"Heaven is punishing Great Zhou!"
"..."
"Honesty and integrity, the peopleās direction, eliminate treacherous ministers, expose the darkness, return to the light!!"
"Purge the emperorās court, return to the light!"
They shouted fiercely, men and women, even children.
"Brother, our carriage wonāt move!" Yangyang and Yang Jindi, just finished dining at Gathering Pavilion, were about to depart for Gentleman Pavilion, having heard of a calligraphy competition there, and intended to see if those peopleās calligraphy was really good.
Who knew that as they exited Gathering Pavilion and crossed half a street, a crowd came rushing from the other side.
Throngs of people, their numbers overwhelming, their carriage couldnāt move through, so they had to pull aside and wait for them to pass.
"Letās wait a while and see what theyāre up to."
Lele lifted the curtain, and his eyes were shockingly dark as he observed these people.
"What are they shouting?" Listening carefully to a few phrases, Yangyang seemed to understand. "Have these people eaten bear gall and leopard courage to dare shout such words?"
"I think they have put life and death out of their minds."
After a while, the crowd passed, and Lele instructed the driver, "Follow them, letās see where theyāre going."
"Not going to Gentleman Pavilion?" The driver was reluctant to follow, worrying if something happened, with so many people, the precious ones in the carriage, even a bump would be unaffordable.
"Why so much nonsense? Just follow them," Yangyang poked his head out, "Donāt you see these people are more exciting than the Gentleman Pavilion?"
The driver dared not disobey and followed behind.
To Leleās surprise, the crowd was heading toward the palace gates.
"They are truly mad!"
Lele said, "These people are being orchestrated, that Taoist leader is leading them, if only we could capture and question him."
"That Taoist is truly evil, teacher always said that those practicing Taoism do not interfere in worldly affairs, yet he is enthusiastically involved. They are causing chaos at the palace gates, the Emperor will surely blame them, what will happen when these people are arrested, there are old men and children among them."
Yangyang thought for a moment and decided to get off the carriage, "Iām going to catch that Taoist."
"Donāt go!" Yang Jindi reflexively grabbed him, "There are so many people, what if you get hurt, your sister will be worried when we return."
"Yes, Aunt is right, donāt be impulsive, letās observe first," Lele also held him back.
Through the carriageās curtain, they heard the Taoist continue leading chants, "Purge the emperorās court, return to the light!"
"Punish corrupt officials, otherwise we will oppose the court!"
"We donāt want natural disasters!!"
Before they could shout much longer, the Imperial Army arrived, swiftly surrounding the crowd, yet these people neither feared nor left.
Luo Linhao watched this group, troubled. Catch them and the prison cells were already full, nowhere to hold them. Kill them and risk inciting public outrage. If not caught, these people are too hateful, resembling those who caused trouble recently.
As he hesitated, the Emperor arrived at the palace gates with his entourage.
Standing atop the high palace wall, looking at the raging crowd below, he wished to kill all the rebellious subjects.
Taking a deep breath and receiving a copper gong from the eunuch, he struck it a few times, not giving the people below a chance to speak, he declared, "Citizens, snow disasters in the northeast have occurred every reign. Is heaven punishing the court each time? Moreover, the Capital Cityās granary was burnt intentionally, this is sabotage, someone does not want the court to aid the northeastern people, they wish to take advantage of the chaos and disrupt our Great Zhou."