection left the pipa girl completely despondent!

Watching the dark hand reaching towards her, a trace of determination flashed in her eyes. She smashed the pipa, lifted her skirt, and rushed towards the pillar!

At this critical moment, Jiang Chen, who had been paying attention to the situation, could no longer restrain himself and sternly shouted: "Jingyue, save her!"

"Also, take down all of these dogs for Us, for This Young Master!"

"Yes!"

Xu Changqing, Meng Qi, and the others were already furious at Zhao Wu.

Upon receiving the order, they unhesitatingly stood up, ready to make a move.

At this moment, a gray figure suddenly flashed past, swift as the wind, leaving everyone unable to react.

*Swish, swish!*

Several soft sounds echoed, and the originally arrogant Zhao Wu and his gang were now frozen in place.

Everyone was puzzled and couldn't help but secretly observe.

They then discovered that a crack had suddenly appeared on the necks of Zhao Wu and the others. Next, a torrent of blood spurted out, staining everyone's vision red, accompanied by the sound of heads hitting the ground, impacting their sanity.

Kill, someone was killed!

She, she killed Master Zhang's subordinates!

This gray-clothed person was going to be in big trouble!

While everyone was terrified and desperately fleeing the teahouse, the gray-clothed person who had acted decisively gently comforted the pipa girl, even handing her a cup of clear tea to calm her nerves.

"This Madam, the evildoers have been executed; you don't need to be afraid anymore."

Saying this, the gray-clothed person took out five taels of silver from his sleeve and said seriously: "This is the money you owe; this poor Daoist will pay it for you."

"When these people's families come to collect the bodies, you can give it to them!"