A small portion of people suspected that the disappearance of their children was related to the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion.
So many children had been harmed by the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion; perhaps their children had met the same fate?
With everyone around them cursing the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion and Lu Baofang, their suspicions were further amplified and solidified.
Another group of people understood in their hearts that the disappearance of their children had nothing to do with the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion.
But since everyone was cursing the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion anyway, what harm was there in joining in?
The Marquis's mansion, usually so aloof, was now an opportunity they dared not miss. Why wouldn't they seize it?
After all, the law could not punish the masses; even if trouble arose, they couldn't possibly arrest so many of them.
Some even pushed their way to Xie Jiang, claiming their pigs had been stolen. They said Lu Baofang ate both virgin boys and girls, and since their pigs were so fat, Lu Baofang wouldn't let them go if he knew.
"Brother, you've gone too far."
So many people in Shuntian Prefecture were watching.
Judge Huo's face twitched uncontrollably; he had heard every single word! Did Young Master Lu really need to steal your pigs! What kind of pig gave you such confidence!
Xie Jiang was surrounded by people.
Judge Huo couldn't even squeeze in to communicate with Xie Jiang amicably.
"Next, next! Anyone else? If not, we'll proceed with the formalities and beat the drum to announce injustice."
Xie Jiang strode out from the throng, a drumstick in each hand, and began to beat.
Dong dong dong—
The sound of the drum echoed in everyone's ears, like a death knell for everyone in the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion, and then spread to every corner of the capital.
Judge Huo and his subordinates turned ashen.
Each of them held a thick stack of legal documents.
This was hundreds of Zhou Shi!
Did their entire families, old and young, have any hope of survival?
But if they didn't accept them, they had no hope of survival now.
Xie Jiang sat in the hall, drinking tea, waiting for the Shuntian Prefecture officials to examine the documents. They dared not refuse. With so many commoners watching, if they didn't want to incite public anger, they had to look, even if they didn't want to.
What's more, the victims' families, led by the Zhou family, were bombarding them with cries.
Most terrifying were the few burly men who cried the loudest.
The Shuntian Prefecture officials' eardrums were pounding.
If they slowed down even a little, or tried to stop, the crying would intensify several degrees.
This forced them to stay alert and examine the documents diligently.
When Xie Jiang had been writing the legal documents in the street earlier, they had all heard him. Many of the claims were inexplicable and baseless.
However, even after filtering out the exaggerations, the number of genuine complainants was unexpectedly large.
But for powerful families like the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion, killing a few servants was a common occurrence.
It was just that the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion had too many deaths.
But this situation was by no means unique.
If one were to investigate thoroughly, there would be a second, a third Nanxiong Marquis's mansion.
Servants bought with money were not considered human; was it a big deal for any family to slaughter a chicken or a duck? Servants were only slightly better than chickens and ducks, but it was not a major crime.
If it were exposed, at most, they would be fined.
At worst, they would be exiled for a year or so.
But who would dare expose it?
Perhaps Heaven itself could not tolerate the increasingly rampant behavior of these powerful families.
So, it had specifically sent someone like Xie Jiang, a brazen and lawless fellow, to tear off the fig leaf of these powerful families with his bare hands.
Perhaps knowing that Da Yu's laws could not do anything to Lu Baofang, this Young Master Xie had even set his own charges for Lu Baofang, which made Judge Huo feel very troubled, "This crime of infringing human rights and endangering humanity, our Da Yu's laws cannot find such a charge..."
Are Da Yu's laws yours to dictate as you please?
"Do you know why His Majesty cultivates the Dao?" Xie Jiang crossed his legs, exuding an air of disdain for the world.
Judge Huo certainly knew. With an empire in his grasp, who wouldn't want to hold onto it for as long as possible, preferably for eternity?
Throughout history, which dynasty had not had emperors who sought immortality?
But what did that have to do with the crime of endangering humanity?
Judge Huo was bewildered, but since Xie Jiang asked so earnestly, he couldn't very well refuse to answer.
But how could he speak the truth? "His Majesty is concerned for all the people in the realm, praying for favorable weather and national prosperity, therefore..."
Meeting Xie Jiang's knowing smile, Judge Huo felt his tongue turn stiff, and he could not utter another word.
If national prosperity could be achieved through prayer, then what use were the emperor and his officials? They might as well all become monks or Taoist priests.
Judge Huo seemed to instinctively understand the meaning behind Xie Jiang's gaze.
Unexpectedly, Xie Jiang immediately agreed, "Judge Huo speaks the truth." It was as if his previous sarcasm had never occurred.
Judge Huo was momentarily confused.
What truth was he speaking?
Xie Jiang calmly continued, "The founding emperor and the second emperor, with their divine might and talent, pacified the realm. The land where our ancestors lived finally ended over a hundred years of war. Since the current His Majesty ascended the throne, he has rectified internal affairs and striven for progress, and Da Yu has thus achieved its current state of peace and prosperity, and we commoners have finally had good days."
Judge Huo nodded frequently.
It was true.
Although the current His Majesty had been somewhat difficult to describe in recent years, his early reign was quite good.
Judge Huo never expected that Young Master Xie would be such a master of flattery, and such an extraordinary one at that.
Xie Jiang continued his praise, "The peaceful life we have today was hard-won, exchanged for by the great founding emperor, the second emperor, and countless ancestors who toiled their entire lives!"
"But is the current life the best it can be?"
The onlookers listened blankly, and in their hearts, they all silently asked themselves, is the current life the best?
It seemed so.
And yet, it also seemed not.
People still starved to death every year.
Bandits and roving robbers frequently caused trouble.
Various heavy taxes were endless.
But at least they no longer had to wander and suffer the ravages of war.
Xie Jiang clearly told everyone, "In this era of peace and prosperity, all of this is merely the beginning."
Xie Jiang righteously began his emotional appeal, "Many people are still striving, fighting bravely for our better tomorrow!"
"Our Emperor has always cared for the people of the realm, abandoning luxury for simplicity and sincerely pursuing the Dao; our soldiers are still shedding blood on the frontiers, vowing to protect our people and homes; our officials work tirelessly, worrying about the world's troubles before others; our people are diligent and brave, creating the future with their own hands. We all share the same goal, which is for a better tomorrow!"
The emotions of the onlookers were stirred, and a resounding chorus of cheers erupted.
Even the officials of Shuntian Prefecture, who had been forced into this situation, couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, as if they had truly made significant contributions.
"But as we forge ahead, on the verge of reaching the light, a demon has appeared among us."
Xie Jiang's voice deepened, his expression solemn and angry, "It is the Young Master of the Nanxiong Marquis's mansion, Lu Baofang, who, for his own selfish desires, has turned living, breathing lives into his own feast!"