Moved by Zi Shou's resolve, Li Jing left Yuan Prison. As a law enforcer, he really should not have done so, but the emperor himself had spoken. As his subject, he could hardly disobey.
They had not gone halfway before they heard a noisy commotion outside.
Zi Shou immediately knew the spectators had arrived. Feigning ignorance, he asked the guard, "What's going on? It sounds rather chaotic outside."
Still shaken, the guard replied, "Your Majesty, they're all commoners. There must be over ten thousand of them."
"Hmm?"
"And that's a conservative estimate. More people are still coming this way."
"What exactly happened?"
"They all came for Your Majesty."
Zi Shou froze briefly. This far exceeded his estimates. At this rate, wouldn't it develop into a Citizens' Revolt?
During King Li of Zhou's reign, the people had taken up clubs and farming tools and besieged the Royal Palace, cementing his wicked reputation. "Stopping the people's mouths is more dangerous than damming a river" had left his name stinking for ten thousand years. If Zi Shou took his place in that story...
His safety was guaranteed. King Li of Zhou belonged to actual history and could not quell the Citizens' Revolt, whereas Zi Shou was in the world of Investiture of the Gods. Even Li Jing could fight a few hundred people.
Wouldn't that leave him with nothing but infamy and Foolishness Value?
That's a good thing! Zi Shou brightened at once.
Outside Yuan Prison, the people saw the gates open.
"The gates are open!"
"Minister Li!"
"And His Majesty!"
"They really came out!"
Seeing King Zhou and Li Jing emerge together, everyone turned their attention toward them.
Zi Shou had already been ready to slip away down a side path, having earned his fill of Foolishness Value for the day. But