It's easy to be a villain, but hard to be a princess

At this time, a woman at the head of the group stood up, she looked quite like a heroine, arched her hands and said: "My lord, Mrs. Zhang has a grievance that she wants to avenge!"

The entourage next to Chu Muqing yelled: "There are government offices in various states and places. If you don't go to the government office to avenge your grievances, but come to block the way of the prince, what should you do?"

The woman was still unyielding, "The girl has something to say to the prince in person, and I ask the prince for permission."

Chu Muqing said lightly, "Say."

The woman held her fists together, "The woman is the wife of Zhang Mian, the magistrate of Yunzhou. Since I became an official, the master has been law-abiding, high-spirited and upright, and regards the people as the sky. He has never done anything harmful to the sky! Please also learn from the prince."

Chu Muqing said: "He personally admitted to embezzling taxes, do you still think that this king wronged him?"

"My lord! My lord has indeed embezzled taxes, but does my lord know where the taxes from the corrupt people go?" The woman pointed to a large group of people kneeling behind her, "They are all Jing'an people. There is no harvest in the severe drought, and the people are in dire straits. The rice grain allocated by the imperial court is not enough for tens of thousands of people in Jing'an. The master's ancestral home is in Jing'an, and he really can't bear to see the people in Jing'an suffer, so he has no choice but to make such a bad plan. Could it be, This deserves to die too?"

As soon as the woman finished speaking, the common people behind her catered to her, wanting to intercede for Zhang Mian.

"Master Zhang is a living Bodhisattva, I beg the lord to be lenient and let Master Zhang go..." The voices rose and fell.

At this time, another young man stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Caomin can testify that in the past two years, seven or eight carts of rice grains have been transported from Yunzhou every month, and the Caomin distributed them to the common people. It is said that rich businessmen in Yunzhou gave relief, but the grassroots know that it was secretly sent by the magistrate of Yunzhou. Mr. Zhang is an upright official, works like a cow and a horse for the people, and has a heart of Buddha. Where can you find such a good man in the world Officer, so I ask the prince to think carefully, and don't wrong a good man!"

Han Zixiao thought of the rice grains in those seven or eight carriages that night when the stolen goods were stolen together.In this way, it makes sense.It is true that Zhang Mian is a clean and honest official, he loves the people like his son, and it is true that he embezzles taxes, but he embezzles taxes because he loves the people like his son.

Han Zixiao looked at Chu Muqing, "My lord, what should I do?"

Chu Muqing said leisurely: "The case was handled by Mr. Han, and the person was also arrested by Mr. Han. Why did you ask me about this king?"

Han Zixiao groaned in his heart, the regent gave him the right to make decisions at critical moments, but he had only been an official for less than half a year, how could he play a big knife in front of the regent.

"My lord, I will listen to you." Han Zixiao said modestly.

Chu Muqing glared at him from the corner of his eye, and said to the people in front of him, "Go back first, and I will give you an explanation after I find out."

In the evening, the regent checked into the inn and ordered Zhang Mian to be brought into the room.

Chu Muqing was sitting at the round table holding a cup of tea, Han Zixiao was standing beside him, Zhang Mian came in wearing a prison uniform, knelt down and saluted, "The sinful minister sees the prince."

Chu Muqing raised her eyes, "There's no need to be polite."

Zhang Mian stood up, "Thank you, my lord."

Chu Muqing lifted the tea cover and flicked the tea leaves on the tea soup, "You have embezzled tax money to help Jing'an refugees, this king has confirmed that there is indeed such a thing."

Zhang Mian bowed his head, stood respectfully, and did not try his best to avenge himself because of Chu Muqing's words.

"You love the people like a son, this king understands in his heart, but embezzlement of taxes is a serious crime and violates the laws of our dynasty. If this king indulges you, there will be thousands of Zhang Mian in the future, and the court will be chaotic in the future." It's gone." Chu Muqing said.

Zhang Miandao: "The guilty minister understands that no matter what the reasons behind it are, the criminal minister's embezzlement of tax money is true, and I ask the prince to convict him."

"Of course I will be convicted of your crimes. However, because you have no evil intentions and have done your best for the people of Yunzhou, I will spare you."

Zhang Mian knelt down again, "Thank you, my lord, for not killing me."

"But in the future, there will be no such person as Zhang Mian in this world."

Since you don't kill him, what do you mean by saying such a thing?Han Zixiao at the back also didn't understand, Zhang Mian looked at Chu Muqing and asked, "Your Majesty?"

Chu Muqing explained: "This king spares your life and lets you reunite with your relatives, but in the future you will have to change your appearance, and you will not be able to set foot in Yunzhou again."

Zhang Mian bowed his head and kowtowed, his forehead touched the ground, "Thank you, my lord, for your great kindness, the sinner will never be repaid!"

Chu Muqing took a sip of the cold tea in her hand, "Go down."

"Yes."

After Zhang Mian withdrew.Han Zixiao who was on the side spoke, "Your Highness is truly a Bodhisattva."

Chu Muqing raised the corners of her lips, and said casually: "But if this king is determined to punish him, you must think that this king is hard-hearted."

Han Zixiao smiled, "How come, even if the prince wants to punish him, it is for the sake of the court."

"Slick tongue." Chu Muqing said.

Han Zixiao smiled cheekily, "I have something to ask the lord."

"Say."

"A few days ago, the lower official informed the censor, Mr. Huang, about the embezzlement of taxes by the prefect of Yunzhou, and now..."

Chu Muqing understood what he said, and said: "Just now this king also said that there is no Zhang Mian in this world. Mr. Han is very good at fabricating stories, so why should I teach you even this."

After Chu Muqing mentioned it, Han Zixiao immediately knew what to do, "Thank you, my lord, for your suggestion."

Early the next morning, Chu Muqing and Han Zixiao rushed to Suzhou Ferry, boarded a boat at the ferry, and went all the way to the capital.

It’s early summer when it comes, and it’s midsummer when it’s back.On a summer night, the starry sky was bright and the breeze was pleasant. Han Zixiao was about to go to the bow of the boat to blow some air, but he didn't expect that there was already a person standing on the bow.I hesitated in my heart whether to turn back or go to say a few words.

After hesitating for a while, Han Zixiao decided to go back to his room to sleep.

"Why, I'm afraid that this king will eat you up?"

Han Zixiao who just turned around wiped his sweat silently. It turned out that Chu Muqing knew that he was behind him.Han Zixiao walked over very generously, "I want to come here to blow some air, but I'm afraid I will disturb the prince's cleanliness."

Chu Muqing glanced at him lightly, "You blow your wind, it's nothing to do with me."

"That's right." Han Zixiao looked at the dark front, if it wasn't for the sound of water under the boat, he wouldn't have been able to tell that he was on the river.Han Zixiao and Chu Muqing stood side by side at the bow of the boat. The atmosphere was too quiet, but rather weird. Han Zixiao tried to find a topic to talk about.

I was still thinking about whether I should tell Chu Muqing that the weather is good today, or discuss whether to go ashore tomorrow and buy some melons and fruits to eat on the boat.

But after much deliberation, I found that these topics are very boring.When he turned his head to look at Chu Muqing again, his complexion had become ugly, Han Zixiao tried to say, "My lord?"

Chu Muqing grabbed his hand and led him to dodge to the side. Han Zixiao didn't know what happened, but being surrounded by Chu Muqing, he almost lost his footing and fell into the water.

In the next moment, several metal hidden weapons flew past Han Zixiao's eyes, and Han Zixiao finally realized that he broke out in a cold sweat.At this time, the oncoming boat bumped into their big boat with a bang, the boat shook for a while, and three figures flew up from the oncoming boat!Han Zixiao thought that all assassins covered their faces and wore night clothes, but these three assassins showed their faces so openly, they really didn't have any consciousness of assassins at all.

Han Zixiao shouted: "There are assassins, protect the prince!"

The guards on the boat heard the movement and rushed to the bow immediately. However, the regent did not bring many guards with him this time, and together with the two around Han Zixiao, there were only enough people for a table of Eight Immortals.

Over there, Chu Muqing had already started a fight with the assassin, and it seemed that he still had some skills.It's the first time for Han Zixiao to meet an assassin at such a big age!If you don't pay attention, you will lose your life, and you can't take it lightly anyway, but you can only do three-legged cat kung fu, and it seems that you can help the guards deal with one.

Each of these assassins has one or two brushes, and it is really not easy to deal with them.During the fight, Chu Muqing asked sharply, "Who are you, and what grudge do you have against this king!"

One of the assassins said: "Receive money, □□!"

There were three assassins in total, and there were more than a dozen on their side plus the boatman. The assassins were unscathed, and three of them had been killed on their side.When Han Zixiao didn't pay attention, he was kicked out by a big man with a scar on his face.The force was so fierce that Han Zixiao suspected that two of his ribs had been broken.

Just as he was about to get up, Chu Muqing, who was fighting with a man in white, just stepped back in front of him.Enduring the pain, Han Zixiao raised his sword to help Chu Muqing deal with the assassin in front of him.

The face of the assassin in front of him was as white as paper, but his lips were as black as ink, and his inverted triangle eyes were as bloodthirsty as a poisonous snake.

Although this man was terrifyingly tall, after Han Zixiao helped Chu Muqing deal with him, he was at a disadvantage.When he was in a hurry, he flew a black hidden weapon from his sleeve. Han Zixiao was about to dodge sideways, but before he had time, the hidden weapon brushed against his arm and cut a hole in his clothes.

Han Zixiao was injured and stopped. Chu Muqing stepped up his attack and wanted to deal with him quickly. The bloodthirsty light in the eyes of the man with white face and black lips became more and more intense, and he suddenly touched a mechanism on the sword. A burst of red mist scattered from the sword in his hand, Chu Muqing was overwhelmed by the red mist.Seeing that the red smoke was about to fly over, Han Zixiao immediately covered his mouth and nose.

Through the red smoke, the man with white face and black lips was about to stab Chu Muqing with a sword, but Chu Muqing jumped into the river.

Ye Qing appeared next to Han Zixiao at this time, "My lord, the boat is dangerous, life is the most important thing, let's jump into the river!"

Han Zixiao thought for a while, then jumped down the river with Ye Qing.

The next day was bright, Han Zixiao and Chu Muqing were lying in the water plants on the bank, their bodies were already half dry.Yesterday Han Zixiao obviously jumped into the river with Ye Qing, but when he jumped down, he met Chu Muqing who was already in the water.

The two grabbed a piece of driftwood and drifted along the river until they reached the shore at dawn.I don't know what happened to Ye Qing, I hope he is safe.