Chapter 28: On the Road to Becoming a Good Person
Thirty-six strokes of the Grievance-Clearing Rods.
No one believed that a pampered young master like Chen Bai, who had grown up in brocade clothes and fine food, could endure them. After all, Chen Bai had gone silent. There were no screams left. He was probably already dead.
The smile on Crown Prince Jiao’s face was especially satisfied.
When the thirty-six strokes were finished, Crown Prince Jiao waved his hand, ready to have someone drag this “corpse” away.
Even Qi Zheng took a piece of clothing and covered Chen Bai with it. He had to cover him. The injuries were too light.
Just as someone was about to step forward, the motionless body suddenly raised its head.
“Can you return their innocence now?”
Hiss!
He actually was not dead!
The smile vanished from Crown Prince Jiao’s face, replaced by a dark, gloomy expression.
He still did not die after that?
He had never seen anyone so hard to kill.
With a cold face, he said, “What makes you say that? Even if you survived the thirty-six Grievance-Clearing Rods, it still changes nothing about the fact that they are demons.”
The case could not be overturned. Chen Zixiu would still die. As long as he was here, this case would never be overturned.
Qi Zheng had someone bring over a stretcher frame. They lifted Chen Bai onto it and carried him directly to the front of the platform.
“The reason they are being beheaded is because of those ugly red patches on their faces. In my opinion, they are merely ill,” Chen Bai said.
Ill?
Quite a few people could not help but freeze.
Those red patches looked like evil ghost masks. Were they not possessed by demons?
Crown Prince Jiao narrowed his eyes. “Since when did the eldest young master of the Tingwei Office know medicine? Even sophistry has its limits. The laws of Great Qian are strict and solemn. How could we allow you to make trouble here?”
Chen Bai also froze for a moment. Young Master Bai of the capital had grown up under the eyes of the people in the capital. If he rashly said that he had diagnosed the toxic red swelling disease himself, most likely no one would believe him.
Crown Prince Jiao continued, “You say this is an illness. What proof do you have? Or is this merely the reckless guess of someone who knows nothing about medicine?”
A reckless guess. He had directly concluded it.
But there was some reason to it. They all knew the once-glorious Young Master Bai. How could he know medicine? Yet now he wanted to overturn the case by claiming it was an illness.
Crown Prince Jiao sneered aloud. “Those who don’t know better would think another wildly arrogant Mountain Lord has appeared in the capital.”
Chen Bai, however, smiled. “Your Highness is right. This illness was indeed diagnosed by the Mountain Lord. I believe the people of the capital should have heard of the Mountain Lord’s medical skills. That cannot be faked.”
Everyone froze.
Crown Prince Jiao said, “Since it was diagnosed by the Mountain Lord, then the one who should have struck the Grievance Drum should have been the Mountain Lord. What does this have to do with you?”
The people he hated had actually gotten together.
The deputy execution supervisor at the side also said, “Then let the Mountain Lord come and explain the medical principles and medicinal reasoning. What evidence is there?”
Chen Bai thought to himself, how could he and the Mountain Lord possibly appear at the same time? He replied, “The Mountain Lord saw that I had extraordinary talent and accepted me as a student, that’s all. As for the Mountain Lord, he has gone up the mountain to gather medicine to treat this illness.”
That counted as answering both the crown prince’s and the deputy execution supervisor’s questions.
Even Qi Zheng could not help but glance at Chen Bai.
That demon accepted Chen Zixiu as a student?
That did explain why that demon and Chen Zixiu had been entangled together all this time.
Suddenly, Crown Prince Jiao spoke. “In other words, first, the Mountain Lord cannot appear. Second, there is currently no ready-made medicine to cure this illness.”
“No matter how I listen to it, it is all your one-sided claim. There is nothing trustworthy about it.”
“If that is all, then I’m afraid you will not be able to stop today’s execution.”
If he could not stop the execution, the case could not be overturned, and Chen Zixiu would have to die with them.
Chen Bai frowned slightly. The “Mountain Lord” indeed could not appear, and there was indeed no ready-made medicine. Right now, everything depended on his words. If Crown Prince Jiao insisted on not believing him…
Just as he was thinking, Qi Zheng suddenly said, “Why does it seem to me that the crown prince is so eager to kill these people?”
Everyone trembled. Was the situation not exactly like that? Chen Zixiu on the stretcher was wholeheartedly trying to save people, while the crown prince was wholeheartedly trying to kill them, refusing to give even the slightest chance.
Qi Zheng continued, “If the Mountain Lord is not here, then wait until he arrives. If there is no ready-made medicine, then wait until the medicine is prepared. Why is it that in the crown prince’s eyes, these thirty-plus lives are not lives? Are they not worth waiting a little while for?”
At that moment, another voice suddenly cut in. It was actually Sudan, who had come to watch the spectacle.
“They were once citizens of Great Qian too, weren’t they? Even if there is only the faintest chance of survival, should the crown prince not do everything in his power to fight for a chance for his own people to live?”
Everyone: “…”
The way he said it made it feel as though other countries’ crown princes loved the people like their own children, while their own crown prince was urgently trying to kill people…
If someone else had said this, they would inevitably have been criticized. But the person who said it just happened to be Sudan, the Crown Prince of Zhao.
After Sudan finished speaking, he even added in all seriousness, “Perhaps our national conditions are different? In any case, as the Crown Prince of Zhao, one ought to wholeheartedly think for one’s own people. In a case with doubts like this, I would wish I could go and strike that Grievance Drum myself.”
Everyone: “…”
Forget Crown Prince Jiao going to strike the Grievance Drum to fight for a chance of life for his people. He even…
Why did those words sound so unpleasant? This was the capital of Great Qian, yet they were being morally condemned by the crown prince of another state, though his words did seem somewhat reasonable.
Chen Bai nearly wanted to give these two people a thumbs-up. He could use more assists like this.
Let’s see how Crown Prince Jiao would handle himself now.
Crown Prince Jiao’s expression turned somewhat ugly. He knew that everyone was now watching his every move.
“As the Crown Prince of Great Qian, I ought to uphold the court’s decision and uphold the laws of Great Qian. I do not know how the Crown Prince of Zhao does things, but as far as Great Qian is concerned, without solid evidence, how can we allow someone to overturn the original verdict with just a few absurd words?”
Chen Bai was not in a hurry either. Although those words were true, if Crown Prince Jiao insisted on continuing the beheading today, he would indeed not be wrong, but he would chill the hearts of the people.
Chen Bai only said one sentence.
“In a few days, there will be medicine to treat this illness.”
Crown Prince Jiao: “…”
Everyone: “…”
Crown Prince Jiao clenched his hands tightly.
But if he insisted on the execution, he would merely be upholding the court’s decision.
Chen Zixiu had disgusted him for so long that it had almost become a knot in his heart.
Today, Chen Zixiu must die.
“They are merely baseless guesses without proof. They cannot be taken seriously. Continue the execution. Behead them.”
The moment his voice fell, the surroundings went silent.
He was truly heartless. It was Crown Prince Jiao himself who cut off these people’s chance of survival. Then they looked at Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao and thought of what he had just said. With two crown princes present, people would naturally compare them without even realizing it…
Zhao was indeed a land of culture and education taught by sages. Benevolence and righteousness came first. No wonder he alone could challenge the entire culture and education of Great Qian.
Chen Bai: “…”
Crown Prince Jiao did see things clearly. He could use upholding the court’s laws to conceal his inhumanity.
However…
Chen Bai did not want to cause panic, but now he had no choice.
Chen Bai raised his head. “They cannot be beheaded.”
Crown Prince Jiao was truly furious. “Impudent…”
Before he finished speaking, Chen Bai said, “Today, you regard them as demons and want to behead them. But if the same situation appears again in the future, will you continue beheading people?”
Crown Prince Jiao answered almost without thinking, “If demons are causing trouble, why should they not continue to be beheaded? If one appears in the future, I will behead one. I will show absolutely no mercy.”
Chen Bai said directly, “I’m only afraid you won’t be able to do it.”
The crowd froze too.
Why?
Chen Bai sighed. “In any case, I am the Mountain Lord’s student. Although I cannot explain the cause and principles of the illness clearly to you, I did hear the Mountain Lord mention that while this illness is not fatal, it is highly contagious.”
“Perhaps the people present today will become the demons in other people’s mouths tomorrow, and become targets for Crown Prince Jiao to behead.”
“All of you… could be among them.”
Hiss!
A chill rose from the bottom of everyone’s hearts.
Crown Prince Jiao had said that he would behead them one by one and would not let a single one go.
Although they did not know whether what Chen Bai said was true, what if it was? Then would they not become the people standing on the execution ground today?
It was clearly just an illness, yet they would be treated as demons and beheaded. Would that not be an injustice?
Human nature was like this. When something had nothing to do with oneself, one could stand aloof. But once it was related to oneself, one’s thoughts changed.
“Alarmist nonsense,” Crown Prince Jiao said. “From beginning to end, not a single word of yours can be taken as true.”
There was no need for Chen Bai to say anything. Among the people at the scene, someone had already said in terror, “What if… what if what Chen Zixiu said is true?”
“Would they really kill them one by one?”
The terrified voices spread continuously. No one listened to anything Crown Prince Jiao said anymore.
Chen Bai knew this would happen. Sometimes, illness itself was not frightening. What was frightening was the restless human heart. This was also why he had not dared to say from the beginning that this illness was contagious.
The scene… descended into chaos.
Looking at the scarlet, ugly faces on the execution ground only made them even more afraid. They were afraid that they themselves might very well become like them. They were afraid that once they became like that, they would be beheaded by Crown Prince Jiao. They would clearly only be ill, yet they would be executed like that. Would that not be an injustice?
Chen Bai glanced at Crown Prince Jiao and raised his voice.
“The law may be merciless, but people have feelings. If you refuse to give them even a chance of survival, how is that different from treating them like livestock? How is that different from wantonly executing the innocent?”
Sudan also sighed. “You people of Great Qian are truly strange. Instead of thinking about how to let your own citizens live, you wholeheartedly want them to die. The sages did not teach people like this.”
Qi Zheng said coldly, “Is Imperial Brother truly doing this for the good of the Great Qian court, or is he simply acting willfully?”
Those words were rather heart-piercing.
In truth, Chen Bai sometimes could not understand either. Why did Qi Zheng have the courage to oppose Crown Prince Jiao? He was an imperial prince without power or influence, yet he could still remain safe and sound. It was quite miraculous.
Their voices mixed with the panic and fear of the common people.
Crown Prince Jiao’s palms were clenched tightly. Public opinion had already risen. Chen Zixiu actually dared to seek death like this. This matter would probably reach the ears of the Emperor and the Three Dukes…
Fine. Since Chen Zixiu had stirred up public opinion, even if he did not make a move himself, the Emperor and the Three Dukes would not spare him.
Crown Prince Jiao said coldly, “It is still the same sentence. Demons should be killed. However, this crown prince is not entirely unreasonable. I will give you three days. If within three days you cannot produce evidence, do not blame the laws of Great Qian for being merciless.”
After saying this, he flicked his sleeves and left.
Chen Bai smiled. As long as he could win this buffer of time, he had won.
Because… in less than three days, the “demons” in their eyes would become more and more numerous.
As for Crown Prince Jiao’s words, “demons should be killed,” let’s see how the common people would view him.
Chen Bai also sighed. Although this toxic red swelling disease was not fatal, those infected would probably suffer quite a bit. The old physician had said that this illness was a complication of a cold. Only those with a cold would be infected, but the infection rate was extremely high. With so many people here today, there would inevitably be some with colds.
Chen Bai was carried away “on the verge of death.”
When he passed through the crowd, the people around him suddenly fell silent and automatically made way.
They were still not sure whether what Chen Bai said was true or false, but they had seen with their own eyes that Chen Bai had willingly endured the Grievance-Clearing punishment for a group of commoners he did not know.
Ask the world: how many people could do such a thing?
And ask themselves: what right had they had to curse this person for so long? Where had they gotten the face to do that before?
Someone muttered, “Even if Chen Zixiu really is a cut-sleeve, he is… he is still a cut-sleeve with feeling and loyalty.”
“Even if he truly disgraced the imperial family’s reputation, that… that still does not mean his character is really so bad.”
“…”
Some things had begun to change.
Hearing the discussion, Chen Bai nearly rolled off the stretcher and climbed up.
“Who… who are you calling a cut-sleeve? I’m a proper man, straight… straight as can be.”
Qi Zheng glanced at him.
If he had the ability, he should not let his eyes dodge when saying that.
Qi Zheng asked, “How is it?”
Chen Bai answered, “How else can it be? I escaped death by a hair, my legs are still trembling, but since I managed to save people and buy time, I feel pretty good inside.”
Qi Zheng: “…I was asking about your injuries.”
“Don’t say that. That fellow really did have some skill. The rods were raised so high, and when they came down, they cracked so loudly, but in the end, that was all. I promised to save his life, so don’t forget…”
Qi Zheng: “…”
This Chen Zixiu had truly made people look at him in a new light today.
After a while, Qi Zheng said again, “Is that illness you mentioned truly contagious?”
Chen Bai became serious and nodded. “It spreads extremely quickly. In order not to cause panic, the court had better prepare properly. Crown Prince Jiao’s words, ‘demons should be killed,’ will probably make the situation even worse…”
It was not some terribly serious illness, but after being demonized, coupled with rapid transmission and Crown Prince Jiao’s statement about killing every one that appeared, the outcome was already determined. It would certainly stir up quite a storm.
This matter could only be resolved by the court.
Qi Zheng asked one final question. “Are you truly the Mountain Lord’s student?”
Chen Bai snorted through his nose. “Could that be fake? I’m his first disciple.”
After Chen Bai was carried back to the Tingwei Office, the entire courtyard was filled with Lady Ronghua’s wailing cries.
“You unfilial son! What do their lives and deaths have to do with you? Why did you have to go and strike that so-called Grievance Drum? Is that something you can strike…?”
Chen Bai: “…”
Chen Shouye was even more direct. “If I’d known you were this good at causing trouble, I should’ve just beaten you to death.”
Chen Bai muttered, “If you beat me again, I really will die.”
“You still dare to talk back?” Chen Shouye’s face turned black. Whose son could be this good at stirring up trouble? People always said other families’ sons were wastrels, but no matter how wastrel they were, they only caused small trouble. His son, however, had never once thought a matter was too big. Every day, he wanted to poke a hole through the sky.
Strangely enough, his son had actually endured even the Grievance-Clearing Rods. Chen Shouye could not help cursing, “A scourge lives for a thousand years.”
Well, one look and you could tell he was his real father.
Fortunately, a decree came from the palace, summoning Tingwei Office into the palace. Otherwise, Chen Bai would have had to suffer another round of scolding.
Chen Bai could roughly guess why the Emperor had summoned Tingwei Office. He had struck the Grievance Drum and spread the news that a great illness was coming. The Emperor would definitely summon Tingwei office to ask about it.
Inside the room, Lady Ronghua had cried herself tired and was helped away. Only Chen Xiaobu remained, holding a bowl of pitch-black medicine.
“Brother, this is medicine I just watched the servants brew. Hurry and drink it. Seriously, why are you always getting beaten? You don’t even look like someone destined to be beaten.”
Chen Bai: “…”
He glanced at the bowl of black medicine. There were even some strange things floating on top. Then he looked at Chen Xiaobu’s face, covered in soot like a little tabby cat.
“This medicine probably wasn’t brewed by the servants, was it?”
Chen Xiaobu looked shocked. “How did you know? I saw that the fire they used to brew the medicine was so small, so I personally stepped in and blew on the fire with my mouth for half an hour. I’m still dizzy now.”
Chen Bai: “…”
If he drank this medicine, he felt like his backside would rot.
After much difficulty, he finally sent Chen Xiaobu away, telling him to take Dalmatian to play with the skateboard.
Chen Bai rolled over and climbed up. Those thirty-six strokes had been like abdominal striking practice, the kind where someone punched the abdomen for training. They only sounded loud when they landed. In reality, at most, they only made the skin red. That executioner was truly talented.
He would just take it as exercise. It was good to firm things up a little.
Then he took out his phone.
Crown Prince Jiao had only given him three days, and he had also said that the Mountain Lord had gone up the mountain to gather medicine. He had to buy the antitoxin.
Luckily, that old physician happened to be a doctor from a hospital under his good friend Tang Shen’s brother-in-law. He could help.
Chen Bai first contacted Tang Shen and roughly explained the situation.
Tang Shen said, “Brother Bai, what corner of the world did you run off to? There isn’t even a hospital there?”
Chen Bai replied, “There is, but the medical conditions are really too poor. There’s no choice. I still need your help.”
Tang Shen answered, “Don’t mention it.”
Back then, he had been cornered by a group of thugs in an alley. Many people had watched coldly as he almost got beaten to death. Only Brother Bai had stepped forward and saved him. Otherwise, he really would have been beaten to death.
Afterward, the two of them found that they shared similar interests and became the best of friends. Brother Bai was someone with a kindness and brightness that others could not see, making people unable to help wanting to get along with him properly.
Hearing Tang Shen say that he could help, Chen Bai also breathed a sigh of relief. Unfortunately, he was no longer in his original world, and he did not know how he could repay this favor.
He shook his head. If Tang Shen knew he was thinking about repaying the favor, he would probably lecture him.
In a person’s life, there would always be one or two people for whom one did not care about repayment.
Tang Shen said, “Brother Bai, I’m preparing to start a game company. Why don’t you just come work at my company? Brother Bai’s original art is something people in the gaming industry can hardly get even with great difficulty.”
Chen Bai froze. It seemed that as long as he had the internet, it was not as if he could do nothing at all. He replied, “That’s easy. When the time comes, just tell me whatever you need. I currently have seventy-one little apprentices under me…”
…
At the imperial palace, Chen Shouye followed an attendant to the imperial garden.
Inside the Sunset Pavilion, the Emperor’s figure was still as majestic as ever.
Only, by the Emperor’s feet, something was lying belly-up, its four limbs paddling nonstop. What the hell was that?
The Emperor was even using his hand to rub its belly.
It was painful to look at.
Prince Ning stood at the side, looking pitiful and aggrieved. Every time he came to the Sunset Pavilion, Father would hog Bulldog all to himself. He wanted to rub it too.
Qi Xiang glanced over. “You’re here. You’ve really raised a fine son.”
Chen Shouye said, “…My son is ignorant. Please be magnanimous, Your Majesty.”
Qi Xiang raised his head. “He struck the Grievance Drum, endured the Grievance-Clearing Rods, and truly delayed the execution. Speaking of it, that counts as doing what others could not. It makes one look at him in a new light. This Emperor originally felt somewhat regretful. After that child experienced certain things, this Emperor thought that the once dazzling Young Master Bai of the capital would decline from then on. It seems this Emperor judged wrongly.”
Sweat began to flow down Chen Shouye’s forehead. “My son’s crime is unforgivable, but please, considering…”
Before he could finish, Qi Xiang said, “What crime does he have? On the surface, he seemed to challenge the court’s authority and disrupt the legal system. But wasn’t the Grievance Drum set up precisely for people to strike? Otherwise, what use is there in setting it up? The Grievance Drum is also part of Great Qian’s law. What he followed was also Great Qian’s law. That is better than Prince Zheng using little tricks to make the court change Young Master Bai’s verdict.”
Chen Shouye: “…”
As expected, nothing could be hidden from the Emperor. Just because the Emperor did not speak did not mean he did not know.
However, Chen Shouye was conflicted. What did the Emperor mean by this?
He asked somewhat cautiously, “Then my son’s punishment…”
Qi Xiang said, “Since he followed Great Qian’s law, then handle it according to Great Qian’s law. If he can truly clear the grievance, not only can the court not punish him, it must reward him.”
Chen Shouye did not dare ask what would happen if the grievance could not be cleared.
After a while, Qi Xiang finally said, “You must know why I summoned you into the palace. How much truth is there in what Young Master Bai said about a disease that spreads rapidly?”
Chen Shouye hurriedly said, “This subject has already questioned him carefully. My son only said… only said that within three days, the truth will come to light.”
Qi Xiang gave no clear opinion. “He does have some confidence. Three days is still something I can wait.”
If it had been some other excuse, Qi Xiang might not have believed it. But merely asking him to wait three days instead…
Worried, he could not help sighing. “Great Qian was established with difficulty. In front of us, there is Crown Prince Zhao, a man of world-shaking talent, relying on his own ability and his own strength alone, without spending a single soldier, openly and honorably trying to seize our border city. Yet Great Qian has not the slightest room for countermeasures. And now, rumors are spreading all over the capital, stirring people’s hearts into panic…”
Chen Shouye quickly added, “Great Qian’s crown prince is also both virtuous and capable, supported by everyone.”
For some reason, Qi Xiang gave a cold laugh. “Aside from virtue, does he have anything else?”
Chen Shouye: “…”
How was he supposed to answer that?
Qi Xiang continued expressionlessly, “Moreover…”
But in the end, he did not continue.
The ruler and his minister looked at each other. After a while, Qi Xiang said, “Withdraw. We will speak again after three days.”
Chen Shouye withdrew. As he walked away, he thought to himself that he did not know whether this result was good or bad. If the case truly could be overturned, then the Tingwei Office would gain a good reputation for redressing an injustice on someone else’s behalf.
Meanwhile, Qi Xiang seemed to be thinking about something unknown. For some reason, he suddenly asked Prince Ning, who was standing obediently at the side, “Tell me, why did that Chen Zixiu go and strike the Grievance Drum?”
To knowingly do something when certain death awaited him—he was either foolish, or…
Prince Ning actually answered him. “Brother Bai is very good. He’s a good person. Brother Bai taught me how to make the dogs’ cloth balls, and Brother Bai also said he would treat me to chicken next time…”
At this moment, a group of people walked over. The woman leading them was graceful and richly dressed. She was Lady Xiu, Crown Prince Jiao’s birth mother. Crown Prince Jiao was also among them. It was just that Crown Prince Jiao seemed to have been bitten by mosquitoes or insects, and had scratched a few red marks onto his face.
After they exchanged greetings, Lady Xiu said, “I heard from Jiao’er that today, on the execution ground, Chen Zixiu of the Tingwei Office was exceedingly rude, with no respect for rank, no regard for law and discipline. Earlier, he even damaged my Jiao’er’s reputation. Why give such a disgraced person three more days? If this is allowed, won’t people forget the dignity of the imperial family?”
Qi Xiang’s face showed no expression. Instead, he suddenly asked Crown Prince Jiao, “If you saw someone wronged on the execution ground, would you dare strike the Grievance Drum?”
Crown Prince Jiao froze. This…
“This son’s status is noble, and I shoulder the duty of bringing prosperity to Great Qian. How could I lightly take risks? It is not that this son is unwilling, but that I cannot…”
Qi Xiang gave no clear opinion.
Lady Xiu, however, spoke. “Why does Your Majesty ask this? Could Jiao’er really give up his life for a few strangers?”
Qi Xiang thought to himself, yes. No one was willing to give up their life for a few strangers. Yet Chen Zixiu had done exactly that. That was why it was all the more precious and why it moved people’s hearts. So what if such a person was given three days?
Crown Prince Jiao was just about to speak when Qi Xiang said, “Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao is suppressing Great Qian’s scholars. Do you have any countermeasure? Rather than put your thoughts elsewhere, you should think about how, as the crown prince, you can protect Great Qian’s cities.”
Crown Prince Jiao’s hands tightened slightly.
Why did he faintly feel that Father was not particularly blaming Chen Zixiu? That was someone who had stirred up public opinion, and the imperial family had always been most wary of such things.
Now, the entire capital was spreading rumors about some great illness about to arrive, making people restless and fearful. Father could not possibly be unaware of that. All of this was Chen Zixiu’s doing.
…
At this moment, Chen Bai was staying in his courtyard, feeling rather bored.
Because he was now “seriously injured,” he could not go out. If someone ran into him outside, he would not be able to explain why someone who had just suffered the Grievance-Clearing punishment had recovered so quickly.
Fine. He would quietly “recover from his injuries.”
However, someone did come to the Tingwei Office. His name was Gu Jun, the third son of the Taipu Office, one of the Nine Ministers.
It was said that he had specially come to thank the Tingwei Office’s young master, and he had brought quite a lot of gifts.
When Chen Bai heard the servants talking about it, he was also stunned.
Chen Xiaobu and several students had saved the Taipu family’s child?
He heard bits and pieces but could not understand the whole story. But Chen Xiaobu soon ran in happily with the gifts others had given him.
“Brother, the Gu family gave me lots of gifts just now. I’ll share some with you.”
Chen Bai asked him about it and learned that it had been heatstroke.
In that case, the things he had taught had actually come in handy. He just did not know under what kind of circumstances Third Master Gu of the Gu family had allowed several students to take action. It must have already been a last resort.
Chen Xiaobu stared at Chen Bai without a care in the world. “Brother, are you really also the Mountain Lord’s student? How come I’ve never seen you in the schoolhouse?”
Chen Bai smiled. “How can it be the same? I’m the Mountain Lord’s first disciple. I get private lessons.”
“Then Brother also knows the things from our schoolhouse? They’re so interesting. When I told Father about them, he whipped me and said I didn’t study properly all day, only went to teahouses to listen to storybooks.”
They chatted casually, sentence by sentence. Then Chen Xiaobu suddenly ran outside.
“Oh no, I almost forgot. Today, I made plans with the Shang brothers, Gan Xin, and the others to go to the Second Prince’s residence.”
Chen Bai froze. “Why are you going to Prince Zheng’s place?”
Chen Xiaobu answered from afar, “Isn’t the Shangjing Academy closed? We want to go study with the Mountain Lord, but we can’t find him. We agreed to go together to Prince Zheng’s place and ask.”
Chen Bai: “…”
They had finally gotten a holiday, yet there were still people fighting to go study?
Everyone believed that Chen Zixiu was currently seriously injured, so as long as he appeared in front of others as the Mountain Lord, he could dispel any possibility that people would associate Chen Zixiu and the Mountain Lord as the same person.
This was actually a good idea.
The Mountain Lord should be about ready to return from gathering medicine on the mountain.
Chen Bai got up. He still had to give the household some instructions. Otherwise, if a person as large as him suddenly disappeared, the Tingwei Office would probably search for him like mad.
Chen Bai sat in a wooden wheelchair and had someone push him toward the main hall.
Chen Shouye was chatting with Gu Jun. His eldest son caused trouble all day long, but his younger son was fairly obedient. At such a young age, people were already coming to thank him.
There was also a child inside the hall. His fingers were wrapped in cloth, his wrists and ankles were bruised dark red, and his forehead was the same, as though he had grown a third eye. It looked extremely funny.
Gu Jun was still sighing emotionally. “That Mountain Lord is truly unparalleled in this world. Even the students he teaches are so capable. You don’t know what the situation was like at the time…”
“I originally wanted to let this son of mine study under the Mountain Lord as well, but the Mountain Lord cannot be found, and Prince Zheng refuses to give a definite answer. Tell me, before, people said he couldn’t recruit students. Now, when one wants to send a child in, there’s no way to do it…”
He had seen Chen Xiaobu and the others save his son at the time. They truly were young and promising, so he also wanted to send his son there.
When Chen Bai was pushed inside, he happened to hear this.
He glanced at that funny-looking child, then said, “If Third Master Gu is truly interested, then just send the child to the Mountain Lord’s schoolhouse. I will speak to the Mountain Lord about it.”
This person was Third Master Gu of the Taipu Office, one of the Nine Ministers. It was a perfect chance to sell him a favor. Their Tingwei Office would also have an easier time.
The moment Chen Shouye saw Chen Bai, anger rose in him. Instead of lying properly in bed, why was he running around everywhere? He said, “You say it’s fine, so it’s fine? Even Prince Zheng hasn’t been able to agree to it.”
Chen Bai pointed at himself. “Can it be the same? I’m the Mountain Lord’s first disciple.”
Chen Shouye was a little stunned. Although he had heard quite a few rumors, he had not really taken them seriously. Could it actually be true?
Chen Bai did not say more and directly said, “I’m going to Prince Zheng’s place. The Mountain Lord should be almost back from gathering medicine. I need to go ask about the situation.”
After saying this, he bowed and had someone push him outside.
Gu Jun watched in a daze. After receiving the Grievance-Clearing punishment, he was still sitting in a wheelchair and running around everywhere? This eldest young master of the Chen family really had a restless nature.
Chen Shouye was somewhat embarrassed. After a long while, he squeezed out one sentence.
“He has thick skin. He can take a beating.”
Gu Jun actually took that seriously. If he could not take a beating, after one whipping punishment and one Grievance-Clearing punishment, how could he still run around everywhere as if nothing had happened?
Chen Bai returned to his own courtyard and got rid of the Tingwei Office servants following him. Only then did he secretly slip out.
By the time Chen Bai had finished disguising himself and entered Qi Zheng’s residence under the name of the Mountain Lord, the inside was already lively.
His students from the capital were actually all there.
“We want to find teacher.”
“Prince Zheng, did you hide our teacher away?”
Qi Zheng’s forehead hurt. His residence had always been cold and quiet, but now, a whole crowd had arrived at once.
When Chen Bai followed the steward inside, he saw Qi Zheng’s temples twitching.
Chen Bai said directly, “You want extra lessons? Sure. But from now on, each of you has to hand in one sketch every day.”
Tsk, tsk. Wasn’t Tang Shen planning to start a game company? He would see if he could train a group of little apprentices.
In any case, he was currently waiting for that old physician to make the antitoxin, and he had nothing else to do.
Moreover, in order to prevent people from connecting him with the Mountain Lord, he had to let the Mountain Lord identity show its face these next few days.
Before, there had only been one lesson every five days, so the teaching pace had been a little slow. He had also been thinking of holding an art exhibition for his students sooner, so he could answer the competition question Duke Gan had raised earlier and make Crown Prince Sudan of Zhao praise Great Qian’s culture and education.
After sending away the group of students, who were so happy they nearly went mad, Qi Zheng asked, “So did you come back from transcending your tribulation, or from gathering medicine?”
Chen Bai: “…”
Uh. He had forgotten that earlier, he had told Qi Zheng he had gone to transcend a tribulation. Later, as Chen Zixiu, he had said the Mountain Lord had gone to gather medicine.
This Qi Zheng really remembered these little details clearly.
He replied, “Can’t I gather medicine while transcending a tribulation?”
“Are you truly certain that ghost-face disease can be cured? Otherwise, that believer of yours probably won’t survive,” Qi Zheng said.
Chen Bai froze. Qi Zheng was actually asking about Chen Zixiu? That was unprecedented.
He nodded.
Next came the extra lessons for his students.
Sketching lessons had to move forward one step at a time.
As for the afternoon class, he arranged a lesson related to infectious diseases.
Because a major illness was about to arise, he had to let these students make preparations early.
He even gave each person a large pack of banlangen (Chinese Traditional Medicine that treats flue/cold), with twenty small sachets inside each pack.
“This is medicine made from the banlangen we are currently growing. It can prevent and treat colds.”
“The ghost-face disease that is spreading wildly through the capital right now has the scientific name ‘toxic red swelling disease.’ It is a type of infectious disease and a complication of a cold. It looks frightening, but in truth, as long as you pay attention to your health and don’t catch a cold, you won’t be infected…”
The group of students listened especially seriously, because this was something happening right beside them.
The students happily hugged their banlangen.
“If we eat this, we won’t be afraid of catching a cold. That ghost-face disease is spreading so frighteningly. I heard Crown Prince Jiao wants to kill every person who gets it.”
“Exactly. I heard the people in the capital are praying to gods and Buddhas now, begging not to get this illness.”
Chen Bai smiled. “There’s no need to be that nervous. Even if you accidentally get infected, it’s not as if there’s no medicine to cure it.”
Compared with Chen Bai happily adding extra lessons, changes were beginning to occur in the capital.
If it had only been rumors, they merely made people anxious and frightened. But what would happen when other “demons” appeared?
It happened on the second day after the execution ground incident. The first “demon” appeared.
It was one of the people who had dragged himself out with a cold that day to watch the spectacle.
In fact, he had already shown symptoms on the first day. It was just that he had been too terrified, so frightened that he did not dare say anything, and he delayed until the second day.
No matter how much he tried to hide, his family had no vegetables or grain, so he had to go out and buy some. That was how his condition was discovered.
His face was covered in red patches, scarlet like a ghost mask, exactly the same as the people on the execution ground.
At the time, the entire street erupted.
Fear. Screams. It was as though they had seen a demon. While they were afraid of him, they were also terrified in their hearts, because for the past two days, everyone had been saying that this might be an extremely contagious disease. More importantly, Crown Prince Jiao had said that if one appeared, he would kill one.
But unexpectedly, Crown Prince Jiao did not appear as they had imagined. Instead, after the whole street was shaken by the commotion, officials from the capital yamen took the man away.
No one knew where he was taken, and no one knew what happened to him.
For a time, panic spread everywhere.
When Chen Bai received the news, it was Qi Zheng who told him through a voice message.
Chen Bai thought to himself, he had already said it: within three days, there would definitely be a result.
Chen Bai only replied to Qi Zheng with one sentence.
“There can’t possibly be only this one case.”
Why?
Because they were all hiding. Once they were exposed, they would die. Crown Prince Jiao had said that if one appeared, he would kill one.
And hiding would only infect even more people.
Sure enough, news kept arriving.
One “demon” after another appeared, and the speed of the spread exceeded imagination.
The streets of the entire capital became empty. Everyone stayed home, afraid to go out.
It looked truly desolate.
At the first opportunity, the court found Prince Zheng, and through Prince Zheng, they found the Mountain Lord.
Chen Bai did not dare delay either. As soon as he obtained the antitoxin, he administered it in front of the court officials to the existing ghost-face patients, including the thirty-plus people from the execution ground last time.
The effect was actually very quick. By the second day, their conditions were visibly improving.
However, aside from those existing patients and the patients who had been captured and brought in, the antitoxin Chen Bai had obtained had no further use.
Because the patients simply did not dare come out.
Chen Bai sighed a little. This was the result of demonization.
This was Chen Bai’s first formal contact, in the identity of the Mountain Lord, with so many officials of Great Qian.
The officials of Great Qian probably had never imagined that they would one day deal with someone of no official status. It was like having a group of doctoral students present, yet needing a person without a diploma to solve the problem.
Chen Bai said, “We must quickly think of a way to find those who have already been infected. Otherwise, the situation will only get worse.”
“It would be best to have Crown Prince Jiao come out and admit his mistake, so the common people will believe he will not kill those who are sick. Otherwise, no one will dare come to me for treatment.”
“I will have Chen Zixiu set up a fixed medical station in the capital. Once patients are found, just send them there. He is my student and knows how to administer the antitoxin.”
Of course, treatment would cost money. He had bought his medicine with real gold and silver too.
Everyone froze. After thinking about it slightly, they understood. Chen Zixiu still had to rely on this to prove that he had not struck the Grievance Drum recklessly. Only then would he avoid being convicted and executed.
It was just…
A few days ago, Chen Zixiu had still been covered in disgrace. Today, he was going to help the court resolve the great illness in the capital.
It felt rather strange.
Especially when they saw Chen Zixiu being carried to the medical station. That feeling became even stranger. His body was still covered in injuries from the Grievance-Clearing punishment, yet now, in order to resolve the great illness that had made everyone in the capital panic, he had to step onto the field while wounded.
Chen Shouye even secretly said, “Do this properly. This is your only chance to turn things around.”
Chen Bai smiled. Of course he understood what Chen Shouye meant, and he replied, “Don’t worry.”
He was a person burdened with disgrace, and now he was walking on the road to becoming a good person.
Hearing Chen Bai’s answer, Chen Shouye felt his forehead ache a little.
Chen Bai was carried by stretcher to the medical station. After waiting half a day, as expected, not a single patient dared to come.
“Strange. Things have already reached this point, so what is Crown Prince Jiao still being stubborn about? He still refuses to come out and clarify? Is he that desperate to save face?”
Not only that, the Crown Prince’s residence only allowed people in and not out. It was like a prison.
Chen Bai became bored. He stayed at the medical station all day, lying on the stretcher, unable to even get up and walk around.
However…
A burst of crisp footsteps sounded. Several children poked their heads in and looked inside.
Weren’t these his students from the capital?
Chen Bai asked, “Why did you come here?”
“We snuck out. We came to see how amazing teacher’s first disciple is.”
After saying this, they all laughed.
“Brother Bai, does the Mountain Lord give you private lessons every day? The Mountain Lord never taught us how to give people injections.”
Chen Bai asked in amusement, “Aren’t you afraid?”
“We ate banlangen, so we’re not afraid. Teacher said this is a complication of a cold. As long as we don’t catch a cold, we won’t get infected.”
“Exactly. Teacher said that even if we accidentally get infected, it can still be cured. It’s just an illness.”
Chen Bai’s eyes moved.
Perhaps he did not need Crown Prince Jiao. He could still resolve this chaos.
Chen Bai asked with a smiling expression, “Do you want to bring honor to your families, glorify your households, make your fathers look at you in a new light, and become heroes who rescue people from suffering?”
The students’ mouths fell open, their eyes practically shooting light.
“Become… become what?”
The corners of Chen Bai’s mouth lifted.
As for Crown Prince Jiao, let him continue making mistakes all the way.
When the bad person in people’s hearts turned into a good person, then the image of the person who had originally seemed good would no longer shine so brightly.
And he, perhaps, would be able to walk openly and honorably through the streets of the capital.
What Chen Bai did not know was that the Emperor had already summoned Crown Prince Jiao into the palace three times. The fourth summons was already on its way, and this time, it bore the royal seal. Crown Prince Jiao had no way to avoid it.
