72: Long live the Lord of Justice!

As Li Shengyuan’s words fell, a chilling aura spread through the crowd.

Everyone looked solemn; they hadn't realized how much of a beast Xu Mingzhi was until he exposed himself!

As the first White Egret Academy student started, the next dozen students also tearfully recounted their suffering.

“Your Excellency, I was supposed to be promoted to the inner courtyard, but Xu Mingzhi and his gang used their power to replace my spot and threatened me not to spread the word, or they would kill me to silence me!”

“Last year, I had already secured an admission spot to the Black White Academy in the capital, but Xu Mingzhi used his power to take bribes and gave the spot to his grandnephew!”

“And my elder brother, he just happened to encounter Xu Changfeng, Xu Mingzhi’s grandson, raping a female student to death. But that scoundrel Xu Changfeng framed my brother for it, and my brother was eventually tortured into confessing and died tragically at the execution ground. I beg Your Excellency to clear my brother’s name!”

“…”

The hatred on everyone’s faces did not seem feigned; it looked like it had been suppressed for a long time, and now that it was released, everyone’s face showed a look of relief.

And what these people said was certainly not everything; these were just the survivors. More people might have already vanished without a trace.

Li Shengyuan listened quietly, not stopping the students from their self-narrations.

The more they raged against Xu Mingzhi, the more advantageous it was for him to deal with Mu Yunxiao.

The greater the momentum created now, the less resistance there would be when dealing with Mu Yunxiao, and the more assistance there would be!

Otherwise, the Yan King is still very popular in the Northern Border. This action will undoubtedly greatly diminish the common people’s trust in Mu Yunxiao!

After all, this Xu Mingzhi is a trusted official and confidant in his hands. Can the Yan King claim that he knew nothing about so many of Xu Mingzhi’s actions?

More and more people were gathered here, and many of their emotions had been stirred up.

Although the people of Yanwang City were not so poor that they couldn’t eat or dress warmly, most of them were still ordinary people.

And ordinary people have very strong empathy!

At this moment, angry shouts of “Down with corrupt officials, confiscate their homes and exterminate their clans!” had already begun to ring out from the crowd.

Li Shengyuan also felt that the Great Qian’s law of collective punishment was very good, unlike in his previous life, where some people were executed and brought down, but many beneficiaries around them continued to live freely and at ease.

Since they enjoyed the power brought by the corrupt official, they should also bear the same price when something happens!

At this moment, a Silver-Clad Demon Subduing Envoy received the Xu Family genealogy presented by the City Defense Commander, and with a solemn and respectful expression, he came behind Li Shengyuan, bowed, handed over the genealogy, and loudly proclaimed:

“Your Excellency, the Xu Family genealogy has been brought!”

Li Shengyuan raised his hand, took the genealogy into his hand, and sternly commanded:

“Everyone on the genealogy, whether they are in Yanwang City, the capital, or anywhere else in Great Qian, not a single one can be missed. Those not present shall be put on the wanted list, and my Demon Suppression Division will pursue them to the death!”

“Yes!”

The crowd behind him responded in unison.

The onlookers applauded and cheered repeatedly.

Li Shengyuan then turned to face the people of Yanwang City and the students of White Egret Academy, who had surrounded the area tightly, and loudly proclaimed:

“I, Li Shengyuan, have entered the Northern Border this time by imperial decree to eliminate all corrupt officials who have harmed the Northern Border Three Prefectures and restore a bright future to the people of the Northern Border!”

“Anyone who has suffered from unjust, false, or wrongly judged cases can appeal to this official, and I will absolutely give everyone justice!”

“My handling of cases has only three principles: fairness! fairness! And damn it, still fairness!”

“Good!” Everyone responded loudly, applauding repeatedly with excited faces.

“Long live the Just and Upright Official!”

No one knew who shouted this from the crowd, and then echoes resounded like an avalanche in everyone’s ears.

They were just short of kneeling and shouting, otherwise, it would truly be a famous scene reenacted.

Li Shengyuan then turned back to Xu Family Mansion with a cold expression, nodding slightly as a signal, and the people of the Demon Suppression Division behind him surged into the Xu Family Mansion.

The Yanwang City guards solemnly cordoned off the Prince Yans Mansion, preventing others from delaying Li Shengyuan and his group from carrying out their duties.

After all the Demon Suppression Envoys surged into Xu Mingzhi’s mansion, Li Shengyuan also walked into the Xu Family Mansion with his hands behind his back, accompanied by Shen Xinrong and Princess Pingyang.

Behind him, the respectful and grateful voices of the White Egret Academy students echoed once more.

“Your humble servants bow in gratitude to the Just and Upright Official for upholding justice!”

At the same time, on the pavilion of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant’s Yanwang City branch not far away, Mu Yunxiao stood with his hands behind his back, coldly taking in this scene.

The two people standing behind him were his right-hand men, General Zhou Bing and Jizhou Governor Xu Zhiqin.

Zhou Bing watched with a grim face as Li Shengyuan, with his hands behind his back, entered Xu Mingzhi’s mansion, and as the people of Yanwang City cheered with raised arms, he said coldly:

“This young upstart is very good at creating momentum. This group of ignorant commoners are also fools; they’ve been incited by him!”

Jizhou Governor Xu Zhiqin’s eyes were deep, and he said expressionlessly:

“Your Highness, in my humble opinion, Li Shengyuan is building momentum. Because of Xu Mingzhi’s matters, he has already gained considerable trust from the common people. If he is not dealt with soon, once he handles a few more cases, his prestige among the common people will reach its peak and spread to the Northern Border. By then, he will not be someone who can be easily moved.”

“At that time, more and more righteous people from various places will respond to him and follow him. The next target, I fear, will be Your Royal Highness the Yan King. This matter cannot be delayed!”

Zhou Bing also looked at Mu Yunxiao with a grim face upon hearing this. At this point, anyone with eyes could see that Li Shengyuan and the Empress intended to deal with him!

Or it could be seen from a few years ago when the military power of the Northern Border was transferred to Li Mu.

The Yan King had been hesitant to act, just waiting for a legitimate opportunity, but with Li Shengyuan’s arrival, he could no longer wait for this opportunity.

The Empress was also in the same situation, but her opportunity had already arrived!

Finally, after a moment of silence, Mu Yunxiao uttered a few words with cold eyes.

“Within three days!”

“Yes!”

Zhou Bing and Xu Zhiqin’s eyes also lit up as they cupped their hands in response.

After taking a deep look at Li Shengyuan and the others inside the Xu Family Mansion, Mu Yunxiao turned and left the Drunken Immortal Restaurant.

At this time, Li Shengyuan had already led the Demon Suppression Envoys to arrest everyone in the Xu Family Mansion.

Xu Mingzhi’s legal wife, children, and grandchildren, as well as all eight concubines, were all brought to the front courtyard of the Xu Family Mansion.

Even the maids and servants in the mansion were all present.

Although they were not on the Xu Family genealogy, whether they were guilty or not would only be known after trial.

“Your Excellency, everyone from the Xu Family is here!”

Li Shengyuan nodded solemnly, then took out the Xu Family genealogy he had glanced at and handed it to a Silver-Clad Demon Subduing Envoy beside him, saying:

“Read from the list above. Everyone not present will be put on the Demon Suppression Division’s Blood Kill List!”

“Yes!”

The Silver-Clad Demon Subduing Envoy respectfully nodded, took the genealogy, and began to read.

“Xu Mingzhi’s legal wife, Lady Zhang!”

“Present…”

Li Shengyuan surveyed the gathered Xu Family members, from those seventy or eighty years old down to infants, numbering about a hundred people.

In situations like the Xu Family’s, even in a corrupt official’s family, it was most likely for a Child of Fortune to appear.

Even if it was only a blue-tier destiny, it was still destiny!

But Li Shengyuan frowned slightly; there was none here!

Immediately after, he calmed his mind and began to use his Nascent Soul to probe the surroundings.

A moment later, Li Shengyuan’s lips curved slightly.

“Found you!”