"Your Highness, we can't get in." Tian Yuan carefully protected Xiao Huayong in the crowd. They tried to get closer to the Northwest Palace, but they couldn't squeeze in at all.
Xiao Huayong had no choice but to retreat and find a deserted place far away. He looked at the brightly lit Northwest Palace from afar and said, "Wait a moment."
These people were crowded together, but they seemed to automatically form a blocking line and did not cross that step. The guards of the Northwest Palace just stood on the stone steps and did not come down.
About a quarter of an hour later, the gate of the palace opened and Geng Liangcheng walked out. He had a white belt tied around his waist, his eyes were red, and there was deep sorrow in his eyes: "Everyone, the prince was ambushed by the villain and left us just now..."
As soon as Geng Liangcheng finished speaking, even though the people who heard the long horn understood what was going on, their faces were still blank and their eyes were dull. They actually didn't hear clearly a long sentence that Geng Liangcheng said next. A voice was circling in their hearts: The king of the Northwest has died, the sky of the Northwest has fallen, their sky has fallen.
"Please go back, everyone. The sun rises and the sun sets. We still have to live our lives. This is what the prince expects of us. If you stay here, we will inevitably be unable to smoothly handle the prince's affairs after his death."
"General Geng, who plotted against the prince? We must seek justice for the prince!"
"Yes, we want justice for the prince!"
"Get justice!"
…
Waves of indignant voices of condemnation erupted from the crowd, drawing everyone's approval. Gradually, the voices became uniform and as loud as the shouts of the three armies.
"Everyone, everyone, everyone—" Geng Liangcheng shouted several times and raised his voice to suppress the voices of these people. "We don't have any evidence as to who killed the prince, so we dare not make a rash judgment. But since the prince was killed, we must investigate to the end and bring the traitor to justice. Everyone, please disperse."
"When... when will the prince be buried..." an old man at the front asked with tears in his eyes, "We... we want to send the prince off together..."
The old man burst into tears before he finished speaking, and the others couldn't hold back their emotions either. Some cried out loud, while others managed to hold their teeth and not make a sound, but they couldn't stop their tears from falling, and they couldn't force them back even if they raised their heads.
"The prince will be buried in seven days..." Geng Liangcheng also said with difficulty, "If you are interested, just light a lamp at home. The prince has always loved his people like his own children, and he certainly doesn't want you to go to great lengths for him."
The people looked at each other, tears welling up in their eyes. They nodded, turned around and left silently. No one knew what they would do next.
After everyone in front of the Northwest Palace had dispersed, Xiao Huayong slowly stepped forward. Geng Liangcheng, who was about to enter the palace, saw a handsome young man with extraordinary bearing striding towards him, and paused: "What should I call you next?"
Geng Liangcheng had never met Xiao Huayong. In fact, many ministers who were sent to other places had never met the crown prince who had lived in seclusion in a Taoist temple for twelve years.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here, why don't you open the door to welcome him?" Tian Yuan said in a deep voice.
Geng Liangcheng's eyebrows jumped, but he quickly bowed and saluted: "I pay my respects..."