Hours later, the surrounding townsfolk gradually dispersed. Fan Shun, who had been beaten by the crowd, had already perished. Most regrettably, not even a complete corpse was left.
The sheer brutality of it all made even battle-hardened soldiers' hearts turn cold.
Chu Chenyi glanced once, then quickly averted his gaze. "Clean this up, prepare Fan Shun's body, and just dump it in the mass grave."
He doubted they could even find a complete corpse. These commoners truly had a vicious streak.
Fan Shun had oppressed them for years; his end was merely poetic justice, a clear manifestation of heavenly retribution. It wasn't that retribution didn't come, but rather that the day for it had not yet arrived.
Upon returning to the inn, Chu Chenyi began to vividly describe the scene, painting a truly spectacular picture.
Feng Jin, merely listening to his account, could roughly sketch the scene in her mind.
"You didn't witness firsthand thousands of people surging forward, beating Fan Shun to death! When the crowd dispersed, not even a complete corpse of Fan Shun was left!"
"Enough, stop talking about it. I still want to eat later!"
From initially listening with keen interest, Feng Jin now felt somewhat nauseated and quickly stopped Chu Chenyi from continuing.
Meanwhile, Ling Mohhan, unable to tolerate their incessant chatter, had already gone out when Chu Chenyi started speaking.
"Now that Fan Shun's matter is settled, we can also return to the capital sooner."
Having stayed in Yuncheng for quite some time, Feng Jin was genuinely worried about her shops and wondered how they were faring, whether they were making a profit or a loss.
She could only wish that information travel in this ancient era was not so slow. The distance from Yuncheng to the capital meant a letter might not even arrive within ten days, and a month would pass with the back and forth.
"You'll have to ask Ling Mohhan about that."
Chu Chenyi pointed to Ling Mohhan, who was standing outside with his hands behind his back. After all, when they would return depended on Ling Mohhan's command.
Before Feng Jin could ask, Ling Mohhan spoke faintly, "We will return to the capital after the dowry from Xiliang arrives."
"You went to such great lengths to return the dowry from Xiliang, and now you're waiting for them to send it back again. You really have too much time on your hands."
Chu Chenyi looked speechless. This back-and-forth exchange, wasn't it merely a way to stall?
"The dowry was sent back because once the dowry was accepted, we would have to leave Yuncheng immediately. This was solely to delay time, allowing you to bring your army to Yuncheng to suppress Fan Shun, eliminate his cohorts, and pacify Yuncheng."
"Now, we just need to wait for the dowry from Xiliang to be sent back before we set off for the capital."
Everything done before was to wait for Chu Chenyi's army to arrive. Firstly, it was to deal with Fan Shun. Secondly, this dowry was no small sum. Along the way, with bandits and brigands, it was inevitable that many would have ill intentions. If the dowry were to have an incident within Dongchu territory, it would naturally provide Xiliang with an excuse. At that point, Dongchu would be in a passive position, and its actions would be constrained.
With the escort of the army, even if they encountered any foolish individuals, there would be no need for worry.
"You made this prince travel thousands of miles just to be your bodyguard."
At this moment, Chu Chenyi finally understood Ling Mohhan's true intentions.
Feng Jin also suddenly realized why Ling Mohhan had said yesterday, when she lamented Chu Chenyi's short time as her bodyguard, that she would remember it later.
It turned out he had already made plans. As expected of the man she loved, he was just that intelligent.
"With the protection of Prince Jing, it is naturally the safest course of action."
Ling Mohhan admitted this frankly. If it were just himself, then everything would be fine. However, with Feng Jin and their two children by his side, he naturally had to make more arrangements.
Chu Chenyi's lips twitched twice. The last time he had been so glib and tricked Ling Mohhan once, and now, not long after, Ling Mohhan had repaid him with interest.
"You win!" he declared resentfully, flicking his sleeve and leaving directly.
"Then, if we accept the dowry, Gu Beichen and Murong Jinyun's wedding will still proceed as planned. Do you really want them to marry?"
The marriage alliance itself was Xiliang's plot to attack Dongchu and aid Chu Yanxi in usurping the throne.
If it were allowed to develop like this, and if chaos were to erupt in the capital...
"If the original order is not completely disrupted, how can a new order be established? Chu Yanxi's influence in the imperial court is deeply entrenched. Moreover, the Emperor personally favors him. On the few occasions before that he suppressed Chu Yanxi, the Emperor always imposed severe punishment that was lightly enforced, and these minor reprimands caused Chu Yanxi no harm at all."
"After much thought, to completely defeat Chu Yanxi, the only way is the charge of colluding with a foreign power to rebel."
Indeed, only this method could completely defeat Chu Yanxi. Even if Emperor Xuanwen deliberately favored and protected him, he would be powerless.
"This method is effective, but it is also extremely perilous. Should even the slightest misstep occur and Chu Yanxi successfully usurped the throne, then we would truly be finished."
Feng Jin's concerns were not unreasonable. After all, no one could predict these unknown matters accurately. Who could precisely guess what would happen in the next moment?
"You, can't you think of something positive? However, your worries are also normal. To be honest, even I don't have much confidence in doing this, but things have reached this point, and we have no retreat. We can only do this."
Ling Mohhan said with a deep voice, appearing preoccupied. He had considered countless countermeasures for this matter, but the marriage alliance was unavoidable. After much deliberation, this was the only method with the highest chance of success.
Before this, he had to devise the most complete plan. Whether they succeeded or failed, he had to ensure the safety of Feng Jin and their two children.
"Do whatever you need to do. I will protect myself and the children. I will never be a burden to you."
Since the man was going to strive for his ambitions, all she could do was help him manage the household and the children, and try not to hold him back. That was what she had to do well.
"But you must also return safely and sound." Feng Jin raised her eyes and looked at Ling Mohhan with concern. This man was good in every aspect, except that he kept everything to himself and refused to speak, always making people guess. It was truly detestable.
"I will naturally return safely and not make my wife worry about me."
Ling Mohhan said in a deep voice, embracing Feng Jin even tighter.
"If you dare not come back, I'll remarry and find your son a more handsome stepfather, making your son call someone else 'Dad' and giving you a cuckold's horns."
Feng Jin buried her head in the man's embrace, pushing out the words in annoyance.