Song Chu: Dad, if you don't work hard, how can I just lie down and relax?

Chapter 43 Establishing principles and discipline, clarifying the law and punishing wrongdoing

"Quickly, quickly, summon the imperial physician and Master Wang! The three kings have been wounded by arrows!"

"Wound medicine, do you have any wound medicine?"

"Don't apply the wound medicine yet, wait for Master Wang to arrive."

"Damn it, the arrowhead has barbs, how am I supposed to pull it out?"

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please sit down and rest for a while. Please don't get too excited. The Third Prince will definitely be alright."

"Quickly, get the medicine! The Empress Dowager is having an attack!"

"Salicylic acid, where is the miracle drug salicylic acid? Young Master Wang said he wants to make the Third King want to eat this."

In the dead of night, chaos reigned within the palace walls. Zhao Guangmei's sudden injury caused a great commotion throughout the palace.

The injury itself wasn't serious, since he had actually stabbed himself. However, in ancient society, there weren't many ways to deal with bacterial infections, and arrow wounds could easily lead to disability or even death.

Inside the Chongde Hall, Wang Lu, Li Jilong, and Wang Yansheng knelt obediently in a row. Wang Lu and Li Jilong kept their heads down and dared not raise them, while Wang Yansheng, a veteran of many battles, was trembling.

Zhao Kuangyin himself had a gloomy face and looked somewhat tired, clearly having been awakened after falling asleep. He did not speak, and the entire Chongde Hall was so quiet that the soft popping of candle flames could be heard. The eunuchs in the corners of the hall stood with their heads bowed against the wall, even their breathing was extremely shallow.

"In Kaifeng, right under the emperor's nose, soldiers set fire to the city in the middle of the night and shot the emperor's younger brother with arrows. We couldn't even believe it when it happened. Yansheng, is there more to this story? Do you have anything else to explain?"

Despite his fear, Wang Yansheng remained composed, saying, "Your Majesty, I truly did not know that the Third Prince would leave the palace after curfew, nor did I know that the shopkeeper was actually the Third Prince himself. Thus, I have committed a grave error deserving of death."

"I dare not beg Your Majesty's forgiveness, I only beg Your Majesty to consider our past merits and loyalty, and not to implicate our families. All the blame lies with me alone. Please, Your Majesty, no, please, brother, do not involve the other brothers of the patrol office."

Having said that, Wang Yansheng kowtowed repeatedly, crying out, "I truly never imagined that I would hurt the Third Prince!"

There's really no point in explaining now; making excuses will only irritate Zhao Kuangyin and make him angrier.

As Zhao Kuangyin's confidant, Wang Yansheng understood Zhao Kuangyin well. He figured that being straightforward might actually soften Zhao Kuangyin's heart.

Beside him, Wang Lu slowly raised his head, turned to look at Wang Yansheng, and calmly asked, "Wang Yansheng, if the people in the inn weren't the Three Kings, would that mean they could just let their troops set fires?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yansheng simply lowered his head and remained silent.

Zhao Kuangyin glared at them again and said angrily, "Why did the third brother have to open an inn? And what happened to his arrow wound? How did he get injured? You three half-grown boys are too bold and reckless!"

What did Wang Yansheng do to offend you? Why use such extreme methods to harm him? He's a fierce general who fights bravely on the battlefield!

Upon hearing this, Li Jilong immediately lowered his head and confessed his guilt. Wang Lu, however, suddenly became somewhat temperamental, and upon hearing Zhao Kuangyin's words, he was even a little overwhelmed and couldn't help but say:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Mei-ge'er inflicted his own arrow wound so that you would kill Wang Yan-sheng. But this wasn't because Wang Yan-sheng had offended Mei-ge'er, nor did he offend any of us; we don't even know him."

"May I ask Your Majesty, if it weren't for Mei-ge'er here in the inn today, what would have happened? Would Wang Yansheng's murder and arson have been justified?"

"Mei-ge'er knows that without this, you cannot maintain military discipline. He wants to use his own blood, and Wang Yansheng's head, to commemorate this chaotic world that eats people."

This is giving Your Majesty an opportunity to prove to the people that our Great Song Dynasty is different from the previous Liang, Tang, Jin, Han, and Zhou dynasties. Is this some kind of nonsense? He is also trying to share your burdens!

Zhao Kuangyin: "Will killing Wang Yansheng end this chaotic era?"

"This humble citizen humbly requests Your Majesty to escort Wang Yansheng to Kaifeng Prefecture, and then request the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate to conduct a public trial, with all the people of the city as witnesses."

Only by upholding the law and enforcing it can we rectify the laws of our Great Song Dynasty. Executing Wang Yansheng will not end the chaos, but it will establish order and bring peace to the land. Only then will our Great Song Dynasty have a chance to end this chaos. Your Majesty, please act according to the law!

Zhao Kuangyin took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.

"My good brother, since that's the case, Wang Yansheng, I'll give you a chance. Go to Kaifeng Prefecture and turn yourself in. This matter won't be treated as an assassination attempt on the Emperor's brother; it will only be treated as smashing the shop and setting it on fire. We'll handle it according to the law. Are you satisfied?"

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your benevolence."

After saying this, Wang Yansheng kowtowed to express his gratitude, then glanced at Wang Lu without saying anything and calmly went to Kaifeng Prefecture to turn himself in.

Zhao Kuangyin sighed, and a tear even fell from his eye. He wiped it away with his hand, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"You two little rascals, stop kneeling and get up. Let's go see the third brother together."

In fact, although Zhao Guangmei and Zhao Kuangyin were said to be brothers, they were actually about twenty years apart in age. In terms of actual age, they were more like father and son. In terms of feelings, Zhao Guangmei was more like Zhao Kuangyin's eldest son.

The ancients said that the eldest brother is like a father to his youngest son, and there is some truth to that.

Therefore, Zhao Kuangyin was already extremely anxious. After hearing Wang Lu's explanation, he could better understand Zhao Guangmei's good intentions in this matter. He couldn't help but sigh with emotion, and his anxiety grew even stronger, causing him to quicken his pace unconsciously.

Just then, she ran into Wang Jun outside the Zide Hall and quickly went up to him, shaking his hand and asking, "How are you?"

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, it's just a superficial wound. The use of salicylic acid and sophora flavescens alkaloids, both internally and externally, is sufficient to prevent infection. Afterwards, mix lard with sophora flavescens alkaloids and salicylic acid to make an ointment, apply it to the wound daily, and it should heal quickly."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuangyin visibly relaxed, then snorted and said, "This child is so reckless and impulsive; he should be taught a lesson."

Wang Jun: "It's all because of my unruly son. He has corrupted the Third Prince and Your Majesty. My son is usually reckless, rude, impulsive, and undisciplined. He is really not suitable to be the Third Prince's study companion. If it weren't for my son, how could the Third Prince have ended up like this?"

"I implore Your Majesty to take this handsome young man with you. When I return, I will lock this brat in his cell and not let him leave the house for a year."

Zhao Kuangyin waved his hand: "That's not quite right. The key issue is that the third son was fooling around. What does it have to do with Lu Lang?"

Besides, what the child just said is right. Although the third brother's actions were rash, they were ultimately for the sake of the people, and indeed, they cannot be considered reckless.

"But……"

"Alright, does Zhaoyuan think I'm an incompetent ruler who doesn't know how to reward and punish?"

"Your subject dares not."

"You've all had a hard day, and the children have been frightened. Now that the third son is alright, you should take the children out of the palace to rest."

After saying this, Zhao Kuangyin went straight to Zhao Guangmei's room, glared at him with a dark face, and remained silent.

Zhao Guangmei gave him a playful smile and asked, "Big brother, how was Wang Yansheng dealt with?"

"Let him go to Kaifeng Prefecture to turn himself in and be punished according to the law."

"Hehe, that's good, that's good."

Is it worth it?

"It's worth it. Big Brother can use this incident to improve military discipline."

"You previously said you wanted to be granted a mansion so you could move out, right?"

"yes."

"Granted."