CHAPTER 179: CHAPTER 179: PUBLIC OUTRAGE SURGES, SMOOTH ESCAPE FROM THE CITY

Tang Zan frowned, "Father, what are you saying? It’s not your fault, it’s the Emperor who..."

"Zan’er! Stop saying such things!" Tang Zan’s words were cut off by Tang Peizhong.

Tang Zan’s expression darkened, he pursed his lips and gave Tang Peizhong a deep look but said nothing.

Pei Shu’er noticed that this War King truly deserved his reputation as a hero, possessing many heroic qualities: tenacity, selflessness, and a broad-mindedness.

Of course, there was also the loyalty that rulers favored.

But now, the rulers were trying every means to kill him, making his loyalty seem foolishly devoted.

Pei Shu’er sighed, understanding that this era cultivated mostly those blindly loyal and filial, but years of indoctrination couldn’t be changed with a few words.

Speaking of which, these ancient people were merely pitiable individuals brainwashed by the rulers.

For loyalty and filial piety were the best weapons for the rulers to govern.

Pei Shu’er sighed, "Father, when the time is right, shall we leave the city together?"

Tang Peizhong sighed and nodded.

Anyway, the War King was already dead, and he was just the criminal Tang Peizhong.

And Tang Zan had already prepared a new identity for Tang Peizhong, named Tang Wenlong.

"Father, when the truth comes to light, or when we become strong enough, you won’t need this false identity anymore."

Tang Peizhong nodded, becoming more silent than before.

Pei Shu’er quickly ladled a bowl of chicken soup for Tang Peizhong.

"Father, try this."

Because Tang Peizhong’s body was weak, Pei Shu’er had simmered a pot of old hen soup.

The chicken soup was rich, carrying the unique aroma and flavor of chicken.

After taking one sip, Tang Peizhong’s eyes lit up and he couldn’t help but take another.

Tang Peizhong smiled, "This chicken soup reminds me of the one your mother made, it’s truly delicious."

Tang Zan gave a quirky smile, "Mother’s cooking could never compare to Pei Shu’er’s."

Tang Peizhong couldn’t help but chuckle. Yes, Liu Xu always loved to cook for him and the children, but her culinary skills were genuinely unremarkable.

Yet the whole family had to force compliments upon her.

In no time, everyone finished their meal, and Tang Zan and Pei Shu’er took the opportunity to discuss the next plan with everyone by night.

The following morning, they found evidence of the War King pasted on the doors of homes, almost every household had such paper.

Afterward, there were also disclosures of the Emperor’s misdeeds over the years.

Favorable to the vile, distant from the wise ministers, burdened with taxes, people lived in despair, never considering public sentiments.

Even those who ran shops lived very difficult lives, with extremely high taxes.

Moreover, during the national drought, the Emperor did nothing.

During the southern floods, the Emperor sent no one, nor did he allocate funds, leading to a surge in Dayan refugees.

No one even went to welcome those people into the Capital, nor allowed them to camp outside the city.

He even built a Yixiang Building for the Imperial Concubine for their exclusive entertainment and performances.

While the Imperial Palace enjoyed music and dance, just outside in the Capital, it was a scene of wailing.

Popular discontent brewed.

Pei Shu’er and Tang Zan didn’t do much. In the morning, they just had someone kill the soldiers guarding the city gates, then opened the gates.

Even if it was only a few minutes, those refugees seized the opportunity and flooded into the Capital.

Meanwhile, the Emperor was in a state of anxiety.

When the War King was beheaded yesterday, the commoners went mad. He couldn’t understand, wasn’t it just a War King? Why were these commoners so stirred?

Just at that moment, Li Xide came to report, "Emperor, it’s not good, those refugees have entered the Capital."

The Emperor stood atop the city tower at the palace gates to see.

Many refugees had flooded into the Capital, seemingly guided to the palace gates, afterward bowing before it.

"Please, Emperor, save us."

"Emperor, please give us a place to settle."

"Otherwise, we’re chased around daily with no way to live. In my family, only I and my father remain alive."

Some officials frowned, driving these refugees away; they refused to leave, and in the scuffle, a refugee was stabbed by an official and fell to the ground.

This act poked the hornet’s nest.

"Quick, someone help! Someone’s dead, there’s no way to survive!"

"Officials won’t let us live, the Holy Emperor won’t let us live, everyone charge, let’s carve out a way to survive."

Incensed, the crowd surged towards the Imperial Palace.

They snatched swords from the officials and charged all the way into the Imperial Palace.

Li Xide shouted hurriedly.

"Someone, escort the Emperor back into the palace, protect, protect!"

Thousands of soldiers surrounded the Emperor, escorting him to the Dragon Chariot, and then proceeded into the palace.

The refugees followed closely and engaged in close combat with the incoming officials.

Meanwhile, the person previously stabbed by officials quietly removed the blood package from his abdomen.

And moved towards Pei Shu’er’s direction, along with the iron sheet from his abdomen.

Amidst chaos, the people were utterly disappointed with the Emperor.

In recent days, the sentiment in the Capital was that with the War King, there was Dayan. Now that the War King was gone, Dayan was doomed, so everyone wanted to stir up trouble.

Then, everyone left the city together.

The fifty experts she hired escorted her out of the city gates, intending to return to the city afterward.

At this moment, Pei Shu’er, outside the Capital, saw a man in white wearing a fox mask.

Pei Shu’er took out a silver note of a thousand taels to give to this man.

The man instead handed her the previous five hundred taels of silver, then knelt in salute.

"Underling Bai San greets the War King, Pavilion Master, and Lady of the Pavilion,"

Pei Shu’er raised an eyebrow at Tang Zan, noticing Tang Zan had regained his imposing demeanor.

The mask on his face remained untouched.

Who would have thought Tang Zan was so formidable, even the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was his enterprise.

However, given Tang Zan’s nature, the Pavilion will likely undergo more rectification following such a major oversight that almost cost him and the War King their lives.

As expected, Tang Zan said, "Go back and reorganize, eliminate those who are mere placeholders. Besides, this letter I wrote indicates the development direction of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion within a year, along with some important matters."

Xuan Liu handed a letter to Bai San.

Bai San respectfully saluted.

At this moment, she had also transformed into the appearance of an ordinary woman, only covering her bright features slightly, appearing softer and less conspicuous.

Bai San clapped his hands, and several people wearing fox masks appeared.

"Pavilion Master, this is the recent income of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion’s Capital branch, a total of ten thousand taels."

Inside were fragmented silver, silver, and silver notes, all packed into large boxes.

Tang Zan nodded, and those subordinates immediately came to load the boxes onto the carriage.

When Bai San was about to leave, Pei Shu’er quickly called out to him.

"Bai San, could you assist us with something later?"