The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Silent as Cicadas in Winter

If he contracted the epidemic, he would die silently just like those severely ill patients in the quarantine area, unable to return home, his body reduced to a pile of ashes, submerged in the green mountains and waters.

He didn’t want to die.

Cai Hu had worked hard for so long, and Zhang Jianqiu hadn’t agreed, but now he not only agreed, he entrusted such an important task to him?

Of course, Cai Hu readily agreed, being particularly diligent.

Zhang Jiantang knew he wasn’t popular among the villagers and wasn’t suited to show his face, so he entrusted the whole matter to Cai Hu.

To help Cai Hu complete the task more efficiently, he revealed a lot of information.

There were guards around the quarantine point, and seeing them burn bodies in the dead of night was unlikely, but Zhang Jiantang knew. He taught Cai Hu what to say to frighten and panic the villagers, thus getting them to act together.

To ensure Cai Hu accomplished the task neatly, he even gave him fifty taels of silver, instructing him to hire more people for the job.

However, Cai Hu was cunning, hiring five people, giving each two taels of silver, and promising an additional three taels upon completion.

Five taels of silver weren’t a small amount for villagers, making Cai Hu even happier since he not only accomplished something for his future father-in-law but also made a profit.

In fact, Cai Hu was efficient and diligent, and he was indeed quite successful.

He had even learned that Huangfu Jingchen had left, and Shang Jingwang was primarily busy with inspections and overall coordination, considering his special status, he was focusing more on the quarantine point.

Today, it was Zhang Jiantang’s turn for a five-day leave, and he had prepared early, disguising himself and leaving quietly to meet Cai Hu.

Indeed, once everything was ready on Cai Hu’s end and they had begun attacking the checkpoint, Shang Jingwang only received the news and rushed over.

However, what he didn’t expect was that Huangfu Jingchen returned just at this moment.

He didn’t worry much because even though Huangfu Jingchen was formidable, he was only one person, whereas he had incited hundreds of villagers with Cai Hu.

But unexpectedly, Huangfu Jingchen’s skills far exceeded his expectations, it was simply remarkable.

If the first wave of assault succeeded, by killing one or two soldiers and breaking through the checkpoint, the insufficient manpower would allow many villagers to escape amidst the chaos.

Yet, the first assault mysteriously ended with a group of people stumbling, giving those soldiers a chance to regroup, and they failed to escape.

Especially seeing those villagers, who they had arduously incited, persuaded by a few words from Shang Jingwang and Huangfu Jingchen, retreating, he panicked and, regardless of exposure, impatiently started inciting again. As a result, Huangfu Jingchen, with piercing eyes, directly identified him, Cai Hu, and the others employed by Cai Hu.

Now that Cai Hu was caught, Zhang Jiantang from behind the scenes was also exposed, and those who had taken the money saw they not only wouldn’t get paid, but could also be held accountable. Furthermore, who knows what method Young Master Huang used, but the unbearable itching and pain in their bones were something they didn’t want to endure again. They were not truly steadfast, so they scrambled to reveal everything about the incident.

The villagers, who had been incited, were now suddenly waking up from a dream, realizing that escaping was supposed to be the way to survival, only now learning it was just Zhang Jiantang’s scheme to escape himself.

Zhang Jiantang wasn’t held in good regard among the villagers, and knowing he orchestrated it made many already hesitant. Understanding the context now, some people began retreating quietly.

This time, Shang Jingwang genuinely had no intention to spare Zhang Jiantang. In no time, two guards brought Zhang Jiantang’s head, and next was the disposal of Cai Hu and the six others.

Shang Jingwang knew well that in such restless times, one couldn’t act leniently, and if killing the chicken to warn the monkey was effective, then one couldn’t be soft-hearted.

As for Cai Hu and the six others, those who incited chaos after receiving silver, they especially couldn’t be spared now. He ordered their tongues to be pulled out publicly.

In the midst of Cai Hu and others’ pleas for mercy, the executing guards didn’t soften an inch. The turmoil was addressed with utmost severity, only twisting tongues instead of taking their lives was already leniency.

When blood gushed from their mouths, the villagers were even more terrified.

They wanted to escape, but it was only a self-perceived way to survive.

Shang Jingwang’s authoritative gaze, as the Prefect’s authoritative presence, was unconcealed at that moment, causing everyone’s heart to tremble. Though his voice wasn’t loud, due to the imposing presence, the scene was silent as a grave, so everyone heard clearly: ”Fellow villagers, it is critical time for epidemic treatment, no one from Wangshan Town can leave. I have mentioned this before. If you hope to escape, believing it’s a path to survival, distrusting our doctors, causing panic, you shall follow Zhang Jiantang!”

His gaze suddenly sharpened, and his voice was cold and murderous: ”If anyone like Xiao Xiao stirs trouble, don’t think this Prefecture will spare you. As the parental officer of a Prefecture, besides standing with you, my responsibility is safeguarding the entire jurisdiction’s people. So, if anyone tries to influence the epidemic control again, this Prefect will not be soft, one will be killed for one, ten for ten. For the safety of the entire Prefecture, I don’t mind turning those back-stabbing ones into a river of blood!”

These words went beyond merely showing the Prefect’s authority. The cold murderous intent in his words, coupled with the bloodthirsty sharpness in his gaze, swept over the villagers, making many unable to stand their ground.

Such frightening eyes, how could ordinary villagers have ever seen?

Especially with guards holding Zhang Jiantang’s head nearby.

Shang Jingwang took that head and tossed it at the villagers’ feet, the bloodied head rolled in a circle on the ground, Zhang Jiantang’s terror engraved on his face at his dying moment.

At this moment, it engraved terror, panic, fear in every villager’s heart... various emotions surged forth, many tossed away their sticks and hoes and ran.

They just wanted to hurry home; it was safer at home.

Who said escaping was the only way to survive? No, it was not. The Prefect already made it clear, anyone trying to escape again, Zhang Jiantang is the example!

Better to wait out death than face immediate death!

The villagers hurriedly dispersed, and Shang Jingwang ordered monitoring and attention, finally concluding the matter.

Shang Jingwang approached, cupped his hands in salute to Huangfu Jingchen, and said: ”Young Master Jing, thank you. Had you not arrived in time, the situation would surely have spiraled out of control. If a single person escaped, this Prefect would also be to blame!”

Huangfu Jingchen said to Shang Jingwang: ”No need for thanks, my lord!” He introduced: ”This is the Undying Poison Doctor, an esteemed figure I invited to treat the epidemic!”