As twilight descended, the villagers gathered in a circle around the bonfire, their heads huddled together as they whispered among themselves.
"Do you think there's any way we can help the Crown Prince?"
"I've been thinking about that too," sighed one of them. "The Crown Prince saved us. We can't just kowtow a few times and call it quits, can we?"
"Doctor Jiang said we should spread the word about what the Crown Prince has done for us. But even if we tell everyone we meet, it'll only be the people in Dongli Town and the neighboring towns who'll know about it."
Just then, someone piped up, "That's right! We could go to Tianyuan County, beat the gongs, and shout it from the rooftops!"
But the suggestion was quickly shot down.
"Come on! The news of the Crown Prince's death has spread far and wide. If we suddenly go to the county and start making a fuss, people might think we're crazy. And what if the soldiers come and arrest us? What then?"
At this, everyone's faces fell.
"The idea isn't bad, but it needs some careful planning," came a somewhat youthful voice from the side. Everyone turned to see Qi Wen smiling at them.
"I have a good idea. Would you uncles and aunts like to hear me out?"
Qi Wen had been helping Doctor Jiang boil medicine and cook for the villagers in the past few days, so everyone knew him. They urged him eagerly, "Qi Wen, if you have a good idea, don't keep us in suspense. Spit it out!"
Qi Wen said, "The uncle is right. The news of the Crown Prince's death has been everywhere. If we just suddenly say that the Crown Prince saved us, people might not believe it."
"So, we need to let the whole world know that the Crown Prince was framed and managed to escape death. After lying low for a few days, he emerged from nowhere to save our lives! Once people know this, they'll surely believe our story."
Everyone clapped in approval. "Qi Wen's idea is brilliant! It not only reveals the truth about the Crown Prince's ordeal but also spreads the word about his heroic deeds. It'll clear his name!"
"Shall we go to the county and spread the news tomorrow then?"
Qi Wen shook his head. "No, that'll attract the soldiers. But we can tell the story through storytelling and opera. That way, we won't draw too much attention, and we'll still be able to attract a lot of people."
"I can provide the scripts. We can form an opera troupe and perform all over Cangzhou first. Then we can go further afield!"
As he talked about his plan, Qi Wen's eyes sparkled with excitement. He clenched his fists, and his chest heaved with emotion.
He didn't want to stay behind and guard the Huichun Hall alone. He wanted to go to the capital with Doctor Jiang and Uncle Li. The capital! That was where all the action was!
But he had an even more important mission.
He wanted to finish writing his scripts. He wanted to clear the Crown Prince's name. He wanted the whole world to admire and respect the Crown Prince and Doctor Jiang.
He wanted his scripts to become a sensation throughout the Great Sheng Empire!
The suggestion was met with enthusiastic support. A middle-aged man ruffled Qi Wen's hair and joked, "You're quite the multi-talented lad! Not only can you make medicine, but you can also write scripts!"
Qi Wen scratched his head sheepishly. "Hehe, I don't have many hobbies. I just like watching operas."
"Good! We'll leave the scripts to you. Once they're ready, we'll start rehearsing. We won't let the Crown Prince's sacrifices go to waste!"
"Hey, I have a good idea too!" someone else said.
"I once heard my grandfather say that if a person is worshipped with incense during their lifetime, they'll be blessed by the heavens! Let's cast a statue of the Crown Prince and build a shrine for him outside the city gate. We can also erect a stele in front of the shrine to record his achievements. If we go there to pay our respects every day, maybe the Crown Prince will wake up soon!"
This was the same person who had asked Old Man Liu to carve a statue of the Crown Prince for worship. He was a superstitious man who visited the Earth God Temple to offer incense on the first and fifteenth days of every lunar month.
The suggestion was, of course, well-received.
By erecting a statue and a shrine, everyone passing through Dongli Town would be curious and stop to read the stele. Naturally, they would learn about the Crown Prince's heroic deeds.
As the night deepened, the summer heat gradually gave way to a cool breeze. Looking at their beloved hometown, everyone felt a sense of hope.
As long as they were alive, they were confident that they could rebuild Dongli Town!
Meanwhile, Jiang Mian and her companions arrived outside Tianyuan County just before nightfall.
The city gates of Tianyuan County were in sight. Once they entered the city, they could find a place to rest.
But Jiang Mian sensed something amiss.
"Uncle and Master Yuan, wait! Don't get any closer!" she called out.
Mo Zhizhang had already noticed the strange atmosphere at the city gates. He quickly pulled on the reins to stop the horses.
Master Yuan's carriage pulled up beside them. He made a few quick hand gestures and said gravely, "There's something wrong in Tianyuan County. It's in conflict with us. We can't go any further."
The yellow dog poked its head out of the carriage and sniffed the air. The faint smell of blood made its fur stand on end.
There was the smell of blood. Was there a battle in Tianyuan County?
Jiang Mian frowned and squinted at the city gates in the dim light. "There are too many guards. Something must have happened inside."
If they wanted to go to the capital, the shortest route was through Tianyuan County. After passing through the county, they would reach Lingfeng Ferry thirty miles away. From there, they could take a boat north and disembark at Lingyang. It would take them three more days of traveling on land to reach the capital.
But if they bypassed Tianyuan County, they would have to take a detour. Not only would it take much longer, but it would also be less safe.
Normally, having guards at the city gates wouldn't be a big deal. After all, Cangzhou had just suffered a disaster, and Tianyuan County, located along the Caisang River, must have been affected too. This meant that something serious must have happened in the city.
They had been hiding in the mountains for several days, so it was difficult for them to get any news. It was only natural that they didn't know what was going on outside.
Jiang Mian, who had fled from an arranged marriage in Xuanzhou and had been on the run for a long time, was very sensitive to danger. She trusted her instincts.
Li Zhao's voice came from behind. "Since Master Yuan says that Tianyuan County is in conflict with us, we won't enter the city tonight. Let's find a place to stay for the night and gather some information before making a decision."
But this was a desolate area with no villages in sight. Where could they find a place to stay?
Master Yuan said, "I remember that Ling'an Temple is only ten miles away. How about we go there for the night?"
Jiang Mian was stunned.
Ling'an Temple!