Yang Hun stood on top of the city wall.
His expression had turned extremely unpleasant at this moment.
Yet, he was still trying his best to suppress his true temper.
It wasn't for any other reason.
It was just that this year's Fairy of the Hundred Flowers was truly different from those in previous years.
This young girl was Xu Yue'er, the daughter of Xu Bin, the imperial tutor in the capital.
Apart from this identity, Xu Yue'er was also the adopted daughter of the current lord's wife.
"Fairy, you're being too harsh. Our Jiangning City has never failed to pay taxes and tributes to the capital on a daily basis. During my years as the governor, I've never done anything out of line. Now, all of a sudden, a few trouble - makers claim that I'm a corrupt official and a traitor. Fairy, you mustn't believe them."
Xu Yue'er looked down below the city wall.
There, there were at least a thousand commoners.
These were the so - called "a few trouble - makers" in Yang Hun's mouth?
"Governor, do you think that not only is Yue'er's eyesight poor, but also her mind is stupid?"
"Fairy, you're being too harsh. I've always been kind and caring towards the people of Jiangning City."
"You've got all these soldiers in the city with their arrows nocked and bows fully drawn, aiming at the thousands of commoners below the city wall. Is this what you call being kind and caring towards the people?"
The smile on Yang Hun's face started to fade.
"I was just afraid that these trouble - makers might harm the fairy."
"Humph, then I should really thank the governor for thinking so much about me?"
"Fairy, you're the daughter of the imperial tutor and have the backing of the lord's wife. You should understand that as the governor of Jiangning City, I've also made significant contributions to the country."
"Contributions? Are those contributions you've made just scraping layer by layer from these commoners? Your governor's mansion is magnificent, and the streets are clean. But the commoners' houses are in ruins. The population of Jiangning City is decreasing year by year. You're really a competent governor."
Yang Hun clearly heard the sarcasm in Xu Yue'er's words.
Even Zhao Shuning couldn't help but give a silent thumbs - up to Xu Yue'er.
She was a heroic woman, caring about the world and able to see the big picture. It was really a waste for her to just stay in the boudoir embroidering and doing needlework.
If she could become the next imperial tutor, there would be no worry about the education of the royal heirs in the State of Cangwu.
However, since the founding of the State of Cangwu, there had never been a female imperial tutor.
"Miss Xu, I address you as 'fairy' out of respect. But I still have to remind you that although you've become the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers and received this special honor to inspect the various prefectures, this is a gift from the lord's wife. It's not for you to stand on the city wall and dictate. You're just a woman. What you should do is stay in the boudoir and be a proper young lady from a noble family."
Yang Hun's tone became a lot harsher.
It seemed that he was running out of patience.
A brute was a brute after all.
Having had everything go smoothly for so many years, he couldn't even pretend to be humble for long.
"Yang Hun, as the governor of Jiangning City, you've failed to do your duty. After I return to the capital, I'll surely report your crimes to the lord's wife truthfully. Your days of arrogance are numbered."
Yang Hun stared at Xu Yue'er with burning eyes.
His stare made Xu Yue'er feel a little uneasy.
But since childhood, she had read all the books in her father's mansion. She knew that if everyone dared not to interfere when such unjust things happened, then those in high positions didn't deserve the offerings from the commoners.
"It seems that Miss Xu will never side with me today, no matter what."
"Facts speak louder than words."
"Good, very good."
Yang Hun's face darkened.
He slowly stretched out his right hand.
Looking at Xu Yue'er.
At the sight of Yang Hun's gesture, the soldiers guarding the city immediately focused their attention on the bows and arrows in their hands.
Xu Yue'er was greatly shocked.
"What are you going to do?"
"What I'm going to do, Miss Xu should be very clear. What should be said and what shouldn't be said, Miss Xu must have already made up her mind."
"Yang Hun, the people of Jiangning City are under your jurisdiction. Your soldiers should protect them, not point their bows and arrows at their own people."
"I don't want to do this either. It's all Miss Xu's fault."
Yang Hun's meaning was full of contempt.
Zhao Shuning couldn't help but curse.
This Yang Hun was really good at threatening a weak woman.
He actually used the people of the whole city to force Miss Xu to side with him.
"Yang Hun, you're shameless."
"Yes, I'm shameless. If I weren't shameless, I might not have reached my current position. Do you think there are many good people in your capital? The evils they've done are no less than mine. I'm just a governor. Compared with those powerful nobles in the capital, the evils I've done are just the tip of the iceberg."
Yang Hun took a step closer to Xu Yue'er.
Xu Yue'er couldn't help but take a step back.
The malevolence on the man's face made her a little scared.
"However, I've changed my mind now."
"What do you mean?"
"Miss Xu has high moral integrity. Even if she agrees to me today for the sake of the people of Jiangning City, I'm afraid that after returning to the capital, she'll still tell everything that happened here. Then, I'll still be doomed."
Yang Hun wasn't completely stupid.
"What are you going to do?"
Yang Hun's continuous approach made Xu Yue'er lose her balance.
She staggered and fell to the ground.
Yang Hun squatted down.
His right hand rose again.
Xu Yue'er was greatly shocked.
"Don't."
But Yang Hun was expressionless.
He mechanically gave the order.
"Today, the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers came to inspect Jiangning City. It should have been a joyous occasion. But unfortunately, there were trouble - makers in Jiangning City who lusted after the fairy's beauty. After many attempts to persuade them failed, they even tried to force themselves on the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers. Yang Hun, the governor of Jiangning City, tried his best to protect the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers. But today's event was too grand, and there were too many on - lookers. During the conflict, the governor had to consider many things and couldn't take full care of the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers. As a result, the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers - "
Yang Hun looked at Xu Yue'er.
Then he said the next four words in a strange tone: "died of her injuries."
"You're talking nonsense!"
Yang Hun stood up.
He also pulled Xu Yue'er up.
Then he said, "After that, the governor of Jiangning City fought bravely to chase and kill the trouble - makers. Finally, he avenged the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers. And the corpses of those trouble - makers were properly disposed of."
He was going to blame this riot on Xu Yue'er and the people of Jiangning City.
Yang Hun's move was extremely vicious.
"You, you - "
"Miss Xu, you're still too naive. You don't know how to stay calm when things happen and you love to show off. It's a pity."
Yang Hun's hand brushed across Xu Yue'er's skin.
It was as smooth as can be.
"It's a pity that I won't be able to enjoy such beauty."
Saying this,
Yang Hun lifted Xu Yue'er with his left hand and threw her off the city wall.
At the same time,
he gave another order.
"Release the arrows!"