"What, what, what's going on?"
"Meaning, what's the situation?"
"Hey, isn't that Lord Wei?" Someone in a passing prisoner cart spotted a familiar face and excitedly stood on tiptoe, craning their neck for a better look.
Lord Wei in the cart turned his head away embarrassedly. Although his official dignity remained on his face, he secretly wished he could disappear on the spot.
"This one too!" Another person exclaimed excitedly.
Finally, many people noticed, "It seems all the carts are filled with Lord Weis."
The officials upstairs spat out their tea in surprise. A sense of unease and foreboding churned in their hearts. They got up one after another and leaned over the window, secretly peeping down.
As they looked, several carts of Lord Wei's colleagues, in shackles and manacles, were sitting in the prisoner carts, slowly making their way towards the capital magistrate's office.
The sight and the grandeur left them stunned.
Lord Zhu clutched his chest, fuming, "See, see! I told you, that Chu Junyi is just a mad dog. He bites anyone he catches!
If we don't act, he'll come for us next!"
"See, we see. Lord Zhu, don't get so agitated!" Their hearts weren't in good condition either. Don't provoke them anymore.
...
"Sir, did you arrest all these people? What crimes did they commit?"
Chu Junyi raised his eyes. After catching a glimpse of the aunt who had asked the question in the front, he nodded slightly at her. Then he urged his horse forward and patiently explained, "The Wei clan colluded with the eldest princess to engage in the buying and selling of official positions, pervert the law for personal gain, and oppress the common people. I was ordered to arrest them."
Li Xinyue tilted her head back and looked at him in shock.
Chu Junyi lowered his eyes and looked back at her, looking puzzled.
Li Xinyue turned her head back and looked ahead.
The aunt who had asked the question was a bit stunned. She originally thought that not only would she not get a reply, but she might even anger the high - ranking official and get arrested. So she had asked the question nervously.
But unexpectedly, Lord Chu not only didn't blame her but also answered her question.
This warmed the aunt's heart. The look of fear on her face disappeared, and she developed a bit more fondness for this approachable Lord Chu in her heart.
The on - looking common people all felt a warmth in their hearts. The originally quiet street became lively again. Many people showed expressions of admiration.
"Lord Chu, you're the sky for us common people. With you around, we don't have to worry about the sky falling."
"Yes! You're our parent - official, an upright and honest official. If every official was as honest and clean as you, that would be great."
"Indeed!" When saying this, many people looked at the carts of Lord Weis with disdain.
Their eyes seemed to be saying, How could there be such a big difference between officials!
The Lord Weis in the carts felt bitter but couldn't say a word.
After sharing the same view, many people excitedly shouted, "Lord Chu! Lord Chu! Lord Chu!"
The originally bustling and luxurious street filled with soft, alluring music now uniformly shouted Lord Chu, and some even waved their handkerchiefs to add momentum.
So the shouts rolled in waves, and it was a rare sight of uniformity.
Chu Junyi burst out laughing and was quite embarrassed by the praise. He waved his hands repeatedly, signaling them to stop shouting.
Li Xinyue lowered her head slightly. At an angle where he couldn't see, the corners of her mouth rose wildly, and her young heart fluttered gently.
Who doesn't love a hero? She was no exception!
Chu Junyi!
She admired him!
But the road ahead was dangerous. It wasn't easy being a hero. She hoped that he could have a smooth life and everything go as he wished.
She reached out and gently held his big hand.
That big hand suddenly clasped her small hand back and held it tightly.
"Hey, the lady in your arms must be the princess, right? The story of the top scholar and Princess Yuanyang has spread widely among the neighbors.
From the eighty - year - old elders to the five - year - old children, everyone can say a few words about it.
It's just that we've never seen them in person. Seeing the two of you live in harmony and be in love today, we're also happy. Right?"
"Right!" A bunch of people echoed.
Then they shouted again, "Top scholar marries the princess! Top scholar marries the princess!"
So the whole street erupted. I don't know which genius musician actually played the widely - known folk love song at this moment. So the men and women in the neighborhood sang along.
The mighty procession walked on, and the singing was continuous.
Li Xinyue leaned against Chu Junyi, closed her eyes, and pretended to be calm. But after pretending for a while, she couldn't hold it in anymore and burst out laughing. Then she looked up at the man behind her.
The strong admiration in her heart was reflected on her blushing face. Her bright eyes looking at him were as bright as stars.
"Chu Junyi, you've become famous. I'll have to rely on you in the future."
Chu Junyi also lowered his eyes to look at her. His eyes were full of undisguised affection. "That's also thanks to marrying the princess. If I had married someone else, it probably wouldn't have been so sensational."
"Humph, you still want to marry someone else."
"I wouldn't dare."
The on - looking common people were so excited that their eyes sparkled with hearts.
The Lord Weis in the prisoner carts thought: ...
At this moment, a man hiding in the shadow of a house not far away stared deeply at this scene. His hand landed on the wall, and he dug out several marks due to nervousness.
Under great pressure and the mountain - like shouts of support, the man rushed towards Li Xinyue.
"Princess!"
He knelt on the ground with a thud. When he looked up, there were tears in his eyes.
Chu Junyi quickly reined in his horse and looked blankly at the heavily - made - up man kneeling on the ground.
The on - looking common people were also blank. The mountain - like singing suddenly stopped at this moment. Only the melodious sound of the qin continued.
Maybe the qin player also realized something was wrong when no one was singing along, and finally stopped playing the qin.
"Princess, after that night, you never came to see me again. Do you not want me anymore?"
Li Xinyue was slightly stunned. Then when she saw the man's face clearly, she suddenly understood. "I recognize you. You're the eldest princess's man. Although I look similar to my aunt, you're probably missing the eldest princess so much that you've mistaken me for her."
"Princess Yuanyang, I'm Liu Yeqing. Have you forgotten? That night in the south of the Yangtze River a few months ago, you said you'd give me a title. But later, I waited for you for a long time but didn't see you. I know my status is humble and I'm not worthy of you. I also know I can't compare to the dashing and talented consort.
I don't ask for anything. I just want to stay by your side and see you every day."
Li Xinyue, "..."
Chu Junyi frowned tightly. Who was this bastard who came out to disgust them? Didn't he see they were being affectionate?
He suddenly raised his head and looked towards the nearby restaurants and inns.
The several officials who were lying on the windows to watch quickly closed the windows with a thud, feeling scared.
It was just because that gaze was so intimidating. At that moment, they felt as if they had been discovered.
But, they shouldn't have been discovered, right?
The several officials looked at each other and then looked up at the sky.
Chu Junyi originally hadn't noticed, but the crisp sound of the window closing made his gaze tighten, and he deeply remembered the specific location.
"Consort, don't blame the princess. Although the princess is naturally amorous, you're her only consort. No one can shake your position as the principal husband."
Chu Junyi stared at him impatiently.