After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 12

As the night deepened, he still had that worry in his heart, his brows furrowed, as if a heavy burden was weighing on his heart. The moonlight shone through the sparse clouds and sprinkled on his face, reflecting an indescribable heaviness. As for Li Qingge, she completely ignored the atmosphere around her and devoted her whole mind to the food. Her bright eyes sparkled with her love for food, as if all her worries had been thrown behind her. While everyone was still talking, she had already tasted all the dishes on the table, savoring every bite carefully, with a satisfied smile on her face.

"You guys come and try it, it really tastes good!" Li Qingge said sincerely, her voice clear and melodious, like a mountain stream. Although this small restaurant is not big and the portions are not large, the cooking skills are really excellent, and every dish is praised. She gently picked up a piece of barbecue with chopsticks and handed it to Taizong, her eyes flashing with anticipation.

As for the others, their minds were still full of the term "Ten Spiced Meat", which made them feel uncomfortable. They had no appetite and found it difficult to swallow the food in front of them. Their faces were full of fatigue and worry, as if they were suffocated by an invisible burden. Li Qingge saw it, but didn't care. She thought they were asking for trouble. She adhered to the principle of "food is the first necessity of the people" and continued to eat with big mouthfuls, enjoying it very much. There was a satisfied smile on her lips, as if all her worries were dissolved by the food.

[These people really think too much. What's the point of worrying about the country and the people here? If they are really capable, they should do something practical.] Li Qingge secretly complained in her heart, feeling helpless and amused by the behavior of the crowd. Her bright eyes flashed with wisdom under the dim light, as if they could see through all the falsehood.

[Li Shimin was also puzzled. As the king of a country, why did he do such irrelevant things? Instead of being sad about the passing of time, why not go to the disaster area directly, solve practical problems, and appease the people? Why bother to suffer here?] Li Qingge muttered silently in her heart, feeling a little puzzled by Taizong's behavior. But she also knew that everyone has their own way of thinking and style of doing things. She respected Taizong's choice, but just hoped that he could be more pragmatic.

[Besides, it would be a shame to waste these vegetables. In the hot summer, food is easy to spoil. If we don’t eat them, we will have to throw them away. It is better to eat them while they are fresh. ] Li Qingge thought secretly in her heart, feeling a little sorry for the wasteful behavior of the crowd. She knew very well that in this famine era, every grain of food was hard-earned, and wasting was a shameful behavior.

[It's just right that they don't want to eat, I can handle it by myself.] Li Qingge secretly complained in her heart, feeling helpless and amused by everyone's behavior. She decided not to pay attention to their worries and waste, and continue to enjoy her food journey.

At this time, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin also fell into deep thought. He looked at the delicious food in front of him, but his heart was full of worries. He knew that his people were still starving, but he was enjoying the delicious food here, which made him feel a little guilty.

"Alas, now there is famine everywhere, and refugees have all fled to the foot of the imperial city. I can still help a few. But if I don't rescue those people who are still there as soon as possible, how will they survive?" Taizong sighed silently in his heart, his brows knitted tightly, as if water could be squeezed out of them.

"My people are still starving, and there are so many delicious foods in front of me, how can I refuse?" When Taizong thought of this, he put down the burden in his heart and started to eat with big mouthfuls. He knew that only by filling his stomach could he have the strength to save more people.

When the people accompanying him saw that Taizong had already started eating, they temporarily put aside their worries and decided to fill their stomachs first. After the meal, everyone was very satisfied, as if all their worries were resolved by the food. The sky gradually darkened, and the moonlight sprinkled on the earth, adding a bit of mystery to this desolate town.

"It's getting late. Let's rest here for a night and continue our journey tomorrow." Li Shimin suggested. His voice was steady and powerful, as if it could calm people's hearts. Everyone was exhausted and nodded in agreement, so they settled down in the next room.

[Finally I can take a break. I am so exhausted after running around all day. Why did Li Shimin have to bring me along? What use am I? Besides eating his food for free, I also pissed Wei Zheng off. I am like a transparent person.] Li Qingge thought to herself, her eyes revealing a trace of fatigue and helplessness. But she also understood that as a member of the entourage, she also had her own responsibilities and mission.

[Forget it, since I need to rest, I won't bother with that jerk. I'd better take a shower and change clothes first, so I can fall asleep earlier.] Li Qingge thought to herself, and then walked towards the guest room with a swagger. Her steps were light and powerful, as if all her worries were thrown behind her.

Li Shimin naturally lived in the best room in the middle, and Li Qingge was very self-aware and chose the room next to it. When she pushed open the door and was about to go in, she was suddenly stopped by Li Shimin.

"Li Qingge, the store is short of rooms. You can sleep with me tonight." After Li Shimin said this, he raised his eyebrows and looked at her, with a playful gleam in his eyes.

As soon as Li Qingge heard it, she knew that this must be a deliberate revenge for her calling him a "jerk" in her heart. But she could only agree reluctantly. She shrugged and said in a nonchalant tone: "Okay, let's sleep together." After that, she strode into the room.

In the middle of the night, Li Qingge vaguely felt a dark shadow swaying in front of her eyes, and she immediately became alert. She secretly observed the dark shadow, wanting to see what he was trying to do. The moonlight sprinkled into the room through the window, adding a bit of mystery to the dark shadow.

The man in black didn't seem to have any intention of attacking, but just quietly took away her bag. The bag contained their important belongings, and if it was lost, everyone's life would be difficult. Although Li Qingge was a bit lazy at ordinary times, she didn't want to see her things fall into the hands of thieves.

With her strength, it would be easy for her to catch the man in black, but she didn't want to expose herself, nor did she want to spend the effort to fight. So, she decided to deal with the man in black in a rogue way.

"There's an assassin! Come and catch him!" Li Qingge deliberately shouted loudly, and quickly knocked the weapon out of the black-clothed man's hand to prevent him from accidentally hurting other people. Then, she fought with the black-clothed man in a rogue way, deliberately delaying time and waiting for reinforcements to arrive.

After being woken up, Li Shimin immediately joined the battle. He was wearing a bright yellow brocade robe, which was particularly dazzling under the moonlight. He held a long sword, and the tip of the sword flashed with cold light, as if it could pierce through all the darkness.

Li Qingge helped secretly, and Wei Zheng and others rushed over after hearing the noise, and the man in black was quickly subdued by them. He lay on the ground, unable to move, with fear and despair written all over his face.

"What on earth are you trying to do sneaking around in the middle of the night?" Li Shimin asked sternly, his voice echoing in the night sky like thunder.

"Nothing, I just wanted to get some money to fill my stomach because you are rich." The man in black said angrily, "How can you rich and powerful people know how hard it is for us ordinary people to find a meal?"

Li Qingge pulled off the mask of the man in black and found that he was actually a handsome boy who looked about twelve or thirteen years old. His eyes revealed a kind of determination and maturity that was inconsistent with his age.

"It's a pity that he doesn't study at such a young age." Li Qingge sighed casually, but she didn't intend to investigate further. She knew that the boy was forced to take the path of stealing.

"What's it got to do with you? What you guys say is all empty talk! Who doesn't want to make a name for themselves? But this is the way the world is now! My family is almost starving to death! If the innkeeper hadn't been so kind as to take me in, and if I hadn't stolen some of your things, I would have starved to death!" The young man said excitedly, his voice filled with tears and anger, "Besides, I didn't use all the things I stole for myself! There are so many hungry people in the world! If I steal a little more, I can save one more person! Now that I've been caught by you today, I'll just leave it to fate! You can kill me or chop me up as you please!"

After listening to the boy's words, Li Shimin fell into deep thought. He looked at the boy with a complex light in his eyes. He knew that the boy was just a microcosm of the thousands of suffering people. He felt a great responsibility and must find a way to solve the famine problem as soon as possible to save more people from the water and fire.

"This year's harvest is indeed bad, but didn't the court issue an order to exempt the land tax? Think about how the harvest was so good last year, how could there still be a shortage of food?" Li Shimin rode on his horse, frowning, looking at the ragged, pale and skinny refugees along the way, his heart full of doubts and regrets. The sun was scorching, shining on the dry land, as if even the air was filled with the smell of burning.

"Yes, sir." A ragged child stood by the roadside, looking directly at Li Shimin, his eyes revealing an unyielding look, "Last year, the weather was good and the crops grew very well, but the government found ways to collect more taxes, and the lives of ordinary people are getting harder and harder."

Li Shimin pulled the reins of his horse and looked at the child seriously. He noticed that although the child's eyes were full of hardship, they were still bright, as if burning with an unyielding flame. "But didn't the court announce the exemption of taxes? Even if there are still taxes to be paid, they won't be too much. How can you resist not paying them?"

The child smiled bitterly, and there was too much helplessness and bitterness in that smile. "Hey, Master, you don't understand!" He smiled and called Li Shimin, but the smile was full of bitterness, "You are born rich, you don't know the hardship of ordinary people who can't fight against the government. We don't want to pay, but if we don't pay, we will be whipped or even arrested. Last year, the neighbor was beaten to death for not paying taxes, and his family had no place to seek justice. Under such brutality, who dares not to obey?"

The people around him all frowned upon hearing this, and the atmosphere became extremely heavy. Li Shimin was also very shocked. He did not expect that such a thing would happen in the country he governed.

"This is simply outrageous!" he said angrily, his voice filled with anger and unwillingness.

"Those corrupt officials are truly lawless!" The people accompanying them also denounced them angrily, their faces filled with hatred and anger towards the corrupt officials.

[Pang Xiangshou is so arrogant in a place so close to the capital, and there is no news about him in Caodian. Wouldn't the situation in places farther away be even more chaotic? I'm afraid someone has already declared himself king.] Li Shimin thought to himself. He knew that the things he had to sort out during this trip might be much more than he expected.

[Discussion alone cannot solve the problem. Only practical actions can make the people live and work in peace and contentment! ] He secretly vowed in his heart that he must do something for these suffering people.

[This child is quite pitiful. Why not reward him with some gold and let him go? It seems that he is not a bad person.] This thought flashed through Li Shimin's mind, so he looked at Li Qingge and decided to give her the power to deal with this child.

"Li Qingge, it's up to you to decide what to do with this child." Li Shimin said calmly, his eyes full of trust and expectation.

[Hey, why did this happen to me again? Is Li Shimin afraid that I will be idle and have nothing to do?] Li Qingge muttered in her heart, but she still took out a gold bar helplessly. She walked in front of the child, squatted down, and looked at him tenderly.

"My second master is kind-hearted and cannot bear to punish you. You can take this gold bar, but I want to tell you that stealing is not a good thing, and what you steal may be what others urgently need. When the disaster situation gets better, you can use this gold to do some small business and use your own hands to help others. Isn't this more meaningful? Life is a gift from God. We should be good people and lend a helping hand to others in times of crisis." Li Qingge's heartfelt words moved the child to tears.

He thought he was doomed to die, but he was not only released but also received such a large sum of money. He was so grateful that he kowtowed and thanked everyone: "Thank you for not killing me. I went astray and it is thanks to your teachings. If we can meet again in the future, I will definitely repay you for your kindness."

After that, the child kowtowed three more times before slowly walking away. Li Shimin looked at Li Qingge and smiled with satisfaction. He knew that Li Qingge not only had extraordinary martial arts and wisdom, but also had a kind and warm heart.

The next morning, everyone got up, washed up, and continued on their journey. Not far into the journey, they wanted to find a place to rest when they suddenly heard crying sounds coming from all around. The sound was shrill and desperate, as if it was a wail coming from the depths of hell.

Li Shimin and his companions looked back and were furious. They saw a group of soldiers rampaging in the street, robbing people's property and injuring many people. The whole street was in chaos, with cries and curses intertwined, forming a tragic scene.

"My child! Someone please save my child!" A woman cried miserably. She knelt on the ground, holding a bloody child tightly in her arms. The child's face was filled with fear and pain, and he cried heartbreakingly.

Li Qingge took the opportunity to take a look and saw the child sitting on the ground with shocking scars on his body. A strong anger and grief suddenly surged in her heart. She could not tolerate the atrocities of these soldiers.

"Hurry up and save him! Hurry!" Li Qingge shouted loudly, her voice full of anxiety and anger. Wei Zheng and others immediately rushed over and took the child back.

The others were furious when they saw this scene, and they rushed forward to clash with the officers and soldiers. The officers and soldiers were extremely arrogant, and they called more soldiers with a wave of their hands. They rushed towards the crowd with knives and guns in hand, as if they wanted to trample everyone under their feet.

"I can't stand it any longer!" Li Shimin didn't want to take action to avoid escalating the situation, but he couldn't stand seeing this scene. He roared and rushed towards the officers and soldiers with his sword. His swordsmanship was sharp and swift, and each sword contained endless anger and power.

Li Qingge was also forced to join the battle. Seeing more and more soldiers coming, she showed her strength. She was skilled in martial arts and fierce, and could defeat a hundred with one. Those soldiers were frightened by her power and retreated one after another.

"You... just wait!" The leading officer stared at Li Qingge fiercely, uttered a harsh word, and then led his men to retreat. They knew that they had encountered a tough guy today, and staying would only suffer.

"This kid is very skilled in martial arts and has a very imposing manner. He is even more powerful than his father Cheng Yaojin!" said a soldier with lingering fear.

"Such a talent has been hidden all this time!" another soldier also sighed.

Li Shimin secretly sighed in his heart: If Cheng Yaojin didn't covet comfort, this kid would definitely become a pillar of the country! After thinking about this, Li Shimin withdrew his thoughts and returned the child to his mother.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" The mother was so excited that she burst into tears and thanked him repeatedly. She hugged the child tightly, as if she was afraid that he would be lost again.

"Excuse me, what are these officers and soldiers doing in such a hurry?" Li Shimin was still furious when he thought of what happened before. He wanted to know why these officers and soldiers were so arrogant and domineering, and who gave them such power.

"I don't know, but they often do this. I'm lucky to have met you today," the mother replied. Her voice was full of gratitude and relief. She knew that if she hadn't met this group of people, the fate of her and her child would have been disastrous.

The young mother looked haggard, but her eyes were full of unyielding light. She hugged her child tightly, as if that was the only hope in her life. Although her words were filled with deep disgust, they also revealed a kind of helplessness and despair: "How hateful! The emperor gave them power to benefit the people, but now they are oppressing us. What's the point of keeping such officers and soldiers!"

Li Shimin, as an emperor, was concerned about national affairs. He had lived in the palace for a long time, and all he saw and heard were the intrigues and struggles in the court. Now, seeing the suffering of the people with his own eyes, he was shocked, and an indescribable anger and pain surged in his heart. He wanted to immediately eradicate these social parasites and create a peaceful living environment for the people.

"Be careful with your words. They have many eyes and ears. If they hear you, you might get into trouble." The young mother reminded anxiously. Her face was full of fear. It was obvious that she had been oppressed for a long time and had developed a deep fear of the officers and soldiers.

[They are indeed hateful, but it is useless to say these things here, it will only make things more troublesome. It is better to continue on the road, and when we reach the destination, we can find a way to get rid of those corrupt officials.] Li Qingge secretly calculated in her heart, she knew very well that the current situation did not allow them to act rashly. [We are few in number and weak in power, so we cannot confront them head-on, so as not to suffer an unwarranted disaster. Li Shimin, you must not be impulsive!] She was afraid that Li Shimin would be impulsive and cause trouble again.

"Thank you for your reminder. I have some dry food and change here. It must be difficult for you to travel with your child. Take these for emergencies." Li Shimin listened to Li Qingge's words and felt that they made sense. So he suppressed his anger and gently comforted the mother. Although his voice was calm, his eyes revealed a firm determination.

The woman hesitated for a moment, she looked at the child in her arms, the child stared at the food eagerly, and kept swallowing his saliva. She finally took the food and said gratefully: "Thank you, I can still hold on, but I feel sorry for this child who has suffered innocently. If I can't raise him well, how can I face his deceased father in the future? You are all kind people, God will definitely bless you. Thank you, thank you so much."

After the woman finished speaking, tears welled up in her eyes, and her gratitude was beyond words. Her tears seemed to be the last accusation and helplessness against the world.

Seeing this scene, everyone present couldn't help but sigh. They knew very well that such tragedies were happening every day in this troubled world.

Li Shimin was also in a state of panic. He realized that the disaster brought by the famine was far more serious than he had imagined. He looked at the barren land and felt an indescribable pain in his heart. The dead were countless, and what kind of suffering were the living people going through?

After saying goodbye to the mother and son, the group continued on their way. They walked on a desolate road, surrounded by withered trees and weeds, with a few crows occasionally circling in the sky, making shrill cries. After walking hundreds of miles, they finally reached their destination. But the road ahead was not peaceful either. Before they could gain a firm foothold, they heard a noise.

"They're arresting people again! The soldiers are arresting people everywhere again!" Shouts came one after another, and pedestrians on the road began to talk. Their faces were filled with fear and anger, as if they would explode at any time.

"These officers and soldiers are so brutal and cruel that they don't even spare children. They are forcing the common people into a desperate situation!" an old man said angrily, his voice trembling, revealing a deep helplessness.

"Who says it's not true? They catch this one today and that one tomorrow. Who knows who will be the next one? But that kid is really brave. He fought with so many soldiers by himself and beat them up until they were black and blue. It was really satisfying!" A young man said excitedly, his face full of admiration for the child.

"Having said that, those officers and soldiers are as cruel as bandits. If the child falls into their hands, I'm afraid it will be very dangerous." A woman said worriedly, her eyes revealing a deep worry.

"Alas..." The people sighed and continued on their way, their faces filled with helplessness and disappointment towards this world.

"Let's go and take a look." After saying this, Li Shimin led everyone over there, his eyes revealing a firm determination.

[Isn't that the kid we met in the inn? How come he was caught by the soldiers here?] Li Qingge pondered in her heart and looked at Li Shimin again, her eyes revealing a deep concern.

[Looking at the bruised faces of those officers and soldiers, this kid must have fought with them. I didn't expect him to be so brave.] Li Qingge thought to himself that this kid really had a charm that could not be ignored.

[This child is pretty good-looking, maybe he'll be a good match for Li Shimin. Why not let him adopt me so I can have some free time?] Li Qingge thought to herself. She glanced at Li Shimin, only to find that he was also staring at her, his eyes revealing a complex emotion. Li Shimin glanced at Li Qingge from the corner of his eye, and smiled bitterly in his heart. He has a lot of children of his own, how could he have such thoughts? He is more concerned about the future of this country and the fate of this nation.

[Hey! Isn't the gold bar in the soldier's hand the one I gave to the child? How could this happen?] Li Qingge suddenly discovered something, and her eyes revealed a deep surprise and confusion.

[Is this why they arrested him? Alas! The world is really corrupt and the rich are unkind!] Li Qingge sighed in her heart, and her helplessness and disappointment in this world deepened.

[Li Shimin is incompetent in governing the country, and the people are living in dire straits, but he is still unaware of it!] Li Qingge muttered in her heart, and her tone revealed a deep sense of blame and dissatisfaction.

[When can this situation be changed? Li Shimin should immediately rectify the government!] Li Qingge shouted in her heart. Although her voice was weak, it revealed a firm determination.

Li Shimin could only smile bitterly when he heard Li Qingge muttering in his heart. But he also knew that what the other party said was not nonsense. He knew that he had a heavy responsibility and that the future of the country was in his own hands.

"I should go out more often in the future and see the people's sentiments with my own eyes, so that I can understand the truth. And the malpractices in the officialdom also need to be rectified urgently." Li Shimin made up his mind secretly in his heart. He knew that only by deeply understanding the people's sentiments could he formulate more practical policies and make the country truly prosperous.

At this time, the soldiers were escorting the child forward. The child's face was full of stubbornness and disobedience, and his eyes revealed a deep anger and resistance.

"Wei Qing, what do you think we should do?" Li Shimin turned to ask Wei Zheng who was standing next to him. Although his voice was calm, his eyes revealed a deep worry and expectation.

"Let's follow and see what's going on." Wei Zheng observed Li Shimin's expression and replied. His voice was steady and powerful, as if injecting an invisible force into Li Shimin.

"Okay, let's follow them." Li Shimin made a decisive decision. The group followed the officers and soldiers and continued to move forward. Their steps were firm and powerful, as if they were announcing their determination and courage to the world.

Soon, they came to a remote path. It was desolate all around, with only a few dead trees swaying in the wind, as if telling the helplessness and sadness of the world.

"Qin Qing, you see the terrain here is dangerous. It won't be difficult for us to save the child." After seeing the terrain, Qin Shubao couldn't bear to see the child suffer, so he said to Li Shimin. Although his voice was low, it revealed a firm determination.

Li Shimin hesitated for a moment, knowing the weight of this decision. But at this moment, the officers and soldiers stopped here. Their faces were full of fatigue and anger, as if they were venting their dissatisfaction with the world.

"Where did you get this gold bar?" the leading officer asked the child sternly. His voice was rough and powerful, as if he was trying to cover up his inner fear and anxiety.

"I've said it many times, this is a gift from someone else. You took my things and arrested me, where is the law?" The child responded angrily. Although his voice was weak, it revealed a firm resistance and unwillingness to obey. His eyes flashed with an unyielding light, as if he was announcing his courage and determination to the world.

Listening to the voices coming from the soldiers' boxes, they hurried forward and grabbed the child's chin as if they had heard something interesting. The child was only about ten years old, with a delicate face and an unyielding light in his eyes. Even in such a predicament, he still raised his head stubbornly.

"Listen carefully, here, we are the rules!" The leader said, and the force in his hands became stronger, as if he wanted to vent all his dissatisfaction and anger on this innocent child. "I advise you to be honest and don't force me to use force on you."

The child explained again: "I've already said, this was given to me by a friend, it's really not a lie." There was a hint of helplessness in his voice, but more of persistence.

"Hmph! Judging from the way you are dressed, you are obviously a kid from a poor village. How could your friends give you such a generous amount of gold bars, and of such good quality? Look at the back of this gold bar, there is a royal seal engraved on it, it is clearly something from the palace!" The words of the leader of the officers and soldiers were full of sarcasm, he obviously did not believe the child's explanation.

"You're not going to say that this is a reward from the emperor? What a joke!" As soon as he finished speaking, the officers and soldiers around him burst into laughter, as if they had heard the funniest joke in the world.

"It's so funny, a poor boy is actually related to the emperor."

"That's the funniest thing I've heard this year."

"Hahahaha!"

[This group of people are really crazy, what's so funny!] Li Qingge hid in the dark, her heart was in turmoil, and she had already started to think about how to deal with these officers and soldiers. She was wearing a tight black dress, her face was cold, and her eyes were shining with wisdom. She looked at the officers and soldiers, her heart was full of anger and dissatisfaction. [How could they know that the gold bars in this child's hand were really given by the emperor. They will cry later!]

[Alas, I didn't expect that a casual gift would bring so much trouble to the child! ] Li Shimin also sensed Li Qingge's thoughts and felt bad. He was wearing casual clothes, his face was calm, but his eyes were shining with determination. He looked at the officers and soldiers and had made a decision in his heart.

The laughter gradually died down, and the leader of the officers and soldiers asked again in a stern voice: "I ask you again, where did this gold bar come from?"

"I told you someone else gave it to me, but you didn't believe me and forced me to lie." The child was a little angry. Although his voice was weak, it revealed a firm resistance.

"Well, since you don't want to drink the wine, don't blame us for being rude." The leader said coldly, signaling his men to start. An officer immediately punched the child in the stomach, and the child fainted from the pain.

The stomach is the most vulnerable part of the human body, and the soldier had obviously used a ruthless blow. After one punch, the child vomited water, his face was full of pain and distortion. His body curled up into a ball, like a wounded little animal, groaning helplessly.

"Tell the truth or not? If you don't tell the truth, we have plenty of ways to deal with you." The leader of the officers and soldiers threatened with a smile, his smile was full of cruelty and coldness.

The child was beaten innocently and was furious. Being young and hot-tempered, he did not know how to swallow his anger and just kept repeating stubbornly: "What I said is true. I can't help it if you don't believe me."

"It seems you haven't suffered enough." The leader of the soldiers was angry and signaled his men to start again. Several soldiers rushed forward and punched and kicked the child. Soon, blood flowed from the corner of the child's mouth. His face was as pale as paper, and his eyes revealed a deep despair.

[This group of people is so cruel, they actually killed him! The child is still so young, how can he bear it!] Li Qingge felt distressed, but she was afraid of getting into trouble, and her heart was very conflicted. She clenched her fists, her nails dug deep into her palms, but she forced herself not to make a sound.

The others were the same, and they couldn't bear to watch any further. Some shook their heads and sighed, while others glared at him angrily, but no one dared to step forward to stop him.

Seeing that the child was about to collapse, the leader waved his hand to stop. He looked at the child on the ground with a sneer, as if he was admiring his own masterpiece.

"Boss, what should we do with this guy? It's just a gold bar, should we hand it over?" asked a soldier, with greed flashing in his eyes.

"We have to pay it. We rely on the master for food. How can we climb up if we don't perform well?" said the leader of the officers and soldiers, with helplessness and greed in his eyes.

"But it's just a gold bar. I didn't get anything in return." The soldier was reluctant to give it up. He rubbed his fingers on the gold bar, as if he was feeling the cold touch.

People die for money and birds die for food, and the leader of the army is no exception. He pondered for a while and said, "The master doesn't know about this yet. Besides, we have found some gold scraps from others to make up for the number. As for this gold bar... we will divide it after the storm has passed. Let's enjoy it while the master is not paying attention."

"This is too much! People are starving and freezing, yet they still want to get rich!" Li Shimin couldn't stand it anymore and clenched his fists and shouted angrily. Although his voice was low, it revealed a firm anger and dissatisfaction.

"Wei Zheng, what do you think we should do?" Everyone looked at Wei Zheng angrily, waiting for his answer.

[People who profit from the national crisis should be executed!] Li Qingge shouted in her heart, with angry flames flashing in her eyes. [But they are more powerful than us, so it's not easy to rush out.] She glanced at the child on the ground again, her heart full of hesitation and worry. [I don't know what Li Shimin is thinking, I don't want to take risks, but the child is innocent, we can't just ignore it.]

At this time, the officers and soldiers were still discussing. A soldier flattered him, "What a good idea, boss! You are such a smart man!" Then he turned to look at the child and asked, "What should we do with this kid?"

"It would be a nuisance if we keep him here, and this place is remote, so why don't we..." The leader of the soldiers made a gesture of wiping his neck, with a cruel light flashing in his eyes.

"Yes, as you command!" The soldiers were ready to take action immediately, their eyes filled with blood and violence.

[This group of people is really crazy!] Li Qingge finally made up her mind to save the child. She glanced at Li Shimin and found that he was also looking at her with a firm light in his eyes. She knew that they had made the same decision.

At this moment, a melodious sound of a piano came from the corner. The sound of the piano was like weeping and complaining, as if it was telling the suffering and injustice in the world. After a while, an old man and a young girl appeared in front of the officers and soldiers. The old man played the piano, and the young girl danced gracefully, singing a beautiful song. The young girl was very pretty, with fair and smooth skin, and instantly attracted everyone's attention. Her dancing posture was as light as a swallow, and her singing was crisp and pleasant, like a clear spring, diluting the violence and blood here.

The officers and soldiers were attracted by this sudden performance. They put down their weapons and forgot the cruelty and ruthlessness just now. The child also took the opportunity to climb up and hide behind Li Qingge. Li Qingge looked at the girl with gratitude and admiration in her heart. She knew that the girl not only saved the child, but also saved all of them.

The old and the young cooperated perfectly. Their dancing movements were as light as willow branches in the wind. Every spin and every lift of the hands seemed to carry the breath of spring. Their singing was clear and melodious, like a spring in the mountains or a bird in the woods, as if it could float directly to the sky, cleansing people's souls.

"This girl is such a stunner, let's..." A soldier's eyes flashed with greed, and his words were obviously salivating.

"Look at that skin, as white as snow. If I could touch it and give it a kiss, it would be so wonderful!" Several soldiers were mesmerized by the girl's beauty, their eyes sparkling with green light. They usually saw women with rough hands and feet, and had never seen such a beautiful girl. They felt itchy in their hearts, as if they were being scratched by a cat.

The scenery on the street was eclipsed in their eyes at this moment, only this girl, like a flower in spring, attracted all their attention. However, not everyone is so superficial.

"We are the bosses on this street, what's the harm if we touch it twice? As long as we don't say anything, who will know?" A soldier chuckled twice, with a hint of cunning in his smile, but he immediately turned stern, "But then again, we all rely on the master for our livelihood, so why not give such good stuff to the master? If the master is happy, we will also benefit from it!"

As soon as these words came out, those who were ready to make a move stopped and began to think. There was greed and hesitation in their eyes, and they were obviously weighing the pros and cons.

"Yes, yes, yes, just touch it, it's not too much." A man laughed. He always had some little thoughts and wanted to take advantage.

"But we have to be careful. If this girl goes to the master and complains about us, we will be in trouble." The other soldier was obviously more cautious, with a hint of worry in his words.

"Got it, boss!" Seeing that the boss didn't object, a soldier approached with a smile. He felt so happy, as if he could marry the beauty right away. His face was full of smiles, but his hand stretched out to the girl's arm like a snake.

[These people are really sick. They want to trade such a beautiful girl for their future.] Li Qingge secretly complained in her heart, her eyes flashing with anger, [They are so tasteless and brainless. It’s better not to have such thoughts, otherwise you won’t know how you died when the time comes.]

[This girl is also pitiful, meeting such a group of heartless people.] She looked at the girl, her heart full of sympathy. The girl was obviously also frightened by this sudden change. Her face was as pale as paper, she didn't know where to put her hands, and tears were rolling in her eyes.

"Don't be afraid, we just want to touch you, we won't bully you. When you become rich in the future, don't forget to say a few good words for us." The soldier smiled obscenely, and he reached out to hold the girl's hand. His hand was greasy, like a disgusting bug, which made people feel sick.

The girl felt sick when his greasy hand touched her. She shouted, "Go away! Don't touch me!" Then she quickly hid to one side. She couldn't hold back her tears. Her tears fell to the ground like pearls that had broken off the string. It was heartbreaking to see.

The old man was also frightened when he saw this. He quickly ran to the girl and protected her behind him: "Sir, please spare my life. My daughter's family is poor, how dare I marry you." There was a tremor in his voice, and it was obvious that he was frightened by this sudden change.

"You refuse such a good offer?" The soldier got angry when he heard it. He stared at the old man like a ferocious beast.

"No, no, I'm just afraid that the master will look down on rough people like us. My daughter doesn't know how to serve others, and I'm afraid that she will cause trouble for the master." The old man said kind words while protecting the girl tightly. His eyes were full of determination and courage, and it was obvious that he would not let anyone hurt his daughter.

"Stop talking nonsense! If you don't accept my toast, you'll have to drink a forfeit! I must present this girl to my master today!" The soldier said and rushed forward to snatch the girl away. "You dare to go against me? You're looking for death!" He glared at the old man fiercely, like a hungry wolf staring at its prey.

The girl was so frightened that she could only look at the old man and ask for help. Her eyes were full of fear and helplessness, like a bird trapped in a cage.

The old man tried desperately to grab his daughter, but was kicked to the ground by the soldier. He rolled on the ground in pain, groaning non-stop. His pain and helplessness made everyone present feel heartbroken.

"Grandpa!" The girl screamed, her face full of pain and helplessness. She rushed over and bit the soldier's hand, then ran to the old man. Her eyes were full of determination and courage, and it was obvious that she would not let anyone hurt her relatives.

The soldier screamed in pain and slapped the girl in the face. Blood immediately oozed from the corner of the girl's mouth, but she ignored the pain and hurried to help the old man. Her eyes were full of love and worry, and it was obvious that she would not let the old man get hurt.

"I'm fine." Although the old man was in great pain, he still managed to smile to comfort the girl. His smile was bitter and helpless, and he was obviously trying his best to hide his pain.

[These people are really too much! They even beat women!] Li Qingge cursed those evil officers and soldiers in her heart, and her eyes were flashing with anger. She looked at the girl and the old man, her heart full of sympathy and anger.

[How could Li Shimin just watch like this? As an emperor, how could he tolerate the people suffering like this?] Her heart was full of doubts and dissatisfaction with Li Shimin. She believed that as an emperor, he should protect his people instead of letting them suffer such bullying and oppression.

[This girl is so pretty, I can't bear to see her suffer.] Li Qingge thought to herself, with a determined look in her eyes. She knew that she couldn't just watch this girl and the old man suffer, she had to stand up and seek justice for them.

So, she rushed out. Her movements were swift and powerful, like a cheetah pouncing on its prey. Before anyone could react, the soldiers had already fallen to the ground, holding their stomachs and rolling around in pain. Their screams came one after another, and the scene was in chaos. Li Qingge stood in the middle, her eyes gleaming with a triumphant light, as if a goddess had descended to earth to bring justice to those who were suffering.

(End of this chapter)