Fang Yun stroked Ao Huang's dragon horn to comfort him, then looked around.
All sixteen textile workshops had been sealed off. Since early morning, over a thousand soldiers had been guarding and patrolling them, while personnel from the Hall of Punishment stood watch on both the river and the rooftops.
They had not relaxed their vigilance these past few days.
More than two thousand people had gathered before the Cotton-Ginning Workshop. They were the workers from all sixteen workshops, quietly awaiting the result.
A small number of Craftsmen School members wore grim expressions, believing Fang Yun was wasting time. But most wanted to thank him, because their earnings these past few days had been five times their usual pay. Though being unable to see their families was regrettable, if they could keep receiving five times the wages, enduring it for a year would not be a problem.
The moment Fang Yun appeared, everyone's gaze converged on him.
As in the previous days, Fang Yun first cupped his hands toward every direction, thanking the soldiers and Hall of Punishment scholars guarding the workshops. Then he smiled at Liu Yu. "Good morning, Mr. Liu."
Liu Yu had mocked Ao Huang with righteous indignation, but upon seeing Fang Yun, he immediately treated him with proper courtesy. Cupping his hands, he said, "Good morning, Void Sage Fang."
Fang Yun smiled. "Yesterday, I paid a visit to your home. Old Madam Liu's sliced noodles were delicious. Your sons were all sensible as well, though that boy Liu Shiyuan was far too mischievous. I punished him by making him copy the Three Character Classic three times a day for a month."
Liu Yu became so excited that he did not know where to put his hands. Flustered, he said, "My humble home is a shabby place.