Imperial Husband Chapter 100

Chapter 100

A single stone stirred up a thousand waves.

None of the commoners had expected Lan Mingzhou to produce Chen Manzhou at this moment. Instantly, the crowd's anger and the joy of vengeance reached a peak, surpassing even the intensity of when Lan Mingzhou had executed members of the Zhang, Chi, and Lu families a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

"Chen Manzhou, you've finally come out."

"Chen Manzhou, you damnable scoundrel, you don't deserve to live."

"Chen Manzhou, do you remember me? Back then, you nearly killed me, leaving me with only my last breath. And now? Hah! Truly, fortune's wheel turns, and now it's your turn."

Those who had been persecuted by Chen Manzhou cursed him vehemently, venting their long-held hatred.

Some even hurled stones at him continuously.

As for Chen Manzhou himself, he was already scared to death. If the soldiers hadn't dragged him out, he would never have dared to step outside.

I'm dead... I'm definitely dead...

Lan Mingzhou stepped forward and spoke to the people of Zhuzhou, "People of Zhuzhou, this official has brought the criminal Chen Manzhou before you today to deliver the justice you are owed…"

The Zhang, Chi, and Lu families were merely the appetizer. The one Lan Mingzhou truly aimed to deal with this time was not them, but Chen Manzhou, the one who had tortured Zhuzhou into its current state.

For this day, Lan Mingzhou had spent considerable time collecting evidence of the evils committed by Chen Manzhou. Now, he could finally make them public.

As Lan Mingzhou enumerated Chen Manzhou's crimes one by one, the people, already furious with him, wished even more fervently for Lan Mingzhou to execute Chen Manzhou on the spot.

"Lord Lan, kill this scoundrel!"

"Lord Lan, don't let him go!"

Each angry shout from the people represented their inextinguishable hatred for Chen Manzhou.

Originally, although Zhuzhou was still impoverished, it would never have reached such a desperate, dead-end state. But Chen Manzhou's arrival shattered the peace of Zhuzhou's people, forcing them into revolt.

"Very well."

Lan Mingzhou had originally intended this anyway. Now that the people themselves were demanding it, he naturally would not refuse.

Perhaps the people's hatred for Chen Manzhou was too intense. As the news spread that Lan Mingzhou intended to execute Chen Manzhou, an enormous crowd of Zhuzhou's people gathered to witness the punishment.

"Carry out the sentence."

To avoid complications, Lan Mingzhou did not intend to give Chen Manzhou a chance to speak. He gave the order for the execution to proceed.

Knowing escape was impossible, Chen Manzhou ceased struggling and knelt on the ground in despair.

"Spare him under the blade!"

It happened in the blink of an eye.

Just as the executioner stepped onto the platform, raised the blade, and prepared to bring it down, a group of men in official robes rushed over, shouting to stop Lan Mingzhou from ordering the execution.

"Uncle!"

Chen Manzhou, who had thought death was certain, was overjoyed upon seeing the approaching Prefect and cried out.

With Uncle here, I'm saved.

It was the Prefect.

Seeing the man who had come to stop him, Lan Mingzhou's pupils constricted sharply.

"Lord... this..."

The executioner was momentarily at a loss and could only look at Lan Mingzhou, awaiting his next instruction.

Although the Prefect's appearance threw Lan Mingzhou into momentary disarray, he quickly regained his composure and declared resolutely, "Pay him no mind. Proceed with the execution."

"Yes, Lord."

Upon hearing this, the executioner immediately carried out the order.

"Lan Mingzhou, how dare you?" The Prefect, seeing that Lan Mingzhou disregarded him and stubbornly proceeded to behead Chen Manzhou, flew into a rage. "Even if Chen Manzhou committed crimes, he holds official rank! You have no authority to dispose of him arbitrarily!"

"Uncle... save me... ugh..."

The executioner worked swiftly. Before the Prefect could get close, he had already beheaded Chen Manzhou.

"Manzhou..."

The Prefect cried out in disbelief, his eyes filled with shock.

"Prefect, what brings you here?" Lan Mingzhou, acting as if nothing had happened, walked towards the Prefect and bowed in greeting.

"Seize Lan Mingzhou for this official!"

Furious, the Prefect ordered his own men to arrest Lan Mingzhou.

Lan Mingzhou frowned. "Prefect, what is the meaning of this?"

"The meaning?" The Prefect gnashed his teeth. "You know very well yourself! Lan Mingzhou, you disregarded this official's warning, privately killed an imperial official. The crime warrants death!"

"Lord Lan killed Chen Manzhou for our sake! If you want to kill someone, kill us!"

"That's right! Lord Lan has shown us great kindness. We will never let you take Lord Lan away!"

Many of Zhuzhou's people suddenly stepped forward, shielding Lan Mingzhou and blocking the Prefect's men.

"Rebellious peasants! Ruffians!" The Prefect cursed angrily. "All of you, get out of here! Whoever dares obstruct this official will be charged alongside him!"

"Charge us then! We have nothing left anyway, at most it's death. Lord Lan was acting to redress the people's grievances! You, this corrupt official, are clearly in cahoots with Chen Manzhou!"

"Yes! Today, no matter what, we won't let you take Lord Lan away!"

"Corrupt official! Get out of Zhuzhou!"

"Get out of Zhuzhou..."

The people of Zhuzhou knew gratitude. Moreover, Lan Mingzhou had done far too much for them. It was impossible for them to stand by idly now and watch him be taken away.

"Fine! Since you all want to die together, I'll oblige!" The Prefect, enraged to the extreme, laughed coldly. "MlArrest these rebellious peasants who dare obstruct this official! I will charge them all!"

"You must leave! I will be fine!"

Seeing the people of Zhuzhou risk their own safety to protect him, Lan Mingzhou grew anxious and urged them to flee.

To receive such protection from the people made his tenure as the Magistrate of Zhuzhou utterly worthwhile.

"No! We cannot let him arrest you!"

The people shielding Lan Mingzhou showed no intention of retreating, clearly determined to protect him to the end.

The Prefect was so angry. "Arrest them! Arrest them all!"

"Prefect, I hold the Seventh Prince's token. The matter of dealing with Chen Manzhou was already approved by His Highness the Seventh Prince. You have no authority to arrest me." Lan Mingzhou, who had not intended to use the token again, saw the situation spiraling out of control and had no choice but to use Ying Yuan's token once more.

"Hmph!" The Prefect snorted coldly. "The Seventh Prince died on the road long ago! This is clearly an impersonation! Lan Mingzhou, you first privately killed an imperial official, and now you fraudulently use a royal prince's token! Your crimes are unpardonable!"

Ying Yuan stepped forward, meeting the Prefect's eyes. "This prince is right here. Who are you saying fraudulently used this prince's token?"

"Uh..." The Prefect was dumbfounded. He instinctively refuted loudly, "Impossible! The Seventh Prince is long dead! You cannot be the Seventh Prince! How audacious! To dare impersonate a prince! Seize him too!"

The Prefect was unaware that Ying Yuan and his party were unharmed and stubbornly believed Ying Yuan was an imposter.

"You dare!"

Tao Yichu emerged from the shadows and seized the Prefect.

"You... who are you... No, you're an imperial guard."

The Prefect initially wanted to vent his anger, but when he clearly saw Tao Yichu's attire, his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

With imperial guards present... could this person truly be the Seventh Prince?

Tao Yichu whistled, a faint, mocking smile on his lips. "The Prefect is quite imposing. Could it be you have a formidable backer?"

The Prefect evaded the question. "What backer? This official doesn't know what you're talking about."

Tao Yichu had hit the mark.

The Prefect had pledged allegiance to someone; otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to come so blatantly to rescue Chen Manzhou.

Tao Yichu raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"

The Prefect changed the subject. "Regardless of the prior circumstances, the fact remains that Lan Mingzhou oppressed the common people. Even if he avoids a death sentence, he cannot escape punishment. This official must request that His Highness the Seventh Prince and you, sir, do not interfere with the execution of the law."

The Prefect seemed to know something. He showed little fear towards Ying Yuan and instead adopted a businesslike demeanor.

"Oh? Then please elaborate. What is this 'punishment' you speak of?"

Li Jin walked leisurely to Ying Yuan's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

"You are..."

The Prefect looked at Li Jin, puzzled.

Who is this person who suddenly appeared? How dare he stand beside the Seventh Prince? Could his status also be high? Impossible. The Seventh Prince is not favored by His Majesty. Who would be willing to follow him?

The Prefect pondered for a while but could not deduce Li Jin's identity.

It wasn't entirely the Prefect's fault. After all, the fact that Li Jin was sickly and near death was deeply ingrained in people's minds. If Li Jin had appeared sickly and pale at this moment, the Prefect might have been suspicious.

But Li Jin's current rosy, healthy complexion showed no trace of illness.

Li Jin deftly deflected the question. "The Seventh Prince's study companion. Prefect, you haven't answered my question yet, have you?"

"Very well! Since His Highness the Seventh Prince wishes to know, this official will state it plainly. Bring the three of them forward." Suppressing his doubts, the Prefect immediately ordered Wang Jinhua and her two brothers to be brought forward.

Upon coming forward, Wang Jinhua, catching sight of Li Jin, immediately began shouting, then proceeded to portray Li Jin as a despicable villain before finally stopping.

"Liu Wang-shi, are you saying he is the person you were looking for?" The Prefect's expression was rather peculiar as he asked this.

[Liu Wang-shi: lit. the woman of the Liu family, a traditional form of address for a married woman in historical Chinese context—Liu (刘): Her husband's surname; Wang (王): Her own maiden surname; shi (氏): A suffix meaning "clan" or "family"]

Because Li Jin had just stated he was the Seventh Prince's study companion. A person holding such a position must be of significant standing—otherwise, they couldn't become a prince's study companion. Would someone of that stature truly stoop to harming a commoner over such petty gains?

Wait... the Seventh Prince's study companion... wouldn't that make him Li Jin, the Heir of the Prince of Dingbei?

Thinking of this, the Prefect instantly drew a sharp breath.

"Yes, Your Lordship, it's this man." Wang Jinhua, believing she had found someone to deal with Li Jin, poured out her story. "It was him, and Lord Lan who helped him, who harmed us, Your Lordship! You must uphold justice for us! Those sweet potatoes..."

You surnamed Li, let's see how you escape now.

A triumphant sneer twisted Wang Jinhua's face as she glared at Li Jin, her eyes alight with the fierce glow of long-awaited vengeance.

Unfortunately... Her expression lasted only a few seconds before it completely crumbled because of Li Jin's next sentence.

"That is strange. The sweet potatoes you speak of searching for were something I incidentally read about in a book two years ago and noted down. That book is still kept in the Prince's mansion. How could it have become your possession?"