The weak sound, lacking in energy and stamina, mixed with anger, was particularly resounding.
Shen Xihe and Xiao Changyan turned around and saw Tian Yuan walking towards them quickly. Xiao Huayong, who was hiding anger between his brows, seemed to have lost his breath because of what he had just said, and could not help coughing violently: "Ka ka ka..."
Behind him followed Xiao Changqing, who was wearing a moon-white gown and seemed to be taking a leisurely stroll in the garden.
"Your Highness..." Shen Xihe stepped forward eagerly, stroked his back with natural and skillful movements, and gently helped him breathe, with worry in his eyes.
After coughing for a while, Xiao Huayong finally seemed to breathe smoothly. He forced a smile at Shen Xihe and gently patted her hand that was supporting her arm: "It's okay."
After pacifying Shen Xihe, he finally went overboard. His expression suddenly became serious, and he said to Xiao Changyan: "You encouraged the looting of the victims. Do you admit it?"
The evidence was all in front of him, and Xiao Changyan had no choice but to admit it. Fortunately, he acted cautiously, and although he was suspected of being biased and shielding the victims, no one caught him ordering the victims to rob.
Xiao Changyan lowered his eyelids and said, "After months of drought, the people of Dengzhou finally welcomed a rain. Before their joy faded, the rain turned into a flood. They suffered the pain of working hard but getting nothing, and in the blink of an eye, they were displaced. Some people even lost their families. It was a head-on blow, and it was inevitable that they would act inappropriately in anger.
I am worried that if we punish them severely at this moment, it will arouse the people's anger, and they will lose their minds and start a rebellion, which will plunge Dengzhou into dire straits, so we have to use a gentle strategy. "
"What a conciliatory strategy." Shen Xihe sneered, "Your Highness King Jing has compassion for the people and sympathy for the weak. Your Highness is broad-minded, but you use this to exploit the rich and use their wealth to gain a good reputation for yourself. Aren't they the people of Dengzhou who suffered together? Do they deserve to be exploited because of their ancestors' accumulation or their own cleverness
Your Highness, do you know that if this matter gets out, who will dare to do business and make progress in the future? Isn't it that everyone is afraid of becoming a fish on the chopping block one day? The consequence of competing for fear is that the people will be afraid of getting rich. In this way, the income and expenditure of the family and the country will be sharply reduced. Over time, the country will be rich and the people will be strong.
Your Highness, you know that this action of yours may make you a sinner in the world!"
Xiao Changyan suddenly looked up and stared at the powerful and aggressive Shen Xihe. There seemed to be waves surging in his eyes, but when he looked closely, he could only see calmness.
Xiao Changqing clasped his hands together and stretched them naturally in front of him. He also lowered his eyes, but he heard Shen Xihe's words very clearly. What a serious crime it was.
They all understood that Xiao Changyan would not go this far, but they could not deny that this behavior might indeed lead to the result predicted by Shen Xihe. Although the possibility was very small, it could not be ruled out.
Xiao Changyan gritted his teeth and said, "It has rained heavily in Dengzhou since the end of last month. It has never stopped. All roads in and out of Dengzhou have been cut off. The lives of the people in the city cannot be ignored. Although it is a temporary measure, it is indeed inappropriate. The emperor dare not shirk the blame. Everything will wait until the people of Dengzhou have survived this disaster. I will apologize to Your Majesty."
Shen Xihe raised her eyebrows slightly. She looked up to Xiao Changyan for being so tolerant and yielding. Moreover, he openly said that he was wrong, but secretly reminded Shen Xihe that even if he was wrong, only His Majesty could punish him, and Shen Xihe did not have that right.