The Husband I Snatched Is Not Right!

Chapter 513 - 508: A New Dynasty Stands, Life Goes On

After a night of fierce battle, the rebels were crushed.

The streets of Shangjing remained dead silent.

The old woman held her breath, keeping her doors and windows tightly shut, trembling in fear as she couldn’t sleep all night.

The grandson in her arms was still young, and even though he had been frightened, how could he know worry? He was sleeping soundly in her embrace.

She looked at her daughter-in-law who was pacing back and forth with worries.

"Stop pacing, it’s making my head hurt."

"Do we know what’s happening outside?"

The old woman, after all, had aged, seen much, and understood things clearly. Her analysis was sharp and to the point: "Whether it’s the traitorous Second Prince succeeding or the timely rescue by the Fifth Prince, whether the Holy Emperor is well or dead, it makes no difference to us common folk."

Either way, it’s just a corrupt dynasty.

At most, every household would hang bleak white lanterns at their doors to show mourning.

"Once the dust settles, no matter how fierce or ruthless, as long as we stay proper, they won’t come to kill us in our own homes."

The withered hand, covered with brown age spots, gently caressed the grandson whose features resembled her son’s.

A wave of fear washed over.

The woman choked with sobs: "Last night, many people were trampled under horses. Aunt Zhou next door cried her heart out. Her family, fearing she’d bring disaster, covered her mouth tightly. If mother hadn’t gone to find them yesterday, this child... this child might have..."

"It shows he’s blessed."

The old woman: "His father’s spirit in heaven is protecting him."

She instructed: "Stay home for the next few days. I checked the rice jar at home; there’s enough for several days."

——Bang!

A loud crash.

The vibrating sound of the gong oscillated in the air like water ripples, lingering endlessly.

——Bang!

As the gong mallet struck the copper surface, the second sound followed immediately.

The old woman suddenly looked up, meeting the terrified eyes of her daughter-in-law.

For a moment, all the citizens who heard the noise perked up their ears to listen to the commotion outside, yet no one dared to open a crack to peek.

——Bang!

The gong sounded three times, and someone shouted aloud.

"By the order of the heavens, the rebellion has been quelled!"

The gong sounded three more times.

"The two traitors have been executed, justice has been served!"

Three more sounded, with a deep, powerful voice.

"A new regime is established, and all citizens should carry on as usual."

There was no more banging, but the voice grew ever more sonorous.

"The traitorous party is purged, and the new ruler has decreed—"

"From today onwards, the whole country will conduct a special civil service exam, where impoverished students can apply for travel allowance, reduce taxes, simplify the tax system to prevent bureaucratic exploitation, allow citizens to appeal directly to the emperor, and establish a drum to directly petition grievances..."

This...

This is all too good to be true.

But something’s off.

Families began whispering among themselves.

"Executed the two traitors? Didn’t the Fifth Prince go to the rescue?"

"He was supposed to go to the disaster zone, but appeared out of nowhere with his troops. I knew he had ulterior motives."

"Pah! What good could he be, serves him right to be dead!"

Someone still perplexed.

"It’s odd, both the Second Prince and Fifth Prince are dead, and with a new emperor crowned, it means the Holy Emperor is also dead. So... who ascends the throne?"

"Are you scared silly? Have you forgotten, we still have a Fourth Prince."

A daring young man cautiously climbed the wall, peeking half his head out to look outside.

In the slanting morning light, the corpses strewn across the street cast overlapping shadows on the pavement. Silently dragged by soldiers, thrown onto the carts.

That scene...

The young man’s legs went weak with fright.

He was about to fall over, but suddenly he saw some soldiers wearing Wei Family Army uniforms.

!!!

"Wei——"

The voice was too loud, scaring the household.

He was pulled down harshly.

"You fool! What are you shouting for? Aren’t you afraid of courting disaster?"

"It may look like everything’s over outside, but who knows if it’s still chaotic!"

But the young man forgot his fear, joyfully shouting.

"Mom! It’s the Wei Family Army; outside, it’s the Wei Family Army."

He was sternly reprimanded.

"The court’s soldiers are all fierce and ruthless! If you upset them, you..."

The voice cut off abruptly.

Wait.

Who?

The Wei Family Army that always treated people as people?

At that moment, hearing this, the old woman’s heart slightly steadied, though she didn’t dare let go of her fear.

"Knock knock"

The door was knocked.

The old woman jumped in surprise.

"Ma’am, it’s me, Ling Zhe, from the same barrack as Brother De. Do you still remember? Last year I visited you and sister-in-law."

"I happened to pass by and remembered the storm of blood yesterday must’ve terrified you and sister-in-law."

"Ma’am, can you hear me? It’s all right now, there’s no more danger."

With a creak, the old woman pushed open the door.

The old woman looked at Ling Zhe.

Before she could feel joy, her grandson’s excitable voice came from behind.

"Uncle Ling!"

Nearby, other citizens opened their doors and found notices pasted on each household.

In Shangjing...

No, except for the disaster zones, people all throughout Da Jin tore down the notices from their doors.

Some gathered together.

"What does it say? We can’t read."

Though they couldn’t read, there was a noticeable difference.

"It’s odd. Why do we all have different notices?"

Of course, they’re different.

Wei Zhao took the evidence of the emperors’ crimes and imperial scandals from Lu Huaizhang and revealed them to the world.

So what if some can’t read?

There’s always someone who can.

Someone began to read.

"King Yan was benevolent and never rebelled, yet was feared by the deceitful emperor, leading to the exile of his entire house without exception!"

"Duke Shun did not die of illness but was forced to death by the emperor."

"King Yan’s Princely Heir was always mistreated. He Yushi previously investigated the cause of death, and the emperor tampered with the evidence."

"In the year of famine, Zhou Qian embezzled, and it was sanctioned by the emperor! Letting millions suffer, starved to death."

"Before ascending the throne, the late Emperor rallied the officials to secure the kingdom’s foundation. Actually, many new scholars with fabricated vermillion records had their exam papers swapped, causing many impoverished scholars to miss their chance at success."

"The court’s treasury is empty, yet the private coffers left by successive emperors contain innumerable gold, left to gather dust."

"..."

"..."

The revelations caused the listeners to curse loudly.

It’s already tough for poor scholars to emerge! A whole family supports one scholar, living frugally, only for the positions to be taken by those sycophantic fools?

Of course, the gossip breached the townsfolk.

"Have you heard! The Second Prince had a tryst with a man!"

"I’ve heard, nothing surprising. His grandfather Emperor Ying fancied women."

"What’s wrong with fancying women? That’s not worth mentioning."

"With his subjects’ women! Even one who had just given birth. Don’t you think that’s wrong?"

"Li Pin in the palace bears a bastard."

"Oh, she’s really bold! How dare she mix up the imperial bloodline!"

"Ha! The Dog Emperor must’ve felt proud dying. At an old age, he could still get a concubine pregnant."

The Liangyu border withdrew troops.

In various disaster zones.

It wasn’t as gloomy as before. The water levels showed signs of receding, and the sun shone brightly.

Over there, drums and gongs sounded too.

Besides the previous summons from Emperor Ying, there were additional arrangements.

"Listen up, the court’s grace."

"Emergency relief measures, prevent plague, clear rivers, five liters of coarse rice for each cadaver collected."

"Anyone holding remnants of house deeds can exchange them for a raincoat."

"Apart from the old, weak, sick, and disabled, provide relief through work, cultivate waterworks, build city walls. Those able to write can register drowned victims, receiving three meals and wages."