Chaos of Ming 1628

"No!" Old Yu grabbed her hand, his expression complex. "Listen to me!"

Shen Junru took a deep breath and gritted her teeth: "Are we just going to let the Sun family's reputation be ruined?"

"Little Junru, look closely into the eyes of the people. Every word they recite carries the humiliation of the Sun family and the blood and tears of the people!"

"To exchange the Sun family's reputation for the people's peace, little Junru, isn't that shameful?" Old Yu said earnestly and patiently, without being impatient or agitated.

Upon hearing this, Shen Junru felt even more guilty, but stubbornly refused to bow her head: "The integrity of the Sun family cannot be tarnished."

"Sacrificing for the people is a noble cause!" Old Yu took her hand, making her sheathe her sword. "Little Junru, I know your deep affection for the Sun family. Just wait and see!"

The sky above the river was clear and cloudless. The river surface was as still as a mirror, without wind or waves. Boats stopped at the bank because of this, and as time went by, the news of Botou spread far and wide, attracting people from all over the city to gather and watch along the riverbank.

Sun Qing is tied up there; he has already saved one person.

The officer sat there like a god high above, judging bound ants.

As long as Sun Qing finishes reciting the praises of Wei Zhongxian on the Longevity Stele today, when Sun Chengzong enters the court again in the future, this matter will be able to severely stab him in the back and make him unable to hold his head up.

Moreover, with Sun Qing's confession, the Sun family will surely face annihilation from today onwards.

Sun Qing stared coldly at the imperial guard, then suddenly asked, "Is His Majesty aware of all of today's actions?"

The question sent a chill down the officer's spine. When the Tianqi Emperor was alive, there was no need to report matters concerning movable property. The current emperor was different; he was hard to fathom and dared not bring it up lightly.

Whether it's Li Weilin or his current arrival in Botou, it's all at the behest of the Eastern Depot.

"Damn it!" the officer cursed. "You're about to die and you're still worrying about other things. If you don't read this, I'll chop you up."

Sun Qing, his face full of sarcasm, said resentfully, "I'll read it, I'll read it!"

"I fear that if these words were uttered by a loyal and brave person, some would be struck by lightning!"

After he finished shouting, before the imperial guards could even vent their anger, Gao Han said, "Minister Wei, with unwavering integrity, has brought about earth-shaking economic changes."

Aside from the people from the Eastern Depot, humiliation was etched on everyone's face. Sun Qing looked around the crowd; Sun Jiuda was not there, but Meng Zhaoxiang was beside him, nodding to him.

Sun Qing laughed, a laugh that even drowned out the laughter of the imperial guards, and continued reciting: "My heart is devoted only to my sovereign and father, and I care not for my own life or wealth."

He didn't order the release of the people, but after he uttered those two sentences, a muffled thud suddenly resounded from the once calm confluence of the canals.

Immediately, the riverbank erupted in a thunderous roar, like ten thousand horses galloping.

Old Yu pretended to be crazy, waving his hands and shouting, "God is angry! God can't stand it anymore!"

"Having forced loyal and virtuous people to this extent, Heaven's punishment has arrived!"

Despite his hoarse voice, the metallic taste in his throat, and his madman-like appearance, Lao Yu pushed through the crowd, shouting, "Run! If we don't run, those villains will drag us to hell too!"

It was clearly a sunny day, but it was just a muffled thud.

Zhou Ji's legs trembled uncontrollably as he stammered, "Sir, the Longevity Stele was originally a Dragon King Temple, could it be...?"

"Slap!" The officer raised his hand and slapped Zhou Ji across the face, making him spin around several times. "Playing tricks, even the Jade Emperor couldn't stop us today. We will crush those remnants of the Donglin Party under our feet."

He personally drew his sword and placed it against the neck of one man. This man was refined and scholarly, dressed elegantly; he must be a learned man.

The officer sneered and shouted, "Continue reading!"

"Boom!"

Another roar followed, so loud that the ground seemed to tremble.

Under the blazing sun, without a single drop of rain, the river suddenly swelled, and turbid waves rolled in, crashing over the riverbank.

Zhou Ji cried out, trembling, "The flood is here! Heaven is angry! Everyone run!"

The river has overflowed the shore.

The people were in a panic, crying and wailing as they fled in all directions. The imperial guards, who also valued their lives, didn't care about the chaos and, seeing the surging waves, hurriedly ran to higher ground.

A group of well-trained people emerged from the crowd and rushed up to the dock amidst the chaos, each holding a small knife and quickly slicing the bound person in half.

"How dare you!" Upon seeing this, the imperial guard grabbed Zhou Ji by the collar and roared, "Jiaohebo has never been flooded in hundreds of years, what are you afraid of!"

"The Dragon King Temple was still there, but it's gone now." Zhou Ji cried out in despair, tears streaming down his face, "The flood is coming! Let me go!"

"Okay, okay!"

"You all run away? I'll show you that even Heaven has to back down before the Eunuch!"

The officer roared, shoved Zhou Ji aside, and walked towards Sun Qing with his embroidered spring knife in hand.

Sun Qing showed no fear, his lips curled up, and his back straight. Even though he was bound, he stood there like a god or Buddha.

However, a giant wave crashed over, and the floodwaters surged towards the Longevity Stele along the terrain. A huge log was swept by the wave and struck the Longevity Stele, breaking it in two.

As soon as the officer reached the bottom, the stone tablet crashed down on him, causing him to vomit blood and die on the spot.

Sun Qing, however, was swept into the river by the flood.

Fortunately, there was plenty of time, and the people had already run to higher ground, and those who were slower were also pulled out.

Only Sun Qing was still rolling around in the river, his hands and feet bound, and even his self-rescue was impossible.

"Young Master Sun, where is he?"

"Help! Save him!"

The river seemed to have acquired a spirit; after breaking the Longevity Stele, it stopped surging and gradually became calmer.

"Young Master Sun, look! There he is!"

Looking in the direction of the sound, Sun Qing was swept into the river as the water receded.

The river was swift, and he was bobbing in the water, almost disappearing from sight.

"I'll go save him!" Shen Junru was extremely anxious and immediately jumped into the river.

Luckily, Old Yu reacted quickly and grabbed her, saying, "Silly girl, you can't swim, don't make things worse."

"Young Master Sun!"

"Young Master Sun!"

From above, voices called out one after another, all calling out Sun Qing's name.

"Young Master Sun was swept into the river by the flood while trying to save us!"

"Who will save him!"

Amidst the calls, everyone gradually realized something was wrong.

Countless schools of fish gathered from afar in the river, crowding around both sides of the raft, head to tail, working together to push the raft to Sun Qing.

As the river swayed, the rope that had just supported Sun Qing's feet came swarming in and gnawed through the rope binding his wrists.

Sun Qing hurriedly climbed onto the bamboo raft and untied the ropes binding her legs.

The crowd above erupted in cheers.

Then a voice rang out from the crowd: "This is divine punishment!"

"Wei Zhongxian deceived the emperor and corrupted the court. The eunuch faction persecuted upright officials, distorted the truth, and brought disaster to the country and its people. Heaven has eyes and has severed this monument of immortality."

"The Dragon King was furious, and a flood broke out. But the fish saved Young Master Sun; he was recognized by Heaven and by the Dragon King."

Who shouted the words is no longer the point. What matters is that the people agree with them, and with Sun Qing safe and sound, the people's faces are solemn.

"Look what Young Master Sun is doing!" someone shouted.

Sun Qing was standing on the raft when he suddenly looked up at the sky, knelt down on the raft, and kowtowed heavily.

When he looked up again, the sky appeared, and thousands of birds circled in and gathered above Sun Qing's head.