His Scheme Against Prince Yi Got Him Treated Like a Vagrant Instead-The Young Master's Composure Was About to Explode!
As Gu Moran approached, she first saw the scratched "Han" character on the white wall, then she saw Pu Yunshan standing in the center of the crowd, carrying a wooden bucket. There was a mud stain on the chest of his blue shirt, and Black Water was still dripping from the wet cloth in his hand.
As soon as the Eye of Detection was activated, the system panel popped up, clearly revealing Pu Yunshan's thoughts to Gu Moran.
[ Pu Yunshan, young master of Mount Qingcheng.]
[Hostility level after being provoked by Zhao Wuxu: 99]
[Martial Arts Rank Fourth Rank Low End), Skilled in Soft Sword and Fan.]
[Current plan: Endure the humiliation, provoke Prince Yi to continue his attack, then use the scholar's status, official regulations, and public opinion to counterattack, establishing a reputation for integrity and virtue before Xie Wanqing learns of this.]
[Expected steps: 1. Prince Yi rebukes and orders his arrest. 2. He reveals his identity as a traveling scholar. 3. He recites the prefectural regulations in public and questions the prince about interfering in civil affairs. 4. He displays his martial arts skills and escapes. 5. He submits his work to the Brocade Literature Bookshop as a victimized scholar.]
Gu Moran laughed after reading the arrangement.
This guy doesn't actually think that a mere young master is more powerful than a prince, does he?
I really want to have my way with you, and you still want to play one, two, three, four, five?
That's interesting.
Keeping you here at this moment is to maximize the exploitation of your luck.
His gaze shifted from Pu Yunshan's face and went directly to Auntie Zhao, who was wearing Hongxiu armband.
Pu Yunshan had already straightened his back, and even prepared his opening remarks rebuking Prince Yi for abusing his power.
As a result, Gu Moran didn't even slow down when she passed by him, leaving only a corner of her snow-white fox fur coat flashing past his sight.
When Auntie Zhao saw the prince approaching, she first handed the wooden tray of fines to the woman next to her, and then unfolded the stamped fine slip.
"Your Highness, this scholar from out of town has been fined twenty coins according to the new regulations for using the public wall to write, and he has also been made to clean the wall himself."
But he kept saying that scholars wrote to educate the people, and he even complained that we didn't know proper etiquette.
Gu Moran took the ticket and looked at it. The amount of the fine, the reason, the person in charge, and the time were all clearly written down. Then she returned the paper to Auntie Zhao.
"The rules are set here, and anyone who comes will be dealt with the same way. You didn't reduce the fine just because he was wearing a blue shirt, nor did you take the opportunity to collect more money. You handled this matter very well. At the end of the month, when we select the best sanitation inspectors, each of your groups will receive one point."
Auntie Zhao immediately smiled, and several women beside her also straightened their Hongxiu armbands.
After participating in the inspections, they receive a small commission for each violation they catch. At the end of the month, the group with the highest score receives a bag of flour and half a pound of meat.
This recognition is far more substantial than Pu Yunshan's flowery words.
Pu Yunshan waited for a moment and found that Gu Moran still did not question his identity, so he had no choice but to throw the wet cloth into the wooden bucket and bow to him.
"This humble citizen Pu Hua, has long admired His Prince Yi's virtuous reputation. Today, upon entering the city, I was confronted by several women wielding brooms simply for writing a single character on a wall."
Since Your Highness has come in person, shouldn't you inquire about the contents of my article before deciding whether this twenty-word fine is fair or not?
Gu Moran then turned to look at him, her gaze sweeping over the deliberately aged blue robe before settling on his valuable folding fan.
What? You want to plead your case to me without first kneeling down?
You wrote graffiti on the public wall, and there's a "No Graffiti" sign next to it. The ticket already states the reason. What does the content of your writing have to do with this?
Pu Yunshan had anticipated that he would argue illogically, and immediately followed up with his prepared remarks.
"Scholars write articles to persuade people to do good, which is originally intended to educate the people. The prefecture has a long-standing tradition of posting notices to proclaim these principles. Seeing the people gathered here, I decided to write an essay entitled 'On Clearing the Streets.'"
"Since it neither damages the shops' facades nor obscures official notices, Your Highness, if you were to forbid anyone from writing based solely on a newly erected wooden sign, wouldn't that be blocking the channels of communication?"
Upon hearing the words "blocking the channels of communication," the surrounding people quieted down slightly, and several scholars stepped forward, eager to hear Prince Yi's response.
Pu Yunshan sensed the change in atmosphere and finally regained some control.
He only needs to separate public toilet rules from local education, and Gu Moran's actions—whether protecting women or revoking the tickets—will fall under his purview.
Gu Moran pointed to the wooden shelf next to the white wall, where dozens of thin wooden boards were neatly hung, each with paper and thin rope underneath.
"Here are notice boards for people to post articles, missing person notices, and information about buying and selling things."
State government notices were posted on billboards at street corners, and bookstores accepted manuscripts year-round.
You deliberately bypassed these places and wrote on the white wall of a public toilet, and now that you've been caught red-handed, you're using the excuse of educating the people.
"Did you read so much you couldn't understand the notices, or did you forget your brain when you went out?"
A few laughs came from the crowd. The scholars who had just sympathized with Pu Yunshan turned to look at the notice board and found that the notice at the top did indeed say "[For the public to use, cleared every three days]". Their faces showed a strange expression.
Pu Yunshan followed Gu Moran's finger and finally realized that the information Zhao Wuxu had given him was incomplete.
Even the locations where people can freely post articles have been prepared in advance.
His argument that he's blocking free speech has already lost its foundation.
"I am new to Yi Prefecture and was unaware that there is a public notice board here. Ignorance is no excuse. Since Your Highness speaks of fairness, you should allow outsiders a chance to correct their mistakes."
"You don't know the rules, so I'm fining you twenty coins to make you remember them. This is your chance to correct your mistakes."
Gu Moran took the wooden ruler from Tuoba Mang, measured the ink stains on the white wall, and returned the ruler after confirming that the mortar had not been damaged.
"If you know the rules and still deliberately write them incorrectly, today you will not only be fined and forced to repaint the walls, Waterworks Team will also send you to the prefectural capital, where the Prefect Si will handle your case as damage to public property."
These words were spoken.
Pu Yunshan's prepared scriptures, laws, and identity documents were of no use. Gu Moran treated him from beginning to end as a stranger who had violated street rules. This contempt was more unbearable than being arrested in public.
He suppressed the urge to pull out his fan and attacked, his gaze sweeping over the Waterworks Team members behind Gu Moran, before turning to the tall Tuoba Mang.
"Your Highness, as a prince, is arguing with a woman for twenty coins in the street. If word gets out, it will damage the reputation of the imperial family. I accept the punishment today and am willing to clean this wall."
"But if Your Highness intends to use this to humiliate scholars, the students of Yi Prefecture may not all agree."
Pu Yunshan deliberately raised his voice, trying to associate himself with the scholars of Yi Prefecture.
However, the local scholars standing nearby did not agree, and one of them even quietly took two steps back.
The scholars of Yi Prefecture all knew that Xie Wanqing often selected articles for the publishing house, and they also knew that Si Renyou attached great importance to the new regulations on public toilets, drainage, and street cleaning.
They may find the fine troublesome, but there's no need for them to offend the prefectural government and Prince Yi's Residence for the sake of a stranger who scribbles on the wall.
Auntie Zhao didn't care about the dignity of scholars. When she heard Pu Yunshan say that the prince had humiliated him, she immediately picked up a broom and pointed it at the notice board.
"I gave you a place to write, but you didn't go. After being punished, you blame others for humiliating you. If people like you are to be considered respectable scholars, then the teachers in the city will be ashamed of them because of you."