Chapter 1013 Am I Right?

Ning Chen raised his hand and said, "Everyone, get up! Go and grab a chicken from the mansion."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

A group of soldiers stood up. The soldier named by Ning Chen responded and ran into the house to catch chickens.

There are no chickens elsewhere in Xiguan City, but there are chickens in the City Lord's Mansion, and they were all snatched from Linxuan City.

Ning Chen came over and signaled Yuan Long to help the frightened shopkeeper up.

The shopkeeper was so frightened that he trembled, "The ordinary people deserve to die. The ordinary people didn't know it was the prince, so please forgive me!"

Ning Chen touched his face and looked at Lei An, "Is this king growing very scary?"

Leian shook his head.

Ning Chen muttered: "Since it's not scary to grow, it means it's scary to grow."

Immediately, he looked at the shopkeeper and said, "Don't be afraid. Those who don't know are not guilty. Besides, you have always defended me in your words. Why are you guilty?"

Just as he was talking, the soldiers caught the chicken.

Ning Chen signaled him to hand over the chicken to the shopkeeper, and then said: "Take this chicken back and stew it for them to eat...but don't reveal my identity."

Although the shopkeeper was confused, he didn't dare to ask any more questions and said hurriedly: "The common people obey your orders!"

"Go!"

After the shopkeeper saluted, he took the chicken and ran away.

Only Pan Yucheng and Lei An knew that this chicken was probably the meal for many people... They had to have a good meal before they died.

Ning Chen said: "Lei An, you go and inform Yuan Long that tonight I will hold a banquet at the City Lord's Mansion to entertain the officials sent by the imperial court.

By the way, give them something good to eat at noon.

Also, ask Yuan Long to register the names of all the officials who left the inn today, and send someone to follow them to see what they did? "

"yes!"

Leian took the order, saluted, turned and left.

.......

In the evening, Yuan Long came to the city lord's mansion with more than 20 officials, large and small.

The group of people adjusted their official robes.

Because what they are going to meet next is the most powerful prince in Daxuan today.

The person who came out to greet him was Feng Qizheng, who had not shown up today, and led a group of officials to a main hall.

The hall was empty, except for three large round tables in the center.

Feng Qizheng said: "My lords, please sit down!"

Everyone looked left and right.

A fat man in his fifties asked: "My lord, where is the prince?"

This person is Cai Bende, the newly appointed prefect of Xiguancheng.

Feng Qizheng said: "My lords, sit down first. Your Majesty is busy with official duties and will be here soon."

Everyone took their seats.

Feng Qizheng clapped his hands, "I believe all of you are hungry. Come here, serve the food!"

Several servants filed in.

Everyone was holding a tray in their hands, with bowls of soup noodles on it. The clear soup was watery and had no appetite at all.

Soon, every official had a bowl of noodles in front of them.

Feng Qizheng was talking about serving food. Where can we get food here?

Feng Qizheng said with a smile: "Everyone, it will take a while for the prince to deal with his official duties. I am afraid that you will be hungry, so first eat some noodles to cushion your stomach."

Many officials frowned when they looked at the watery noodles in front of them.

Feng Qizheng said: "My lords, you are welcome to use your chopsticks!"

The officials had no choice. Although they didn't know Feng Qizheng's identity, they must be someone close to the prince, so they had to give him face.

They picked up their chopsticks and started eating.

But after just one bite, many people frowned.

Because this bowl of noodle soup is watery, and there is no salt at all.

Cai Bende frowned and said: "Sir, there is no salt in this noodles, it is really hard to swallow."

Feng Qizheng pretended to be surprised, "No salt? Maybe you forgot to put it in... Let's just make do with it!"

All the officials frowned, what's the point?

Some people put down their chopsticks and excused themselves that they were not hungry.

But some people lowered their heads and ate fiercely, even drinking up the soup.

On the other side, the study.

Ning Chen was looking at the list in his hand. There were only five names on the list.

Yuan Long stood respectfully in front of the table.

Ning Chen raised the list in Yang's hand, "Have these people left the inn today?"

"yes!"

"What did they do when they left the inn?"

Yuan Long leaned over and said: "It seems that they are observing the people's sentiments. They all chatted with the people and did not reveal their identities...especially this one named Fang Zhihe, who also secretly left his money to someone else." A poor family.”

"Fang Zhihe?" Ning Chen smiled and then asked: "Are you suspected of being a show?"

Yuan Long shook his head, "The general sent people disguised as common people to follow them secretly. After these people left the inn, they did not reveal their identities. It didn't look like a show."

Ning Chen nodded slightly, stood up and said, "Let's go meet these parents and officials in Xiguan City."

The two came to the main hall.

As soon as Ning Chen entered the door, he smiled and said, "Masters, how are you eating?"

The middle-aged man near the door looked back, first surprised, then frowned and said, "Is it you?"

This person is the official who asked for chicken soup at the inn today, and he met Ning Chen.

Yuan Long said sternly: "How dare you! How dare you be rude in front of the prince? How many lives do you have?"

The latter was stunned for a moment, his whole body froze, his lips trembled, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty?"

Immediately, Tong fell to his knees on the ground, trembling with fear, and kowtowed desperately, "This official deserves to die, this official deserves to die, please forgive me, please forgive me..."

Ning Chen smiled and said: "Just drink chicken soup, the crime will not lead to death!"

At this time, other officials quickly knelt down and said in unison: "Greetings to the prince!"

Ning Chen raised his hand, "Everyone stand up!"

"Thank you, prince!"

Everyone stood up tremblingly, because the person standing in front of them was the famous regent, who could kill them with just one word.

Ning Chen glanced around and asked, "Who is the prefect Cai?"

Cai Bende hurriedly bowed, "Your subordinate greets the prince!"

Ning Chen came to him, looked at the almost untouched soup noodles, and smiled, "It seems that this noodle is not to the taste of prefect Cai, but think about it, it must be not as delicious as chicken soup."

Chicken soup?

Cai Bende was puzzled. How did the prince know that he drank chicken soup in the morning?

Ning Chen pointed at the middle-aged man and said, "I went to the inn this morning and happened to meet this gentleman asking for chicken soup for the prefect. It had to be chickens that were just one year old.

Xiguan City had been in war for years and the people were living in poverty. Now things have improved... So, the innkeeper is in a dilemma. Where can he find chickens? They have to be one year old chickens.

There is no other way. I can only contribute one of the few remaining chickens in the mansion to satisfy the prefect's appetite."

Cai Bende understood it now, and cold sweat fell from his forehead.

His legs softened and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing desperately, "This humble official deserves death, Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me..."

Ren Jian, this idiot, is going to kill him.

Ren Jian, that middle-aged man.

Ning Chen said calmly, "Not really! It's just a chicken. As the parents of the people, it's their honor to eat the people, let alone a chicken... Am I right, Magistrate Cai?"