Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play-Chapter 942 - 917: Strategist
Xie Jue had his identity exposed and fled from Beiman in disgrace. No matter how clever he was or how well he disguised himself, being alone with Fang Chuning in enemy territory and separated by a snowy mountain, they were bound to slip up one day. Hence, their escape was very hasty. Du Fang intercepted him on the snowy mountain but let him go due to over a year of friendship. The Second Prince, failing to recognize people correctly, allowed wolves into his home, leading to the collapse of the Beiman Royal Family. The entire Prince Manor was implicated, and Du Fang and other strategists barely escaped with their lives, having their careers ruined. The fate of everyone in the Second Prince Manor was the same as Du Fang’s, living poorly in the turbulent Fox City. If not for ties to the Manor, they might have fallen into slavery.
Du Fang said, "Prince, don’t blame them for hating you. Because of you, the fate of many people has changed. Among these people were retainers, orphans, and servants of the Manor back then. After entering Beining, we were arranged to move to Pingnan County."
"I’m sorry!" Xie Jue said softly.
"Prince, to whom are you apologizing?"
"For the sake of old friendships, the Second Prince and the Princess were good to me, and the retainers in the Manor were good to me too. But I am a Beining person, you and I each serve our masters and fulfill our duties. I have no regrets about this. It was my fault that you became homeless. If I had been more attentive when settling the Beimans, seeking out your whereabouts and arranging things properly, you wouldn’t have been bullied. Back then, you took care of me in Fox City, and now I should take care of you properly. It’s my incompetence that you suffered oppression and humiliation!" Xie Jue regretted not paying more attention to Beiman affairs. He knew that after he left Fox City, the people of the Second Prince Manor might be implicated, but he didn’t inquire further. It was his negligence and also his excessive indifference that failed to handle it properly!
At the time, he thought that even if the people of the Manor were implicated, with the nature of the Beimans, the family members and retainers of the Manor would not be executed. With the talents of Du Fang and others, they might still have a role to play after Prince Jingbei ascends to the throne.
Anyway, it was his oversight.
Du Fang chuckled lightly and said, "Prince, you overstate. The Beining New Dynasty has just been established, political affairs are busy, and you had to go on a mission to Sannan. Later, when General Fang had issues, one could understand not attending to trivial matters. Moreover... Pingnan County is much better than Beiman. We have land to farm, warm sunshine, and clan members around. Compared to the frozen homeland, we are already very content."
Fang Chuning listened with a frown but did not interrupt.
Xie Jue said, "The Pingnan County Magistrate has occupied fertile land and oppressed Beiman civilians, using bandits to suppress your rioting clansmen. How can this be considered as living well?"
"Good or bad is relative. If we had stayed in the frozen homeland, our end would only be a dead end. Fox City is getting colder and is not suitable for farming or long-term living. Here, we can survive, enjoy the sunshine, have abundant food and water. The children have never seen such greenery and livestock; how is this not good? As for oppression, we Beimans are outsiders; it’s natural for local residents not to accept us. After all, we gain an acre of land, and they lose an acre. These are lands on which people depend for survival, so their desire to resist and fight for it is understandable."
"So, is there no grievance?"
Du Fang smiled, "If the Prince hadn’t come, there would naturally be no grievances. Since ancient times, civilians do not contend with officials, whether in Beiman or Beining. As long as it doesn’t endanger the lives of our clan, enduring some hardship is nothing. Over time, life will certainly get better. But since the Prince is here, we naturally have grievances, and of course, we hope the Prince can uphold justice."
Xie Jue sighed in relief. It was indeed good that Du Fang had requests, making it easier to resolve these matters in Pingnan County. If Du Fang had not, Xie Jue would have been worried. Beiman people are fiery by nature, avenging every grudge. Gao Bao said they killed Beiman people; Du Fang couldn’t just let it go and would definitely pursue it. If no mediation were needed, Beimans would handle it themselves, and this matter could escalate, threatening the stability of all twelve provinces. Xie Jue did not want such a scene to occur. Fortunately, he arrived in Pingnan County in time, the situation hadn’t spiraled out of control, and Du Fang was still willing to communicate with him, letting him preside over justice.
Xie Jue said, "I have heard a bit about the actions of the Pingnan County Magistrate, and I roughly know some things. The land distribution at the Lin Family’s Manor was uneven, and he embezzled and accepted bribes among them. I will definitely handle this, give you justice, please rest assured. In a few days, someone will come to investigate the land, count households and population. Beiman has surrendered, and past grievances are written off. However, the resentment between the two races is long-standing and must be left to time. After the land is redistributed, you can also settle down and thrive. Pingnan County is a good place."
"I thank the Prince on behalf of my clan." Du Fang was also relieved. If it weren’t absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to handle it himself. He still hoped for his people to live a stable life. "The County Magistrate colluded with bandits to kill three of our clansmen. I also hope the Prince can handle it impartially!"
"Of course!" Xie Jue would not let those who defy the law go unpunished.
Fang Chuning couldn’t help but interject, "Apart from uneven land distribution and conflicts with local residents, have you encountered any difficulties or any demands while living in Pingnan County?"
Du Fang couldn’t help but glance at Fang Chuning. In fact, he had long noticed Fang Chuning. The rumors of Xie Jue and Fang Chuning were known all over the country, and naturally, Pingnan County knew it too. But the rumors claimed Fang Chuning was dead. Du Fang had never seen Fang Chuning, but just now, watching him fiercely defend Xie Jue, and with Xie Jue treating him differently from others, Du Fang could guess something. As for why a death rumor was spread, he didn’t care.
Du Fang was silent for a long time, and Xie Jue quietly waited.
"Was the Prince here by chance?"
"Yes!" Xie Jue did not fear being laughed at by Du Fang and explained how he and Fang Chuning were robbed by bandits and traced them to Pingnan County, discovering the predicament of the Beiman people here. It indeed was by chance.
"Did the Prince ever think about what the outcome would be if you hadn’t come here by chance?" Du Fang said, "Our grievances with the local residents are minor; neighbors eventually reconcile, and they would not easily provoke us. But the Pingnan County and that group of bandits would not. Over time, conflicts would erupt uncontrollably. Why is this the case? Because there isn’t a single Beiman person in the government office!"
Du Fang pinpointed the issue, "We are ordinary citizens, we are Beiman, with a deep-seated hatred with Beining. We must live on Beining land, and not a single Beiman person is in the government office. Beining people can easily oppress us, and even with grievances, it is difficult to reach the authorities. The Prince sees just one Pingnan County, but have you thought about how many Pingnan Counties there are in the twelve provinces, and how many Beimans live in our predicament? Yes, our clansmen can indeed pass exams and gain merit, but our Beiman culture differs, and we don’t speak the language. This path is almost blocked. Our children would need at least ten or twenty years, growing up with Beining education, learning Beining culture to achieve that. But what about those ten, twenty years? If we have grievances and encounter County Magistrate like those in Pingnan County, what can we do?"
