If he had to concern himself with every little thing like this, it would be far too exhausting.
Lin Yi was not the sort to go looking for trouble. Since there were people capable of handling it, there was no need to put himself through the ordeal.
When Zhang Long and Zhao Hu saw that the heir had actually nodded, they were overjoyed. They could not let these people off this time. These fellows had come to cause trouble for the heir, so he surely hated them most of all.
The harder they tormented them, the happier the heir would be. This was a fine chance to curry favor!
"Sorry, everyone, but we'll have to put you through some trouble!"
"Fuck!"
The faces of the people who had come looking for trouble turned green. If that was the standard, they were in deep trouble. None of them would likely escape.
"Your Highness, we can talk this over!"
"We haven't committed any crimes. Why are you arresting us? We're all good people."
"Lin Yi, you'll regret this."
Seeing that Lin Yi was about to leave, they hurriedly backed down. Why did they suddenly feel a chill all over?
Hmph!
Lin Yi ignored them entirely. After giving Crouching Dragon and Fledgling Phoenix a few instructions, he left the governor's residence.
These people were destined to be enemies, so why waste his breath?
"Ah, what troubled times!"
Looking at the heir's departing figure, then at the people still cursing away, Huang Yuntao could not help sighing.
These fools were courting death. They thought victory was in their grasp, little knowing that the heir would not bother talking to them about evidence. If they had stayed away today, the heir might not have wiped them out.
But since they had come, they were plainly looking to make trouble for the heir. Why would he treat them kindly? Now they were in trouble.
At that moment, he somewhat missed the heir of the past.
At least the heir of the past would not have acted on such a grand scale, much less made him take the blame alongside him. Why did he feel so creeped out now?
Fortunately, it was these people who had suffered this time, and he had managed to escape disaster.
He looked at Zhang Long and Zhao Hu. "Since the heir told you to deal with them, take them away. There's no room to hold them at my governor's residence."
"Haha, rest assured, Master Huang. We won't trouble you."
Zhao Hu burst out laughing and cast a malicious look at the people before him. "Hehe, come with us. This is just the chance to show you how I, Zhao Hu, solve cases!"
Hehe, if I don't peel a layer of skin off you, I'll be letting this fine opportunity go to waste.
This is the perfect chance to atone for my crimes through meritorious service.
If I do a good job, the heir will surely be pleased, and my earlier mistake will be wiped clean.
Come on, Zhao Hu!
He silently cheered himself on.
"What are you planning? Are you going to frame us?"
The others had naturally noticed his malicious intent, and their expressions changed at once. These two ruffians were notorious scoundrels in Northern Liang City. Anyone they set their sights on would lose a layer of skin even if they survived.
They looked at Huang Yuntao and roared, "Huang Yuntao, have you gone mad? Do you know what you're doing? You're persecuting loyal and upright men, helping a tyrant commit atrocities!"
"Loyal and upright? You lot?"
Huang Yuntao sneered. These people weren't worth a fart as loyal and upright men. Calling them that was an insult to the words.
He could see their identities at a glance. Aside from a few officials, most were unscrupulous merchants. They all had some shady businesses, which was why they had been caught up in the earlier crackdown.
So there really were few innocent people among them; it was only a question of how serious their offenses were.
Since they had offended the heir, they could only blame their own bad luck. He could not help them.
Time to leave!
"Huang Yuntao, you'll regret this!"
"Lin Yi, you've gone too far! I'll report you to the emperor!"
They could no longer concern themselves with anything else and began roaring in anger. Once they entered the Northern Liang Guard's territory, they would be finished.
Clang!
The Northern Liang Guard's longswords came straight out of their scabbards, and their icy edges pressed against the men's necks. The people who had still been ready to make a scene instantly fell silent as cicadas in winter, with nothing but fear left in their eyes.
They had never imagined that Lin Yi would actually dare lay hands on them. Did this fellow have no regard for the emperor at all?
Over the next few days, Northern Liang City sank into an unprecedented calm. Its governance could be described as thoroughly clean.
After several purges, it had become a pure land on earth. The crime rate had plummeted, falling almost to freezing point.
The ruffians who bullied people in the streets had disappeared, and even the petty thieves dared not ply their trade.
One household even forgot to shut its door when leaving. When its owner returned on the third day, not a single thing was missing, and someone had even shut the door for him.
Even the once-arrogant outsiders were now as meek as grandsons.
The change brought smiles to the faces of Northern Liang's common people. It was simply wonderful, making them feel safer than ever before. Even some who had not understood Lin Yi's purge of Northern Liang City before were now full of praise.
"Haha, thanks to the heir's purge of Northern Liang City, it must be the safest place in Great Ning now."
"Of course. The heir killed more than three thousand assassins in one stroke, scaring those hooligans so badly they don't even dare go out. Who would still dare cause trouble?"
"That's nothing. Zhang Lao'er next door was a ruffian, but now he's so scared he's turned over a new leaf and gone to carry sacks at the grain shop."
"Now that's impressive. The heir wiped out several of Northern Liang City's great pests in one stroke."
The neighbors could not help chatting. The changes in their lives these past few days were plain to see, and they all felt happy.
Just then, someone suddenly came running over and said excitedly, "Why are you still standing around here? The heir's giving everyone benefits! Hurry up and go!"
Giving out benefits?
They looked at one another. What did giving out benefits mean? Was he handing out money?
Someone immediately grew interested and asked, "Brother, what do you mean, giving out benefits? What's the heir doing now?" Why turn down a benefit? Only a fool would refuse.
"I heard that after the heir wiped out those assassins, he gained quite a lot of land. He's preparing to give it to the people to farm. They'll only have to pay some grain each year."
"What? Giving out land?"
Their eyes lit up. Land was extremely important to common people. Aside from some merchants, most depended on it for their livelihood.
Although Northern Liang's climate was rather cold, it was still possible to grow wheat and the like.
With more land, they could grow more grain and sell the surplus. This was a tremendous benefit!
They no longer had any mind for gossip and rushed straight toward the prince's residence.
Good fortune like this surely went to whoever arrived first. If they were late, the daylilies might have gone cold by then. They had to run.
When they reached the gates of the prince's residence, they saw the heir's people registering names, and a great crowd of commoners was already lined up around them.
Anyone who knew about a good thing like this and did not go was a fool.