Estate Manager, there is no need for you to gesticulate in the back.
The Prince of Pingyang signaled the guards to bring the Estate Manager over.
The Estate Manager hunched his back, wearing an honest and simple-minded smile.
Your Highness, I was merely swatting mosquitoes.
In our rural area, there are an awful lot of bugs and mosquitoes.
I was worried the insects would disturb Your Highness, so I wanted to drive them away.
The Prince of Pingyang looked at the Estate Manager.
I will ask you one more time. Are these all tenant farmers from the estate?
The Estate Manager nodded with absolute certainty.
To answer Your Highness, of course they are.
These two couldn't remember clearly because the land they previously rented is different from the land they rent now.
These mud-legged peasants only know how to dig in the dirt all day. How could they clearly remember whether it was Upper Willow or Lower Willow?
The Prince of Pingyang nodded slowly.
Seeing that the Prince of Pingyang seemed to accept his explanation, the smile on the Estate Manager's face grew even more simple and honest.
The Prince of Pingyang opened the ledger.
However, it is written very clearly in this ledger.
Whether it is Upper Willow or Lower Willow, neither is planted with rice.
Furthermore, among the tenants of Upper Willow and Lower Willow, there is no one named Jia Si.
The Estate Manager froze. He hadn't expected that the Prince of Pingyang had merely flipped through it just now.
The Prince of Pingyang had actually memorized all the contents. He still wanted to open his mouth to quibble.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in the back of his knees and fell to his knees.
How dare you deceive His Highness! Men, tie him up!
At Ling Feng's command, the guards immediately tied up the Estate Manager.
Please see clearly, Your Highness! I am falsely accused!
The Estate Manager kept crying foul. Ling Feng grabbed a piece of cloth and gagged the Estate Manager's mouth.
Wang Er and Jia Si looked at each other in dismay, not knowing what to do.
The Prince of Pingyang ignored the silent exchange between the two and pointed to the next person.
You, come forward.
The man pointed out walked tremblingly to the Prince of Pingyang and knelt down.
What is your name? How many people in your family, and how much land do you rent?
The Prince of Pingyang's questions remained unchanged.
The kneeling man immediately felt relieved in his heart.
He answered the questions quickly, and Ling Feng handed him the copper coins.
The man stood up joyfully and retreated.
The person next to him prepared to step forward and answer.
However, the Prince of Pingyang's finger suddenly shifted, pointing at the young man Duoduo had noticed earlier.
You!
The young man was stunned, and the person in the front row who was preparing to answer was also stunned.
Your Highness, shouldn't it be my turn? Why did you suddenly skip to him?
That person was quite angry.
Oh? What is your name? the Prince of Pingyang asked simply.
To answer Your Highness, I am called Wang Wu. I have twenty people in my family, and I rent thirty acres of land.
The Prince of Pingyang merely nodded, without saying anything further.
He then turned to look at the young man. It's your turn.
The young man was still in a state of shock, but he answered honestly.
I am called Chunsheng. I have eight people in my family, and I rent thirty acres of land.
The Prince of Pingyang glanced at Ling Feng. Ling Feng took the copper coins prepared by the guards from the side and handed them to Chunsheng.
Wang Wu indignantly pushed the young man aside.
First come, first served. It's your turn only after I collect mine.
Chunsheng stepped aside with righteous indignation, looking at Wang Wu with eyes full of hatred.
The Prince of Pingyang saw that the other people all looked numb, as if the matter had nothing to do with them.
He glanced at Ling Feng, and Ling Feng leaned in front of the Prince of Pingyang.
The Prince of Pingyang gave a few whispered instructions. Ling Feng nodded and turned to leave.
Before long, Ling Feng returned and nodded to the Prince of Pingyang.
Duoduo, who was right next to the Prince of Pingyang, blinked her eyes.
She had heard the words the Prince of Pingyang had just instructed Ling Feng.
She looked at the villagers in front of her, revealing sympathy in her eyes.
Wang Wu stood at the front, waiting for Ling Feng to give him the copper coins.
Without a word, Ling Feng went straight ahead and twisted Wang Wu's wrist.
Two guards came over and tied Wang Wu up.
Your Highness, why are you tying me up? Wang Wu tried to break free from the guards' hold.
On what grounds? On the grounds that you disrespected me just now, I can chop off your head!
As the Prince of Pingyang spoke, he made a slicing gesture across his neck.
A guard immediately drew the broadsword from his waist and placed it against Wang Wu's neck.
Wang Wu was terrified.
Spare my life, Your Highness! I am a coarse man and do not know the rules!
You are magnanimous, please spare me!
The Prince of Pingyang looked thoughtful.
Hmm, you make a fair point.
How about this: you tell me, who exactly told you all to come and impersonate the tenant farmers?
As long as you confess, not only will I release you, but you won't be short a single copper coin of what you're owed.
If you don't confess, do not blame my blade for being blind!
Following the Prince of Pingyang's words, the guard's blade pressed down a fraction more.
Wang Wu felt a sharp sting on his neck, and then he felt liquid flowing down.
Wang Wu wet himself in sheer terror on the spot.
Spare my life, Your Highness! It was all the Estate Manager's idea!
He said that as long as we came over and randomly gave the names of tenant farmers, we could collect the money.
On the side, the gagged Estate Manager kept making muffled noises, trying to speak.
Oh? You all? Who exactly is included?
Wang Wu pointed to a few people who were better dressed. These few are.
Then, Wang Wu turned his head and pointed to a few people with their heads bowed in the back.
Those few as well.
The Prince of Pingyang looked at the people in the crowd who wished they could hide themselves away.
Ling Feng!
Yes. Ling Feng waved his hand, and the guards swarmed forward, tying all those people up.
Wang Wu? the Prince of Pingyang called out.
Yes! I have already confessed everything! Wang Wu yelled.
These remaining eight people, are they the tenant farmers? The Prince of Pingyang scrutinized the men.
Yes! They are! His Highness is asking you a question, why aren't you answering?
Wang Wu wished he could pry their mouths open.
Yes. The few men answered very timidly.
Speak, where did you take their families?
The Prince of Pingyang leaned back against the backrest of his wheelchair.
Wang Wu widened his eyes and looked at the Prince of Pingyang.
He saw that the Prince of Pingyang was staring at him with a profound look.
That gaze looked as if it could pierce right through him in the next second.
Wang Wu cast a guilty, wavering glance at the Estate Manager, who shook his head vigorously.
As Wang Wu weighed his options, the Prince of Pingyang gently raised his hand.
The guard standing beside Wang Wu raised his blade and swung it down toward Wang Wu's neck.
Wait, I'll confess!
Wang Wu trembled all over in fear.
The Estate Manager locked all their families in the cellar.
The Estate Manager said that if they dared to disobey his orders, he would kill their families!
The Estate Manager said that the harvest on the estate was poor, and he wanted us to cause trouble and clamor for the Princess Consort to reduce the rent.
The Estate Manager also said that since we are far from the capital, and the Princess Consort is merely a woman, she would be easy to fool.
As long as we fooled Your Highness, he would give us each five taels of silver.
Wang Wu spilled everything, revealing the whole truth.
The Estate Manager slumped limply to the ground.
It was over!
