Chapter 40: Granting You the Golden Command

  Du Ruping was overjoyed in his heart, and there was a talented person. Wouldn't that mean Du Ruhui's chance to re-enter officialdom would be ruined again? He hastily said: "I don't know who the talented person is that the Crown Prince mentioned. As someone who has lived in Duling all his life, I can say that I am familiar with Duling like the back of my hand. I will definitely be able to find this talented person for the Crown Prince."

  As long as this talent is found, on the one hand, he can take away Du Ruhui's opportunity to be an official, and when Du Ruhui falls into disfavor again, he will have plenty of opportunities to deal with him; on the other hand, he can win over this talent, and as long as he climbs up this line, it is equivalent to climbing up to King Dai's mansion, and at that time, he will still be able to rise rapidly.

  Yang Jier looked at Yang You and saw a faintly sinister smile spreading from the corners of his mouth, and she secretly smiled to herself, this was indeed the prelude to Yang You's downfall!

  "Idiot!"

  Du Ruhui cursed in his heart, how could he hide that little thought from his big brother?

  "That person is far away in the sky, yet close before our eyes." Yang You kept a poker face.

  Du's father and son looked around in confusion, gazing everywhere.

  "That's you, Master Du!" Yang You exclaimed with a look of extreme delight.

  Du Ruping smiled humbly: "His Highness is joking, I'm just a humble person, how can I bear the title of great talent?"

  Du Ruping's mouth was humble, but in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a hint of luck, could it be that this dusty pearl of his had finally been appreciated by the Crown Prince.

  "What? You think I'm joking? Am I a person who jokes?"

  Yang You's sudden mood swings left Du Ruping bewildered.

  "I don't dare, I don't dare." Du Ruping hastily said.

  "How can you not dare? You're very daring! This great talent is wasted on anyone else but you."

  Even if Du Ruheng was stupid again, he could still hear the suppressed anger of the substitute Wang Gongzi.

  "The little man is guilty, the little man is guilty."

  Du Ruping lay on the ground, his heart racing with fear, having no idea what he had done to offend Prince Daiwang again.

  "Du Ruping, the sole owner of the contemporary household, from August 19th to August 21st, forced twenty-one peasant households to transfer their land on both sides of the brick road at a low price, totaling three hundred mu. Three days later, he resold it and made three times the profit." Yang Youping's calm tone revealed a hint of suppressed breath.

  Du Ruping's face turned pale, forcibly occupying land, which family hasn't done such a thing? Otherwise, how would the increasingly prosperous family develop? But why did King Dai suddenly pay attention to this matter?

  "Bang! Bang!"

  Yang You's applause sounded, and with each clap, it was as if he had slapped Du Jia's father and son in the heart, like a drumbeat hastening their demise.

  "Du Jiazhai, you're truly a genius! You actually figured out that after the brick road is repaired, the land on both sides will definitely increase in value greatly. Since you have such great insight, calculate this for me: with the long brick road I've built, how much land on both sides can be valued at?"

  "If I had met you, this great talent, earlier, why would I have to work so hard for this worthless Substitute Golden Edict in your eyes? And go against all the officials of Daxing. If I had listened to your wise words earlier and reclaimed the land on both sides of the road as imperial property, what's the point of me going through all this trouble?"

  Yang You furiously smashed the golden token in his hand onto Du Ruping's head, and fresh blood flowed out instantly.

  Du Ruping's soul was frightened out of his body and he fell to the ground, not daring to move a single inch.

  "It seems that this trip to Duling is worthwhile. If Du Ruhui had even a tenth of your brother's talent, I wouldn't have to worry anymore, and the tens of thousands of refugees would have a way out."

  "The scoundrel is dead, the scoundrel was blinded by greed for a moment and never dared again. I will redeem these lands and return them to those farmers, no, I will definitely compensate them double."

  Yang You glared at him with a suppressed tone: "You dare not, you dare!"

  Dong Yue stepped forward, holding a sealed letter and read it out loud: "In June this year, Du Ruping forcibly occupied two hundred mu of good land in Lize Village, injuring ten people from Lize Village.

  In March this year, he forcibly abducted a civilian woman named Zhang and made her his fifth concubine.

  ……”

  Every time he thought of one thing, Du Ruping's body would tremble. These things had been done by the aristocratic families, why was he so unlucky.

  Dong Yue paused for a moment and continued reading: "Du Zhao..."

  "Ah!"

  Du Zhao was even more unbearable, and as soon as he read his name, he let out a miserable cry and collapsed to the ground.

  "On August 23rd, on the brick road from Duling to Daxing, he galloped his horse wildly and collided with two pedestrians, killing them."

  "In June, in Daxing, he competed with others to eat vinegar and ordered his servants to beat someone up."

  ……

  "The common people should die."

  Du's father and son kept kowtowing to apologize, wanting to go before Yang You to apologize, but were stopped by Dong Yue again.

  "Seventh brother! Big brother knows that he has wronged you during this period, but we are brothers! You can't just stand by and do nothing!"

  "Seventh Uncle, nephew is sorry to you, please save nephew!"

  Du's father and son turned to Du Ruhui for help.

  Du Ruhui cursed in his heart! He was indeed unlucky this year! He had run into these two family members, and his face had already been used up earlier. He had let the Crown Prince forgive their offense, where was there still any face left? Moreover, this was solid evidence, it had been publicly announced, did he think there was still room for mitigation?!

  "Hmm!"

  Yang You let out a cold hum, and immediately the father-son duo of the Du family fell silent like cicadas in winter.

  "Since you have already begged Du Ruhui for it, I will give him another chance." Yang You said after a moment of contemplation.

  Du Ruping and his son were overjoyed, as if things had taken a turn for the better.

  "It is not possible for Your Highness to take his place."

  Du Ruhui was greatly anxious in his heart, and King Wang was still too young. In just a few words, he was deceived by the performances of these two people. If Yang Youxu pardoned the crimes of these two people today, then Yang Youxu would lose his prestige from now on.

  Du Ruping fiercely scolded Du Ruhe, sorrowfully shouting: "Seventh brother, do you really want to drive big brother to extinction?! In the past it was big brother's fault, but you should consider the importance of fraternal bonds!"

  Du Ruhui was suddenly choked with emotion. In a society where filial piety and righteousness were paramount, he estimated that from now on, he would be the subject of others' gossip and ridicule.

  "Thank you, Your Highness has spared this humble one's dog life!"

  Du Ruping was overjoyed and Du Zhao also had a pleased expression on his face.

  "Who says I will spare you!"

  Yang You's lightly spoken words shattered all his fantasies.

  "Ah!"

  Du Ruping and his son immediately fell from heaven to hell.

  "Now that I, the king, have revealed my Golden Edict, you still dare to disobey and show no mercy. It seems that you don't care about my Golden Edict at all! In that case, let me make you personally experience the power of this Golden Edict."

  Yang You pointed to the golden token on the ground and slowly said under everyone's puzzled gaze: "This golden token is granted to you, three days later, at the Daxing County Court! You will receive a fair judgment."

  "When the time comes, you will truly thank this golden order." Yang You added another sentence.

  "Thank you, Your Highness!" Du Ruhui stepped forward and said. The prince's move maintained his own dignity while also resolving the awkward situation for Du Ruhui.

  "Thanks for your majesty's substitution!" Du Ruping said bitterly.

  Looking at the golden seal stained with his own blood, under the sunlight, it shone with a dazzling golden light, as if mocking his own greed.

  I didn't expect myself to be the first person to use the Substitute King's Order.